ARTHUR O'CONNOR ; United Irishman and General-of-Division in Napoleon's Army : 1760 - 1852 .......



.......Elected to Westminster Parliament in 1787 , Arthur O'Connor soon realised that the word of a British politician was worthless - he wanted another way to strike a blow for Irish freedom . In 1789 , France erupted .......



The corrupt French 'ruling class' were ousted - Arthur O'Connor MP was interested : here , perhaps , was the other way . He went to France to investigate further , and saw a spark of defiance in the dirt-poor people , a strong glimmer of hope , of expectation , that their day had come ! He wanted the same for Ireland ; and so did others ....

Wolfe Tone was in the process of establishing a revolutionary society , having being inspired himself by the French Revolution ; in 1791 , the 'United Irishmen' group was formed , and was later to state that its objective was " never to desist in our efforts until we have subverted the authority of England over our country and asserted our independence . " It is often overlooked that , between 1791 and 1795 (when that statement was made) , The United Irishmen organisation was primarily a political force , seeking to bring pressure to bear on the British Government by the force of argument ; it was only after four years that the 'Society of United Irishmen' realised that the British would listen only to the argument of force .

On his return to Ireland , Arthur O'Connor joined the United Irishmen , as did the well-known radical British 'aristocrat' , 'Lord' Edward Fitzgerald - that was in the early 1790's and the three men - Wolfe Tone , Arthur O'Connor and Edward Fitzgerald - were soon working together .......

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

GEATA BAN .......

".......Our IRA Unit was waiting near Coolavokig , in Cork , armed and alert . The Brits would travel this road soon , in a lorry , armed with rifles . We wanted their guns and equipment ......."


" Ours was not a common method at the time . Indeed , it was the first attempt in Ireland to capture rifles thus . The spot selected was at the highest point of a long incline . This would naturally reduce the speed of the lorry or lorries , a very desirable factor from our point of view . A double bend of the road , between the fire positions , was a further advantage which nature gave us . An irregular rock rising from road level on either side completed an almost classically ideal ambush site .

Around the bend , on high ground , and remote from the approach direction , was stationed a heavy horse-cart which could be run off the bank , to drop in front of enemy transport and bring it to rest . The British soldier driving would here be covered by two IRA marksmen with rifles - 'Mick the Soldier' and Dannie Harrington , of B Company . Theirs were the only two rifles we possessed . Across the road on the southern side , other expert shots were stationed , armed with shotguns , to shoot the driver if necessary .

The remainder were disposed on either side so as to be in positions to deal with a second lorry , if two happened to come . 'Dowd' and I occupied a niche , or shelf , in the face of the rock under the riflemen . Two signallers with flags were posted behind rocks , commanding the best views of the approach road ......."



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .


(12 of 15).



The finest tribute to Sean MacBride did not come from any of the organisations or individuals he worked for . It came from his political enemies who recognised him as a champion of the oppressed and detested him for it . In Britain , the establishment expressed itself in no uncertain terms through its mouthpieces , the Sunday Telegraph and the Daily Telegraph . Most vicious of all was the Sunday Telegraph which carried an obituary by a Bruce Anderson entitled 'Death of an evil man' , in which Sean MacBride was described as a "murderer" who "spent his life in search of vengeance."

Sean MacBride's character was , according to the Sunday Telegraph, "one of frightening coldness and fanaticism" and he "had a psychopath's inability to understand those with whom he disagreed ." Recognising his life-long opposition to British rule , the Sunday Telegraph poured all their anti-Irish racism out --

-- " Two principles guided his entire political life . The first was a hatred of Great Britain , the second a worship of violence ."

(MORE LATER).

---

ARTHUR O'CONNOR ; United Irishman and General-of-Division in Napoleon's Army : 1760 - 1852 .......



A child was born into impossible times in Ireland in 1760 : Arthur O'Connor came into the world when the effect's of the 'Penal Laws' were being felt . Catholics were treated worse than farm animals by the English 'landlords' .......


The poverty , the constant hunger , the struggle just to survive from day-to-day ; to literally see farm animals treated better than yourself and your fellow countrymen . That bred resentment and contempt in thousands of young Irishmen and Irishwomen , who carried those feelings with them into adulthood . At 27 years young(in 1787), Arthur O'Connor contested an election to the Westminster Parliament and won a seat .

It should be noted that , five years previously (ie 1782) the lawyer Henry Grattan and his 'Patriot Party' had won a 'Declaration of Independence' from the British Government , which looked good on paper - but , in reality , was worthless . Nothing changed - not the hunger , the treatment or the attitude of the British . Arthur O'Connor MP was determined to find another way ....

Two years after Arthur O'Connor won his seat (ie 1789), France erupted .......

(MORE LATER).




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

GEATA BAN .......

"..... Mick O'Connell, or 'Mick the Soldier' , had been in the British Army but was now out of it ; his brother Neilus ('Louth') was in the IRA , and Mick wanted to join ......."


" " Well , Mick , you would like to join the IRA ? " asked my brother , Pat. " Oh , this long time , this long time ," was the reply . " Would you be ready for action tomorrow morning , Mick ? " " I'm ready this minute ," answered Mick . So we chatted for a while with our new recruit , whose joy at being one with us was unconcealed and unlimited . Then we arranged a rendezvous for the morning .

The late morning saw six of us descending the northern side of Caherdaha Hill . Terry O'Connell , a brother of 'Louth' and Mick , was with us . Mick carried a handsome short Lee-Enfield service rifle , the only one we possessed . Pat , 'Dowd' and myself carried service revolvers , while 'Louth' and Terry carried shotguns . By a quiet path we travelled in pairs to cross the Macroom-Renanirree road , and then a little plank bridge over the Sullane Beag .

By hedges and along old boreens we reached the steps across the Sullane Mor at Linn-Fia-Chait . Here we met Jerry O'Sullivan (Jerry Conch). He carried a shotgun . We crossed the old steps , and , winding upwards between furze-covered rocks , reached the main Macroom-Ballyvourney road at Geata Ban , not far from Coolavokig school . Here we met an IRA Section from B Company , Ballyvourney , and the two were combined to occupy fire positions on both sides of the road .

It would be hard to get a better natural situation for our purpose . Our aim was to halt and disarm the personnell of the first British military lorry or two , that came from Macroom . We wanted rifles badly and were determined to get them in this , the only way ......."

(MORE LATER).




SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(11 of 15).



Sean MacBride was acutely conscious of the imminent threat of nuclear destruction and his understanding of the military-industrial complex and NATO gave him a clearer perception of the workings of imperialism in Ireland than perhaps he had in earlier years . He was a thorn in the side of the 26-County establishment , with their increasing subservience to NATO/EEC interests and sell-outs of Irish sovereignty . Up to his death he remained a radical activist .

The MacBride Principles of Fair Employment have exposed internationally the sectarianism and inequality upon which the Six County state is built and the hollowness of British propagandist claims of reform and normality . His recent public campaign against strip-searching , Section 31 censorship in the 26 Counties and against the continued operation of the Sellafield nuclear plant , earned him the ridicule of many in the Irish and British establishments . It is ironic that those among the Irish establishment who were so opposed to Sean MacBride's efforts and beliefs in life , should now clamour to associate themselves with him in death .

That they should do so was a measure of the esteem in which Sean MacBride was held and the widely held aspirations - denied by successive Leinster House Administrations - which he represented . When he passed away , the oppressed , the imprisoned and the tortured of this world lost a valued friend and the cause of freedom , justice and peace both national and international , lost a brave and tireless worker .

(MORE LATER).

---

ARTHUR O'CONNOR ; United Irishman and General-of-Division in Napoleon's Army : 1760 - 1852 .



Ireland 1760 - the 'Triumph' of William The Third was still being felt ; harsh laws were still in force against Catholics in Ireland . The 'Penal Laws' decreed that a Catholic could not hold any Office of State ,nor stand for Parliament , or vote , or join the English Army or Navy . Nor could a Catholic practice at the bar , or , more importantly (even though they had not the means to do so), buy land .

The Brits 'rented' Irish land to the Irish for periods of thirty-one years only - when a Catholic 'tenant' died , his/her last will and testament was subject to approval by the English Administration ! If an Irishman did lay claim , uncontested , to a piece of land (ie a rocky patch on a mountain-side) and died with that 'land' still in his possession , that patch could be divided-up between his children - unless one of them turned Protestant , in which case that child inherited the lot !

A child was born into these impossible times in Cork , in 1760 - Arthur O'Connor was that childs name .......

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

GEATA BAN .......

".......'Louth's' brother , Mick , had served in the British Army but had been demobilised and was now back home . He was a good soldier , and was interested in joining the IRA ......."


" He had waited and watched with envy , his brothers and old school-mates go in the evenings to drill in some quiet place . Sometimes he had seen them at a distance at target practice with small bore rifles . He had longed to be with them but felt that he was not wanted . True , they all greeted him cheerily but never once hinted at the possibility of his joining them . His brother's attitude did not help either . 'Louth' , after his day's work as a labourer , read Irish history often until far into the night . He could not understand how any Irishman could join the British Army .

Well , Mick was not a student of Irish or any other history . When he joined the British Army there was no Irish Army to join . Besides , the politicians , then called 'Irish patriots' , had urged the young men of Ireland to join the British Army to get 'Home Rule' . Damn 'em all .

Anyway , 'Dowd' walked over to Mick the Soldier , who straightened himself with a galvanic start , and came towards us as if walking on air . With precision he halted squarely in front of Pat and saluted formally . But his face was beaming with pleasure . He was about to join his own Army ......."

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(10 of 15).


Sean MacBride remained in the true sense a pacifist in that he never joined in the hypocritical condemnations of Irish Republican armed struggle of those ambivalent to , or supportive of , British violence . At all times , he identified the source of Ireland's problems and stated clearly that " a solution will only become possible when Britain relinquishes any claim of sovereignty over any portion of this island . "

Much more could be said about Sean MacBride's place on the world stage . He brought honour to Ireland (where official honours were denied to him) by winning the Nobel and Lenin peace prizes . His opposition to partition and the British presence in Ireland was mirrored in his commitment to anti-imperialism internationally and most particularly in Africa , earning him the respect of African nationalists throughout the continent .

His work in the defence of human rights and in the cause of world peace , most notabe in his participation as a founder of Amnesty International and in drafting the European Convention on Human Rights , was recognised when he became the first person to receive both the Lenin Peace Prize and the Nobel Peace Prize .

(MORE LATER).

( Happy Wednesday , Happy Paddy's Day , agus la fheile shona dhaoibh !)

---

PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......



.......At 43 years young , in 1884 , Patrick Egan was elected President of the National Land League of America . He supported those in Ireland who were fighting for their freedom , both politically and militarily.......


Over the following two or three years , Patrick Egan raised over $100,000 dollars for the American 'Clan na nGael' organisation , which was also involved in the 'dynamite campaign'. He 'kept a foot in both camps' for the following few years until around 1914 when , at 73 years of age, he became one of the strongest supporters of John Redmond's 'Parliamentary Party '.

On 30th September , 1919 , at 78 years of age , Patrick Egan died in America ; he had spent 61 years of his life actively opposing the British presence in Ireland , both politically and militarily - unfortunately , he is practically unknown outside of the Republican Movement today , but deserves to have his name inscribed on a fitting plaque when the day comes and his objectives are realised - that of a full British military and political withdrawal from Ireland . And that day will come .......

[END of ' PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......'].




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.

GEATA BAN .

" It was the dusk of a summer's night in early July 1920 . My brother Pat (our Commandant), Neilus O'Connell (Louth) , Patrick Cronin (Dowd) and I stood talking on the roadway at the Cross of Kilnamartyra . We talked , of course , of men and guns . We were just discussing the number of men , armed with shotguns , who were available in our local Company . A small but soldierly figure , wearing riding-breeches and putties , passed by and said " Good night , lads ." " Good night , Mick ," we replied . It was 'Mick the Soldier' , a brother of 'Louth's'. He stopped at the corner out of earshot from us .

" There's a man who is anxious to join us , " said Dowd . " He has had plenty experience of war , from 1914 to 1918 . I think he should be a most useful man , since he is a crack rifle shot and is also a machine-gunner . " Here Louth spoke - " He is my brother , but I do not approve of taking anyone who has been in the British service . However , please yourselves . " Pat spoke - " Some of our best men have been in the British Army , Neilus , and their training and experience have been of great value to us always . Did'nt some of them join the British and other armies just for the purpose of training themselves to be efficient soldiers to fight for their own country ? Call him over , Dowd . "

Mick had been leaning listlessly , a lonely figure , his back to the wall at the corner . He had come home in 1919 from England where he had been demobilised . He had found a changed country - all the spirited youth worth knowing were , he found , in the Volunteers . He would not , could not , associate with the seoinin young men . He was a soldier born , nothing else , and those young men outside the IRA had not the martial fibre he wanted ......."

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(9 of 15).


It was a career with many aspects . At least as important as his military and political efforts to achieve Irish independence , was his work as a lawyer and an international campaigner for human rights . In this field , both at home and abroad , Sean MacBride exposed oppression and injustice wherever he could , always spurred on by a deep compassion for the oppressed .

In the 1940's , he challenged the repressive apparatus used by the Fianna Fail (Free State) Government to crush the Republican Movement . He had clauses of the 1938 Offences Against the State Act declared void in the courts , resulting in the release of Republican Prisoners . He defended those IRA Volunteers railroaded to the scaffold and the firing squad by de Valera's laws , taking a lonely stand against repression at a time of rigorous wartime censorship .

In 1946 , Sean MacBride exposed publicly the brutal treatment of Sean McCaughey in Portlaoise Prison . At the inquest on the dead hunger-striker , MacBride asked the prison doctor -" If you had a dog would you treat it in that fashion ? " " No ," was the doctor's reply . In this , too, he was consistent to the end . He took a strong stand against the extradition of political prisoners to Britain and the Six Counties , giving evidence on behalf of Joe Doherty in the United States and Brendan MacFarlane and Gerry Kelly in the Netherlands .

His presence in that Dutch Courtroom and his eloquent defence of the right of the Irish people to resist British oppression demonstrated the unbroken tradition of Republican resistance from 1916 - when his father , Major John MacBride, died at the hands of a British firing party - to the present generation of those offering that resistance .

(MORE LATER).

---

PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......



....... Patrick Egan got word that the Brits were making enquiries as to the funds belonging to The Land League ; he withdrew all monies and fled to Paris , from where he continued to work for the organisation , including helping with the publication of its weekly newspaper , ' The United Ireland '.......


In May 1882 , Patrick Egan was told that the British were attempting to link him with the killings earlier that month (ie 6th May 1882) of British Government Officials 'Lord' Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Burke by members of 'The Invincibles' in Dublin's Phoenix Park (it is not perhaps well-known that the 12-inch long surgical knives used in that operation had been purchased in Bond Street in London , and transported to Dublin by the pregnant wife of the Land League's Secretary , hidden in her skirts !).

Patrick Egan left Paris and went to America , where the 'Clan na nGael' organisation put him up in a safe-house ; he continued his work to highlight British injustice in Ireland and , in August 1884 , at 43 years young , he was elected President of the National Land League of America . He continued to support those who were involved in political action against the Brits (Parnell , Davitt etc) but did not confine himself to political opposition only - he made contact with the Fenian leadership in Ireland and told them he was "heart and soul" behind them in their 'dynamite campaign' in England .....

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....


".......While being questioned by the Black and Tans in Ballingeary Barracks , Jer Carthy let it be known that his "friends" were expecting his safe return . One of the Brits led Jer out to the hallway . The front door was open ......."



" The Black and Tan spoke to Jer - but this time he was respectful - " You know the road home , Jer ? " " I believe I do, " said Jer as he walked out , a free man . Our visit to Ballingeary on Whitsunday 1920 might well be described as ill-timed and reckless . Had we met with Black and Tans of a tougher fibre , it is likely that they would have availed of one of the many favourable opportunities for attacking us .

In such case we would have suffered heavily . But , as events proved , our opponents' morale was not high . Thirteen days later they were withdrawn from their barracks . We then burned it to the ground . "


[END OF ' BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....'].



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(8 of 15).



But in spite of his failure to recognise that armed struggle remained the most potent weapon in the political armoury of the Irish people - and ultimately the only one that would be listened to- Sean MacBride never joined the ranks of the sham constitutional nationalists . He never took the fruits of partition for personal gain even though he led his party , Clann na Poblachta , into the first interparty government of 1948 with the former Blueshirts of Fine Gael .

The vital difference was that Sean MacBride sincerely believed that constitutional pressure exerted internationally , could morally force Britain to end partition . As (Free State) 'External Affairs Minister' that was his priority and he used every opportunity to advance it . He failed , his constitutionalism perishing inevitably on the rock of British intransigence . That 26-County government failed in other ways too and Sean MacBride's role in the 'Mother and Child' scheme debacle , when the (Free State) government bowed to the Catholic Hierarchy and The Irish Medical Association was less than principled to say the least .

Modern Irish Republicans would also criticise his stated opposition to the removal of the ban on divorce from the 1938 (Free State) Constitution . In these and some other areas - his failure to endorse publicly the campaign of the National H-Block/Armagh Committee for instance - his stance was at odds with his overall progressive role throughout his career .

(MORE LATER).

---

PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......



.......When the leadership of the ' New Departure ' group were released by the Brits on 23rd January 1881 , the British Chief Secretary in Ireland , William E. Forester , resigned in protest . He was replaced by 'Lord' Frederick Cavendish.......


At about half-past-seven on the evening of his arrival in Dublin (6th May ,1882), 'Lord' Frederick Cavendish and his new British Under-Secretary ,Thomas Burke , were walking across the Phoenix Park to the British 'Vice-Regal' Lodge .... but they never made it..

Patrick Egan , as Treasurer of the Land League (which had been named as an "illegal organisation" by the British in October 1881) was aware that Westminster Officials had been making enquiries as to what funding the Land League had at its disposal ; he withdrew all funds and fled to Paris . He was in charge of the Land League's weekly newspaper , 'The United Ireland' , and continued to run it from Paris .

(Incidentally , on 10th December 1890 , an anti-Parnellite crowd forced their way into the Dublin Offices of 'The United Ireland' newspaper and proceeded to thrash the place ; Charles Stewart Parnell got word of what was happening and quickly organised a few dozen supporters and they , in turn , stormed their own building ! The fist-fight that followed ended in Parnell regaining control of the newspaper Offices).

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....



".......The day after we left Ballingeary , the Black and Tans dragged one of our men , Jer Carthy , into their barracks to question him about the activity of the previous day ......."


" The Brits stood around Jer -

" Jereen," they said , "you brought a crowd of murderers here yesterday to wipe us out ."

" They were not murderers , but friends of mine ," Jer replied boldly .

" You've a lot of friends , Jereen ," they observed .

" I have more friends than those ," was Jer's reply.

" You're going to pay for yesterdays work ," they threatened .

" What happened yesterday ? Were any of ye murdered ? " asked Jer.

" No , but that's not your fault ."

" Why did ye not go out and pick up the murderers ? "

" What do you take us for ? A lot of mugs ! "

" Well," said Jer , " if my friends are a lot of murderers , and if anything happens to me , where do ye fit in ? "

There was a long silence . Then one of the Black and Tans beckoned to the others and they all left the room , leaving Jer alone . Very soon one of them returned . He motioned Jer to follow him . They reached the hallway . The front door stood open ......."

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(7 of 15).


This period lays bare some of the puzzles of Sean MacBride's political outlook . While not antagonistic to socialist ideas , they were never a priority with him , in spite of his unstinting work on behalf of the dispossessed and underprivileged . He certainly recognised that British imperialism was the first obstacle to social progress and from the start recognised that Fianna Fail would not remove that obstacle .

Yet , after a period as IRA Chief-of-Staff , he parted company with the Republican Movement in 1938 , believing that the de Valera constitution removed the necessity for the use of armed force against the British occupation . In this , Irish Republicans would disagree fundamentally with him , believing that any constitution for the Irish people remains an empty formula so long as a foreign power forcibly prevents them from putting it into effect .

Throughout Sean MacBride's lifetime , the expressed wish of the Irish people for independence was met with brute force by the British Government . The democratic institutions of Dail Eireann(the 32-County body) were suppressed brutally in 1919 - 1921 and partition was imposed under the threat of " immediate and terrible war " in 1922 . The 1937 (Free State) Constitution claiming jurisdiction over the Six Counties and the pleas of successive (Leinster House) 'Governments' - including that which Sean MacBride himself served in as (Free State) External Affairs Minister - against partition , were ignored .

(MORE LATER).

---

PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......


....... In 1880 , the new British Chief Secretary in Ireland , William E. Forester , ordered the arrest of the leadership of the ' New Departure' group - that organisation was , at the time , in a 'head-to-head' conflict with the Brits over the issue of 'rents' .......


Key figures in the 'New Departure' group were rounded-up ; Patrick Egan , Joseph Biggar , Charles Stewart Parnell and John Dillon were amongst those arrested . The 'trial' of the leadership began on 28th December 1880 but collapsed on 23rd January 1881 , and the men were released . William E. Forester strongly objected to the release of the men and attempted to get the verdict overturned - when he failed in this endeavour , he resigned his position in disgust .

The then British Prime Minister , William Gladstone , had his nephew [by marriage] , a 'Lord' Frederick Cavendish , appointed as the new British Chief Secretary in Ireland ; Cavendish , in turn , appointed Thomas Burke , an Irishman ,[a 'Castle-Catholic' ie a 'wannabe Brit'] as his new Under-Secretary .....

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....


".......We were cycling out of Ballingeary , having failed in our mission to draw the Brits out of their barracks . On looking up the road we saw two RIC men on bicycles coming our way - we split up and took both sides of the road ......."


" As they came near us , we dismounted and closed in towards the middle of the road . They had to walk between our lines . We saw at once that they were unarmed . They wore only their bare tight-fitting tunics . They had chanced a run out for the fresh air of the glen road , away from the barracks and the Black and Tans . They passed slowly through our lines , expecting every moment to be stopped . Our coats were opened and they could see our guns here and there , but no gun was drawn . We had a certain amount of sympathy for them . Their faces wore a hunted look . Their own people had turned against them . They were trying to hold on to a job they did not like .

We were hunted enough ourselves , and weak enough , but our own people were on our side . That was the difference , and I'm sure those two RIC men envied us . In any case , we would not be mean with them , and since they did not carry arms we would not subject them to the indignity of a search . No word was spoken and they passed through in silence . Early in the afternoon of the following day , the Black and Tans brought Jer Carthy to the barracks . During their short time in the 'Gaeltacht'(Irish-speaking area) they had learned the use of the suffix which denotes contempt . The Black and Tans now addressed Jer as "Jereen"......."

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(6 of 15).


The following year (1923), Sean MacBride was one of the thousands of Irish Republican prisoners still jailed by the Free State authorities . He was one of the group working on a tunnel out of Mountjoy Jail which was discovered . While being transferred to Kilmainham Jail , Sean MacBride and Mick Price jumped out of a lorry and escaped after the driver got lost and stopped to get his bearings !

At liberty throughout most of the 1920's , Sean MacBride continued to organise IRA arms shipments and travel the country visiting IRA Units . The founding of Fianna Fail (1926) paved the way for the political upheavals of the early 1930's . It was a decade when the Republican Movement was to be increasingly pushed onto the sidelines as it searched in vain for a political strategy to regain the ground lost to Fianna Fail . The short-lived 'Saor Eire' , of 1931 , was headed by Sean MacBride but never got off the ground after it was denounced by the Catholic Hierarchy and banned by the Free Staters in Leinster House .

When other Irish Republicans tried again to assert the socialism of the Republican Movement , Sean MacBride , with the mainstream IRA leadership , opposed them ....

(MORE LATER).

---

PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......


....... Patrick Egan and others resigned from the Irish Republican Brotherhood in August 1877 over the condemnation of the use of politics within a revolutionary organisation . However , within two years , the IRB was involved in the ' New Departure ' grouping , a 'broad-front' organisation of different groups which campaigned for fair treatment for the Irish .......


In October 1879 , Patrick Egan was appointed as Treasurer of one of the 'New Departure' groups , Michael Davitt's 'Land League' ; the British were alarmed that this (publicly-viewed) 'respectable' body was being controlled by those that the Brits viewed as , at best , "suspect" and , at worst , "complete outlaws"-- the then new British Chief Secretary in Ireland , William E. Forester , made his move ...

In 1880 , with the Land War now in full swing (ie the 'New Departure' group was flexing its muscles and had instructed its members and supporters to pay no rent at all , but the Brits had fought back - their 'Land Courts' were fixing rents which most 'tenants' could just about afford - a "divide and conquer" tactic), British Chief Secretary Forester hoped to divide the Irish further and ordered the arrest of the leadership of the 'New Departure' group .......

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....


".......A local newspaper , ' The Leader ' , had published a parody of local RIC Sergeant Appleby , who had fined a local man for speaking Irish ......."


" Sergeant Appleby learned to mend his hand and later did not give the enemy that information which would make things difficult for the IRA . He definitely saved some local men from the attentions of his own force , the RIC . He continued on with the latter , but he took things as easy as he could . Now he strolled about , his hands in his pockets , his eyes on the ground . We watched for a while and then someone coughed to attract his attention . He looked up quickly and saw the long row of heads and shoulders above him .

Some of the old arrogance latent in him returned . He squared his shoulders and fixed on us a stern and questioning look . Had he resumed his exercise we would have walked away . But he did not . He maintained his posture and his attitude indicated to us that we were quite long enough in the vicinity . But we were in no hurry ...

" He'll read the Riot Act, " someone remarked . My brother Pat spoke : " Clear away out of that ! " he said . Sergeant Appleby shook himself indidnantly . Imagine it ! How the times had deteriorated ! An Officer of the Royal Irish Constabulary being ordered in to his own barracks by an unknown civilian , leaning at his ease on the village bridge , in the company , doubtless , of other disaffected persons ! It was intolerable . But the civilian drew forth a long Webley revolver as if to second his demand . In a way that surprised us , Sergeant Appleby got inside that door and we heard a heavy bolt going home .

We mounted our pushbikes and turned left into the road to the glen . It was straight for the first three hundred yards . Scarcely had we covered one hundred yards when two RIC men on bicycles rounded the distant bend in front of us . In file , half of us took each side of the road ......."

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(5 of 15).


During the Treaty negotiations , Sean MacBride accompanied the Irish delegation to London . He was not there to advise on the negotiations , as some commentators have suggested , but as Michael Collins' aide-de-camp , leader of an IRA Unit sent to guard the delegation and cover their retreat if the conference broke down . He did see clearly how the negotiations were conducted and the growing influence of the British side on Collins and Arthur Griffith . It was Sean MacBride who retold the story of how Michael Collins was taken aside by Lloyd George who showed him a map of the British 'Empire' , put his arm around him and said " Come on , Mike , why don't you come in and help us run the world ! "

Sean MacBride also recalled the mistakes and misjudgements of Irish Republicans in this period : the failure of de Valera's leadership ; the disunity of the anti-Treaty IRA ; the failure to recognise the centrality of partition : Sean MacBride said - " However , remember , I had no opportunity of making my views known , I was young . I was there to serve , and not to discuss policy matters ."

Sean MacBride was part of the Irish Republican garrison in the Four Courts when it was bombarded by the Free Staters . He was later sharing a cell in Mountjoy Jail with Rory O'Connor when the IRA leader was taken out and shot with his three comrades , Joe McKelvey , Liam Mellows and Dick Barrett , on December 8th , 1922 .

(MORE LATER).

(Apologies for that bad link the other day - bad young'fellas get distracted easy and only do a half-job ; that's what happened when our 'Junior' wrote-up that bad link to here . And our Sharon published it without checking .Tsk ,tsk ....)

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PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......



.......In August 1877 , the leadership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood decided that its members should back-off from being so heavily involved in politics ; however , the leadership was divided on the issue .......


Patrick Egan , John O'Connor Power , Joseph Biggar and John Barry refused to accept the decision and all four men resigned from the IRB . However , within two years , the IRB was to change its position ; the then leader of the (constitutional) 'Home Rule Party' , Charles Stewart Parnell (possibly sensing an opportunity to divide the 'opposition') launched , in 1879 , in conjunction with John Devoy and Michael Davitt , a group known as the 'New Departure' - this broad-front group consisted of different organisations co-operating with each other ; the IRB , the Home Rule Party and Michael Davitt's 'Land League' .

The 'New Departure' grouping was established on 20th April , 1879 , at Irishtown , County Mayo , and was almost immediately condemned by the Catholic Church - many Parish priests of the day were 'landlords' and stood to lose financially if this New Departure were to win its demand in relation to the Land Acts position : the ' Three F's ' -- Fixity of Tenure , Fair Rents and the rights of Free Sale .

Hardly the stuff of modern-day revolution , but in those days (ie late 19th Century Ireland - only 125 years ago!) it was enough to strike terror into the hearts and minds of the establishent .....

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....


".......The twelve of us were on Ballingeary Bridge , hoping that some from the British Barracks would have followed us . Then we noticed RIC Sergeant Appleby - he was infamous in the area for fining those that spoke Irish , and a local newspaper had published a parody about him over the issue ....... "


" Oh , Paddy dear and did you hear the news thats going 'round -
speak Irish to a policeman now , and you'll be fined five pound .
Sure the light of English learning soon our island will illume ,
for it's fining Irish speakers are the J.P.'s of Macroom .

I met with Sergeant Appleby and I took him by the hand ,
and asked him if the Ballingeary folk the olden tongue had banned -
'Ah, no' , said he , 'they speak it still , and fill my heart with gloom ,
and fifteen miles away , alas , are the J.P.'s of Macroom'.

Now Applebys and grand J.P.'s , who dwell in this dear land ,
must put aside their upstart pride and Irish understand -
we mean to strive and keep alive our tongue 'till crack of doom ,
so to pot with all , both great and small , the J.P.'s of Macroom ! "

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(4 of 15).


From organising IRA Active Service Units , Sean MacBride moved on to helping obtain arms shipments for the IRA from the Continent . The success of these activities and his assessment of the morale and capabilities of the Irish Republican Army led him to oppose the Truce with the British when it came in the summer of 1921 :

" I felt from the experience we were gaining in purchasing arms that we were on the threshold of being able to mount a much larger campaign than we had mounted until then . I felt that , with the arrival of these guns , we could step up the fight considerably . I also considered that the morale of the organisation was good and that there was no weakness in the determination of the Volunteers to see the thing through . "

Sean MacBride continued - " I was therefore very much against the Truce , when it was declared . I was completely against it - violently against it ."

(MORE LATER).

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PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......


.......at 32 years young (in 1873) , the Treasurer of the Irish Republican Brotherhood , Patrick Egan , watched with interest as Donegal lawyer Isaac Butt established the 'Home Rule League' to challenge the Brits , constitutionally , regarding the position of Ireland in their 'Empire' .......


The establishment of the 'Home Rule League' was also noted with interest by the other members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood leadership ; it was decided that Patrick Egan and three other members of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood - John O'Connor Power , Joseph Biggar and John Barry - would join the 'Home Rule League' , with the intention of 'steering' that group in the direction of the IRB .

Other members of the IRB were encouraged to join the 'League' as well , and a time-scale was set in which to completely infiltrate the 'League' - three years . However , that decision to infiltrate Isaac Butt's organisation was to 'backfire' on the Irish Republican Brotherhood later on ...

The 'three-year' period of infiltration ended in 1876 ; in August 1877 , the IRB Supreme Council held a meeting at which a resolution condemning the over-involvement in politics (ie political motions etc rather than military action) of IRB members was discussed ; after heated arguments , the resolution was agreed and passed by the IRB Council . Not everyone accepted that decision .......

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....


"....... The Brits in Ballingeary Barracks had been spooked by us ; they shut and locked the door and pulled-down the steel shutters . Rifles were pointed out at us ....... "


" We got our bicycles and walked off with them . Stopping on the bridge , we leaned them against its northern wall . Then we stood along the southern side of it , facing the gable of the barracks and the rear portion of that building . Our arms folded , we rested on the parapet . We had some faint hope that the garrison , or some portion of it , might follow us as far as the bridge , even if only to verify that we had gone . In that case we would attack them at the bend , and maybe take a few guns from them . It would be some compensation for a wearying day , and enliven us on our journey home . But again we waited in vain .

We were about to turn away in disgust when a door facing us opened and the old RIC Sergeant came out . His name was Appleby . A few years previously he had gained notoriety by arresting Claude Chevasse , a scholar , for speaking Irish to him . Claude Chevasse was brought before a bench of magistrates in Macroom and fined five pounds , a large sum in those days . I remember reading a parody in 'The Leader' newspaper about the incident ......."

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(3 of 15).


When Sean MacBride returned to Ireland with Maud Gonne in 1918 he joined Na Fianna Eireann. Later in that year(1918), when he had not yet reached his fifteenth birthday , he joined Oglaigh na hEireann . He was an Officer in B Company of the Third Battalion , Dublin Brigade , IRA , which operated an active service unit in the south city during the Black and Tan War . Attacks were carried out on the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries as they travelled to and from Beggars Bush Barracks .

So successful was the IRA Active Service Unit that Michael Collins asked Sean MacBride to act as an IRA Organiser , travelling to boost Rebel Units in parts of the country where there was little action . Sean MacBride later described the role -

- " The last thing any of them wanted was activity in their area . It was alright if it was Cork , Tipperary or Dublin , but let ye leave Wicklow alone . I circumvented all that by putting them out with some of my tough guys in the one operation . After that I had them : there was no going back . "

(MORE LATER).

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PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .......


....... Ireland 1841 - a forced mass exodus began in Ireland - the population fell by two million people in the following one-hundred-and-ten years . Patrick Egan was born in the same year that that exodus began .......


Patrick Egan was born in Ballymahon in County Longford in 1841 . The Egan family moved to Dublin and , as a teenager , he was only 17 years young when the Irish Republican Brotherhood was founded (on 17th March 1858)- he joined the new organisation . Even though he was by now working full-time (in the 'North City Milling Company' in Dublin) he soon became a valuable asset to the Irish Republican Brotherhood , and was appointed to the position of Treasurer of its Supreme Council .

Two years before he joined the IRB ( ie when he was just 15 , in 1856 ), Patrick Egan would have witnessed one of the founders of the then soon-to-be established IRB , James Stephens , walking (for the most part) the length and breadth of Ireland , canvassing the potential for revolution in the country ; that was in 1856 , and James Stephens covered more than three-thousand miles , most of it on foot . When Patrick Egan was 32 years young (in 1873), a well-known lawyer of the time , Isaac Butt , a Donegal man , established the 'Home Rule League' to agitate regarding the position of Ireland within the then British 'Empire' ........

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....



".......We were back in Shorten's Pub in Ballingeary ; we tried the 'drunken ' ruse again , to draw the Brits out from their Barracks . Myself and Dowd Cronin were the first two 'drunks' to leave the bar - the Black and Tans on the wall were watching us as we 'fumbled' our way to the bicycles ......."



" I had 'succeeded' in getting Dowd to take hold of his bicycle . Both himself and the bike rocked perilously while one of the Black and Tans continued to laugh uproariously . Suddenly , the bike, which he held awkardly by the near handlebar , leaned over too much and Dowd fell with it . He put out his hands , let the bike drop , and saved himself from a heavy fall by so doing . But the near pedal struck him sharply on the shins . It was a painful crack , and Dowd had a fiery nature and an explosive temper . The Black and Tan shouted with laughter . Dowd jumped to his feet in a fury .

" What are you laughing at , you bastard , " he said , looking at the happy warrior on the wall . " I'll put you laughing at the other side of your mouth , " he added , his right hand reaching swiftly across his body and grasping his gun . I threw my arms around him and wheeled him about to face the pub . The long bright thirty-eight Smith and Wesson was out in his hand . " Dowd ," I said , " you'll ruin us ! " He slipped back the revolver . We could have managed the pair on the wall easily , and could even have taken their guns from them , but then we would have lost all our bicycles . For , had hostilities started thus , the fire from the barracks would , of course, have been directed on them . The wonder was that we did not lose them as things were , for the two Black and Tansmade themselves scarce immediately .

The door of the barracks was shut behind them and the steel shutters of the windows as well . Rifle muzzles appeared at loopholes . The others came out from the pub . Without undue haste , we took the bicycles and walked away with them ......."

(MORE LATER).



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .......

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Mann ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(2 of 15).


He was , first and foremost , an Irish nationalist and patriot. His mother , Maud Gonne , was one of the pioneers of the independence movement spanning from the last century (ie 19th Century) up to the 1940's . His father , Major John MacBride , was one of the sixteen leaders executed by the British after the 1916 Rising .

Sean MacBride's own involvement began at an early age . As a boy he was familiar with veteran Fenians like John O'Leary (who was his godfather) and when he and his mother lived in Paris, Roger Casement was a regular visitor . It was in France , where he was forced to remain during the First 'World' War , that Sean MacBride learned of the death of his father .

(MORE LATER).

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GREAT TO BE BACK !

WE did'nt go anywhere in particular , just dossed 'round Dublin for a few days and caught up with that thing we have to do now and again to pay the bills .......

Our thanks to 'JUNIOR ' here in the Office for publishing a notice on '1169.....' each day , explaining our absence . He tells me the daily notice " helps to keep the Search Engine Spiders fed " (!)

Have'nt a bleedin' clue what he's on about , but our SHARON tells me he's a smart kid and knows his stuff . And our SHARON , (like yours) is never wrong .......



PATRICK EGAN - founder of 'The Land League' : 1841 - 1919 .


Ireland , 1841 ; Daniel O'Connell was the talk of the island - he was leading a campaign to " repeal the Act of Union ". However , it was known that O'Connell was not in favour of what he termed " separation " ie a free Ireland - instead , he was said to prefer " a close partnership between the two kingdoms ". He would have settled for two 'independent' legislatures , working together in 'common interest', under one (agreed) 'Monarch' .

The man was of a mind that such an approach would win-over English public opinion which , in turn , he reckoned, would bring pressure to bear on Westminster re the 'Irish question'(shades of John Hume's oft-repeated 'mantra' that the British are still in Ireland only because of the "terrorist threat" ; an integrationist ploy which Gerry Adams will , in time , use himself , as he is on the same path as O'Connell and Hume).

Between 1841 and 1951 , the population on this island fell by two million people ; approximately one million died and one million emigrated . Many of the latter died on their way to England , Scotland or America ; that forced exodus began in the same year that Patrick Egan was born .......

(MORE LATER).



WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....


".......The twelve of us were waiting behind the gates of Colaiste na Mumhan , just outside the town of Ballingeary . We were waiting for word from Jer Carthy that the RIC / Black and Tan enemy had left their barracks ......."


" Suddenly Jer dashed in the gate on his bicycle . " There are six on the wall ," he said . The time had come . Quickly , but very smoothly , we got into line on the road and moved off without a hitch . Our pace increasing easily , we rounded the last corner at a high speed indeed . Soon we were rushing past the barracks . There was no one on the wall . Pat threw out his left hand slightly and swung into Shorten's Pub footpath again . Dismounting , he leaned his bike against the wall . We did likewise . " We'll have another drink ," he said . We disappeared inside the door . Again the innocuous drinks were ordered , and again we settled down to watch . Again the faces appeared at the barrack windows , watching for our next move . Another hour passed slowly .

Two Black and Tans came out , wearing their holstered revolvers . They sat jauntily on the wall , their legs dangling . Whistling inanely , they kept time with their heels clicking together . They looked a low type - possible their comrades would be glad to get rid of them , and had induced them to go out for that purpose . It was now approaching six o' clock and our prospects were poor . As a last effort it was decided that the majority would act in a very drunken manner whilst others , less 'drunk' , would be doing their best to take them home . We hoped that others of the British garrison might come out to enjoy the spectacle , or even try their hand at searching and questioning us . Dowd Cronin and I were to try first the effect on the two on the wall . We went through the doorway , Dowd protesting loudly while I held his arm . He did his part well . He swayed to the middle of the road the while he insisted that it was much too early to go home .

I was the youngest member of the party and therefore it appeared reasonable to the audience that I should be quite sober . The Black and Tans on the wall were now laughing immoderately at Dowd's antics and at my difficulty in trying to get him to come home with me ......."

(MORE LATER)>



SEAN MacBRIDE : 1904 - 1988 .

The following information was sent to '1169....' in mid-February last by a 'J.D. , Isle Of Man ' ; we reproduce it here , in 15 parts . 'J.D.' assures us that he/she got the article from an American newspaper , in the late 1980's/early 1990's .

(1 of 15).


Sean MacBride died on the 15th January 1988 ; he was laid to rest on Monday , 18th January 1988 , in Dublin . He leaves a legacy of inspiration and hope to the Irish people and to peoples the world over . His career was unique in Irish and global terms and was marked by a deep trait of individualism motivated by a desire to achieve national and international freedom . While Sean MacBride was an inspiration to most , to some he was a profound embarrassment . Many of those who flocked to pay public tribute to his memory would privately have little regret at his passing . In political terms what he stood for was fundamentally oppopsed to the direction the establishment in Ireland has taken .

MacBride's militant past and his activist present represented a challenge that could not easily be met , such was his stature . Fianna boy , IRA Volunteer , guerrilla fighter , gun-runner , republican prisoner , escapee , Chief of Staff of Oglaigh na hEireann and lifelong campaigner for civil , national and international rights , he remained an activist until the day he died .......

(MORE LATER).

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1169 AND COUNTING.......

The British 'Military Service No. 2 Bill 1918' / The first Irish Republican newspaper / 'Deasy's Act' 1861.......

Irish history , Irish politics ;.. back tomorrow , MONDAY 8th MARCH 2004 .

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1169 AND COUNTING.......

American Fenians / Cork Jail Tunnel Escape / The B Specials / 13 hours in New Ross , Wexford.......

.......AND RIC 'NEWSPAPER'.

Irish history , Irish politics ;..back on MONDAY , 8th MARCH 2004 .

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1169 AND COUNTING.......

Joseph Denieffe / Jackie Griffith / Richie Goss.......

.......AND IRISH REPUBLICAN LAW AND ORDER ,1920 - 1922 .

Irish history , Irish politics ;..back on MONDAY , 8th MARCH 2004 .

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1169 AND COUNTING.......

Joseph Malone / Richard Dalton Williams / Tim Coughlan .......

.......AND A REBEL PRIEST; FR. JAMES O'COIGLY .

Irish history , Irish politics ;..back on MONDAY ,8th MARCH 2004 .

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1169 AND COUNTING.......

Fr. Luke Wadding / Dr. William Walsh / Patrick O'Donoghue / Peter O'Neill Crowley .......

.......AND STORMONT : 1917 + 1998 .

Irish history , Irish politics ;..back on MONDAY , 8th MARCH 2004 .

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1169 AND COUNTING.......

Liam Lynch / Michael Scanlon / Canon Magner / James Clarence Mangan / James 'Skin-The-Goat' Fitzharris.......

.......AND BRIT SOLDIERS ON THE DUBLIN QUAYS , 1914 .

Irish history , Irish politics ;..back on MONDAY , 8th MARCH 2004 .

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1169 AND COUNTING.......

Dinny Lacey / John Keegan Casey / Dorothy McCardle / Molly O' Reilly / P.J. Smyth.......

.......AND KANGAROOS IN THE SIX COUNTIES , 1971 .

Irish history , Irish politics ; ..back on MONDAY , 8th MARCH 2004.

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RICHIE GOSS : 1915-1941 --- A REVOLUTIONARY IRISHMAN .......



....... Irish Republican author Brian O'Higgins wrote about Richie Goss and other Republican soldiers in the 1950 edition of 'The Wolfe Tone Annual' .......


" Those who would make all Ireland free must follow in his and their footsteps or fail . Men talk foolishly today , as they and others have talked for many futile years , of "declaring" the Republic of Ireland . There is no need to declare it . Wolfe Tone and Robert Emmet founded it and made it known to the world .

Daniel O'Connell reviled and repudiated it , but John Mitchel and Fintan Lalor stood beneath its banner and gave it their allegiance . The Fenians made it articulate and preserved it through two generations until the men and women of 1916 proclaimed it in arms . The whole people of Ireland accepted it a few years later , giving it the most unanimous vote that has ever been cast in this country , and it was established and declared on January 21 , 1919 .

It has never been dis-established since , but it has been suppressed by falsehood and by force , and it is suppressed at this moment . Against that force and falsehood , against that unjust and unlawful suppression , the men we honour today - Patrick McGrath , Thomas Harte , George Plant , Richard Goss , Maurice O'Neill and Charles Kerins - did battle unto death . Their blood cries out for only one vengenance - the restoration of the suppressed Republic of Ireland . "


-- Brian O'Higgins , as quoted in ' The Wolfe Tone Annual ' , 1950 , speaking about the remains of the six Irish Rebels which were handed-over to their comrades and relatives on 18th September 1948 .

[END OF - RICHIE GOSS : 1915-1941 --- A REVOLUTIONARY IRISHMAN .......].




WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :

war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.

By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.


BALLINGEARY BARRACKS .....


".......The twelve of us were in Ben Shorten's Pub opposite the RIC Barracks . The Brits knew we were there , but they did'nt know why . We were trying to draw them out ......."


" We had now been two hours in the pub . We sent Jer Carthy away , after arranging to meet again . After a lapse of a quarter of an hour , we left in a leisurely manner . Some talked loudly , while others walked a little unsteadily . We all laughed loudly and heartily at a few who were acting drunk . But no one of the twelve had touched any drink with a trace of alcohol in it . Getting hold of our bicycles , we started an argument as to which way we should go . All the time we were being keenly watched . Finally , we mounted in a disorderly manner and left in the Bantry direction , away from home . Rounding a few sharp bends of the road to the west , we reached the gate of Colaiste na Mumhan . Entering there , we hid our bicycles inside the hedge of the road and lay down on the grass . Very soon , Jer Carthy appeared again .

" Ye had not turned the second corner , " he said , " when four of them came out and sat on the wall , but they have their revolvers with them this time . " " We must have patience , Jer ," said my brother , " until more of them come out . " Jer went off again . We sat or lay in the shade of the hedge and waited . Every quarter of an hour Jer returned and reported ; " There are three out now ," or " there are five out now ," and so on . At length Pat said to him : " When there are six out , Jer , come and we will have at them . " Again Jer disappeared .

Now started a very long period of waiting , whiled away by a thorough rehearsal of the procedure when we should return to the village . When the word came that we were to grab our bicycles , each would take the place allotted to him in the agreed file and we would then take the last corner at top speed . Riding hard , we would then pull up on the raising of Pat's hand in front , lay down each bicycle swiftly on the road , and get busy . The leading six would then rush the door of the RIC Barracks , while the remainder would attack the men on the wall . It was a chancy business , but every man we had could be relied on to do his part .

Each had eagerly intimated his desire to fight these Black and Tans under any conditions . Certainly , it was half the battle to have such men , and it would go far in countering the advantages possessed by the enemy in quality of arms and position . We waited on . Suddenly Jer dashed in the gate on his bicycle ......."


(TO BE CONTINUED...... ....on Monday , 8th March - if you can't wait , then buy the book !)


SHARON has all the bag's packed and the taxi is outside waiting . We're away for about a week . Hope you will 'click' back next Monday , 8th March . Slan go foill anois ).

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