1169 And Counting.....

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 /
Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989.....

" Nevertheless the recent decision of the Tory party to organise and to consider contesting elections in that part of Ireland which is directly ruled by Britain, is interesting.

It marks both a milestone in the century-old alliance with Unionist and Orange reaction and a further attempt by the 'Saatchi and Saatchi' people to clean up the mess that is British rule in Ireland by giving 'new style' Tory imperialism a more acceptable public image abroad.

This may result in straight vote splits between Unionists and Tories in some constituencies which, in turn , could spell the end of the lie that places like Fermanagh and Tyrone , Mid-Ulster etc were ever pro-Union with England. Certain Conservative elements would welcome this. With Mr Hume (pictured here, on the right , of course...) in Derry and Mr Mallon (on the left in this picture. Only.) in Newry and Armagh , the scenario of 17 Northern seats at Westminster with anything up to 7 of these being held by "anti-Unionists" would put a cleaner gloss on the basic national gerrymander that is partition....."
(MORE LATER).

BETRAYAL.......
The (State) Gardaí used John Corcoran (pictured) as a (P)IRA informer. They allowed him to be killed by another (P)IRA informer, and have since refused to investigate his murder*.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, Christmas Annual 1997.
By Ursula Halligan and Vincent Browne.
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)

Surrounded by four of her eight children , Catherine (29) , Seán (27) , Bláthnaid (16) and Aoibhinn (13) , Eileen Corcoran told 'Magill' magazine that while they remain heartbroken about their loss , they are now equally frustrated by the many unanswered questions about her husband's death and by the conduct of the gardaí in the whole affair.

" I'm not bitter towards Seán O Callaghan . I'm not looking for revenge. All I'm looking for are answers. If there is someone out there who says he did it , bring him in and see did he do it, and then hopefully we can pick up the pieces and get on with our lives."

Catherine cannot understand the inaction of the gardaí . When she was in Boston earlier this year, Seán O Callaghan was making front-page news. " I picked up a copy of the 'Irish Voice' newspaper and he was quoted as saying he had no problem admitting to what he had done, including the murder* of my dad , and that he's willing to accept the consequences but that not once had any Irish official ever approached him or asked him about this. We can't understand it....."
(MORE LATER).

ON SATURDAY MAY 29th, 2010, a march will take place in Belfast to demand political status for the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry. No permission has been sought from the British state for the march as it is a long standing principle of Irish Republicans not to seek permission from either the British or 26-County state to march anywhere in Ireland.
The march will assemble in at Dunville Park and make its way to Castle St where a rally will be held. Among the speakers will be the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton, Vice President Fergal Moore and a relative of the POWs. The march is being organised by the Republican Sinn Féin POW Department.
We ask as many as possible of the readers of this blog to attend this rally
as it is important that both corrupt 'parliaments' in Ireland - and their 'Mother' parliament in Westminster - be left in no doubt that Irish Republicans on the outside are not prepared to sit on the sidelines and watch as their comrades 'inside' are mistreated by the representatives of that 'Mother' parliament.

A fund-raiser for the Cumann na mBan organisation will be held on Friday 18th June 2010 in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot, Dublin , featuring the Irish ballad group 'The Druids'. Doors open at 8.30pm , admission per person is €5 and a raffle for Irish Republican items will be held on the night. ALL WELCOME !
Thanks!
Sharon.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

CABHAIR 2010 TESTIMONIAL , Saturday 22nd May : a dignified and fitting tribute to five Irish Republican stalwarts!

Over 100 four-course dinners were served to the Irish Republican men and women who had travelled from all over Ireland , England , Scotland , Wales and America , to the Academy Plaza Hotel in Dublin , to show their respect to the 2010 CABHAIR Honorees - Joan Kennedy (Cork) , Pádraig MacMathúna (Clare) , Leo Martin (Belfast) , Paul Stanley (Kildare) and Bart Gormley (Galway). The meals were served in a ground-floor lounge area , after which we retired to one of the basement function rooms for the actual presentations , speeches , drinks , raffle and chit-chat !

Each presentation was preceeded by a few words from the Chairperson , Dan Hoban, Mayo, who outlined part of the reason why CABHAIR had picked that particular person as worthy to receive the blessing of the Republican Movement , and some of the stories re-lived during the comments delivered by Dan - to loud cheers from the audience ! - are best not repeated here! The bar was kept very busy , with a good few of the CABHAIR guests deciding instead to take the lift up to the ground floor for quicker service, and it seemed that each such 'traveller' returned to the function with a recently 'lost' friend , as extra seating had to be quickly obtained by the CABHAIR 'bouncers' present !
RSF President , Des Dalton , gave a rousing speech , during which he thanked the CABHAIR Honorees for their service to Irish Republicanism , and gave notice of a few up-coming events , including the Saturday May 29th 2010 March and rally in Belfast in support of Irish Republican POW's - this rally will be assembling at Dunville Park and will make its way to Castle Street . A loud cheer was given when Des stressed that no 'permission' from the British had been applied for , nor would it be, for this event.
There were six prizes on offer at the raffle : two framed and etched Republican mirrors , one bodhron, two bottles of booze and one 'Irish Freedom Press' gift voucher , to the value of €30. Needless to say, this blog walked/stumbled away (at 3.30am!) empty-handed ! Like all of those present , we met , had dinner , drinks and talked with old friends , colleagues and comrades , and we're told one of us (!) made a right show of herself on the dance floor...
We publish 20-odd* pictures from the night with these few paragraphs ( * - lost count. Still mentally on the 'dance floor'! ) , some of which are 'not the best' : we still haven't mastered the fine art of holding a camera , focussing it and taking a good picture with one hand , whilst holding pints of cider with the other hand , and carrying a few other such pints under the belt !
By the way - the last ten pictures (again -* !) are specially for our friends in New York , New Jersey , and Boston , amongst other American cities , and have nothing at all to do with the fact that we here at this blog are saving our cents in the hope of a US holiday. Cheap , or FOC digs, mean that 5th Avenue will see more of us ;-) !

The group on stage.

CABHAIR 'shop' at the 2010 Testimonial.

Some of those present at the 2010 CABHAIR Testimonial , 22nd May , Dublin.

Plaques ready for presentation.

Presentation to Pádraig.

Presentation to Leo.

Ruairi and Bart.

Presentation to Bart.

Presentation to Joan.

On behalf of Paul Stanley...

Joan , Donal and Dan.

Section of the crowd.

The CABHAIR organisation is to be congratulated for the principled manner in which , as usual , it honoured those at this years Testimonial , for the organisational skills which were very much evident , and for the professional manner it handled all aspects of the function. It is one of the annual pleasures that we on this blog are thrilled to attend , knowing in advance that a good evening (and morning!) are in store. And we weren't disappointed !
Thanks for reading - and, again, apologises for some of the pics. We're only going to drink glasses next year. Promise...
Sharon.

Friday, May 21, 2010

CABHAIR ANNUAL TESTIMONIAL DINNER AND REPUBLICAN REUNION 2010.

Going back to at least the early 1970’s , the Republican Movement, and supportive and affiliated organisations , have come together each year to choose a handful of individuals who are deemed suitable emissaries to represent all that Irish Republicanism stands for and that which it seeks to obtain. Having decided on the best honorees possible , a Dinner , Dance and Reunion is held to properly convey the Movement’s appreciation to those people. And that pleasurable task has been undertaken this year , too -
On Saturday May 22nd 2010 , four Irish Republicans will be honoured at a CABHAIR function to be held for them in Dublin , in the Academy Plaza Hotel, at which a Presentation will be made to each of them. Those four notable Stalwarts of Irish Republicanism are : Paul Stanley (Leinster) , Leo Martin (Ulster), Bart Gormley (Connacht) and Pádraig Mac Mathúna (USA).
This blog extends warmest ‘Congrats!’ to those Honorees , and we hope to have a representative present on the night to record proceedings. Well Done to ye all - Ni Seoinini Sinn Go Leir !
(Last year’s CABHAIR Testimonial Dinner can be viewed here.)
Thanks!
Sharon.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 /
Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989.....

"The mind boggles at an administration which bails out a private company by restricting the future growth possibilities of a state company in which all Irish taxpayers are the shareholders. Perhaps Aer Lingus will have to start paying secret party contributions just as it seems a weak-kneed RTE management now apologise to a State Minister for having the cheek to ask him something every citizen has a right to know - in case there might be another attempt to favour private 26-County administration backers when the valuable cable television franchises are up for grabs ?

Have Fianna Fáil and their friends not done enough already to undermine RTE , a respected national broadcasting network - in spite of its yielding to official Section 31 censorship - in a stampede towards a sham 'independent' broadcasting whose only real result to date has been a decline in standards all round.

Gerry Collins is on record as being proud of the censorship provisions which he first introduced against RTE. Mrs. Thatcher is even prouder of the fact that in the area of broadcasting as well as other 'law and order' areas, she is able to quote the Irish precedent when she wants to clip the wings of the BBC and ITN and limit in other ways the various provisions of the sham democracy with her 37% of the popular vote, throughout the 'UK' - not to mention the "no contest" situation which prevails in the Six Counties......."
(MORE LATER).

BETRAYAL.......
The (State) Gardaí used John Corcoran (pictured) as a (P)IRA informer. They allowed him to be killed by another (P)IRA informer, and have since refused to investigate his murder*.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, Christmas Annual 1997.
By Ursula Halligan and Vincent Browne.
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)

In two of the accounts he gave , Seán O Callaghan says he desperately tried to prevent John Corcoran's death and had pleaded with his garda handler to carry out a raid before the execution could take place. In his interview with the 'Kerryman' newspaper he said he used a submachine-gun to shoot John Corcoran in the head ; but he told the 'Sunday Times' newspaper he had used a Beretta machine pistol.

One of the questions Eileen Corcoran wants answered is whether Seán O Callaghan did in fact send the tape of her husband's confession to her, because she never received it. The mystery of the tape and what happened to it has bothered her since the first time she read about it in the newspapers.

She wonders incessantly if John left a message for her and the children. Did he think of them in his last moments? The wondering and the unanswered questions torment her. " John may have been executed , but every time Seán O Callaghan keeps coming up saying these things he's killing us too, emotionally. It puts a nail in our coffin. I die inside every time I read the way O Callaghan says he killed John. The first time I read his account I was so sick I couldn't eat , I couldn't sleep. It was just after Ursula's death (in 1992)" , she said.
(MORE LATER).

TRADE UNIONS AND THE HUNGER-STRIKE.......
From 'IRIS' magazine, November 1981.

Industrial solidarity ending in substantial strike action is a central part of the National H-Block/Armagh Committee's strategy.

The response to date has been extensive and encouraging. The Committee has the full support of the Republican Movement in this regard , as the ideal aim of the campaign is to secure a general strike which would be a major force in making the British concede.

The ICTU's craven attitude to partition is the major stumbling block preventing that eventuality and must be overcome. Work in that direction is continuing.
[END of 'Trade Unions And The Hunger-Strike']

Monday, May 17, 2010

FIGHT BRITISH CRIMINALISATION OF REPUBLICAN POW's !

Support the Five Demands of the Republican POW's in Maghaberry Jail :
1) Right to free association.
2) End to controlled movement.
3) Right to full-time education.
4) Adequate medical facilities.
5) An end to strip-searching.

Statement from Republican Prisoners, Maghaberry jail -
"Over the past number of years, we the Republican Prisioners in Maghaberry have experienced a continual decline in conditions and a steady increase in oppressive tactics being adopted against ourselves,our families and visitors.

We have encountered a lack of willingness,concern and urgency in our efforts to deal with the system on issues of human rights and moral decency. And now we find ourselves in a position where we can only rely upon our own efforts to highlight the injustices we feel daily. Our concerns of late come with the removal of a Republican prisoner from our wing on the word of the RUC/PSNI with a bogus death threat. Despite guarantees given to the governor, he was still removed.

This curious development comes against a recent incident in which information containing the details of the former governor were planted in the cell occupied by a Republican prisoner. All this at a time when visitors to Republican prisoners are being strip-searched by the RUC/PSNI.

In recent times continuous lockdowns and loss of recreation are becoming more and more common. Searches have also been conducted on our families by the RUC. These lockdowns result in us being locked down in our cells for days at a time with no food, hot water and exercise, showers or contact with our families.

We, the POWs, have also witnessed the attitude of the screws becoming more aggressive with up to five assaults being carried out on Republican prisoners in the last 18 months, all resulted in Republican being charged with assault in an attempt by a corrupt prison regime to cover up what is happening.

The accumulative effect of these grievances and a lack of any other form of redress, lead us to concede the only way to stop these assaults and degrading treatment is protest."

RSF salute action of Republican prisoners-
Statement by Republican Sinn Féin President Des Dalton :

"Republican Sinn Féin salutes the actions of the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry on Easter Sunday and Monday (April 4/5, 2010). Their decisive action in seizing control of part of their wing within the prison exposes the ongoing denial by the British state of political status and basic human rights to political prisoners.
The conditions endured by the prisoners include 23-hour lock-up, physical assault, strip searches and obstruction of visiting rights. The Republican prisoners have also been punished for wearing Easter Lilies – to commemorate the 1916 Rising and all those who have died for Irish freedom- while the British poppy is freely worn and sold in the prison each year.

This campaign to criminalise the Republican prisoners by the British State has even extended to the families of the prisoners. In recent weeks visitors have been forced to endure humiliating searches in order to visit relatives and friends while the drug dogs have been used as a pretext to stop visits – this despite the fact that no drugs have ever been found on either a Republican prisoner or their visitors.

Since 1917, 22 Irish Republicans have died on hunger strike to uphold the right of Republican prisoners to political status. In 1998 this hard fought for right was signed away under the terms of the Stormont Agreement. However the present generation of Republican prisoners in Maghaberry by their resolute action have given a clear signal that ‘England will not brand Ireland’s fight 800 years of crime’."

These men are living in a prison within a prison. A march and rally in support of the Maghaberry POW's will be held in Belfast on Saturday May 29th , 2010, at 2pm. Assemble at Dunville Park for the march to Castle Street.
Support the Republican Prisoners!
Sharon.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

IRELAND , 2010 : EVICTION OVER RENT ARREARS....

Leinster House politicians take from those that can't afford it - the taxpayer - and bail-out their business colleagues. Those same business colleagues - and the politicians - use that money to evict tenants who are struggling to pay their rent on time.

"A MOTHER-of-three yesterday staged a seven-hour protest on top of a ladder in an attempt to prevent her family being evicted from their Dublin council house.
48-year-old Ann Moore’s protest was in vain as the council eviction was eventually completed. After returning from a night shift in a local nursing home at 8am, Ms Moore started her protest....."
(From here.)

"A family was evicted from a house in Loughlinstown in south Dublin this afternoon after a woman spent more than six hours on a ladder in protest against the county sherriff executing a possession order for her home.
A large contingent of gardaí set up barriers on access roads leading to the house at Gleanntan estate, off Loughlinstown Drive and an ambulance was called to the scene after Ann Moore refused to dismount from the ladder, which was placed against the front wall of the house.
Neighbours said Mrs Moore had returned from a night shift in a nursing home where she is employed as a carer at about 8.15am today to discover the sherriff and some council staff already in her home...."
(From here.)

The 'mistake' this family made, in 21st Century Ireland, was in not being prepared , physically or morally, to get as 'down and dirty' as those that evicted them : they offered and attempted to meet their commitment,but they were up against a 'class' of people who have no scruples. Multi-millionaires who still want more. The Gordon Gekko's of this corrupt State - " I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal. The news, war, peace, famine, upheaval, the price per paper clip. We pick that rabbit out of the hat while everybody sits out there wondering how the hell we did it. Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy? It's the free market. And you're a part of it...." : a message has been sent from the 'Establishment' to those they prey on - " Behave. Pay-up for our greed, our mistakes and our incompetence or else we'll grind you down even more. And we still might do it, anyway..."
A white-washed wall would be too quick and clean for them.
Sharon.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 /
Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989.....

"Cad is fiú seasamh na Gaeilge i mBunreacht na bliana 1937 nuair nach bhfuil an rialtas féin sásta an seasamh sin a chosaint sa bhaile, ina chuid gnóthaí féin, nó sa Chómhargadh mar a bhfuil seasamh eile ar fad ag Rialtaisína Danmhairge, na Gréige agus na hÍsiltíre i leith a dteangacha náisiúnta féin?

Thóg muintir na hÍsiltíre raic le gairid nuair a bhí baol ann, dar leo, go gcuirfeadh an "cairt idirnáisiúnta nua" teilifíse isteach ar a gcumas cláir in Ollainnis a chraoladh go díreach chuig a muintir féin gan chur isteach. Ag an am ceanna tá leisce ar Sheamus Brennan aontú le haon mhaolú ar ghreim na gclár Meiriceánach ar screidil RTÉ mar, dar leis, go gcothaíonn na "soaps" céanna ár gcaidreamh cultúrtha le cine Gael i Meiriceá agus san Astráil!

The shameful undermining of further developments in our national airline, even in the unfair and difficult atmosphere of 1992, is another example of a case where the new-style Fianna Fáil in tandem with the PD (West German) 'Free Democrats' , change the rules as soon as an efficient state company competes, and wins......."
(MORE LATER).

BETRAYAL.......
The (State) Gardaí used John Corcoran (pictured) as a (P)IRA informer. They allowed him to be killed by another (P)IRA informer, and have since refused to investigate his murder*.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, Christmas Annual 1997.
By Ursula Halligan and Vincent Browne.
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)

In the various accounts given by Seán O Callaghan, he describes the last days of John Corcoran after he was abducted by the IRA. He tells how Corcoran confessed to being a garda informer, to trying to set up O Callaghan and to leaking information about the Togher Post Office robbery in Cork in 1981, when three men were arrested.

In the account given to the editor of 'The Kerryman' newspaper , Gerard Colleran, just before Seán O Callaghan handed himself over to British police, he said - " I had to travel to Monaghan to meet the IRA's Chief of Staff to get permission to shoot. During my absence , Corcoran was guarded. John Corcoran spoke to me , and I taped most of what he said . I sent the tape to his family. Prior to the shooting we were sitting in a field, chatting for three or four hours.

He didn't try to get away and was not arguing . He wasn't blindfolded. He knelt down on the ground and I shot. I said a prayer, an act of contrition, before I shot him. He turned his back. He was shot in the back of the head. Corcoran said 'go easy'. That was it. He knew he was in the shit for three years and it had come home to roost. I felt human compassion......."
(MORE LATER).

TRADE UNIONS AND THE HUNGER-STRIKE.......
From 'IRIS' magazine, November 1981.

Jim Kemmy, a self-styled 'socialist' and confessed anti-nationalist who won his Limerick seat on the strength of a protest vote against the major parties, and later went on to vote for anti-worker budgets submitted by the reactionary Fine Gael government whilst attacking the hunger-strikers at every available opportunity, recently received a bitter rebuke from some of his fellow union members.

The Dublin branch of the Bricklayers' Union , which comprises over half the union's membership, recently voted by over two to one in favour of the prisoners' demands. This way an implicit rejection of Jim Kemmy's position which he was vocal on subsequent to his election.

In the Fermanagh/South Tyrone by-election on August 20th (1981) , Owen Carron, who was Bobby Sands' election agent, received not only 32,000 votes plus , and victory from the people of the area, but also a rapturous response from the workers at the world-famous Belleek pottery plant. This was in contrast to one of his unfortunate opponents , SFWP candidate, Tom Moore, who not only suffered a derisory vote but who was also severely embarrassed by his own Newry work-mates : Moore works in a Newry factory and was condemned for standing against Owen Carron by the workers who once elected him as their union rep. Those same workers also let it be known that they had financially supported Carron's election campaign.......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, May 10, 2010

STANDING ROOM ONLY. AND A HACKSAW BLADE IN A BIRTHDAY CAKE....

Apologises for being late with this write-up, but we only got home from the function at 4am on Sunday morning, and had to be out and about for 10am , as we had been asked to help round-up over 600 raffle tickets for another RSF-organised event which was being held on Sunday at 1pm in a venue near the Dublin-Kildare border : then we had to prepare a report on both functions for presentation tonight (Monday 10th) at the usual RSF 'post-mortem' meeting which follows any such event(s), to access how same can be improved etc.

Crowd scene,at just over one hour after the doors were opened!

Anyway: the doors opened for the Hunger-Strike Commemorative function at 8.30pm , to allow the queue that had formed gain entry and, by 9.30pm , extra stools and chairs had to brought-up from the downstairs lounge , which was a sign of things to come!

Crowd still coming in...

"Anyone selling their seat....?"

By half-past-ten, the doors had to be closed and entry refused to new-comers, as there was not even standing room available!

'The Beermats' giving it loads!

The ever-brilliant 'Beermats' were first up and, once again, proved why they have such a large following in that part of Dublin, which is where the lads themselves live. Paddy Sweeney was up next and, as usual, he didn't disappoint. The third act that was booked, Pato Cullen, had, on to his way to the venue earlier that evening, received word of a family emergency and had to understandably absent himself from proceedings - so the 'Beermats' went back on stage after Paddy had finished his 90-minute set.
During a break between the switch-over of acts, RSF President, Des Dalton, received a standing ovation for his speech from the stage, during which he concentrated on the POW's in Portlaoise and Maghaberry Prisons, giving up-to-date accounts of the position those men are in and the severly unjust conditions they are being forced to endure. The function organisers had ensured that everybody present received leaflets on this issue, which contained accurate information on this scandal. Des also gave a personal recollection of the events leading up to the 1981 Hunger Strikes, and linked the experiences of those ten men with those of the twelve hunger-strikers that had preceeded them.

RSF 'Shop' at the gig - a large amount of Republican items were sold at the event.

Also, a photo-copied part-'booklet' , entitled 'The Final Salute : The 22 Hunger-Strikers Who Died Since 1917' was distributed to everybody in the pub - function room, lounge and bar. The 250 part-photo-copied 'booklets' distributed each contained basic details of the 22 hunger-strikers,with the 'proper' version (consisting of 26 pages) on sale in the in-house RSF 'shop' for five euro each: close to 150 were sold throughtout the event , not to mention the brisk sale of republican t-shirts , books , CD's , caps , pens etc.
A raffle was held at the function, with the prizes consisting of republican bodhrons, trouser-belts from Portlaoise Prison, t-shirts , CD's , a framed and etched republican mirror etc - 11 items in total were raffled , with the organisers running out of raffle tickets to sell! However, one of the RSF crew had prepared for such an event, and produced another book of same , which were sold in less than 15 minutes!

One of the raffle prizes......

....and the rest of them!

An unsuspecting member of the audience, Seán Ó Sé , a life-long republican, (and ex-POW) who was ??(!)-years of age was duped into approaching the stage from where a birthday cake , with candles, was produced by his daughters , pictures were taken, a few words in praise of the man were delivered and birthday kisses were exchanged, before he was led, red-faced , shocked and delighted, up to the bar, to recover! The poor man - he genuinely was not expecting any 'show' like that but, with the aid of a few 'shorts' on the house, soon regained his composure!
Finally ,on the only negative note of the evening,three car-loads of Political Police ('Special Branch') were outside the premises from 8pm , stopping and harassing those entering the premises. They were given short answers from those that they did manage to stop, with most of the crowds simply pushing past them, leaving them standing , exposed, on the footpath. But other than that, the function was a 'Class A' success, with every objective been obtained- the 22 Hunger-Strikers were suitably honoured and remembered, and present-day POW's had their plight highlighted. The up-coming Belfast march in support of republican prisoners was mentioned - Saturday May 29th next, 2pm, assemble at Dunville Park for a march to Castle Street - as was the Cumann na mBan fund-raiser, which will be held in the 79'r Pub, Ballyfermot, Dublin, on Friday 18th June next (doors open 8.30pm, admission five euro per person) , the bar staff, pub management and the huge crowd in attendance were all thanked,our National Anthem was sung , and..... we carried-on with a sing-song for another while!
Republican Sinn Féin Poblachtach are to be congratulated for putting such a fine and fitting event together and for, once again, keeping the spirit of Irish Republicanism alive. That organisation has proved - once again - that it is a highly-effective political machine , well capable of effective republican activity at groud level, where it has its roots. Very Well Done on that event , and on the large raffle which it successfully held on Sunday afternoon, 9th May. BEIR BUA!
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 /
Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989.....

" Tá ár teanga náisiúnta agus ár saíocht náisiúnta ag teacht faoi bhrú ó fhorais idir-náisiúnta, Béarlacha don chuid is mó , i gcónaí.

Ní gá ach scéal na teilifíse a lua. Ach is gá a lua freisin go mbaineann cuid an-mhór den deacracht sna scoileanna ní amháin le drochshampla an rialtais agus na Roinne Oideachais (dream nar fhéach leo téacsaí-nua Gaeilge a sholáthar don chlár léinn nua sa Mheán teist i mbliana mar shampla) ach freisin ón staid mhishásúil ata ag an Gaeilge de thoradh an chonartha a ceanglaíodh leis an gCómhargadh.

I dtéarmaí praiticiúla níl aon soláthar ardoideachais ach go háirithe ar fáil do phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta ón stát 26 Chontae - Saorstát a bunaíodh , dar le go leor dá lucht tacaíochta ag an am , mar go mbeadh seans ag an dream nua a thiocfadh i gceannas dul i mbun tharrtháil na Gaeilge láithreacht......! "
(MORE LATER).

BETRAYAL.......
The (State) Gardaí used John Corcoran (pictured) as a (P)IRA informer. They allowed him to be killed by another (P)IRA informer, and have since refused to investigate his murder*.
From 'MAGILL' magazine, Christmas Annual 1997.
By Ursula Halligan and Vincent Browne.
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)

Twelve years on, the pain and anguish of her husband's death remain an open sore for the Corcoran family. That sore has been exacerbated by the public admissions of the IRA informer Seán O Callaghan to the murder* of John Corcoran and by the gardaí's apparent failure to pursue the matter vigorously.

In 1988, Seán O Callaghan handed himself over to British police and admitted three murders* , including that of John Corcoran. He was sentenced to over 500 years but ended up serving only eight years. A senior garda source confirmed that O Callaghan made a confession about the murder* to the RUC in 1988 and that this was passed onto the Irish State gardaí.

In addition, O Callaghan gave detailed, graphic and consistent accounts of the murder* to at least three newspapers - The Kerryman, The Sunday Times and The Boston Globe ; the latter two interviews were given while he was still in prison. However, 12 years after the murder* , Seán O Callaghan has never been questioned by gardaí about his role in that event.......
(MORE LATER).

TRADE UNIONS AND THE HUNGER-STRIKE.......
From 'IRIS' magazine, November 1981.

In Longford/Westmeath , the late IRA Volunteer Martin Hurson received 4,573 votes and narrowly missed a seat - his candidacy was endorsed by the Longford Trades Council.

Kieran Doherty came second in his area and many of the votes which elected him came from workers in the furniture-making and meat-packing industry which dominate the constituency. In one chicken-processing factory in Monaghan town , Kieran took 100% of the vote and this was reflected, though not absolutely , in most of the area.

The late INLA Volunteer Kevin Lynch contested the Waterford seat ; his campaign , which was led by an ex-SFWP member, was responsible for the defeat of the SFWP candidate , Paddy Gallagher , who had also been defeated in the previous State general election. In the other areas they contested , the prisoner candidates beat the discredited State Labour Party into fourth place and helped to expose a self-styled Limerick 'socialist' for the fraud he is.......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, May 03, 2010

Between 1917 and 1981 , 22 Irish Republican POW's died on hunger-strike....

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

The hunger strike is part of a very ancient Irish tradition, although it seems that James Connolly was the first to use it in 1913 as tool of political protest in 20th century Ireland.
From 20 September 1917, Irish internees used the hunger strike as a means of trying to secure their rights from an implacable enemy. Thomas Ashe, former principal of Corduff National School,was the first to die after an attempted force-feeding.
Fasting as a means of asserting one's rights when faced with no other means of obtaining redress is something that has been embedded in Irish culture from ancient times. Even when the ancient Irish law system, the Laws of the Fénechus, which we popularly called the Brehon Laws from the word breitheamh, a judge, were first codified in AD 438, the law relating to the troscad, or hunger strike, was ancient.

The hunger striker gave notice of their intent and, according to the law tract Di Chetharslicht Athgabhála, if the person who is being fasted against does not come to arbitration, and actually allows the protester to die, then the moral judgement went against them and they endured shame and contempt until they made recompense to the family of the dead person. If they failed to make such amends, they were not only damned by society but damned in the next world. They were held to be without honour and without morality.
The ancient Irish texts are full of examples of people fasting to assert their rights and shame powerful enemies into accepting their moral obligations. St Patrick is recorded to have done so according to the Tripartite Life of St Patrick. And, in the Life of St Ailbe, we found St Lugid and St Salchin, carrying out ritual fasts to protest.
Even King Conall Dearg of Connacht fasted when he found his rights infringed. And the entire population of Leinster fasted against St Colmcille when he rode roughshod over their rights. The poet Mairgen mac Amalgado mac Mael Ruain of the Deisi fasted against another poet Finguine over an act of perceived injustice.
The troscad continued in Irish law throughout the centuries until the English conquests proscribed the native law system and foisted English law on Ireland through a series of Acts between 1587 and 1613.
Nevertheless, individual fasts against the cruelties of the English colonial administration are recorded several times over the subsequent years....

On Saturday , 8th May 2010 , a ballad session featuring The Beermats , Pato Cullen and Paddy Sweeney will be held in the 79'r pub in Ballyfermot ,Dublin, to remember the 22 Irish men who have died on hunger-strike since 1917. Doors open at 8.30pm , admission per person is Five Euro and a raffle for POW craft and other prizes will be held on the night.
All Welcome!
Sharon.