1169 And Counting.....

Sunday, May 29, 2011

CABHAIR TESTIMONIAL , SATURDAY 28TH MAY 2011 , DUBLIN.

CABHAIR 'Honoree Presentations'.

A fantastic night was had by approximately 100 Irish Republicans in Dublin on Saturday May 28th 2011 , in the Academy Plaza Hotel , at the Annual CABHAIR Testimonial Dinner : visitors , colleagues and comrades from England , Scotland , Wales and America were present to observe the presentations made to the five Honorees - Walter O'Dunphy , John Murphy , Neil Chambers , Joe O'Neill and Maggie Trainor.
A brief(ish!) history of the (on-going) involvement of each recipient with the Republican Movement was given , in some detail, by the Chairperson of the proceedings , Dan Hoban , and the presentation was then made by Lita Ní Chathmhaoil , on behalf of the CABHAIR organisation.
We publish with these few words some photographs from the event , and a full report and more photographs will be published in the June 2011 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday the 8th of that month :

CABHAIR Testimonial Flagstand.

Section of the crowd.

CABHAIR bodhrán 'Shop' item - one of the many Republican items sold at the 'Testimonial Shop' on the night.

CABHAIR Mirror , sold at the event.....

....as were these two bodhráns -

Also , details were released regarding two up-coming Republican events - Bodenstown Sunday (12th June next) and the Bundoran Hunger-Strike Commemoration (Saturday 27th August next) , and posters for same were distributed :

Wolfe Tone Commemoration ('Bodenstown Sunday') 12th June 2011.

Bundoran Commemoration , Saturday 27th August 2011.

Finally , please note that a few words and some pics re the cleansing operation today at the Garden of Remembrance can be viewed on our 'Sister' site , here : thanks for reading !
Sharon.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

LAW IN DISORDER.......

The state trumpets every drugs seizure as a major victory over the barons. But the war against drugs is really a murky world characterised by botched operations , questionable use of informers and ego-driven squabbles between the Garda Siochana and customs officials.
Mairead Carey gets the inside story.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , August 2002.

Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne had yet to be appointed to the top job in An Garda Siochana when , in November 1995 , the Garda hired a trawler at Castletownbere , County Cork, and travelled 300 miles off the south-west coast to rendezvous with an oil-supply vessel to bring in what was , and remains, the largest consignment of cannabis ever landed in Ireland.

Pat Byrne was then Deputy Commissioner in charge of all Garda anti-drugs measures and Kevin Carty was in charge of the unit on a day-to-day basis. Chief Superintendent Dermot Dwyer , who headed the drug squad in Cork, is also expected to be called as a witness in the forthcoming trial.

About 20 Filipinos , armed and wearing balaclavas , were on board the oil vessel : Gardai , who later described the operation as "...like something out of 'Apocalypse Now'...." , loaded the 13 tonnes of cannabis on to the trawler and headed back to Castletownbere. Customs , who are responsible for the 'frontline' defence against drugs , were kept in the dark about the operation until local officers began investigating the suspicious activities of the Castletownbere trawler , which had its name and registration number painted over.......
(MORE LATER).

The CABHAIR organisation will be holding its annual Testimonial Dinner and Republican Reunion function this coming Saturday , 28th May 2011 , in the Academy Plaza Hotel in Dublin : the Honorees this year are Walter O'Dunphy (Leinster) , John Murphy (Munster) , Neil Chambers (Connacht) , Joe O'Neill (Ulster) and Maggie Trainor (USA).
As it happens , one or more of us that put this blog together have , at one time or another over the years , worked alongside each of the Honorees and can vouch without fear of contradiction on behalf of their commitment to the Cause of Irish Freedom - we are delighted that the internal Irish Republican 'powers-that-be' in Ireland , England and America have decided to honour these five stalwarts in a public ceremony and we are looking forward to the occasion !

BRITISH PRESENCE TO BE CLEANSED.....

Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a cleansing ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin on Sunday 29th May at 12 Noon.
The purpose of the ceremony is to cleanse the Garden of Remembrance of any residue of British Imperialism as a result of the recent visit there by an English 'queen'.
This is a timely initiative , and one which should be supported , physically and/or morally , by all Irish Republicans : there can be no doubt that the Garden of Remembrance is now unclean and tarnished by the recent visit of that person and - in the opinion of this blog - by the presence , also , of the pro-British spittle left behind by the Free State political 'elite' , one of whom - Enda Kenny ,
Fine Gael leader and present 'Chief Lemming' of this corrupt State , courtesy of his pay-masters in the IMF - has queried the Irishness of those who protested against the visit here of the English 'queen' !
Considering that Fine Gael has advocated a 'United Ireland' within the British 'Commonwealth' , his 'query' does not surprise us : the man is politically and morally demented and is simply 'serving time' in Leinster House until his owners in the IMF/EU can create a 'job' for him , as was done for one of his predecessors , a Mr Bruton.
It would be a betrayal by Irish Republicanism if the aura left behind in the Garden of Remembrance by the above-mentioned elements was not to be expunged : those with a knowledge of their history and a sense of their cultural background will assemble at the Garden of Remembrance next Sunday , 29th May 2011 at 12 Noon , to restore the honour which anti-Republican and/or pro-British 'Commonwealth' political morons besmirched by their presence and actions on that particular day.
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

STATE DUMPS ITS OWN FLAG IN BIN LORRY TO APPEASE AN ENGLISH QUEEN....

The above photograph was taken in Dublin during the recent visit to this State by an English 'queen' : it clearly shows members of the State 'police' dumping their own flag in a bin lorry. The Irish National Flags in the photograph had been forcibly removed from the hands of people who were attending peaceful protests in opposition to the presence of that 'queen' , the Commander-In-Chief of the British Army. Apologists for that action tried to claim that it was the flag- poles that were being 'confiscated' but Tricolours that were been carried with no poles attached were also removed from their owners : it is obvious that the State ordered its compliant employees to trash any sign of 'Irishness' so as not to 'embarrass' the English 'queen' - a new low , surely , even for such toadies. And a disgusting low , but only to be expected.....

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

LAW IN DISORDER.
The state trumpets every drugs seizure as a major victory over the barons. But the war against drugs is really a murky world characterised by botched operations , questionable use of informers and ego-driven squabbles between the Garda Siochana and customs officials.
Mairead Carey gets the inside story.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , August 2002.

Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne and Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty are likely to be subpoenaed as witnesses in a libel trial that threatens to display publicly for the first time the dirty linen between the two state agencies designated to fight the battle against drugs in Ireland.

The case , involving six customs officers from Bantry in County Cork and 'The Sunday Business Post' newspaper, is a left-over from the Urlingford debacle , which saw conflict between the Garda and Customs result in the failure of one of the biggest drugs operations seen in this country.

The case is listed for hearing during the next court term - " If it goes to trial, " says one legal source, " half the top brass of the guards will be brought in to give evidence....."

(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" Compare that with Col. Hefferon's at Para 11167 - " I am not clear specifically on the date - it could be November - Mr. Gibbons asked me to see him and told me that the Taoiseach had had a report from Mr. Berry and Captain Kelly had attended a meeting at Baileboro.......at which there were IRA people present , that he had there waved a wad of notes around , promising money to them ".

No person with a scrap of intelligence could doubt that the Taoiseach was made aware by me on 17th October - the date of my medical tests is verifiable in the hospital records - of information of a most serious kind in relation to a plot to import arms and that he avoided making any more than a cursory enquiry. Indeed , I formed the impression from time to time that he was consulting me to find out how much I did not know and that he was not thankful to me for bringing awkward facts to his notice.

My communication to the Taoiseach in this instance was in pursuance of the directive from Government of 14th August 1969 , as interpreted by my Minister , Mr O Morain ; and Mr Kevin Boland , as a member of government at the meeting on that date , should have been aware of the directive....... "
(MORE LATER).

A Free State political seoiníní , similar to the gaimbín that have , once again , come to the fore in their fawning and genuflecting over , and in the presence of , members of the British 'royal family'.

In a unified display of shameful and putrid verbal diarrhea , the media and the political 'establishment' in this morally and financially bankrupt and corrupt State have been attempting to out-do themselves in broadcast/print curtsey to the English 'queen' who is presently on a State visit here : television , radio , print and on-line journalists have repeatedly told their viewers/listeners/readers just how "privileged" they are to be sharing this "rich in significance" occasion , as they see how "the great and the illustrious carry themselves in the company of Her Majesty..."

This blog would like to apologise to the honest and respectable people reading this post and point-out to those who , like us, are offended and embarrassed by the grovelling of the political and media 'establishment' here in relation to the visit of these 'royal' people, that we Irish are not all oafs : various Irish Republican organisations , to their credit , protested often and loud at each and every venue where the parasites - both Irish and British - ventured , escorted by militarly muscle (including snipers located on rooftops throughout Dublin) but the Republicans done their best , in the face of an unruly and armed 'police' force and a hostile media, to get their message out that not all of us are prepared to roll over and have our bellies tickled by the 'royal family' and their hangers-on.

Even though the 'Butchers Apron' flew over Dublin , the UDA were 'officially' in Dublin and saluted it as did the Orange Order - invited by Mary McAleese , and not for the first time - and Dublin and other cities were effectively placed under martial law , Irish Republicans publicly opposed the 'visit' (takeover) and voiced their objection on the streets .
Congratulations to all those organisations and their supporters , and shame on those who invited - bowing and scraping - the British 'royal family' to this country : the struggle for full Irish Freedom continues , and will continue , until the British political and military presence is removed from Ireland !
Thanks for reading ,
Sharon.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" I did not have a 100% recollection of my conversation with the Taoiseach as I was a bit muzzy and bloody from the medical tests but I am quite certain that I told him of Captain Kelly's prominent part in the Baileboro meeting with known members of the IRA , of his possession of a wad of money , of his standing drinks and of the sum of money - £50,000 - that would be made available for the purchase of arms.

I remember a conjecture of the Taoiseach as to where could they possibly get it and my suggestion that perhaps 'Mr Y' or 'Mr Z' , two millionaires of the TACA Group, might put up the money and the Taoiseach's observation that those boys didn't give it up easily.

In the aftermath of that discussion the Minister for Defence , Mr Gibbons , sent for Col. Hefferon , the Director of Military Intelligence , and questioned him about the Baileboro meeting and Captain Kelly's part in it. Col. Hefferon's versions are given extensively in his evidence before the CPA in Booklets No. 7, 8, 15 , 16 , 19 and 33 , while Mr Gibbon's evidence which is contradictory is given in Booklet 24 , Paragraph 11150 : " I am absolutely certain that I was never informed of the Baileboro meeting and that the reference to it in the Four Courts is the first reference I can recall..." and at Paragraph 11168 : "There was no question of a complaint from the Taoiseach that I can recall . Absolutely none..." "
(MORE LATER).

AN ENGLISH QUEEN IN IRELAND.....

The 'Cairo Gang' , dispatched to Dublin by Westminster in 1920 in an attempt to militarily secure 'the Union' : the modern-day equivalent of that bunch of British marauders are in Dublin now , in an attempt to militarily secure another Westminster objective - that of securing safe passage for their (Commander-In-) Chief Paymaster. One wishes them the best of luck.....

......and speaking of (pro-) British gangs of marauders , we were unfortunate enough to be bumped into by this shower of armed thugs on Saturday , 7th May last , in O'Connell Street in Dublin , at the RSF-organised Hunger Strike Commemoration -

- and they will no doubt be part of the 'queens own guard' whilst she is amongst us , but you won't recognise them ; they'll be washed , shaved and suited (in more ways than one) for that particular job.

Assembly points for protests at visit of British Queen :

Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a series of protests during the visit of the Queen of England to Dublin on May 17th/18th 2011 and in Kildare on May 19th -

On May 17th Republican Sinn Féin will assemble at the Black Church, St Mary’s Place (facing Granby Row and the Maldron Hotel) in Upper Dorset St at 12 noon.

On Wednesday May 18th we will assemble at the junction of Summerhill Parade and Portland Row at 12 noon and, that same evening, we will assemble at the junction of New St and Nicholas St near St Patrick’s Cathedral at 5pm.

On Thursday May 19th in Kildare Town at 10am in the Market Square.

Some venues may be subject to change ; for up to date information contact Republican Sinn Féin Ard Oifig at: 01 8729747 / 087 9374277.

New York protest re English 'queen' in Ireland...

Great to see that an event of this nature has been organised -

"Ireland’s exiled children in America will gather at the Great Hunger Memorial to help put the English Queen’s state visit in proper perspective. Brief vignettes of famine stories will be read to provide historical context. Instead of bouquets of flowers, she will be presented with a list of her crimes against Irish humanity. A piper will lead her to be judged by a jury of starving and exiled Irish men and women.
All over Ireland, protests are planned for Queen Elizabeth’s visit on May 17th 2011. Irish Americans who wish to show solidarity should join Radio Free Eireann at the Great Hunger Memorial at 290 Vesey Street and North End Avenue in Battery Park City at 1:00 p.m."

And , staying on a U.S.-based theme , we want to remind our many readers in the States that the printed 'Voice of The Republican Movement' , the monthly newspaper 'SAOIRSE', is available in America for $30 a year subscription (12 issues) by writing to the following address :
Saoirse
PO BOX 1396
Laurence Harbor NJ 08879.

And finally.....

RSF banner in Rome , Italy , May 2011.

....a wee mention for our friends in Italy who recently held an anti-'royal' visit protest in Rome - WELL DONE ! It's heartening to see events of this nature being held by Irish Republicans and their supporters as it helps to remind a 'new audience' that , despite what some would have you believe , the so-called 'Irish Question' has not yet been fully 'answered' !

Thanks,
Sharon.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

THE NATIVES PUT ON A LITTLE SHOW....

"What an honour it is to be asked to sing in front of The Queen. I am so excited, and a little nervous to be honest. This is a dream come true, to be able to perform for somebody I have respected and admired for so long. I am thrilled....."
- Mary Byrne (more here.).

How truly sickening. Is this woman so desperate to escape from , and so ashamed off , her working-class roots that she will verbally prostitute herself in front of morally useless burdens on society like the British 'royal' family ?
Has she no 'bottom line' ? Must everything be 'fair game' in her rush to join those she judges to be the 'elite' ? Is there nothing she won't 'sell' in order to 'escape' ? Has she no level-headed friends to advise her of where not to thread , of how far not to go ?
And it's just as sickening to realise that there are more of her type out there , willing to sell their spirit and their very soul to please the 'elite' , in the hope that they , too , will be lifted into a 'better Class' , an easier lifestyle , regardless of the fact that they must disown their own culture to do so -

Jedward - 'Poppy Lipstick...'

- like the 'Jedward' twins who, like 'Queen Mary' , are more than willing to sell everything in their quest to 'make it'. Have those Irish people no shame ? To sell out is bad enough , but to do so with such gusto - and to the British 'establishment'- embarrasses all of us in the eyes of decent , respectable people everywhere. They should be ashamed of themselves for bringing such disrepute on the Irish. As Oscar Wilde put it - "The development of the race depends on the development of the individual , and where self-culture has ceased to be the ideal , the intellectual standard is instantly lowered , and, often , ultimately lost."

I hope all three - and those like them - make a financial fortune and move , permanently , out of Ireland. It would be the one good thing to come out of their betrayal......
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Saturday 7th May 2011 , Dublin : Hunger-Strikers Rally and Commemorative Function/ Sunday 8th May 2011 : 650-ticket raffle.

The RSF-organised Hunger-Strikers Rally at the GPO in Dublin on Saturday 7th May 2011 was held , as advertised , despite a very heavy State Garda and Special Branch presence : Republican Sinn Féin members , supporters and a Colour Party formed-up on the traffic isle facing the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street where , after the 'warm-up' speaker had concluded - having delivered a detailed history on an Irish Republican POW , Joe Malone, who was force-fed whilst on hunger-strike - a musician on a Bagpipe played an Irish Republican Lament , following which the Chairperson , Andy Connolly , got proceedings under way. Andy named all 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers , giving a brief history of each man, and highlighted the seriousness of the situation being faced today by Irish POW's , as they are now victims of a system which gives them no option but to constantly protest for proper conditions.
That view was echoed by other speakers , including RSF Vice-President Fergal Moore (pictured, above) , who also voiced opposition to the impending visit to Ireland by an English 'queen'.
The Chairperson brought the Rally to an end by thanking all present , including the RNU organisation , which was holding a 'No Royal Visit'-protest at the GPO and , following a rendition of our National Anthem on the Bagpipes , the RSF Rally ended.
A few photographs of same are published with this post, with a more detailed report to be published in the June 2011 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday 8th June next.

'Political Status' Banner.

The Piper plays a Republican Lament.

"We are here today , in O'Connell Street in Dublin , to remember all 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers......"

Andy Connolly , Chairperson.

A section of the crowd.

RNU at the GPO.

HUNGER-STRIKERS COMMEMORATIVE FUNCTION , SATURDAY 7th MAY 2011 :

'The Druids' (pictured above) played to a full house , as expected , in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot to a very receptive audience , who cheered , clapped and sang-along with every rebel ballad during the almost three-hour session.
The group received loud applause after they issued a verbal statement from the stage in which they condemned recent 'advice offered to them' in relation to which organisations they should or should not take bookings from and stated , as Irish Republicans, they will not be intimidated , morally , financially or any other way, into ignoring the on-going political struggle in this country , regardless of the wishes of those that have attempted to issue 'stay-away advice' to them.
Before the ballad session began , an RSF spokesperson on stage welcomed the full house and highlighted the brutal treatment endured by all 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers , making particular reference to the conditions now being forced on Irish POW's , asking if the 'establishment' will ever learn , in this regard , from the mistakes they have made in the past in attempting to criminalise Irish Republican prisoners and the on-going Struggle itself.
'The Druids' played to their usual high standards , the crowd knew all the words and sang along , and the two car loads of Special Branch failed in their efforts to prevent people from entering the venue - a good night (and early morning!) all round !

Some of the nine raffle prizes won on the night - and a special 'Go raibh maith agat' to Cathy , for her generous contribution to same : really appreciated , and much sought after on the night !

A section of the crowd at the ballad session.

The Hunger-Strike Commemorative Candle , donated by Cathy - and claimed by everyone in the audience !

More of the crowd at the ballad session.

Monthly 650-ticket raffle , Sunday 8th May 2011 :

Due to the fact that extra monthly raffle tickets were sold at the above-mentioned rally and ballad session , the 'Raffle Crew' were only left with 12 tickets to sell in a venue in which they normally sell between 30 and 50 - the regulars in the hotel were disappointed but were promised a 'freebie' next month , such was the desire of the 'Crew' to get out of there alive.... !
Anyway ; all tickets were sold , €440 was won in prize money and these are the lucky eight winners-
1st.............Kate................068.................Robbie.
2nd............Jack and Mick......271...............Gavin.
3rd............Teddy................485.................'Carristown'.
4th...........Óisin..................214...................Mullingar.
5th..........Cíaron................506....................PE.
6th.........Jem ..................011.....................RN.
7th.........Francis.............255.......................Gav.
8th.........Joe Ralph..........064......................'Tim Young'.

It was a very busy weekend in Dublin for the Republican Sinn Féin organisation , but one which they managed , professionally , in their stride : well done to all involved - you are a credit to Irish Republicanism!
Thanks for reading ,
Sharon.

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" It was well after midnight when the Private Secretary entered my room in Mount Carmel hospital ; the hospital telephone exchange had closed at 10.00pm . I explained the position to Mr. O' Dowd and said that if it did not inconvenience the Taoiseach too much perhaps he would call to see me early next morning."

OCTOBER 17th 1969 :

" Unfortunately , the medical tests commenced at about 8.30am and I had been given an injection and rubber tubing had been inserted through a nostril to the stomach before the Taoiseach arrived sometime after 9am . There were two doctors and two nurses in the room and while they left to make way for the Taoiseach a nurse kept coming in and out , every couple of minutes , to syphon off liquid through the tubing. After our conversation was interrupted a couple of times , the Taoiseach said , petulantly, - "This is hopeless. I will get in touch with you again..."

He never resumed the conversation or referred to it afterwards......."
(MORE LATER).

3-IN-1 WEEKEND COMING UP - WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A REST ON MONDAY.....!

There are two or three occasions every year in the Irish Republican calendar when events 'clash' - and this coming weekend is one such occasion ! The fact that clashes occur surprises no-one in the Movement and has never been used as a 'reason/excuse' to postpone or cancel any event , such is the dedication of those involved. Indeed , those of us that put this humble blog together could instance quite a few weekends over the years when we ourselves and those more deeply involved in RSF / CABHAIR / RAFFLE COMMITTEES etc literally had to be in two or more places practically at the same time and , thanks to the sheer determination of the Republican members involved , fast cars , good drivers and a solid relay system - not to mention expert timing ! - the art of 'multilocation' was temporarily mastered !

And these are the three weekend events in question :

1)
IRISH HUNGER-STRIKERS RALLY - between the years 1917 and 1981 , 22 Irish men died on hunger-strike in our on-going struggle for Irish Freedom. A Rally to commemorate those men will be held on Saturday 7th May 2011 at the GPO in Dublin city centre at 2pm : those attending are asked to assemble at the Garden of Remembrance at 1.45pm , for the parade to the GPO.

2)
REMEMBERING THE HUNGER-STRIKERS IN SONG - a commemorative ballad session will be held on Saturday night , 7th May 2011 , in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot , West Dublin , featuring 'The Druids'. Doors open at 8.30pm , admission is five Euro per person and a raffle will be held on the night.

3)
THE MONTHLY 650-TICKET RAFFLE will be held on Sunday May 8th 2011 in the usual venue : this month one hundred tickets have been held back from the usual distributors , of which seventy will be sold at the above mentioned events with the remaining thirty tickets to be sold in the hotel on the afternoon of the actual raffle.

All-in-all , a busy weekend for Irish Republican supporters in Dublin , but nothing that they haven't dealth with before .Our readers are invited to attend any or all of the above-mentioned events , where good company , and a good Cause , is guaranteed !
Thanks,
Sharon.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

THE FIANNA FÁIL STORY.......

The Rise And Decline Of Fianna Fáil , by Kevin Boland - Mercier Press.

Seán Lemass And The Making Of Modern Ireland , by Paul Bew and Henry Patterson - Gill and Macmillan.
By Roy Johnston.
From 'Gralton' magazine, Aug/Sept 1983.

As regards Seán Lemass himself , the impression comes over of someone with a good radical position trapped in a system over which he has no control , but to gain control would mean unleashing forces which would tamper with property rights which , in 1945 , he would have been prepared to do - ".....the rights of owners should not include the right to allow land to go derelict.." .

There is a quote from Kevin Boland's book , 'Up Dev' , which sums up pithily the role of the Irish bourgeoisie - ".....Mr Lemass did make an effort to get....investment....but he found that patriotism was in short supply....the highest....aspiration was to win or breed a winner of the Derby....for the glory of old Ireland."

In the period leading up to the repeal of the Control of Manufacturers Act (CMA) , Lemass continued to defend the principles behind the Act but was unable to stem the tide of tendentious advice from economic pundits which promoted "good management , technical knowledge and capital all at once from the subsidiaries of big foreign companies" (Charles Carter , QUB , 1957).......
(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" At the funeral of Garda Fallon who was shot in an armed bank robbery by Saor Éire on April 3rd , 1970 , I said to a senior Garda officer that Garda Fallon would be alive today if you had asserted yourself and had implemented the plan which was agreed to in Mount Carmel : he took it with a bad grace."

OCTOBER 16th 1969 :

" During the afternoon I was informed by the nursing staff that I was not being given food after 6.00pm as I would be undergoing medical tests in the morning.

Later , I had a visit from a security officer with such an alarming report of the Baileboro meeting on 4th/5th October - described by Captain Kelly to the CPA as the "genesis of the plan to import arms" - that , in the absence of the Minister on holiday , I felt that the Taoiseach should be told immediately. As I did not know what my health condition would be after the medical tests next morning, I phoned the Taoiseach's Private Secretary , Bertie O' Dowd , only to be told that both were at a function and were not expected back until very late.

I left word that I should be contacted , no matter how late the hour......."
(MORE LATER).

REPUBLICAN SINN FÉIN , DUBLIN : EASTER 2011.
(Our photo shows Fergal Moore , RSF Vice President , delivering the main oration at the GPO , Dublin , on Easter Monday , 25th April 2011)

The RSF 2011 Easter Commemorations in Balbriggan and Deansgrange on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday respectively were held as previously advertised but , unfortunately, the pics and text from same, which were to be forwarded to this blog on Easter Monday , were originally stored on a local RSF 'Facebook' page but that particular social networking site has 'pulled' the page and denied all access to it because of a so-called "...fake sign-in name...." issue : in reality , however , 'Facebook' has 'pulled' several local RSF pages in the last few days : we have been told , 'off the record' , by an employee in Hanover Quay , that a political 'request' (ie instruction) has been issued to technical staff in Dublin to locate and close-down Irish Republican- orientated pages 'to prevent 'Facebook' from being used as an organisational tool by groups in this State intending to protest the presence of Queen Elizabeth...' .

The RSF supporter who operated the 'Facebook' page in question is unable to duplicate his work so it seems that we have lost those pics and the text for now , anyway : fortunately , 'Saoirse' has its own record of those two Commemorations , and reports and pics of same will be published in the May 2011 issue of the newspaper , which goes to print on Wednesday , 4th of that month. Incidentally , Colette, who works in the 'Saoirse' Office , offered us access to the material but we declined , as that wouldn't be fair on those who purchase the 'paper.
Apologises to our readers in relation to this issue but , if we do retrieve the 'Facebook' material, we will , of course , publish same on this blog.
However - we managed to locate a few pics and a few words in relation to the RSF Easter Monday 2011 Commemoration at the GPO in O'Connell Street , Dublin :

Two RSF supporters at the GPO in Dublin on Easter Monday , 25th April 2011.

The Commemoration warm-up at the GPO began just before 1.30pm , when an RSF member took to the platform and started the proceedings by making reference to those who stood there the previous day - representing the Free State administration - and stated that they had "mouthed platitudes" about how we should 'love our neighbour' and that we should consider the visit next month of an English queen as an event which 'brings to a conclusion' the strife between our two countries : the RSF man said that it is not possible to love your neighbour whilst that neighbour is still behaving like a thug towards you and claiming that part of your 'house' belongs to them, and he repeated the Republican position that a date for British military and political withdrawal from this country is required before any 'conclusion' can be arrived at.
The same RSF speaker outlined in detail the life of one particular Irish girl who was in the GPO during Easter Week in 1916 - Molly O'Reilly - and , when he finished at 2.10pm , received a sustained round of applause from the approximate 300 people that had stopped to listen.
The Easter Commemoration proper then began , Chaired by Andy Connolly , Dublin : statements were read on behalf of the Leadership of the Republican Movement , the Republican prisoners in Portlaoise and Maghaberry Jails , with the main oration being delivered at the GPO by RSF Vice President Fergal Moore.
A Wreath was laid by a member of Dublin RSF -

An RSF Wreath being laid at the GPO on Easter Monday , 25th April 2011.

- and proceedings were brought to an end by another RSF member singing our National Anthem , in our first language , from the speakers lectern.
A full report , with better pics , will be published in the May 2011 issue of 'Saoirse' : again , apologises for the 'patchy' reports , but it's the best we could do, under the circumstances.
Thanks for reading ,
Sharon.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

THE FIANNA FÁIL STORY.......

The Rise And Decline Of Fianna Fáil , by Kevin Boland - Mercier Press.

Seán Lemass And The Making Of Modern Ireland , by Paul Bew and Henry Patterson - Gill and Macmillan.
By Roy Johnston.
From 'Gralton' magazine, Aug/Sept 1983.

Indeed , the Bew-Patterson concept of imperialism is curiously eclectic - "....(either) a malign force deliberately generating under-development in dependent States....(or) a progressive force which tends to develop productive forces on a world scale." They complain that there is little detailed discussion of specifice cases based on any reliable documentation , but I suspect that this is an artefact of the English-dominated academic system.

Most analysis of imperialism is in the literatures of the anti-imperialist movements. Having said this , they go on to document the Anglo-Irish negotiations of 1947 in such a way as to conclude that neither model of imperialism holds in the Irish case.

This is just not good enough, especially when at the end of the day one is left with the impression that the 'main enemy' is the protectionist Irish bourgeoisie , feeding a common fallacy of the contemporary Irish Left.......
(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

OCTOBER 10th 1969 :

" The Commissioner , Mr Wymes, called at my request and we discussed the problems and I undertook to seek the Minister's approval for a strengthening of the 'S Branch' by thirty men ; the Commissioner made no demur of any kind and seemed satisfied that the 'S Branch' were on top of their job and were adopting the right course."

OCTOBER 14th 1969 :

" The Minister , Mr O Morain , called at my request and I told him of my discussions with the police. I urged an increase of 30 in the 'S Branch' strength and more money for electronic equipment , to which he readily agreed and I informed the Commissioner. Months later I was to hear that the job of watching the bank robbers was allotted to the ordinary crime squad , with an addition of 16 men , none of whom was familiar with the Saor Éire set-up. The switch was due to local police friction in Dublin Castle......."
(MORE LATER).

AN ENGLISH QUEEN IN IRELAND IN 1849.....

Queen Victoria of England was of German descent : she was born in 1819, at the Kensington Palace, to Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent. In 1849 , as now , various Irish political seoinín wanted to be seen 'mixing' with those that they viewed as being in a similar 'Class' to themselves , and invited the woman to Ireland for a visit.....

"In the very midst of all this havoc, in August, 1849, her Majesty's Ministers thought the coast was clear for a Royal Visit. The Queen had long wished, it was said, to visit her people of Ireland; and the great army of persons, who, in Ireland, are paid to be loyal, were expected to get up the appearance of rejoicing......one Mr O'Reilly, indeed, of South Great George's Street, hoisted on the top of his house a large black banner, displaying the crownless Harp; and draped his windows with black curtains, showing the words Famine and Pestilence: but the police burst into his house, viciously tore down the flag and the curtains, and rudely thrust the proprietor into gaol......
'The Freemans Journal' newspaper says, that on passing through Parkgate Street, Mr James Nugent, one of the Guardians of the North Union, approached the royal carriage, which was moving rather slowly, and, addressing the Queen, said: 'Mighty Monarch, pardon Smith O'Brien.' Before, however, he had time to get an answer, or even to see how her Majesty received the application, Lord Clarendon rode up and put him aside....."
(More here....)

Also then , as now , protests against the visit of an English 'queen' will be held and , like Mr James Nugent (above) , Republican Sinn Féin will be hoping to 'have a word in her ear....'.
This blog will be only too happy to publicise such protests , so watch this space....
Thanks,
Sharon.