1169 And Counting.....

Friday, November 02, 2007

BRITISH OCCUPATION AND THE LONDON 'TIMES' .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

An article in 'The London Times'newspaper of December 9 , 1957 , entitled 'Actors In The Political Scene' , stated : " The country families of the North of Ireland , after surrendering control to the captains of industry for a long period , are well established in the present government."

There , perhaps , is the key to the whole situation : the 'lords of land' and the 'barons of industry' who together make up the Tory-Unionist Ascendancy , the 'master-minds' with Britain's Tories , of the anti-freedom struggle in Ireland. These are the 'gentry' who imposed their views on the Orange rank-and-file under the guise of religion - the ones who stand to lose most by separation from Britain .

It is those gentlemen who act as Britain's puppets in Ireland : even those who consider themselves as 'left-wingers' can be enticed to forget where they came from.......
(MORE LATER).

A PORTRAIT OF IRELAND , by Saoránach.......
First published in the Republican Bulletin - Iris Na Poblachta , November 1986.

Dr Mary Kelly wrote : " The knowledge of the contribution of Republican violence to the establishment of the State , as well as the Republican definitions and ideology learned by many through both school and family , cannot be easily dismissed from consciousness as simply the emotional 'cult of 1916' (Conor Cruise O' Brien, quoted in 'The Irish Times' , November 1983) . Yet many are dependent for their knowledge of the situation in the North on the media - especially television which , owing to censorship , is extremely narrow and limited in its coverage .

This has the consequence of presenting the violence as unmotivated and irrational , a procession of inexplicable events led by a tiny minority of violent men . I would thus expect considerable confusion and lack of understanding in the South of the forces which contribute to the continuance of the violence . I would further argue that , in the long term , ignorance rarely contributes to the resolution of conflict. "

Another paper , called 'Class , Clientelism and the Political Process in the Republic of Ireland' (here,page 4) , by Ellen Hazelkorn of The Dublin Institute of Technology is an analysis of what passes for politics in the 26 Counties.......
(MORE LATER).

ROBERT EMMET - THE DARLING OF ERIN.......

Margaret McKearney looks at the life and death of one of Ireland's most enduring heroes.
From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.

Events went dramatically wrong for Robert Emmet : on the appointed day his plans began to unravel - Michael Dwyer and his promised 300 men did not get the word until Sunday July 24 and , the previous day , an excess of men had moved in to Dublin from Kildare and could not be concealed in the existing depots so they spread out around the city pubs and some started drinking . Others , after inspecting the existing arsenal and finding many pikes but few muskets or blunderbusses , went home unimpressed .

Because he had alerted other countries and still had the element of surprise , Emmet decided not to postpone the Rising ; thus , shortly after seven o' clock on Saturday July 23rd , 1803 , Robert Emmet in his green and gold uniform stood in the Thomas Street , Dublin , depot and , to the assembled rebels , read out his proclamation , declaring that the Irish nation was about to assert itself in arms against foreign rule .

Again events conspired to thwart the rebels - coaches commissioned for the attack on Dublin Castle were lost and erroneous information supplied that encouraged pre-emptive strikes , meant that confusion reigned . Also , the novel rocket signals failed to detonate . Emmet's own forces , who were to have taken the Castle , dwindled away and , throughout the remainder of that evening , there were skirmishes at Thomas Street and the Coombe Barracks but he decided to terminate operations and leave the city.......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, November 01, 2007

EDENTUBBER MARTYRS : 50TH ANNIVERSARY .
Volunteer Paul Smith ,Bessbrook, Co. Armagh.
Volunteer George Keegan,Co. Wexford.
Volunteer Paddy Parle,Co. Wexford.
Volunteer Oliver Craven , Newry, Co. Armagh.
Michael Watters ,Co. Louth , was the owner of the cottage where the tragedy occurred in November 1957.
The Commemoration , at which Ruairí Ó Brádaigh will speak, will be held on Sunday November 4 , 2007 : those attending are asked to assemble at 'The Border Inn' at 2.30pm .
Others may attempt to Honour Ireland's Republican Dead , but not one true Irish Republican entered this Struggle to obtain a position in , and a salary and pension from , Leinster House , Stormont or Westminster . Show your support for those who oppose the sell-outs : march with us on November 4 next.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

BRITISH OCCUPATION AND THE LONDON 'TIMES' .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

On December 12th , 1957 , 'The Irish Independent' newspaper reported - " Early yesterday morning a jeep-load of British soldiers accompanied by a member of the RUC crossed the border into the republic at Tyholland Frontier Post on the Monaghan-Armagh road . They were part of a Six-County 'police patrol' operating along the Armagh-Monaghan border . Mr. M. Crowley , the Customs Officer on the republic side , thought at first that the patrol had lost its way and allowed it to return to the Six Counties unchallenged . A few minutes later , however , the same vehicle again crossed the border into the republic , but this time Mr. Crowley stood in the centre of the road and forced the patrol to stop .

He informed the N.C.O. in charge that they were invading republic territory and that the vehicle and arms were liable to seizure . He then told the RUC man that he should have been aware of the patrol's position . The RUC man left the jeep and returned on foot to the Six Counties . Mr Crowley telephoned his Chief at Clones , Monaghan , and telephoned Garda Superintendent Collins , also stationed in Monaghan . When the Gardai arrived a few minutes later , the British soldiers had returned to the Six Counties . The matter was immediately reported to the Revenue Commissioners who referred it to the Department of External Affairs . A number of people who were passing the Customs Post at the time saw what happened ."

A jeep-load of British troops to 'reinforce' one RUC 'guide' !

Another article in 'The London Times' , entitled ' Actors In The Political Scene' , exposed the links between "...the country families and the Captains of Industry......."
(MORE LATER).

A PORTRAIT OF IRELAND , by Saoránach.......
First published in the Republican Bulletin - Iris Na Poblachta , November 1986.

Dr Mary Kelly wrote - " Four frames were used which can be summarised briefly , if rather grossly , as follows : a republican frame , highlighted in some of the representations of the IRA in 'The Irish News'newspaper and to a lesser extent in 'The Irish Press' newspaper. This overlapped with the committed 'men of violence' frame highlighted in some of 'The Irish Times' coverage , but particularly in that of 'The Irish Independent'newspaper.

This frame again veered towards the 'terrorist' frame , central in 'The News Letter', 'The Belfast Telegraph' and 'The Times'(London) which overlapped with the 'animals/scum' frame which characterised some of the reports in 'The Mirror' and 'The Express'. "

The understanding that people in the 26 Counties have of events north of the border is confused and ambivalent . Mary Kelly continued on to talk about that confusion and ambivalence , and mentioned Conor Cruise O'Brien in relation to same.......
(MORE LATER).

ROBERT EMMET - THE DARLING OF ERIN.......

Margaret McKearney looks at the life and death of one of Ireland's most enduring heroes.
From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.

Arms depots were established in Dublin for the manufacture and storage of weapons for the incipient rising . Former soldiers mixed their practical skills with the scientific knowledge that Robert Emmet had acquired on the continent , and an innovative rocket device was produced .

Elaborate plans were drawn up to take the city and in particular Dublin Castle: supporters from the surrounding counties of Kildare , Wicklow and even Wexford were pledged to assist . Emmet bided his time waiting for an opportune moment when English troops would be withdrawn to serve in the renewed war in France , but his hand was forced when a premature explosion on the evening of July 16 , 1803 , at the Patrick Street depot, caused the death of John Keenan .

Though there was no obvious wide scale search or arrest operation by the British following the explosion , the leadership of the movement decided to set July 23 , 1803 (the following Saturday) as the date for the rising . Emmet hoped that success in Dublin would inspire other counties to follow suit . Patrick M. Geoghegan, in a recent publication , says that "...the plan for taking Dublin was breathtaking in its precision and audacity . It was nothing less that a blueprint for a dramatic coup d'état . Indeed , over a century later , Pearse and Clarke would also refer to the plan for their own rising..."

Emmet's plan depended on two factors - arms and men . As Geoghegan states , when the time came , Robert Emmet had not enough of either.......
(MORE LATER).

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

BOOT-BOYS FOR THE 'UNION' .....

Former British soldier gets 3 years’ jail for urinating on dying woman.

'A man who urinated on a disabled woman and sprayed her with shaving foam as she lay dying in the street was jailed for three years yesterday.
Anthony Anderson, 27, Hartlepool, was sentenced for outraging public decency when he degraded 50-year-old Christine Lakinski, who had collapsed in July this year.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Anderson, a former soldier, was celebrating his 27th birthday on the day he degraded his victim. She had been visiting friends and was walking home with some laminate flooring when she collapsed, striking her head as she fell.
She was spotted by a girlfriend of one of Anderson’s friends and a group gathered around her body. Anderson kicked her on the foot, then poured a bowl of water over her prone body, but she did not respond. Anderson then told his friends he was going to urinate on the woman as one of them filmed it on his mobile phone. In an ordeal lasting around 30 minutes Anderson also used shaving foam from a can to further degrade his victim.
Outside court, Ms Lakinski’s family read a statement, which said: “We would like to thank the judge for his decision to jail Anthony Anderson.
We hope that prison will give him time to reflect on his disgusting actions as well as the opportunity to look at his conscience.
We remain totally shocked that anyone could behave in such an appalling way.”

Anderson was with his friends Scott Clement and Simon Whitehead when the humiliation took place, the court heard. The group left her motionless on the pavement and no-one thought to ring an ambulance until they had got ready to go nightclubbing, some 20 minutes later. Paramedics arrived about an hour after she collapsed, and found no sign of life. A postmortem revealed she died from pancreatic failure. Police traced the 999 call to Mr Clement and Anderson was arrested that night in a nightclub.'
(From here.)

A not unusual example of the calibre and mentality of British 'peace-keepers' that have 'served their country' , and not only on these shores . Not only are they unfit for any other job , but they are unfit to belong to the human race. May that poor woman Rest In Peace .

Monday, October 29, 2007

BRITISH OCCUPATION AND THE LONDON 'TIMES' .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

A 'division' was indeed reached , we say , to meet the realities of the British Imperial situation - not the Irish one . And while it is true that this division was accepted in Dublin (by the British-established Free State Government) , in Belfast (by the British-established Stormont Government) and in London (by the British Imperial Government which contrived the whole thing) , it was never accepted by the Irish people .

'The Times' newspaper says that Mr de Valera and his government have "...happily.." accepted Partition which "...will survive , so far as can be seen , into the indefinite future.." 'The Times' has been more noted for wishful thinking than prophecy in regard to Irish affairs . The only hope for peace in Occupied Ireland , says 'The Times' , lies in the suppression of Republican Militants . The British Army of Occupation is dismissed with this reference -

" The British soldiers are rightly available to reinforce police and auxilaries , if and when occasion arises . " The 'occasion' must arise pretty often for , three days later , 'The Irish Independent' newspaper (December 12 , 1957) reported the following.......
(MORE LATER).

A PORTRAIT OF IRELAND , by Saoránach.......
First published in the Republican Bulletin - Iris Na Poblachta , November 1986.

For those who have the time and inclination to study some of the problems and take stock of our situation , I recommend a recent book called 'Ireland : A Sociological Profile', published by the Institute of Public Administration and the Sociological Association of Ireland.

Here in over 400 pages are 19 different papers on various aspects of Irish life today , written by a team of sociologists . The editors claim that it "...addresses key aspects of institutions and structures in both parts of Ireland.. " (sic) and gives "...a distinctive , if not complete , portrait of Irish society ." This book , it must be stressed , does not offer solutions , but tells us what we are , warts and all . The proposal of solutions is not the sociologist's job , in academic terms anyhow . But for those who would like to take stock of Irish society in 1986 , prior to making plans and devising policies , this is as good and as up-to-date an account of our society as one is likely to get .

Most of our readers would be interested in the chapter called 'Power Control and Media Coverage of the Northern Ireland Conflict', by Mary Kelly of the Department of Sociology in University College ,Dublin. Her paper is based on painstaking research of the media over several years , and she shares her analysis with us . Dr Kelly distinguishes , for instance , four frames in which IRA activity in the Six Counties is reported . It is basically a matter of the terminology used , as can be seen by the following sample.......
(MORE LATER).

ROBERT EMMET - THE DARLING OF ERIN.......

Margaret McKearney looks at the life and death of one of Ireland's most enduring heroes.
From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.

Following the signing of the Peace of Amiens by France and England in March 1802 the United Irishmen that were being held as prisoners in Fort George were released and many such as Thomas Russell and Thomas Addis Emmet made there way to Paris . Emmet returned to Ireland in October 1802 and began to plan for a rising . On March 1803 , at a meeting in Corbet's Hotel , 105 Capel Street , Dublin , Emmet briefed his key organisers .

In April 1803 Emmet rented an isolated house in Butterfield Lane in Rathfarnham as a new base of operations and Michael Dwyer, a 1798 veteran , suggested his young niece as a suitable candidate to play the role of the 'housekeeper' .

Born in or around the year 1778 , Ann Devlin soon became Robert Emmet's trusted helper and served him loyally in the months ahead . Shortly afterwards he leased a premises at Marshalsea Lane, off Thomas Street, Dublin, and set up an arms depot there.......
(MORE LATER).

Saturday, October 27, 2007

A CALLOUS SELF-SERVING CAREERIST .
Due to his recent salary increase, Bertie Ahern now 'earns' (...is paid..) €1291 a day !

This is the same bumbling half-wit that recently found himself being 'investigated' by the very Tribunal that he and his equally morally corrupt colleagues in Leinster House were forced (by public opinion) to establish : the same Bertie Ahern that co-signed most of the 1,615 cheques drawn on the Fianna Fail leaders allowance account from 1984 to 1992 (... better known as 'The Haughey Years'..) : the man who , when asked in September 2006 about political appointments to State Boards replied - ” I might have appointed somebody but I appointed them because they were friends , not because of anything they had given me . ” : the same political and moral degenerate who stood in front of the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in April 1997 and pledged - ” No-one , no-one , is welcome in this party if they betray the public trust . I say this and I mean this with every fibre of my being. ”

Obviously , his 'being' lacks 'fibre'. As Oscar Wilde put it - " Society sooner or later must return to its lost leader , the cultured and fascinating liar." But , in this case - without the 'cultured' bit...

Friday, October 26, 2007

BRITISH OCCUPATION AND THE LONDON 'TIMES' .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

The 'London Times' newspaper has learned little Irish history since the Pigott Forgeries, but that little doesn't stop it pontificating on our problems . What it doesn't know it invents . Here is the imperial line on the Irish Question , and Messers. de Valera and Costello might take note : the border is not a creation of the British Government , according to the 'Special Correspondent' who wrote the article 'Thirty Years After Partition' for the special supplement . That 'Correspondent' exlains -

" Charges and counter-charges have been launched . But the basic position is perfectly clear . A division was reached - and accepted in Dublin , in Belfast and in London - to meet so far as was practical the realities of a difficult situation . This situation , as has been shown , was not of Northern nor of British making . "

The basic position may be 'perfectly clear' to The Times and its readers ('the best quality people in England' , according to its own advertisements...) but it is also , amazingly enough , perfectly clear to the Irish people . Our conclusions in regard to this "basic position" differ more than somewhat.......
(MORE LATER).

A PORTRAIT OF IRELAND , by Saoránach.
First published in the Republican Bulletin - Iris Na Poblachta , November 1986.

The Ireland of 1986 is beset by many social problems . Most of us are aware of this . We know there is material and cultural deprivation and that unemployment is at record levels , both North and South .

Our society seems to drift along , leaderless . The problems are now so great that only radical change will solve them . Those who look to the British , Loyalist and 26-County establishments in Ireland for positive and honest national leadership will look in vain . To take one example - it is sad indeed to see sincere Gaeilgeoirí (ie 'Irish speakers') going to the 26-County Minister for Education , Mr Patrick Cooney, to ask him to take action to halt the alarming decline in the Irish language in our schools . Ná bí ag caint !

Those who would wish to change a lot of things in Irish society cannot plan a way ahead without first taking a hard look and making a realistic assessment of how and where we are now and how we got here . Never was the need for a radical alternative more necessary than today.......
(MORE LATER).

ROBERT EMMET - THE DARLING OF ERIN.......

Margaret McKearney looks at the life and death of one of Ireland's most enduring heroes.
From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.

There were four branches of the United Irishmen in TCD and Robert Emmet was secretary of one of them . However , after an inquisition , presided over by Lord Chancellor Fitzgibbon, Emmet became one of nineteen students who were expelled for United Irishmen activity .

Although not active in the 1798 Rising, Robert Emmet was well known to the authorities and by April 1799 , when Habeas Corpus had been suspended , there was a warrant issued for his arrest , which he managed to evade and , early in 1801 , accompanied by a Mr Malachy Delany of Cork , he travelled throughout Europe , and made Paris his headquarters - it was there that he replaced Edward Lewis as the liaison officer between Irish and French Republicans .

While in Paris , Emmet learned about rockets and weapons , and studied a two-volume treatise by a Colonel Tempelhoff which can be examined in the Royal Irish Academy, with the marginal notes given the reader some insight into Emmet's thinking.......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, October 25, 2007

TARA WAS OLD WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN...

"Picking up yeomanry reinforcements along the way, the combined British force of about 700 troops lost no time in forming up at the bottom of the hill to attack the rebels who had posted themselves behind defenses such as old walls and ditches. An attack up the hill was quickly launched and met strong resistance from the rebels but the superior firepower of the military combined with a well-executed bayonet charge drove the rebels from the hill, dispersing them with much slaughter...."

....and now a like-minded foe has come back for the Hill itself , intent on causing as much destruction as it wants...

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

BRITISH OCCUPATION AND THE LONDON 'TIMES' .

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

In some ways it is a pity the 'London Times' newspaper isn't more widely read in Ireland . The issue of December 9 , 1957 , for example , makes interesting reading : that Imperial organ set us straight on partition and Irish independence , and should be made required reading for the front-benchers of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael:

" It's (ie the Six Occupied Counties) resolution to remain under the Crown and to keep the Union Jack flying has not swerved . The second problem is the perennial one of keeping the peace. The Free State , now a republic ('1169..' Comment - ... a banana republic, only..) came into being because a minority of Irishmen felt so strongly that they were prepared to fight . ('1169..' Comment - shame on that 'minority' , to be sure . Didn't they know that the Empire had troublesome natives in other colonies to be dealing with ? No damn consideration , what !)

The men ('1169...' Comment - ...and women!) who fought were hailed as heroes and martyrs . This is understandable enough as a common accompaniment of militant patriotism but , as always happens in such cases , it proved easier to encourage young men to use the gun than to persuade them that the time for doing so was past . The Northern Ireland Government (sic- a puppet administration , guided by Westminster) has to-day perpetually to be on its guard against murderous raids carried out by gangsters who see themselves as patriots following in the footsteps of heroic fathers....... "
(MORE LATER).

ROBERT EMMET - THE DARLING OF ERIN.

Margaret McKearney looks at the life and death of one of Ireland's most enduring heroes.
From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.

Son of Dr Robert Emmet and Elizabeth Mason, with the father serving as state physician to the vice-regal household : however , the good doctor wasc a social reformer who believed that in order to achieve the emancipation of the Irish people it was first necessary to break the link with England .

Born into this household on March 4th , 1778 , Robert Emmet was baptised on March 10th in St Peter's Church of Ireland in Aungier Street , Dublin . The young Robert attended Oswald's School in Dropping Court , off Golden Lane , Dublin . From there he went to Samuel Whytes School in Grafton Street , quite near his home , and later to the school of the Reverend Mr Lewis in Camden Street .

He entered Trinity College , Dublin, in October 1793 at the age of fifteen and a half where he practiced his oratorical skills in the Historical and Debating Societies . One of his friends at TCD was the poet Thomas Moore.......
(MORE LATER).

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

IGNORING OUR HISTORY...

" We really must enter a protest against the way in which Irish history is written by some English historians. In Wright's History of Ireland we find the following gratuitous assertion offered to excuse De Clare's crime: "Such a refinement of cruelty must have arisen from a suspicion of treachery, or from some other grievous offence with which we are not acquainted." If all the dark deeds of history are to be accounted for in this way, we may bid farewell to historical justice. And yet this work, which is written in the most prejudiced manner, has had a far larger circulation in Ireland than Mr. Haverty's truthful and well-written history. When Irishmen support such works, they must not blame their neighbours across the Channel for accepting them as truthful histories."
(From here)
"Historical justice..." ? Not if this political brothel has anything to do with it.......

Monday, October 22, 2007

O'Donovan Rossa , by Brian Na Banban.......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

In their hearts plant the seeds of his story ,
In their minds light the dream of his soul ,
And point them the road that he travelled -
The rough road to Liberty's goal .

Diarmuid O Donnabháin Rossa ,
Glory to God for his life ,
For the glorious memory he leaves us
To strengthen our hearts in the strife ,
Till the cause that he lived for has triumphed ,
Till the darkness of thraldom has fled ,
And Ireland , unfettered, shall honour
The names of her patriot dead !

[END of 'O Donovan Rossa']
(Next: 'British Occupation And The London Times Newspaper' - from the same source.)

PRISONERS RIGHTS - the mark of a civilised society .......

From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.
By Siobhan O'Dwyer.

To invoke another memory from the past , it is time to get up off our knees and to dissent loudly from the brutal oppression of whole groups of people by the US and Britain and to stand again with the republican prisoners , their families and supporters against a criminalisation policy that is just wrong .

We have the power to stand against the 'New World Order' and there is no better place to start than in our own back yard with our own people .

[END of ' PRISONERS RIGHTS - the mark of a civilised society ']
(NEXT : ' Robert Emmet - The Darling Of Erin' , from the same source)

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Victims of the Great Hunger...
'The Times' editorial of September 30, 1845, warned; "In England the two main meals of a working man's day now consists of potatoes." England's potato-dependence was as excessive as Ireland's. Grossly over-populated relative to its food supply, England faced famine unless it could import vast amounts of alternative food. But it didn't take merely Ireland's surplus food; or enough Irish food to save England. It took more; for profit and to exterminate the people of Ireland. British Queen Victoria's economist, Nassau Senior, expressed his fear that existing policies "...will not kill more than one million Irish in 1848 and that will scarcely be enough to do much good." When an eye-witness urged a stop to the genocide-in-progress, Trevelyan replied: "We must not complain of what we really want to obtain." Trevelyan insisted that all reports of starvation were exaggerated, until 1847. He then declared it ended and refused entry to the American food relief ship Sorciére. Thomas Carlyle, influential British essayist, wrote; "Ireland is like a half-starved rat that crosses the path of an elephant. What must the elephant do? Squelch it - by heavens - squelch it." 'Total Annihilation' suggested The Times leader of September 2, 1846; and in 1848 its editorialists crowed "A Celt will soon be as rare on the banks of the Shannon as the red man on the banks of Manhattan..."

PLEASE HELP US TO GET A TRUE RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF BRITISH INTERFERENCE IN IRISH AFFAIRS .
Thank You ,
Sharon.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Armed Irish Republicans on patrol in British-Occupied Ireland .

Take a few minutes to listen to this, then - if you can - give an hour or two for this :
PICKET FOR POLITICAL STATUS....
On Saturday, October 20, 2007, at 12.45pm, a Republican picket will be held at the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street in support of political status for Irish Republican prisoners .
All Welcome !

Friday, October 19, 2007

O'Donovan Rossa , by Brian Na Banban.......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

They made him an exile , an outlaw ,
They slandered him living and dead ;
But his love or his hate never wavered ,
'Till the spirit God gave him had fled .

His crime was that Ireland , his Mother ,
Had called him to dare and to dree,
That one day her bonds might be riven ,
That one day her limbs might be free
From the chains of the English enslaver -
And proudly he answered her call ,
Nor cared what the future might bring him ,
So Ireland were freed from her thrall .

Bear him back to that Mother who loves him ,
Bear him back to the land he loved well ,
Go forth 'mong the children of Ireland ,
The tale of his triumph to tell.......
(MORE LATER).

ECONOMY IN CRISIS - An Historical Perspective.......

By any standards the economy of Ireland , North and South , can be described as being in a sorry mess with crisis , recession and imminent bankruptcy the most constant themes of economic discussion , intermittently over the last decade and ceaselessly in the last three years . In this article , Peter Graham surveys the factors which have produced this economy , and the historical role of foreign and native Irish capital.

From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982.

As the unemployment spectre receded somewhat , Irish trade unions also began to flex their muscles again through the 1960's - a hopeful development which nonetheless was defused with the introduction of centralised wage baggaining at the beginning of the 1970's .

But the 'profit principle' of capitalism , native or foreign , always predominant , was to halt this industrial progress . Recession came on the scene in 1974 and foreign capital began to be pulled out as speedily and as clinically as it had come in . By that time , too , the Free State had abandoned its economic sovereignty , such as it was , having become the very junior member of the EEC with all its restrictions .

Even agriculture , which in cash terms appeared to benefit from this membership , continued its ceaseless trend of putting profit in the pocket of the large farmer - still producing only cattle - and saw the small , poorer farmers continue to grow even poorer or disappear altogether.......
(MORE LATER).

PRISONERS RIGHTS - the mark of a civilised society .......

From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.
By Siobhan O'Dwyer.

I would ask people who oppose the way that the 'war on terrorism' is being used to wipe away the few remaining legal safeguards left to ordinary people and to impose a system of fear and oppression across the West as well as in the targeted countries of the Middle East , to stand up now for the rights of republican prisoners and their families .

The republican prisoners in Maghaberry and elsewhere would not be in prison if it were not for the political situation in Ireland .

That is an unfashionable and scary truth for many people who prefer to think that the capitulation of 'mainstream' Provisional republicanism is actually a victory and that those who oppose the 'new' regime can be easily labeled 'Terrorists' and 'Dissidents' and therefore deserve all they get.......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, October 18, 2007

PICKET FOR POLITICAL STATUS....

On Saturday, October 20, 2007, at 12.45pm, a Republican picket will be held at the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street in support of political status for Irish Republican prisoners .
All Welcome !

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

O'Donovan Rossa , by Brian Na Banban.
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

Diarmuid O Donnabháin Rossa -
Honour and love to the name ,
There is nought in it mean or ignoble
It speaks not of serfdom or shame .

It tells of a life lived for Ireland ,
Of a heart fond and fearless and true -
Of a spirit untamed and defiant,
That the foeman could never subdue .

They chained him , they starved him , they scourged him ,
They tried every devil-spent plan :
To blacken the heart of the hero ,
To shatter the mind of the man.......
(MORE LATER).

ECONOMY IN CRISIS - An Historical Perspective.......

By any standards the economy of Ireland , North and South , can be described as being in a sorry mess with crisis , recession and imminent bankruptcy the most constant themes of economic discussion , intermittently over the last decade and ceaselessly in the last three years . In this article , Peter Graham surveys the factors which have produced this economy , and the historical role of foreign and native Irish capital.

From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982.

On the industrial scene , significantly , from the 1930's right up to the 1960's , the only really successful development was when state investment created the semi-state bodies such as the Irish Sugar Company, the Milk Board, Aer Lingus and Irish Shipping. Private capital again failed to respond to the challenge of nominal political independence , and the Free State economy remained tied virtually completely to Britain .

Throughout the period as well , the possible political consequences of massive unemployment , poverty , rural decline and economic stagnation - the 'breeding ground' for revolutionary upheaval - were avoided by the traditional release valve of almost continuous emigration on a massive scale .

The establishment of the Industrial Development Authority in 1958 marked the beginning of a new era . Where Irish capital had failed , now foreign capital was to be attracted by every possible means - economic protectionism was abandoned and , by tax concessions , grants and the outlay of public funds , foreign capital - particularly American - was wooed into a desperate 26-County economy . Certainly , foreign capital taught the native variety a lesson in industrialisation , as through the 1960's and early 1970's - at a massive cost borne by the taxpayer themselves - foreign industrial development brought with it for the first time the hint of industrial prosperity.......
(MORE LATER).

PRISONERS RIGHTS - the mark of a civilised society .......

From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.
By Siobhan O'Dwyer.

The hostile treatment of these prisoners can also be related to the ' New World Order ' : the fact that hooded and manacled men are seen on TV screens in Guantanamo Bay, having been flown half way across the world without a trial or even being charged , means that many people have forgotten the meaning of Justice , Democracy or Human Rights or are at least willing to turn a blind eye .

There has been no mass movement to demand that those men be freed or at least charged and tried in a court of law and there is little or no outcry against the treatment of our own republican prisoners and their families here .

This is the main difficulty that the prisoners , their families and supporters face - how to separate the impact on ordinary people of 'the war on terrorism' from their right to demand that there is at least a right to due legal process and to be treated in a humane manner . Bernadette McAlliskey said recently that while she didn't agree with the ideological position of republican prisoners in the 1970's , 1980's , 1990's and up to today , that did not stop her standing with their families and friends to demand that they be treated with dignity and respect.......
(MORE LATER).

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

PICKET FOR POLITICAL STATUS....

On Saturday,October 20,2007, at 12.45pm, a Republican picket will be held at the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street in support of political status for Irish Republican prisoners .
All Welcome !

Monday, October 15, 2007

THEY ARE HELD IN BELFAST JAIL .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

DETAINED FOR POSSIBLE TRIAL :

J. Carville , Lurgan , County Armagh .
D. Casey , Coalisland , County Tyrone .
C. Grimes , Coalisland .
J. McGorry , Mountjoy , Dungannon , County Tyrone .
K. Mallon , Coalisland .
Seán O' Neill , Coalisland .
Seán Devlin , Coalisland .
Paddy O' Neill , Coalisland .
F. Talbot , Coalisland .
D. Devlin , Coalisland .
J. O' Donnell , Coalisland .
P. O' Neill , Coalisland .
D. McAlinden , Derryloughlin , Coalisland , County Tyrone .

[END of 'They Are Held In Belfast Jail']
(Next : O'Donovan Rossa , by Brian Na Banban. - from the same source)

ECONOMY IN CRISIS - An Historical Perspective.......

By any standards the economy of Ireland , North and South , can be described as being in a sorry mess with crisis , recession and imminent bankruptcy the most constant themes of economic discussion , intermittently over the last decade and ceaselessly in the last three years . In this article , Peter Graham surveys the factors which have produced this economy , and the historical role of foreign and native Irish capital.

From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982.

The Second World War, inevitably , and even more than any other British foreign war , had its effects on the Irish economy : fuel and raw materials , necessary to be imported for any real industrial advance , were almost impossible to attain but , at the same time , the total necessity of self-sufficiency forced the introduction of compulsory tillage for crop production on the farms .

In the economic world of widespread destruction and scarcity after the war , it could have been boom-time for the Free State economy , with a ready market for its agricultural produce , and a chance fior its manufacturing industries to quickly expand but , once more , there was scarcely any growth during this period because of the refusal of private Irish capital to invest .

Massive increases in subventions to farmers in the post-war period , far from encouraging tillage , saw surpluses in such subsidised crops as wheat and sugar beet , scarcities in other crops and the return to cattle as the Free State's main economic prop . Much the same was happening in relation to the industrial scene in the State.......
(MORE LATER).

PRISONERS RIGHTS - the mark of a civilised society .......

From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.
By Siobhan O'Dwyer.

The families of Irish Republican prisoners are also subjected to fear and humiliation every time they visit Maghaberry Gaol as they are singled out for 'special attention' from the sniffer dog to force them to take closed visits , which are usually refused ; parcels , books , papers for the prisoners are often 'mislaid' or take weeks to arrive and the families must share the visiting areas and the waiting rooms with known loyalist paramilitaries .

Visits are often cancelled after the visitors have arrived at the prison , often having travelled long distances with young children . Republican prisoners have agreed to undergo drug tests in order to prevent their family members and in particular the children , having to undergo the humiliating and frightening experience of being faced with this large sniffer dog .

By refusing , the Prison Service has shown that they are not interested in facilitating proper family contact for prisoners but only in enforcing a degrading regime . This hostile treatment can be related to the 'New World Order'.......
(MORE LATER).

Saturday, October 13, 2007

LEST WE FORGET...

Thomas Ashe, Kerry, 5 days, 25 September 1917 (force fed by tube , died as a result).
Terrence McSweeny, Cork, 74 days, 25 October 1920.
Michael Fitzgerald, Cork, 67 days, 17 October 1920.
Joseph Murphy, Cork, 76 days , 25 October 1920 .
Joe Witty, Wexford , 2 September 1923.
Dennis Barry, Cork, 34 days, 20 November 1923.
Andy O Sullivan , Cork, 40 days, 22 November 1923.
Tony Darcy, Galway, 52 days, 16 April 1940.
Jack 'Sean' McNeela, Mayo, 55 days, 19 April 1940.
Sean McCaughey, Tyrone ,22 days, 11 May 1946 (hunger and thirst Strike).
Michael Gaughan, Mayo , 64 days, 3 June 1974.
Frank Stagg, Mayo , 62 days, 12 February 1976.
Bobby Sands, Belfast , 66 days, 5 May 1981.
Frank Hughes , Bellaghy (Derry), 59 days, 12 May 1981.
Raymond McCreesh , South Armagh , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Patsy O Hara , Derry , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Joe McDonnell , Belfast , 61 days, 8 July 1981.
Martin Hurson , Tyrone , 46 days, 13 July 1981.
Kevin Lynch, Dungiven ( Derry) ,71 days, 1 August 1981.
Kieran Doherty , Belfast , 73 days, 2 August 1981.
Tom McIlwee , Bellaghy (Derry) , 62 days, 8 August 1981.
Micky Devine , Derry , 60 days, 20 August 1981.

"Dear Christ! the very prison walls
Suddenly seemed to reel,
And the sky above my head became
Like a casque of scorching steel;
And, though I was a soul in pain,
My pain I could not feel."
('The Ballad of Reading Gaol', by Oscar Wilde, written after his release from Reading prison on 19 May 1897.)

Friday, October 12, 2007

THEY ARE HELD IN BELFAST JAIL .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

DETAINED FOR POSSIBLE TRIAL :

J. Campbell , Belfast , County Antrim .
M.P. Cassidy , Maghera , County Derry .
H. Cassidy , Maghera .
J. Cassidy , Maghera .
R. J. Cunningham , Newry , County Down .
P. Smith , Newry .
S. Maguire , Belfast .
I. McGovern , Dungannon , County Tyrone .
L. Lavery , Cookstown , County Tyrone .
M. McLoughlin , Dundalk , County Louth .
J. F. Lee , County Fermanagh .
P. Brewster , County Fermanagh .
F. Carey , County Fermanagh .
J. McEvoy , Lurgan , County Armagh .
E. Matthews , South Armagh .
(MORE LATER).

ECONOMY IN CRISIS - An Historical Perspective.......

By any standards the economy of Ireland , North and South , can be described as being in a sorry mess with crisis , recession and imminent bankruptcy the most constant themes of economic discussion , intermittently over the last decade and ceaselessly in the last three years . In this article , Peter Graham surveys the factors which have produced this economy , and the historical role of foreign and native Irish capital.

From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982.

Efforts to control foreign food imports , guarantee farm prices and divert ever-increasing amounts of public money into agriculture did not have the effect of stimulating development but , rather , because of the ability of big farmers to profit from these schemes , had the effect of transforming wealth to them at the expense of the small farmers .

The protectionism of Free State government economic policy , which continued right up until the late 1950's , did not get any major response from Irish capital : rather than risk his money in creating industry , the wealthy Irishman invested in Britain . The high interest rates guaranteed by the Free State government for scarce investment money became another burden on public spending , as under-financed industries rose and soon collapsed .

What small industries did grow behind the tariff walls were geared to the small home market , while the resultant high costs made any foray into the export market wholly unrealistic . The Second World war , too , left its mark.......
(MORE LATER).

PRISONERS RIGHTS - the mark of a civilised society .

From 'Fourthwrite' magazine, Autumn 2003.
By Siobhan O'Dwyer.

Republican prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol are in the sixth week of a dirty protest as part of their campaign for segregation from Loyalist prisoners and for political status. The very words 'dirty protest' and 'political status' invoke bitter and sad memories of the late 1970's and early 1980's .

However , the republican prisoners and their families today are facing a very different set of political circumstances than pertained then - that of the political and military defeat of 'mainstream republicanism' ('1169...' Comment - ....by which the author means the Provisional organisation) . The prisoners are faced with a situation where they are sharing wings and landings with loyalist prisoners , which has led to a number of incidents of republican prisoners being beaten , scalded and having their food tampered with . A number of death threats have been made against them .

The Stormont Prison Service continue to deny that the prisoners are subjected to beatings or have anything to fear but their words mean nothing , as they also denied the brutal treatment meted out to the Blanket Men. The setting up of a Commission to 'look into the situation in Maghaberry Prison' , while welcome , does not fill me with any confidence that Britain has any real interest in resolving the situation......
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

THEY ARE HELD IN BELFAST JAIL .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

DETAINED FOR POSSIBLE TRIAL :

F. Cullen , Coalisland , County Tyrone .
J. Cullen , Coalisland .
P. McGee , Belfast .
L. McKinney , Derry City .
T. McCool , Derry City .
W. Robinson , Tyrone .
P.J. McGorry , Mountjoy , County Tyrone .
J. Robinson , Mountjoy .
F. T. Donnelly , Armagh .
K. Carson , Enniskillen , County Fermanagh .
F. Goodwin , Enniskillen .
E. Goodwin , Enniskillen .
D. Cox , Enniskillen .
E. Mulholland , Lurgan , County Armagh .
E. Murphy , Dublin .
P. Gillespie , Magherafelt , County Derry .
J. Kavanagh , Belfast .
P. Kavanagh , Belfast .
(MORE LATER).

ECONOMY IN CRISIS - An Historical Perspective.......

By any standards the economy of Ireland , North and South , can be described as being in a sorry mess with crisis , recession and imminent bankruptcy the most constant themes of economic discussion , intermittently over the last decade and ceaselessly in the last three years . In this article , Peter Graham surveys the factors which have produced this economy , and the historical role of foreign and native Irish capital.

From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982.

Far from putting into practice the self-sufficiency of Arthur Griffith's Sinn Fein doctrines , with the logical attempt to create industrial capitalism behind tariff walls , fed by the rural hinterland , the new Free State government concentrated its limited economic stimulation on increasing the cattle and diary export trade which was the foreign money earner . Food , demanding tillage for its production , continued to be imported .

The nettle of import tariffs to foster home capital-inspired industry was left to the de Valera government to grasp , and grasp it he immediately did : once again , the national issue becomes entangled in the Irish economy with the introduction of tariffs becoming embroiled in the withholding of land annuities from Britain, and the economic war which ensued .

In the six years until its settlement , the economic war damaged mainly the agricultural cattle trade but also , by impoverishing the rural population , it reduced the home market for developing industries . Nevertheless , even this pressure from an economic nationalist campaign did not see the switch from cattle to tillage which was necessary for the attainable self-sufficiency in food ......
(MORE LATER).

DIVIS FLATS : Building Towards A Demolition Campaign .......
Divis Flats , at the bottom of the Falls Road in West Belfast , have acquired a reputation for 'trouble' - of all kinds - and social deprivation ever since they were built in the 1960's . They have also endured some of the severest British repression meted out during the past 14 years , and replied with some of the fiercest resistance . Local resident and community activist Jim Faulkner examines the new resurgence of morale in the flats complex and the prospects it faces in its biggest battle yet - for total demolition .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 .

There is a need now for a new demolition campaign led by Divis residents themselves : the first task of the campaign must be to confront the Stormont administration on its policy for Divis , and to use the Sinn Fein public representatives , whom Divis people helped to elect , to apply whatever political pressure is at their disposal if that administration refuses to agree to further demolition .

Surveys have indictated that half the people want to stay where they are - but in houses , not flats , and that the other half might be prepared to move if there was somewhere to move to . What this means is that the demand for new building at Poleglass and elsewhere in West Belfast is of as much concern to the people of Divis as it is for other West Belfast nationalists .

There is certainly a need for Divis Residents' Association to co-ordinate its campaign with other groups , such as the newly-formed West Belfast Housing Action Group which is currently campaigning for better housing throughout the West Belfast area . There is , then , great hope for the future of Divis , and it is up to the people of Divis themselves to transform this hope into reality which decent two-storey houses can offer them and their children - in a future community of a new Pound Loney.

[END OF ' DIVIS FLATS : Building Towards A Demolition Campaign']
(NEXT : 'Prisoners Rights - The Mark Of A Civilised Society' , from 2003.)

Monday, October 08, 2007

THEY ARE HELD IN BELFAST JAIL .......

From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, January 1958 .

HELD WITHOUT CHARGE OR TRIAL :

H. O' Neill , 9 California Street , Belfast .
P.E. Davey , 8 Upton Street , Belfast .
J.J. Martin , 11 Kildare Street , Belfast .
J. Sullivan , 13 Ward Street , Belfast .
James McParland , 63 Ballymurphy Road , Belfast .
Séan McParland , 63 Ballymurphy Road , Belfast .
G. Maguire , 50 Alexandra Street West , Belfast .
Dominic Adams , 8 Varna Street , Belfast .
James Drumm , 12 Glassmullin Gardens , Belfast .
S. Gibson , 127 McDonnel Street , Belfast .
Séan McNally , 14 Glenview Street , Belfast .
Jimmy Steele , 20 Clondara Street , Belfast .
P.J. Larkin , 126 Ardilea Street , Belfast .
Frank Maguire , Main Street , Lisnaskea , County Fermanagh .
M. O' Reilly , Coa , Ballinamallard , County Fermanagh .
Leo McCormack , Dublin (After four years sentence) .
G. Higginbotham , Dublin .
(Next : a list of those 'Detained For Possible Trial')
(MORE LATER).

ECONOMY IN CRISIS - An Historical Perspective.......

By any standards the economy of Ireland , North and South , can be described as being in a sorry mess with crisis , recession and imminent bankruptcy the most constant themes of economic discussion , intermittently over the last decade and ceaselessly in the last three years . In this article , Peter Graham surveys the factors which have produced this economy , and the historical role of foreign and native Irish capital.

From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1982.

Once in power , the attention of the 'new ruling class' was not merely concentrated on the oppression of republican militarists : in 1923 the wages of a wide range of workers , from dockers to manufacturing employees , were cut to levels below those of the pre-1913 lock-out . In the North , the new unionist administration followed suit .

The trade union movement throughout Ireland was effectively attacked to the extent that , within five years of the establishment of the two partitionist states , its membership was reduced by one third , social welfare considerations were given the minimal attention and social conditions in general enforced a solution to unemployment in the thousands who emigrated throughout the 1920's .

The world depression of 1929 saw a major slump in the North of Ireland's export industries , particularly the biggest ship-building and linen firms . The Free State situation was not as seriously affected initially , being agriculture-based , and prices generally holding up . But the agricultural economy itself had remained stagnant since the foundation of the Free State (and was to remain so for decades) .......
(MORE LATER).

DIVIS FLATS : Building Towards A Demolition Campaign .......
Divis Flats , at the bottom of the Falls Road in West Belfast , have acquired a reputation for 'trouble' - of all kinds - and social deprivation ever since they were built in the 1960's . They have also endured some of the severest British repression meted out during the past 14 years , and replied with some of the fiercest resistance . Local resident and community activist Jim Faulkner examines the new resurgence of morale in the flats complex and the prospects it faces in its biggest battle yet - for total demolition .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 .

The 'street-party' success of the Divis Residents' Association was short-lived , its main problem being that it failed to attract the active participation of a representative cross-section of the Divis community and focussed largely on the personality and leadership of Fr. Pat Buckley himself , and when he was transferred to another parish early this year (1983) the Divis Residents' Association became very much a shepherdless flock .

The activities engaged in by the Association in its heyday were essentially geared towards a restoration of morale but had no lasting effect , and its AGM in the autumn of 1982 attracted only a handful of Fr. Buckley's helpers .

However , developments outlined in this article which have taken place since the elections augur well for the group's future , with this year's AGM approaching and the likelihood of a more broadly-based committee of residents being elected.......
(MORE LATER).