"IRELAND IS TO GREAT TO BE UNCONNECTED WITH US...."

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.


I recited the background to the case against me to the jury ; I told them of the continuous clashes between militant Republicans and the State forces and I emphasised "militant Republicans" in hopes they would think I had the IRA in mind. I asked the jury not to take sides in those clashes as the government had no right to involve them and told them that the way for them to keep out of it all was to find me not guilty , that it should not concern them whether, in fact , I did those things charged against me , as I had done all sorts of things in this agitation.

Roused by some adventurous words carelessly spoken by me , Judge Hanna suggested I should make a statement on oath , and I leaned towards the jury and said - "I forgot he was listening to us". I think that interruption helped me , and the foreman of the jury, an intelligent man named McGuire, was also likely a good help - I breathed easier when I saw him settle in his place in the jury box without challenge. The jury found me not guilty , but McCool and the others were still on remand in Sligo Jail. They were finally brought before the Dublin Central Criminal Court and this time the State had no trouble in getting a verdict : they were sentenced to a year's imprisonment.

All this time I suffered considerable annoyance from the police - a 'Public Safety Act' gave them a free hand to arrest members of the IRA on whim and it is likely that there were specific instructions to use those powers to make things difficult for certain individuals. Many young men in Dublin went through a bad time , being arrested on their way to work and held for a couple of hours or on their way back from lunch and police would visit their place of work and endanger their jobs.

Members of general headquarters staff usually dodged arrest for their work was secret and they had a wide choice of motor-cars from friendly people , but my work was open and I was picked up almost daily , so I got into the habit of taking my work with me and I wrote articles for 'An Phoblacht' and chapters of a novel while in custody. Uniformed gardai and I always got on very well , and I remember once in Dungloe when my few hours' detention was at an end and I was told I was free , I asked a guard would somebody bring me a cup of tea as I was in a great mood for work and wanted to use it up. I was writing a chapter for the book 'Adrigoole' and I got the tea!(MORE LATER).


THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

Following her release, Roisin McConnell received medical care and was subsequently admitted to the psychiatric ward in Letterkenny General Hospital , where she spent almost two and a half months as a result of her ordeal, which her family says has left her "completely traumatised".

She claims her arrest and the subsequent interrogation terrified her, and following her release from hospital she claims the harrassment continued - "In April 1997, we were in bed and at about a quarter to twelve at night a knock came to our door. Mark got up and answered the door. I could hear my husband speaking to 'Garda A' at the door and I heard Mark saying to him 'We are innocent people' ". Mark McConnell told 'Garda A' that his wife was just out of hospital. Roisin's statement says : " 'Garda A' said 'Guilt put her in there' " and, following the departure of the garda, Roisin took her child to her mother-in-law's house "because I was terrified to stay in my house".

In statements seen by 'Magill' , Roisin McConnell says that in July of that year, 'Garda A' approached the McConnells and that 'Garda A' "came over to Mark and whispered something in his ear. He then took out his notebook and started writing in it. I asked him what he was writing and another garda said 'He can write whatever he likes'. I said you are right, he can write whatever he likes. 'Garda A' then said 'Mrs McConnell, would you like to be arrested?' " She said she and her husband then walked away. She claims there were other witnesses to this incident. (MORE LATER).


27TH FEBRUARY 1916 : PADRAIC PEARSE AND AUSTIN STACK.



"When visiting Tralee on 27 February 1916 Patrick Pearse informed Austin Stack that plans had been prepared by the IRB's military council for an insurrection, that arms were to be landed at Fenit pier on Easter Sunday/Monday, that the Tralee Volunteers were to be responsible for this operation, and that the landed arms were to be used firstly to arm the Kerry Volunteers and then to be distributed to the Clare, Cork, Galway, and Limerick Volunteers. Subsequently Stack secretly and meticulously prepared for the operation. However, unaware that the Aud was arriving three days earlier than the scheduled date (23 April), he failed to make contact with it. His carefully prepared arrangements were further upset by the unexpected arrival of Sir Roger Casement on Banna Strand on Good Friday morning and his subsequent arrest. That evening Stack, on the pretext of wishing to consult a comrade detained by the RIC, walked into the police barracks....."(from here).

That meeting between Pearse and Stack took place 97 years ago today (27th February) to confirm arrangements for an event which, within six years of it having taken place, was to change the place of Ireland within the then dominant 'British Empire'. And as big and powerful as that 'Empire' was , it still valued Ireland , if only because it viewed us a 'back door' into the belly of the beast : on December 3rd , 1784 , for instance, the then British Duke of Rutland was discussing this very subject with C.T. Grenville when the latter replied to a question about Ireland from the former - "Ireland is too great to be unconnected with us, and too near us to be dependant on a foreign state, and too little to be independent." In 1798 , 1803 , 1848 ,1867 and 1916 , that 'connection' had been challenged , in arms, and is still being tested to this day. Irish men and women of that same calibre will assemble on Monday 1st April 2013 at the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street to commemorate those men and women. Details re same will be posted here in the next week or so.....


'GROUP OF EIGHT' WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS TO ESTABLISH TEMPORARY BASE IN IRELAND....


The interests of big business - that is , how to manufacture more at less financial cost and sell it for a bigger profit margin to those who can't afford it by paying those who sell it a wage that cannot be lived on - are just some of the anti-people issues that will be discussed at an Irish venue on Monday and Tuesday , 17th and 18th June this year. Such a meeting could be a worthy exercise were it being held to discuss world hunger , political corruption , the 'sale' of health and education resources to the highest bidder etc but that's not its objective : the 'Captains of Industry' intend to lay the foundations for your family budget with the bottom line being how best they can financially profit from selling you the utilities you need to survive.

A group of Irish people are organising their own summit in the hope of offering a counter-balance to the above-mentioned madness and deserve to be supported in their endeavours : your support will , at the very least, signal your opposition to the continuing 'adventures' of the white-collared criminals that now have the upper hand. If you can't physically support this alternative summit , please spread the message it conveys and share the link.


A 'MANOR' IN WHICH TO TREAT THE HOMELESS.


Invite the 'G8' and ignore the 'fruits of their labour'.
This is typical of the attitude of the 'Ruling Elite' in this God-awful State , despite the facts being common knowledge : the victims in this instance do not picket , protest or vote and , in the main, they are not tax payers nor have they organised themselves into a body (as much good as that would do them, considering the enemy that has pitted itself against them) but they are members of this society and they deserve some dignity. And that's part of the problem - they are hoping for a hand-up from the most undignified and unsavoury collection of characters in this State , who are divested of moral reference points , save the one relating to their own well-being. Most of us are only one or two bills away from that scenario , the exception being the career politician - and the only way he/she can continue to be 'a class apart' is by using their position to feather their own nest at the expense of society as a whole. But it doesn't have to be that way.....


THIS IS A RIGHT COD......



This remains an issue of concern for those of us who eat meat in that not only are we not sure where the meat came from but concerns have been raised as to not only if the burger/steak in the package bears any association to the label on that package but questions have been raised as to it being meat at all ?

The same concerns are apparently now beginning to surface (pardon the pun!) in relation to another popular foodstuff : fish. And, in my opinion, this sleight-of-hand (which is what it is , at the very least [if not outright fraud], meat or fish) is done for the same reason - greed. Much bigger profit margins in selling horsemeat as 'beef' and selling Patagonian toothfish as 'Chilean sea bass'. And, again in my opinion, this 'sharp practice' is due to human nature , and results from a moral decline in values which is tolerated by a people who appear to be in a 'coma'. Instead of asking how they can prevent such 'short cuts' , most people seem to ask how they, too , can join the 'short cutters' in making a quick buck , regardless of any health or moral implications involved in doing so. It's a sick symptom of a sick society.


ROYAL IRISH REPUBLICANS...


"Are you willing to become the new Royal Irish Constabulary....?"

....a question which Irish republicans have had to put to former comrades many times (...and here) during this on-going struggle and one which is still being asked to this day : the answer received , verbally, is a weak 'no' but , physically, it's a resounding 'YES , if the price is right...'

At least one such 'offer' was made publicly to Irish republicans by a high-ranking Free State official , a most unpleasant and arrogant person who presumed that his 'standing' in his community would be enough to 'carry the day' - but he was not entertained and his approach was rebuffed. Others, however, appeared to have been mesmerised and flattered that the State should seemingly hold them in such high regard as to seek an audience with them and, of course, the State recognised that flaw in their political makeup and moved to take advantage of it. They allowed themselves to be directed into a political cul-de-sac , too full , by then, of their own importance to notice the withered bones underfoot of those others that had been led down that same avenue. And the financial benefits soon outweighed any remaining doubts that those ex-republicans may have had lurking in a deep recess somewhere in their hearts. Meat , fish and/or 'fowl/foul' : all acceptable "...if the price is right...".


Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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€3118 A WEEK BUT CAN'T AFFORD THE (SECOND) ROOF OVER HIS HEAD.....

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.


I made a few trips to the District Court before I was remanded for trial at the Central Criminal Court , but it wasn't too clear to me what lay ahead. I thought it likely that somebody in a position to indulge himself lost patience with me and decided to have a go at putting me out of the way for a while. I encouraged myself that District Justice Cussen did not take too serious a view of my case.

There was, however , always that nagging thought that I could get a considerable sentence - it was not that I minded jail so much, for I can always use time usefully enough but, without me, 'An Phoblacht' might lose sight of the townlands. Therein lay my worry.

Mr Hanna was a trial judge and when I was asked how I pleaded , guilty or not guilty, I remained silent and greatly to my amusement I found that this put the State to the trouble of empanelling a jury to hear evidence to determine whether I was mute of malice or by the visitation of God. I waited until the first juryman got to his seat and I spoke across to him : "Malice" , I said, "sheer malice." The waiting jurors laughed , but the senior counsel for the State pictured me to the jury as a good bit of a scoundrel who used considerable gifts to stir up trouble. In the course of his address, he read the exchange of messages between the landlord's agent and me, quoting from 'An Phoblacht' , and he was taken aback when the jury laughed.

When the State rested its case and my turn came, I explained to the jurors that refusing to recognise the court simply meant that I didn't recognise "the lad in the wig". But I did recognise the jury, however, as they were neighbours of mine and I had a word to say to them....(MORE LATER).


THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.


The other named garda "then got photographs of the body of Richie Barron and started to push them into my face and made me look at them. While this was going on, 'Garda A' then started to call me "the Devil" and told me I was Satan. He also told me that Richie Barron was going to come back and haunt me and told me that my husband was having an affair with [named female]. 'Garda A' spat on the wall and he made me bless myself and pray to my dead father.

He said he would say a prayer to Richie Barron and then said to me that I ask my father to tell the truth. All this went on for about two hours between six and eight o'clock in the evening. 'Garda A' told me that I was going to get stabbed in Raphoe town and that he would come and spit on my grave. He then lifted his leg and farted."

Following her release, the custody officer asked if she had any complaints, and she complained that 'Garda A' and the other garda had assaulted her, shoving her from shoulder to shoulder around the interview room. She says the custody officer did not take any written note of her complaint but was "smirking" at the time. The female officer arranged for her to be collected from the station and that while in the room , this female officer said "For what it's worth, I believe you."(MORE LATER).


IRISH REPUBLICANS TO COMMEMORATE THE CLONMULT MARTYRS.

The 14 IRA Volunteers that died as a result of the Clonmult massacre in February 1921 will be commemorated on Sunday 24th February 2013.


On the 20th February 1921 , IRA Captain James P. Aherne and Volunteer James Glavin , two members of an IRA 'Flying Squad' that was based in Cork, watched as one of their number headed off on a short stroll from the cottage they were in to a near-by stream to collect water for the IRA Squad : a poacher , an ex-British Army man, was on the far side of the stream laying traps for rabbits when he spotted the man , whom he knew to be an IRA member, and watched as the IRA man filled as many buckets as he could carry and observed as the Volunteer headed to the near-by cottage. The poacher reported the sighting to the local RIC and they , in turn , called-in a Black and Tan murder gang. The cottage was soon surrounded by these armed pro-British thugs. Twelve I.R.A. Volunteers were killed and another two were executed later :

Captain James Aherne from Cobh County Cork was killed while jumping a fence 200 yards from the house.

Volunteer Jeremiah Aherne, from Midleton, County Cork ,was killed in action.

Volunteer Liam Aherne, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer Donal Dennehy, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer David Desmond, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer Michael Desmond, from Midleton, County Cork, was killed while attempting to fight his way back into the house.

Volunteer James Glavin, from Cobh, County Cork, was killed during the fighting.

Volunteer Michael Hallahan, from Midleton, County Cork, killed in action.

Volunteer Richard Hegarty, from Garryvoe, County Cork, killed in front of the house when attempting to go for aid.

Volunteer John Joe Joyce, from Midleton, County Cork, killed while attempting to re-gain entry to the farm house.

Volunteer Maurice Moore, from Cobh, County Cork, was captured during the Ambush,and was later executed at Cork Military Barracks on April 28th 1921.

Volunteer Joseph Morrissey, from Athlone, County Westmeath, killed during the fighting.

Volunteer Christopher O'Sullivan, from Midleton, County Cork, killed during the fighting.

Volunteer Paddy O'Sullivan, from Cobh, County Cork, was captured and was later executed at Cork Military Barracks, on April 28th 1921.

The memorial at the site of the original farmhouse.

The graves at Midleton cemetery of the men who died at Clonmult.

The Clonmult Martyrs Commemoration Committee will pay tribute to those brave IRA Volunteers on Sunday , 24th February 2013 : those attending are asked to assemble at the Courthouse , Main Street, Midleton , County Cork , at 2.30pm from where the 90-minute commemoration will begin. All genuine republicans are welcome!


SIX FOOT OF CONCRETE - 21ST FEBRUARY 1976 :

Frank Stagg's coffin was hijacked in February 1976 by the then Free State Fine Gael and Labour administration.

Exhumed in glory a November moon was drifting

And freedom’s light aglow

When some IRA had gathered in a graveyard in Mayo.

Those brave Irish Freedom fighters

Who came together in the West

Had come to fill the promise to lay Frank Stagg at rest.

Frank Stagg had begun his fourth (and final) hunger strike in late 1975 - having been convicted under the notorious British Conspiracy Laws - as it was the only 'weapon' he had at his disposal with which to impress on his British captors his desire to be repatriated to Ireland. He died, blind and weighing just four stone, in Wakefield Prison on 12th February 1976, after 62 days on hunger strike.

His remains were hijacked by suited, uniformed and armed members of the State , acting under orders from FS Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and his 'Justice' Minister, Paddy Cooney - the airplane carrying his coffin was diverted from Dublin to Shannon and, when it landed, the Special Branch surrounded it and forcibly removed the coffin and buried it, supported by an armed escort, under six feet of concrete in Leigue Cemetery in Ballina, County Mayo , in a grave purchased by the Free Staters and which was located about 70 meters from the Republican Plot in that cemetery.

For the following six months, armed State operatives maintained a heavy presence in the graveyard to prevent Irish republicans from affording Frank Stagg a proper burial but they were not the only group keeping a watch on the grave : the IRA were aware of their presence and , after the Staters withdrew, the IRA made their move: on the night of November 5th, 1976, the IRA disinterred Frank Stagg’s remains and reburied them with his comrade, Michael Gaughan.

When questioned in Leinster House about this sordid affair, its 'Director' , Paddy Cooney , stated - "The persistent attempts by members of an unlawful organisation and their associates to exploit the situation that arose are well known and, indeed, notorious. Because of this and because also of certain obligations of confidentiality, I must decline to make any comment on the question of the choice of burial place...."

The "question of the choice of burial place" was, thankfully, not one that was left to Cooney and his thugs to decide.


FINE WORDS, AND WELL-DELIVERED : IT'S THE SOURCE THAT IS SUSPECT.


Abused , exploited and escorted by the State : "residents" (inmates) from a Magdalene Asylum (as they were more commonly referred to) in Dublin, pictured whilst attending a Catholic religious festival in 1960.


Should be no need to explain this issue to any reader as it has been in the news here for weeks in relation to the 'will-he-won't-he-apologise' speculation engaged in by the media. And he did , in a well-timed and expertly choreographed move, no doubt designed by his overpaid taxpayer-funded spin doctors , whom had obviously learned a lesson from the manner in which a different Fine Gaeler had publicly treated (and threatened) another victim of the State.

As soon as some other issue distracts the public and the media, and the spotlight fades from the Magdalene women, this Fine Gael and Labour State coalition will quietly attempt a divide-and-conquer strategy with the women ie 'play' one off the other and place every legal obstacle they can in the path of these State victims ever obtaining proper justice. Words are cheap and, when you know you are going to get politically annihilated at the next election due to the economic terrorism you have inflicted on the electorate, you have nothing to lose by sobbingly latching-on to a 'hot topic' and promising that it is your intention to 'do the right thing'.

As with Bridget McCole, it's nothing personal : it's just business, Free State-style. Your place is at the bottom of the Ivory Tower and how dare you attempt to challenge those in it. That's just the way this place operates. Those victims of the Magdalene Asylums will come to realise that in time.


GERRY SHOULD HAVE ASKED AENGUS OR SEÁN FOR A 'DIG OUT'(....or offered them one!).......

Flies business class to America for an operation which was , he claimed, financially out of his reach whilst maintaining a holiday home he can't afford to keep.


PSF's Seán Crowe and, if you look carefully, you'll see the gravy train in the background....


Aengus Ó Snodaigh, on the ball when it comes to saving himself money - and claiming it....


In 2012 , Aengus joined an elite 'inner circle' of Leinster House reps who claimed €770 each a week in travel and expenses (on top of their salary of €1,920 a week) - Catherine Byrne (FG) , Eric Byrne (Labour) and Joan Collins (ULA).

Seán Crowe (PSF Leinster House member for the Tallaght, Dublin, area), not to be outdone in the 'I'm worth it, too...'-stakes, also pocketed €770 a week in travel and expenses (on top of his salary of €1,920 a week) in 2012: that's a drain on the State taxpayer of €2,690 a week , every week, for each of those named above and some even awarded themselves more than that, including the above-mentioned Gerry Adams who, last year, collected a taxpayer-funded weekly salary of €1,920 and also collected 'expenses' of €1,198 a week on top of that salary - a weekly total of €3,118 !

It's obviously not enough , as he's having money worries to the extent that he may not be able to keep his holiday home (despite having the financial wherewithal to remortgage the four-bedroomed property last November) and he is dependent on rich supporters to bail him out, health-wise. To ease his burden, we have set-up an account into which you, the reader, can donate (preferably US Dollars , but he won't refuse any currency) :




Those without a 'PayPal' account can click here to donate. Much appreciated.....

Also ,Mr Adams is right to say that he needs to apologise for past actions, not the least of which was his attempt to publicly hijack Irish republicanism in 1986 (he spent the three years prior to that year working towards that objective , 'inhouse') but , due to the hard work of genuine Irish republicans, Adams only succeeded in exposing himself as just another constitutional nationalist hiding under a republican banner and others of that ilk , both from within the then Sinn Féin organisation and outside of it, rushed to join him in his 'new' enterprise. Come to think of it , an apology would not suffice.


Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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HAVE TROTSKY'S AND FASCISTS 'THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD....?'

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

The Governor of the jail, a man named Faulkner, was an understanding sort of person - I was working on a novel at the time and he made no difficulty at all about letting me send manuscripts out for typing. The prison doctor, Dr. Hackett, delayed for a chat with me, every now and then and he asked me once to promise him that when "my lot" came to power , we would not raze Mountjoy Prison to the ground but use it as a TB sanatorium.

He told me he got near-miracles of cures in the prison hospital and that some imponderable was involved - the good effect of regular hours, food and sleep incidental to jail discipline just did not explain it. The prison chaplin called on me once, but he wasn't at ease with me and all I recall of him was his intelligent , homespun sermons and a word of advice he gave prisoners one Sunday : there was no good in their coming to him to ask him to get them released and the way to get out of Mountjoy Jail was to stay out when you were out.

I did not meet the Protestant parson, although I asked one of the warders to let me know sometime he was in the wing. I wondered if he was the same, puzzled, friendly man who smuggled messages in and out for a few of us in 1922 and 1923.....(MORE LATER).


THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

Roisin McConnell was then questioned by a number of other named gardai, including a female officer. She said : "These three gardai questioned me but didn't abuse me in any way." A named detective ('Detective B') then joined the three gardai and, according to her statement, 'Detective B' "said to me that my husband Mark was 'a big fat pussycat' and that him and Frank McBrearty Jnr , who he referred to as 'Rambo', went up the road that night and killed Richie Barron. He asked me a question and when I answered he said 'You are like an IRA woman'.

At around 5pm, 'Garda A' returned to the interview room : Roisin McConnell's statement says - "He said to me 'Did you not confess yet' and I just looked at him. He then said 'That murdering bitch deserves a cell'. The interview room door was left open when 'Garda A' was saying these things to me". Roisin McConnell was then taken to an upstairs interview room in Letterkenny Garda Station and, on the way there, she saw her mother, Anna Quinn, standing in the hallway. She was allowed to spend 20 minutes with her in the upstairs interview room, following which she was returned to the first interview room.

Mrs Quinn told Roisin that her sister Edel had also been arrested on the same charge. On her return to the first interview room , she was questioned by a female garda, who was then joined by 'Garda A' and another garda. Her statement to the Carty Inquiry says - " I was sitting on a chair and 'Garda A' pushed me and told me to get up. I then got up of the chair and 'Garda A' started to push me into [named garda] with his shoulder". She goes on to state that this was witnessed by the female officer, who then left the room. She says that the two men continued to "push me between them with their shoulders...."(MORE LATER).


"THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD.......



.....DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY."(From here.)

Following in the 'foot-in-mouth' footprints of Jack O' Connor, his colleague in the trade union leadership , the general secretary of the 'Irish Congress of Trade Union' , David Begg, has attempted to distance himself from not only the people he professes to represent but from one of the main concerns of those people - the property tax.

Mr Begg was asked if the ICTU would be campaigning against the State property tax and he replied that they would not be joining any such campaign as that tax "....is something which was enacted by the parliament....that’s a democratic decision...our business is not to interfere with that..." and went further 'native' by describing those who are campaigning against this tax as "trotskyist groups" ! Not an altogether surprising attitude, I suppose, when you take into account the fact that the man is paid a salary of €2,862 a week and is in receipt of other cash (and material) incomes.

This blog would suggest to Messrs Begg and O'Connor that, on retiring from their positions as 'leaders of the working class' they set-up a 'Government Consulting Service' through which they could sell advice to their equally overpaid colleagues in Leinster House in relation to dealing with those pesky 'fascist and trotskyist groups' whose members are trying to survive on the dole or on a wage that is just as valueless as the dole. They may not physically work out of an ivory tower (at least not in the first few months of their new adventure) but mentally and morally they are there already.


NEVER SEND A MAN OUT.....

....TO DO A WOMAN'S JOB !

Good weekend all round - us Dubs hammered Kerry , we Irish lashed the Brits out of it at the rugby and CABHAIR was the overall winner at the monthly raffle !

The hotel we were in for the raffle on Sunday 10th February last was so full of sports fans that two fairly large canopies were set-up in the car park (it never stopped raining all day!) into which large screen televisions were fitted , heaters installed and platters of food supplied to plus , of course, lounge boys and girls were jobbed to work the crowds in them. As well as the Aston Villa , West Ham , Man U , Everton , Mayo , Tyrone , Dub and Kerry fans, we raffle workers had dozens of kids to contend (!) with in our battle to hold a raffle amongst all the madness - and hold it we did, somehow, raising a decent few bob for CABHAIR in the process.

When we eventually got things underway, our first winner , 'Top Cat' , from Dublin - who won €200 on ticket number 528 - was so delighted to have won that he immediately handed over thirty euros to Melissa, the lounge girl, who had pulled his ticket from the drum , thus causing her to scream in delight in chorus with 'Top Cat' who was loudly congratulating himself , us , Melissa and Aston Villa all at the same time! After a few false starts, we finally managed to get him to pull the second ticket for us and, amidst loud cheers, a lovely young woman from Clondalkin (....my home town, where all us young women are lovely!) , Keisha, walked slowly and shyly towards us, holding the winning ticket stub - number 120 , worth €100, which she couldn't believe , to the extent that she got a wee bit flustered and had to be 'rescued' by her brother - whom we immediately jobbed into pulling the third prize - €40 - for us : and up from the back of Canopy #2 came James H , from Athlone, County Westmeath, with the winning ticket stub (number 368) and he in turn got us to the half-way mark by picking ticket number 488 as the winner of the fourth prize , which was won by Tina N , from County Clare. A clearly delighted Tina then pulled ticket number 67 from the drum, which was sold by our Anto to a lady punter, Shauna S who, as winner of our fifth prize, collected €20 for herself.

Shauna dipped her hand into the drum and removed ticket 191 as the sixth prize (€20), which was won by David, who had bought the ticket from one of our regular sellers , Owen, and then David picked out ticket number 221 as our second-last winner , which went to another 'resident' of canopy #2 , Eileen B. from Wicklow , who assured us that that was the first thing she had ever won and that she wouldn't be opening the envelope - instead, she said, it was going to be framed behind glass and kept as a lucky charm! Before she headed off to 'Frames-R-Us', Eileen ensured that a Dublin team fan , Linda L. , from Drimnagh, had an extra €20 in her purse (to celebrate the Dubs winning!) by picking her ticket , number 119, from the raffle drum , as our last prize.

Despite the heavy rain , we managed to enjoy ourselves and have a bit of craic , make eight people a bit happier and make some money for our POW's and their families. Well done to all of us and a special congrats to the CABHAIR organisation, for putting the whole show together!


NOT A CASE OF 'BETTER LATE THAN NEVER'.

"I'll stand beside you, shake your hand, work for and with your administration in the north-east of Ireland....but I'll not share a bottle with ya!"

What a plonker !

Having surrendered his claimed political principles and, with them, his (alleged) opposition to British rule in Ireland, Martin McGuinness has been reduced to doing a 'runner' out a side entrance rather than be photographed toasting the health of the same British 'queen' he queued to meet and was proud to be seen shaking hands with.

It's far too late now for the man to try and salvage any self respect in relation to his dealings with that woman and, apart from any other considerations he may occasionally suffer from regarding (self-inflicted) situations of that nature , he should also realise that such behaviour is not approved of in the circles in which Deputy First MInister McGuinness now mixes and is unlikely to advance his political career. Drive ya to drink, so it would.....


ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE.....

Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead , Lord Sir Gerard Adams, pictured in the servants quarters of his house.....

Not to be outshone by his fellow pet rebel (reference McGuinness piece, above) , Martin's mentor, Gerry Adams , discovered that whilst Martin couldn't get out of a building quick enough, he was (apparently) unable to get into one and, just like Martin, Gerry wanted as many people/voters as possible to know about it!

In a piece which someone in the PSF PR Department (...would have been better illustrated by the use of a corgi pic - Ed) concocted, the 'Lock Out' story was used to highlight the fact that, on Wednesday 6th February last, Mr Adams opened a 'Twitter' account. However , as with his 'Locked In' story, it would be wise to sample his 'broken downpipe' discomfort with a large pinch of salt. And then slate (!) your thirst with a glass of wine....!


GAMEKEEPER TURNED POACHER - AND RIGHTLY SO.



Mary Ann Wright (above) was a US Army Colonel (and also worked, politically, for the U.S. State Department , where she received an 'Award for Heroism') until ten years ago when she lost a battle - with her conscience. She served in that military position in Nicaragua, Grenada, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone, Micronesia and Mongolia in between which she studied for, and obtained, a Master's and a law degree and was also employed by the U.S. Foreign Service.

This proud women will be in Dublin to speak about her experiences and if you can make it to the venue it would be appreciated by the lady herself and by the organisers : if you can't get there, then please spread the word about the event. You may not be afforded a second chance to see such a genuine American hero on Irish soil.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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TRADE UNION "FASCISTS" TO MARCH IN DUBLIN ON SATURDAY 9TH FEB 2013....

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

Within this overtone of gloom there is an alert, furtive world where men parade their vanities, indulge their truculence, bully, fawn, curse, pray ; a side-of-the-mouth existence that is unsettling. I wandered through that strange world questing, and questioning. Prisoners like having a Republican loose among them, and they say warders behave better when we are around. For their part the warders and I talked freely and they gave me word etchings of some of the prisoners that were revealing both of warder and prisoner.

The little vanities that make men important manifest themselves in a sharpened way in jails. I once hurt a young man very much by advising him to give up his silly practice of pinching things from motorcars, and other light-fingered exercises of which he boasted, on the grounds that no man should choose such a way of living unless he had gifts that would enable him to excel in it.

He could never excel in this trade, for he had not the cold nerve it called for and I was startled when he broke down and cried. My pal among the prisoners was a shapeless, poor body, so twisted by his deformity that all he had to do was sit on the pavement and money fell from heaven into his cap - he told me he took as much as thirty pounds on the day of an All-Ireland final and, once I got my ears sharpened to his half-articulated words, I often hunkered beside him to probe into the strange world of the beggar. I came on him only once afterwards in the outside world : he was sprawled on the footpath beside his cap, his pushed-out eyes fixed on me, but he did not let on to know me until I squatted down beside him, and then his whole body danced and he beat the kerb with his hand. It was just that he was glad to see me.(MORE LATER).

THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

According to a statement made by Roisin McConnell, she was then driven towards Letterkenny and, on the journey, she claims that "Garda 'A' (a named garda) started to roar in my face that 'it was a vicious murder' and 'it was animals done it' ." She said - "When we arrived at Letterkenny Garda Station I got out of the car and Garda 'A' asked me if I believed in God and I said I did." Mrs McConnell says that at the station, she was taken to an interview room by Garda 'A' and another named garda.

She claims that after an hour , Garda 'A' wrote out a statement detailing her whereabouts on the night Richie Barron died. Following this, McConnell's solicitor was allowed a visit and in her presence he asked Garda 'A' for a copy of both this unsigned statement and an earlier statement made by Roisin McConnell on the day Richie Barron was buried. Initially, Garda 'A' agreed to provide the solicitor with copies of the statements but following his return to the interview room he refused to do so, giving no reason, according to McConnell.

When her solicitor left , McConnell remained in the interview room with Garda 'A' and another named garda. In a statement later made to the Carty Inquiry , McConnell said - " Garda 'A' then said to me 'You are going to do seven years in jail if you don't tell me what happened that night'. " McConnell also stated that "...they also told me that my child would be taken off me and put into custody. He also told me that Frank McBrearty was sitting back and laughing at all of us that was arrested....."(MORE LATER).

6TH FEBRUARY 1971 - 6TH FEBRUARY 2013.

"And the radio said, 'There's another shot dead, and he died with a gun in his hand....' "

British Army Gunner Robert Curtis.

On 6th February 1971, the British Army entered the New Lodge area of Belfast in County Antrim to 'assert their authority' by raiding houses and stopping and searching people in the streets. The residents defended themselves as best they could but it was not until (P)IRA operatives in that area challenged them that they stopped harassing the civilians. During one gunfight between the British Army and the (P)IRA, BA Gunner Robert Curtis (20), from 156 (Inkerman) Battery (94 Locating Regiment) of the British Royal Regiment of Artillery, was shot dead and four of his armed colleagues were wounded.

(P)IRA member Billy Reid.

Billy Reid (32) of 'C Company', Third Battalion , Belfast Brigade (P)IRA , is reported to have shot and killed BA Gunner Curtis and was himself shot dead by the British Army on 15th May 1971.

The difference between both men , apart from their age, of course, is the objective they were fighting for : the foreign gunman (Curtis) was part of an unwanted occupying army in a country which, other than the political and military requirements of his superiors, he had no link to whereas the soldier who killed him , Billy Reid, was engaged in a battle to defend his community and his country. And although some of those that once supported the methods and objectives of that Irish soldier have now 'engaged' the enemy in a manner dictated (and favoured) by that enemy, there are, thankfully, others who continue their opposition to that unwanted presence. This blog has no time for the former -we have seen their type come and go (with a State pension) over the years- but we are firmly in support of the latter. Billy Reid's objective remains to be fulfilled.

TRADE UNION "FASCISTS" TO MARCH IN DUBLIN AGAIN !

THIS -

- IS WHAT'S NEEDED BUT.....

....THIS IS ALL THE TRADE UNIONS ARE DOING.

This whole country, north, south, east and west, should be brought to a standstill regularly by the trade union leadership in opposition to the cutbacks imposed on the workers and the unemployed by those in Leinster House and Stormont : holding street protests every so often is a welcome development but it's not enough. As stated before, such protests, necessary as they are, are not in themselves enough and are used by the TU leadership as a means by which they can project themselves as 'doing their bit' and, in the process, secure their own cushy and overpaid positions. They have a history of leading their people up the hill only to march them back down again but they will, hopefully , only get away with that for so long. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people are now having the ground - the 'hill' - pulled from under them by the savage cuts and extra taxes imposed on them by both Leinster House and Stormont and - again, hopefully - when they have no more 'ground' to give they will be forced to make a stand. With TU support or not.

'WORK' FOR A LIVING.....

.....WHAT 'FORE' ?

Disastrous news for democracy and a killer-blow to freedom-loving people the world over : a true champion of the underclass, 'Peacemaker' Martin McAleese, has decided to revert to his role as a 'shadow' and give up his job (!) as a 'senator'. He will receive a severance lump sum payment of just under €11,000 which his wife , Mary (pictured here - the 'royal' on the left. In picture only...) could barely manage to exist on - she is in receipt of a State pension of €13,562 a month (€3,390 a week) for the rest of her life , in payment for lighting candles in the window of a big house whilst ensconced in same as 'First Citizen' of this bankrupt wee Statelet.

Martin has decided to spend some time - possibly a year - in Rome, with his wife, because he feels "drained" after doing paperwork for a year-and-a-half. Poor man. Anyway - we doubt whether two such high-maintenance people will be able to get by on €3,390 a week between them (after the 'lump sum' is gone) and, with that in mind, we have set up this account through which you can contribute to the (continued) financial well-being of this deserving couple. They, in turn, will light a candle in a window in your honour......

YOU ALMOST HAVE TO BE IN THE 'CLICK' TO GET A TICKET !

....no, don't bother : the 'click' doesn't work and anyway there ARE no tickets left !

Another 'Second Sunday' Irish republican 650-ticket raffle looms this coming weekend (Sunday 10th) and the last 30 tickets for it were left with the floor manager in the hotel venue on Sunday 3rd, as requested by the man himself - having already sold his regular supply of 40 !

And he was decent enough to let us know that they are expecting a good crowd because of the sports fixtures taking place that day - Aston Villa are taking on West Ham and then Manchester United will be kicking balls at Everton and then all those teams and their fans will be playing against some outfits from Bord Na Mona in finals after which some lads from Mayo will be doing battle against a team from Tyrone , the winners of which will take on Kerry. Or maybe it was Dublin he said ? Something along those lines, anyway, but it means a packed house and the usual chaos for us !

So even if these matches are dodgy, you can rest assured that the raffle isn't and,as always, we will post the results here as soon as we can and let you know what happened when Man U came up against Kerry in a Bord Na Mona field in Mayo. Or whatever......!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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'POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN DECIDING AND PRIORITISING HOSPITALS....'

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

I was brought before District Justice Cussen and I observed the usual IRA formula - I refused to recognise the court. The State asked for a remand for a week and Cussen, the kindly man, took the unusual step of asking to see my wife after the court adjourned to say he didn't like the idea of sending me to Mountjoy Jail and would she please explain to me that all he wanted from me was my word that I would turn up there that day week. No bail , just my word.

I could not avail myself of this neighbourly offer, so Mountjoy Jail again it had to be , and ghost-rich 'D Wing' at that : it was to this Wing that the Four Courts Garrison was brought in 1922. I found the experience of sharing the prison van that shuttled from the jail to the district court and back , with men on remand on a great variety of charges, intensely interesting ; occasionally strangely disturbing. Scared men are pathetic and the man in trouble for the first time for an act not sanctioned from within himself is a scared man.

There were those who took things lightly , of course, but each man was pretty well alone with his thoughts , and there was no buoyancy left in any of them to sustain him in the presence of the jailer. By and by they would find odd ways of sharing life together , but the numbness of the early days had to wear off first , as there is a climate of oppression which derives from the sense of defeat in the prisoners themselves.....(MORE LATER).

THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW......

Roisin McConnell claims she was abused, called "a murdering bitch" , "Satan" and "the Devil". She claims gardai told her that her child would be taken away, that her husband was having an affair, that she would "do seven years in jail" and that she was "going to get stabbed". A named garda told her that when this happened, he would spit on her grave, she says.

By Sandra Mara. From 'Magill' Annual 2002.

Roisin, wife of Mark McConnell , was also arrested , despite the fact that several gardai at a pre-arrest conference in Letterkenny Garda Station had expressed their concern about their powers of arrest of the wife of a suspect "after the fact" and indeed, about the legality of her arrest.

On the morning of the 4th December 1996 , Roisin McConnell , the 36-year-old mother of a young baby, left home at Tullyvinney, Raphoe, to go to work. A workmate, Lorna O' Donnell from Rusky, gave her and another friend, Marie Pearson, a lift. All three women headed off to work at the 'Fruit of the Loom' factory in Raphoe and, as they drove along the road they approached Raphoe Garda Station, close to the McConnell family home.

They were surprised to see around 20 gardai and detectives on the roadway. Lorna O'Donnell's car was stopped and Garda 'A' told Roisin McConnell , who was seated in the back of the car, - "You're under arrest for the murder of Richie Barron." She was taken from the car and put into the back of a Garda car, surrounded by four gardai. Garda 'A' sat in the back with McConnell and another garda.......(MORE LATER).

30TH JANUARY 1972 - 30TH JANUARY 2013.

Derry, 1972 : seeking only civil rights as opposed to a British withdrawal...

According to British Army 'evidence' , 21 soldiers fired their weapons on 'Bloody Sunday' and shot 108 rounds between them. Two soldiers were responsible for firing a total 35 bullets - Soldier 'F' fired 13 shots and Soldier 'H' fired 22 shots and both soldiers were in the area of Glenfada Park at the time of the shooting.

The fatal shooting on 'Bloody Sunday' began at approximately 4.10pm when soldiers entered the Rossville Street area of the Bogside. However, before the fatal shooting began two people were shot and wounded in William Street at about 3.55pm. The two people were Damien Donaghey (15) and John Johnson (59). The soldiers involved, Soldier 'A' and 'B', claimed that they had come under attack from nailbombs. No other witnesses, civilian or military heard any nailbombs explode at 3.55pm. Johnson was shot twice in the incident and died on 16th June 1972. His family is convinced that he died prematurely and that his death was due to the injuries received and trauma he underwent on 'Bloody Sunday'.

Most of those shot dead on 'Bloody Sunday' were killed in four main areas: the car park (courtyard) of Rossville Flats; the forecourt of Rossville Flats (between the Flats and Joseph Place); at the rubble and wire barricade on Rossville Street (between Rossville Flats and Glenfada Park); and in the area around Glenfada Park (between Glenfada Park and Abbey Park). The following accounts look at the shootings in each of these areas in turn. It is not possible to give the exact time of any particular shooting or the exact order in which all 13 people were shot dead.

As soldiers of the Parachute Regiment entered the Bogside a number of their Humber Armoured Vehicles ('Pigs') drove into the car park (courtyard) of Rossville Flats. Alana Burke (18) and Patrick Campbell (53) were run down by two different Army vehicles as they fled across the car park. In addition to Jack Duddy (17), who was shot dead in the car park, four people were wounded by shooting: Margaret Deery (37, the only woman shot and injured on 'Bloody Sunday'), Michael Bridge (25), Michael Bradley (22) and Patrick McDaid (24).

John 'Jack' Duddy (17): Jack Duddy was killed by a single shot that passed through his upper chest from right to left and slightly forward. Four witnesses, Edward Daly, then a Catholic priest, Mrs Bonner, Mrs Duffy and Mr Tucker, all stated that Duddy was unarmed at the time he was shot and that he was running away from soldiers when he was shot. Three of these witness stated that they saw a soldier take deliberate aim at Duddy as he fled across the courtyard of Rossville Flats. Jack Duddy was probably the first person to be shot dead on 'Bloody Sunday'.

As the shooting intensified a group of people became caught in the area between Rosville Flats and the maisonnettes of Joseph Place. Pat Doherty (31) was among them and was shot as he tried to crawl to safety. Barney McGuigan (41) heard the calls of Doherty and left the relative safety of the side of Rosville Flats to go to his aid but McGuigan was shot dead within a couple of paces of where he had been. Two other people were shot and wounded in this area, Daniel McGowan (37) and Patrick Campbell (53).

Patrick 'Pat' Doherty (31): Patrick Doherty was shot from behind while trying to crawl to safety in the vicinity of the forecourt of Rossville Flats, between the Flats and Joseph Place. He was shot once and died at the scene. The bullet entered his right buttock and travelled forward and upward through his body before exiting from the left of his chest. Patrick Doherty was photographed by Gilles Peress moments before he died. The photographs showed that he was not armed. Lord Widgery concluded that he had probably been shot by Soldier 'F' (who was in Glenfada Park at the time) who claimed that Patrick Doherty had a pistol in his hand. The Saville Inquiry concluded: "3.65 ... We are sure that Lance Corporal 'F' fired at and shot Bernard McGuigan and Patrick Doherty and it is highly probable that he was also responsible for shooting the other two casualties."

Bernard 'Barney' McGuigan (41): Barney McGuigan was going to the aid of Patrick Doherty and was signalling with a white handkerchief held in his hand when he was shot dead by a single bullet through the back of his head. The bullet entered close to his left ear and exited through his right eye travelling forward and upward through his skull. He died where he fell near the corner of Rossville Flats between Rossville Street and Joseph Place. A number of eyewitnesses stated that he was unarmed.

Hugh Gilmour (17): Hugh Gilmour was shot by a single bullet that passed through his body and through his left forearm as he was running away from soldiers in Rossville Street. The bullet travelled from right to left through his chest travelling horizontally and slightly forward. A photograph of Gilmour, taken seconds after he was hit, showed that he was unarmed a fact confirmed by a number of witnesses. Gilmour was shot close to the rubble barricade but managed to run for several meters before falling to the ground at the side of Rossville Flats.

Kevin McElhinney (17): Kevin McElhinney was shot from behind, probably by Soldier 'K', as he was attempting to crawl to safety in the Rossville Flats. The bullet entered his left buttock and travelled up through his body exiting near his shoulder. Two eyewitnesses, including a Catholic priest, testified that McElhinney was unarmed. He was shot close to the front entrance of Rossville Flats, near to the rubble barricade, and was dragged inside by some people who were already sheltering there. He died almost immediately.

Michael Kelly (17): Michael Kelly died from a single shot to his abdomen, probably fired by Soldier 'F'. The bullet entered from the front and travelled backward and downward. He died within a few minutes of being shot. He was shot near the rubble barricade in front of Rossville Flats. Lord Widgery accepted that Kelly was not armed but concluded that he must have been standing close to someone who had discharged their weapon because of lead particles on Kelly's right cuff. This finding ignored the strong likelihood of contamination from soldiers who handled the bodies when they were taken to the morgue (this was true in the case of many of those killed).

John Young (17): John Young was killed by a single shot to the head at the rubble barricade on Rossville Street. The bullet entered close to his left eye and travelled backward and downward before exiting through his ribs on the left side of his back. Two eyewitnesses gave evidence to the Widgery tribunal that Young was unarmed when he was shot.

William Nash (19): William Nash was killed by a single shot to his chest near the rubble barricade in front of Rossville Flats. The bullet entered his right upper chest from the front and travelled backward and downward exiting from his lower back. He was possibly shot by Soldier P. He was killed at almost the same time and in the same circumstances as John Young. Eyewitness accounts state that Nash was unarmed and was going to the aid of someone else when he himself was shot.

Michael McDaid (20): Michael McDaid was killed by a single shot to his face at the rubble barricade in front of Rossville Flats. He probably died immediately he had been shot.

James Wray (22): James Wray was shot dead in Glenfada Park. James was shot twice, the first bullet travelled 'superficially' from right to left across his body, the second bullet entered his back and travelled from right to left. Two eyewitnesses gave evidence to the Widgery Tribunal that Wray was shot and wounded and then was shot dead, from close range, while he lay on the ground. A number of people, who were not called to give evidence to the Widgery Inquiry, stated that Wray was complaining that he was unable to move his legs when he was shot a second time and killed.

Gerald Donaghey (17): Gerald Donaghey was shot once in the abdomen, probably by Soldier 'G', but did not die at the scene. He was trying to run to safety between Glenfada Park and Abbey Park when he was shot.

Gerald McKinney (35): Gerald McKinney was also shot dead in Glenfada Park. He had been part of the group of people who were caught in Glenfada Park and who were trying to get to safety towards Westland Street. He decided to make a run for it at the same time as Gerald Donaghey who was just ahead of him. Donaghey was shot and McKinney must have seen the soldier. Two eyewitnesses stated that McKinney then raised his arms in surrender and shouted, "Don't shoot!, Don't shoot!". The trajectory of the bullet through his chest from left to right is consistent with this evidence. Had McKinney's arms not been raised the bullet would have passed through one or both arms.

William McKinney (26): William McKinney was shot dead after he left the safety of cover to try to assist Gerald McKinney (not a relation) who had been shot moments before. He was shot from behind, as he was bent over Gerald McKinney, and the bullet travelled through his chest from right to left and then through his left wrist.

As stated in the caption of the picture at the top of this piece, that Derry march was held seeking civil rights, not a British withdrawal : the former request is acceptable to some whilst others rightly demand a more sustainable solution - that of a British withdrawal.

DOLOURS PRICE 1951-2013.

REST IN PEACE.

"It is not enough to say we were born to be Republicans, it’s more precise to say Republicanism is part of our DNA....." - Dolours Price.

I met Dolours three times in the past number of years - once in Dublin , once in her native Belfast and once in Derry - and , on each occasion, I was in the company of different members of the Republican Movement and we bumped-into each other at protests/pickets in connection with three separate issues. But the one 'constant' was Dolours : a deeply committed and resolute republican activist with a sharp instinct and a genuine grá for her passion - Ireland.

The sentiments I was going to express here have already been expressed in a far more eloquent manner by another stalwart supporter of Irish Republicanism , Ruairí Ó Brádaigh , and I am proud to re-post them here :

"The untimely passing of Dolours Price is a moment in Republican history. Born into a staunch Republican household in Belfast she came under the influence of her father, Albert Price, who was active in the 1940s and was imprisoned, and her aunt Bridie Dolan who was severely injured when a grenade she was handling exploded prematurely.

With the birth of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, Dolours was to the fore in all activities. When the struggle escalated and internment without trial was brought in, she and her sister Marian joined the Republican Movement. There followed activity in London and prolonged imprisonment and hunger strike. This last development was met by force-feeding for more then 200 days until demands for relocation to the Six Counties were met, but were not implemented for more than two years.

It is certain that the brutality of the protracted force-feeding had grievous effects on Dolours both mentally and physically. It surely brought about an early release for both sisters. Dolours rejected what she saw as a ?surrender process? from the outset. When the Stormont Agreement was signed in 1998, she visited the Ard-Oifig of Republican Sinn Féin in Dublin and made her position clear. By attending the subsequent Ard-Fheis of Republican Sinn Féin she nailed her colours to the mast.

When attending the 25th anniversary in Ballina of the death on hunger strike of Frank Stagg in 2001, she spoke at the grave of an old friend and comrade, Jackie Clarke. Here she made her stand once more.

In more recent times she publicly attacked what she saw as deceit, hypocrisy and public lying in high places. She exposed it relentlessly. She saw all that as a contradiction to the mountain of sacrifice that had been made over the decades. She herself had contributed more than her share and she was outraged at the developments. Never did she participate in deceit, hypocrisy or public lying. She will be remembered : cuimhneofar ort, a Dholours.You have triumphed in the end. Sincere sympathy is expressed to her sisters Marian and Clare and to her two sons, Danny and Oscar." Slán go foill anois, a Dholours.

' THERE WAS POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN DECIDING AND PRIORITISING HOSPITALS....'

But how much does he charge for journeys to hospitals....?
Oh Really Reilly : we have mentioned the antics of Mr James Reilly before (as have others) but it seems the man still has a reckless desire to pad-out his own future by (ab) using not only his political position but taxpayers money, too. It has been remarked in some left-wing political circles that the man's political desire and his machinations to further secure his own financial future in so blatant a manner is puzzling considering that he is already a millionaire but the only element of it that I find 'puzzling' is why anyone of a socialist inclination would find it surprising that a millionaire Fine Gael/right wing politician would seek to increase his 'stakeholding' , thus ensuring an even more luxurious lifestyle and retirement for himself than he had already secured ?

The answer , in my opinion, is because of an absence of ethics on the part of the afflicted person ie greed , described by theologian Thomas Aquinas as "...a sin directly against one's neighbour, since one man cannot over-abound in external riches without another man lacking them..." . Mr Reilly probably never heard of Thomas Aquinas as there is no profit to be gained by him in doing so. We live in a sad society , as is so remarkably demonstrated by Mr Reilly and his ilk.

DEMOCRACY AT WORK : MORE OF THIS IS NEEDED.

Taxpayers in Cork demanding a voice in how their tax money is spent.

Better late than never : hopefully this protest is a sign of things to come and it will become a regular occurrence to witness citizens directly challenge their employees (ie politicians) in regards to the manner in which they pompously and arrogantly waste taxpayers money on themselves and only then consider using the left over coin to supply public services. Until such time as the corrupt political system in this State is changed for the better we need to do this. Congratulations to the organisers and to all those who took part - to quote Oscar Wilde : "Yes , I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

It would be reassuring to think that this protest and, hopefully, future protests like it, will herald a 'new Dawn'.

HORSE AND BULL FROM A COLOUR-BLIND SHIT STIRRER !

Not 'FAIR' , Willie - inverted flag and Balaclaved Burgers conspire against our Hero....

This wee blog wishes continued success (!) to the (much-deserved) misunderstood Champion of All that is Good and Proper , Willie Frazer, whom we have mentioned before in this lil' corner of cyberspace. In an attempt to capitalise on 'BurgerGate' .....

......our Willie claimed that the PIRA was ultimately responsible for that culinary terrorism (...and for a lot of other things, too, apparently..) - Interviewer : "The (P)IRA were involved with putting horsemeat into beef products?"

Willie Frazer : "Yes. Basically old fat cows that are 30 months old have been put into the food chain because the republicans have the means of getting it in....." (From here)

It was probably whilst choking on one of the offensive burgers that poor Willie confused his colours and almost set his gang of thugs on the teachers , staff and pupils of a school which he described as "....the junior headquarters of IRA youth..." . If nothing else, in securing the headlines that he does, Frazer is a prime (!) example of the embarrassing human flotsam left behind when a wreckage of an 'empire' seeks to extract itself from an area in which it can no longer use barbarism to control without having its use highlighted. His 'Best Before' date is long gone.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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DUBLIN PICKET TO MARK THE 41ST ANNIVERSARY OF DERRY'S 'BLOODY SUNDAY' .

'BLOODY SUNDAY' PICKET , DUBLIN , SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2013 : BRIEF REPORT AND PICS.

Some of those on the picket in Dublin , on Saturday 26th January 2013.

Under the watchful eyes of six uniformed Garda members and at least three armed members of the 'Special Branch' political police, the RSF-organised picket in commemoration of the 1972 'Bloody Sunday' massacre in Derry was held on Saturday 26th January 2013 in Dublin , on the traffic isle facing the GPO in O'Connell Street.

At 11.30am that morning, RSF members began handing out leaflet 'packs' at three locations in the city centre - at the GPO , in the vicinity of the O'Connell Bridge area and in and around Parnell Square. In total , 1,200 republican leaflets (350 leaflet 'packs/booklets') were distributed in a period of 135 minutes and each of the three leaflet teams reported that they could have distributed even more, had they had them to hand.

Two of the banners displayed at the picket.

RSF President Des Dalton and Dublin PRO , John Horan , both delivered in-depth speeches during which the name and age of each of the 13 men and teenagers that were massacred that day by the British Army Parachute Regiment was read out in O'Connell Street , and a brief description of the wounds inflicted on each person was given. Also mentioned was the fact that the only female victim of those shootings , Margaret Deery, was a then-37-year-old mother of 13 children who was left crippled for life after being seriously wounded in the leg. This lady was shot by a British Army Para from a distance of 25 yards after he calmly took aim at her.

Two of the posters on displaty at the picket.

An intercepted letter to the commander of the 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment , Lt. Colonel Derek Wilford , which was printed on the front page of 'The Sunday Press' newspaper on the Sunday following the massacre in Derry was read out at the Dublin picket - the letter was written on February 1st , 1972, by Brigadier F.P. Barclay , DSO , MCDL , Colonel , The Royal Norfolk Regiment , and stated -

'1/2/'72.

Dear Wilford ,

As an ex-parachute Brigade Commander I write to say how proud it made one feel to see the way , on TV , which your lads went into action against those blighters last Sunday . They looked splendid and , as usual , bang on the ball.

It seems to me and many others that prompt retaliatory action such as this is long overdue . It will have , I've little doubt , a most salutory effect . Should have happened long since!

I sincerely trust you successfully weather those thoroughly unjustified but seemingly inevitable brickbats and recriminations emanating mostly from those who either have no sense of law and order , duty or perspective , or who are spineless . With best wishes to you and yours ,

Sincerely ,

Peter Barclay , Little Dunham Lodge ,

Kings Lynn , Norfolk.'

As stated at the Dublin picket, those on that day in 1972 who obviously lacked a "sense of law and order , duty and perspective and who were spineless..." were the foreign gunmen who opened fire on unarmed Irish civilians.

A full report and more pics will be published in the February 2013 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday 6th of that month.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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