A ROUGH DEAL .......
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
Eddie Gallagher was in one of 100 cars that travelled from Ballybofey to Derry for the funerals of those killed on Bloody Sunday . He was a labourer from the town but did not come from a particularly republican background - many of those on his father's side of the family had gone with de Valera " ... when he left the Republican Movement . "
According to Gallagher , he met many republicans during fishing rights agitation and civil rights marches in Britain during the 'sixties . In the early 'seventies , Eddie Gallagher was involved with Sinn Fein in Donegal , and in the anti-EEC campaigns .
He wanted to involve as many people as possible and considered that 'the policy of more gelignite' was " a winner . " His political views centered on emigration : it seemed to him that his entire school class was on a conveyor belt towards the Derry/Glasgow boat . He also wanted the British Army out of the North .......
(MORE LATER).
TO WESTMINSTER AND BACK .
The Life And Times Of Gerry Fitt.
By Nell McCafferty .
First published in ' MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 .
The Banqueting Room in Belfast's City Hall is used for the really big occasions ; it is there that politicians gather to hear the verdict of the electorate upon them . It is there that they are wined and dined in the successful years . A large stained glass window spells the message out for them : ' Pro Tanto , Quid Retribuamus ' - ' For All This , How Will We Repay You ' .
On Friday June 10th , 1983 , at 1.39pm the politicians of West Belfast gathered in the banqueting room and the verdict was read out : Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein was elected to Westminster . Gerry Fitt , who had held the seat since 1966 , was stripped of office . The RUC formed a massive funnel around Adams , down which he sped into the limelight of the world's media .
" There's more police protecting him than attacked me in Derry " quipped Gerry Fitt ; it was a joke for 'insiders' . Outwardly , the RUC were protecting Adams against the wrath of loyalists , gathered in Belfast City Hall , who did not like the election results , as seventeen years earlier they had protected Gerry Fitt against the loyalists who did'nt like the result then , either .
Unlike Fitt , though , Adams won't be referring to the matter in his maiden Westminster speech in London , England . The differences between the two Gerries was established as long ago as Monday , April 25th , 1966 . At 7pm , that day .......
(MORE LATER).
A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OCCUPIED IRELAND ...... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 8.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Jim Dolan , Election Agent for the successful Sinn Fein candidate John Joe Mac Fhearghaill , went on to say that in the course of the election campaign the Republican Movement had been at a great disadvantage because , as a result of arrests and internments , some of their very best speakers north and south had not been available to them .
Referring to meetings held during the election campaign on behalf of the candidate , John Joe , Jim Dolan said these had not been given one line of publicity in the daily press , while the organisation had been refused the use of Radio Eireann despite the fact that they had nineteen candidates in the field !
As a result of the lack of publicity given them , they had to fight their campaign and explain their policy from the tops of ditches and from chapel gates : " You all know , " said Jim Dolan , " that we were given no publicity , with one exception - a local newspaper . A few weeks ago , in the course of an Editorial , in another local paper , we were referred to as 'the people of lost causes and lost deposits .. ' , but the only deposit we lost was in Dublin , and that by a mere eight votes . I wonder what the Leader-writer will say after this election ... "
(MORE LATER).
Thursday, May 12, 2005
A ROUGH DEAL .......
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
The arrest of Bernadette Devlin was a turning-point for the Provisional IRA ; a six-hour gun battle in the Short Strand in Belfast between Protestant groups and the Provos led many to believe that the British Army were unwilling to interfere .
In Derry , the population was saturated indiscriminately with CS gas . Three days after Bernadette Devlin was arrested , Joe Coyle , two children and two other men were burned to death in the house next door to where Marion Coyle had been born . The Provos said that he was a Staff Captain and that he had been killed in action ; it was claimed that an incendiary device was being made in the house .
The summer of 1971 saw her on holidays with friends in Bundoran , County Donegal , away from the tension of Derry . August 9th saw the last ditch attempt to prop up the Northern State and Brian Faulkner with the introduction of internment - over 300 were interned . The violence escalated as a direct result of this action . Then on the last day of January 1972 , thirteen Civil Rights marchers were shot dead by the British Army in Derry . Three days later , 30,000 people turned up in Dublin for the burning of the British Embassy .
None of these events on their own was enough to entice Marion Coyle to join the Provos although people were queueing up to do so .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The referendum on the anti-abortion amendment will probably be held soon . What will Sinn Fein do about it ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " Probably nothing . You're into the silly situation there where Sinn Fein does'nt recognise the constitution of the Free State and can hardly take a stand on amending it . I would be against the amendment . I think it's nonsense , introduced for party political advantage , and does'nt deal at all with the issues involved , the conditions which force women to seek abortions . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " You have recently developed links with people like Ken Livingstone , the leader of the Greater London Council . How much importance do you place on the development of a solidarity movement in Britain ? "
GERRY ADAMS : " We see it as very important . We decided some years ago to do all we could to encourage the development of an anti-war movement in Britain even if some of the elements in it were there for chauvinist reasons like not wanting their soldiers killed in Ireland . Recently we have refined our attitude somewhat and we are making an effort to develop contacts with people with influence in the British Labour Party .
This is especially important with the Labour Party in disarray after its defeat in the elections . Ken Livingstone thinks there may be a big swing to the Left and the party might eventually come to power committed to withdrawing from Ireland . "
[END of ' THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX '].
(Tomorrow : ' TO WESTMINSTER AND BACK - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GERRY FITT' ; by Neil McCafferty , first published in 1983 .)
A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OCCUPIED IRELAND . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 8.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Proposing a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer and his staff , for the manner in which the election count had been conducted , Jim Dolan , Election Agent for John Joe Mac Fhearghaill said he wished to take the opportunity of paying a personal tribute to Mr. Devins who had been most helpful and co-operative to him as one who was not very familiar with electioneering . The Returning Officer and his staff had given him every facility and he deeply appreciated this .
He felt very proud that the people in Sligo and Leitrim had raised the Sinn Fein flag once again by returning John Joe Mac Fhearghaill at the head of the poll . This was something which , three weeks ago , many people thought an impossibility and that , in fact, John Joe Mac Fhearghaill would be very lucky to save his deposit . In less than a month's campaign it had been proved that the people of Sligo-Leitrim had returned Sinn Fein and this was a splendid tribute to the successful candidate and to the Republican Movement .
A month ago John Joe's name was unfamiliar in County Sligo but tonight he was known in every homestead in Sligo and Leitrim . History had been written again like in 1907 when Sinn Fein first raised its flag in North Leitrim .......
(MORE LATER).
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
The arrest of Bernadette Devlin was a turning-point for the Provisional IRA ; a six-hour gun battle in the Short Strand in Belfast between Protestant groups and the Provos led many to believe that the British Army were unwilling to interfere .
In Derry , the population was saturated indiscriminately with CS gas . Three days after Bernadette Devlin was arrested , Joe Coyle , two children and two other men were burned to death in the house next door to where Marion Coyle had been born . The Provos said that he was a Staff Captain and that he had been killed in action ; it was claimed that an incendiary device was being made in the house .
The summer of 1971 saw her on holidays with friends in Bundoran , County Donegal , away from the tension of Derry . August 9th saw the last ditch attempt to prop up the Northern State and Brian Faulkner with the introduction of internment - over 300 were interned . The violence escalated as a direct result of this action . Then on the last day of January 1972 , thirteen Civil Rights marchers were shot dead by the British Army in Derry . Three days later , 30,000 people turned up in Dublin for the burning of the British Embassy .
None of these events on their own was enough to entice Marion Coyle to join the Provos although people were queueing up to do so .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The referendum on the anti-abortion amendment will probably be held soon . What will Sinn Fein do about it ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " Probably nothing . You're into the silly situation there where Sinn Fein does'nt recognise the constitution of the Free State and can hardly take a stand on amending it . I would be against the amendment . I think it's nonsense , introduced for party political advantage , and does'nt deal at all with the issues involved , the conditions which force women to seek abortions . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " You have recently developed links with people like Ken Livingstone , the leader of the Greater London Council . How much importance do you place on the development of a solidarity movement in Britain ? "
GERRY ADAMS : " We see it as very important . We decided some years ago to do all we could to encourage the development of an anti-war movement in Britain even if some of the elements in it were there for chauvinist reasons like not wanting their soldiers killed in Ireland . Recently we have refined our attitude somewhat and we are making an effort to develop contacts with people with influence in the British Labour Party .
This is especially important with the Labour Party in disarray after its defeat in the elections . Ken Livingstone thinks there may be a big swing to the Left and the party might eventually come to power committed to withdrawing from Ireland . "
[END of ' THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX '].
(Tomorrow : ' TO WESTMINSTER AND BACK - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GERRY FITT' ; by Neil McCafferty , first published in 1983 .)
A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OCCUPIED IRELAND . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 8.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Proposing a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer and his staff , for the manner in which the election count had been conducted , Jim Dolan , Election Agent for John Joe Mac Fhearghaill said he wished to take the opportunity of paying a personal tribute to Mr. Devins who had been most helpful and co-operative to him as one who was not very familiar with electioneering . The Returning Officer and his staff had given him every facility and he deeply appreciated this .
He felt very proud that the people in Sligo and Leitrim had raised the Sinn Fein flag once again by returning John Joe Mac Fhearghaill at the head of the poll . This was something which , three weeks ago , many people thought an impossibility and that , in fact, John Joe Mac Fhearghaill would be very lucky to save his deposit . In less than a month's campaign it had been proved that the people of Sligo-Leitrim had returned Sinn Fein and this was a splendid tribute to the successful candidate and to the Republican Movement .
A month ago John Joe's name was unfamiliar in County Sligo but tonight he was known in every homestead in Sligo and Leitrim . History had been written again like in 1907 when Sinn Fein first raised its flag in North Leitrim .......
(MORE LATER).
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
A ROUGH DEAL .......
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
Eight people were sentenced to a total of seventy-one years for their part in the kidnap ; the three whom Gallagher and Coyle sought to get out of prison are long free . The only person remaining in prison from the entire affair is Eddie Gallagher .
Marion Coyle was not always a militant Republican : born in the Creggan in Derry in July 1954 , the sixth child of Johnnie and Susan Coyle . They owned a small shop and were relatively prosperous . She went to the (Catholic) Rosemount School and then to St. Mary's Intermediate ; at sixteen years of age , she went to the Municipal Technical College to study typing , shorthand and English .
There were by now twelve children in the Coyle household - nine boys and three girls . Marion Coyle worked in her parents' shop after school - she was generous to her friends and paid for them into dances when they did not have any money . She was not involved in politics but could hardly have been unaware of what was happening around her . One of her uncles was a steward at the Civil Rights marches then getting under-way .
Another of her relatives , Joe Coyle , a docker from the Bogside , was a staunch republican . By 1970 , the family had moved to the Duncreggan Estate . On June 26th , Bernadette Devlin was jailed for six months ; the arrest was badly timed and sparked off major riots in Derry - in the days following , eight people died and 200 were injured , fifty-four of those by gunshot wounds .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " There are rumours of discontent by more traditionalist elements in Sinn Fein at the emphasis on socialism and the increasing involvement in elections . Is there likely to be a backlash against this trend ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " The moves to radicalise the Movement have been won on the floor of the Ard Fheiseanna . There are people there certainly - and I think it's understandable given the history of Republican politics - who are opposed to involvement in what they call politics . What they are really opposed to is constitutionalism which I am equally opposed to .
I have found that once you explain things on the basis of the Proclamation saying the ownership of Ireland should belong to the people of Ireland and what Connolly and Pearse said , and how this should be updated by the nationalisation of major industries and how financiers and multinationals should'nt be allowed to suck the wealth out of Ireland , people start coming round .
I don't believe there are , in any significant numbers , ideological differences . I don't forsee any situation where , on the road to radicalising policies and strategies there would be a split . I think that some people might leave , as happened in the past ....... " ('1169...' Comment - The Ard Fheis in 1986 concerned itself with a lot more than simply 'radicalising policies and strategies .... ' : a section of those present attempted to steer Irish Republicanism on to a constitutional path by changing a principle of the Sinn Fein organisation , and formed a new entity with which to proceed on their 'new' path - Provisional Sinn Fein . They then registered their new grouping with Leinster House as a 'political party' . )
(MORE LATER).
PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE : Thomas Davis , 'Essays' .
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
" And now , Englishmen , listen to us ! Though you were tomorrow to give us the best tenures on earth - though you were to equalise Presbyterian , Catholic and Episcopalian - though were to give us the amplest representation in your Senate - though you were to restore our absentees , disencumber us of your debt , and redress every one of our fiscal wrongs - and though , in addition to all this , you plundered the treasuries of the world to lay gold at our feet , and exhausted the resources of your genius to do us worship and honour : still we tell you , we tell you , in the names of liberty and country - we tell you , in the name of enthusiastic hearts , thoughtful souls , and fearless spirits - we tell you , by the past , the present , and the future , we would spurn your gifts , if the condition were that Ireland should remain a province .
We tell you , and all whom it may concern , come what may - bribery or deceit , justice , policy , or war - we tell you , in the name of Ireland , that Ireland shall be a Nation . "
[END of ' PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE : Thomas Davis , 'Essays' ' ].
(Tomorrow - 'A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OCCUPIED IRELAND').
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
Eight people were sentenced to a total of seventy-one years for their part in the kidnap ; the three whom Gallagher and Coyle sought to get out of prison are long free . The only person remaining in prison from the entire affair is Eddie Gallagher .
Marion Coyle was not always a militant Republican : born in the Creggan in Derry in July 1954 , the sixth child of Johnnie and Susan Coyle . They owned a small shop and were relatively prosperous . She went to the (Catholic) Rosemount School and then to St. Mary's Intermediate ; at sixteen years of age , she went to the Municipal Technical College to study typing , shorthand and English .
There were by now twelve children in the Coyle household - nine boys and three girls . Marion Coyle worked in her parents' shop after school - she was generous to her friends and paid for them into dances when they did not have any money . She was not involved in politics but could hardly have been unaware of what was happening around her . One of her uncles was a steward at the Civil Rights marches then getting under-way .
Another of her relatives , Joe Coyle , a docker from the Bogside , was a staunch republican . By 1970 , the family had moved to the Duncreggan Estate . On June 26th , Bernadette Devlin was jailed for six months ; the arrest was badly timed and sparked off major riots in Derry - in the days following , eight people died and 200 were injured , fifty-four of those by gunshot wounds .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " There are rumours of discontent by more traditionalist elements in Sinn Fein at the emphasis on socialism and the increasing involvement in elections . Is there likely to be a backlash against this trend ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " The moves to radicalise the Movement have been won on the floor of the Ard Fheiseanna . There are people there certainly - and I think it's understandable given the history of Republican politics - who are opposed to involvement in what they call politics . What they are really opposed to is constitutionalism which I am equally opposed to .
I have found that once you explain things on the basis of the Proclamation saying the ownership of Ireland should belong to the people of Ireland and what Connolly and Pearse said , and how this should be updated by the nationalisation of major industries and how financiers and multinationals should'nt be allowed to suck the wealth out of Ireland , people start coming round .
I don't believe there are , in any significant numbers , ideological differences . I don't forsee any situation where , on the road to radicalising policies and strategies there would be a split . I think that some people might leave , as happened in the past ....... " ('1169...' Comment - The Ard Fheis in 1986 concerned itself with a lot more than simply 'radicalising policies and strategies .... ' : a section of those present attempted to steer Irish Republicanism on to a constitutional path by changing a principle of the Sinn Fein organisation , and formed a new entity with which to proceed on their 'new' path - Provisional Sinn Fein . They then registered their new grouping with Leinster House as a 'political party' . )
(MORE LATER).
PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE : Thomas Davis , 'Essays' .
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
" And now , Englishmen , listen to us ! Though you were tomorrow to give us the best tenures on earth - though you were to equalise Presbyterian , Catholic and Episcopalian - though were to give us the amplest representation in your Senate - though you were to restore our absentees , disencumber us of your debt , and redress every one of our fiscal wrongs - and though , in addition to all this , you plundered the treasuries of the world to lay gold at our feet , and exhausted the resources of your genius to do us worship and honour : still we tell you , we tell you , in the names of liberty and country - we tell you , in the name of enthusiastic hearts , thoughtful souls , and fearless spirits - we tell you , by the past , the present , and the future , we would spurn your gifts , if the condition were that Ireland should remain a province .
We tell you , and all whom it may concern , come what may - bribery or deceit , justice , policy , or war - we tell you , in the name of Ireland , that Ireland shall be a Nation . "
[END of ' PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE : Thomas Davis , 'Essays' ' ].
(Tomorrow - 'A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OCCUPIED IRELAND').
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
A ROUGH DEAL .
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
On December 20 last , Eddie Gallagher went on hunger strike in the Security Wing of Mountjoy Prison in Dublin in protest at the presence near-by of eight inmates who had anti-bodies to the AIDS virus in their blood . He then began to eat food but still refused anything that came from the prison kitchen .
Early in 1985 , Gallagher ended a 39-day fast in Portlaoise Prison after his condition became critical . At present , his sight is severely impaired .
Eddie Gallagher was sentenced to twenty years for his part in the Tiede Herrema kidnap in 1975 , and his accomplice Marion Coyle received fifteen years ; she was released last year (ie 1985) . A written undertaking given by the then Garda Commissioner , Edmund Garvey , that the two would serve no more than four and two years respectively , if Herrema was released unharmed , has not been honoured .
It was claimed that Gallagher and Coyle had broken the conditions of the agreement - that the agreement itself should not be disclosed except if it was not honoured , and that both prisoners should avoid " serious misconduct " in prison . Four successive (Free State) Ministers for Justice - Gerry Collins (FF) , Jim Mitchell (FG) , Sean Doherty (FF) and Michael Noonan (FG) - have refused to release Eddie Gallagher since 1979 . He has served six years more than he was originally promised .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " You devoted a large part of your recent Bodenstown speech to the need for Sinn Fein to develop new strategies in the South . There seemed to be a hint that you would contest Dail elections and that you might drop the traditional abstentionist policy . Is that so ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " We have not decided to stand for Leinster House . What I was saying at Bodenstown was that Republicans have to come up with a strategy which accepts the fact that most of the people in the 26 counties accept the Free State institution as legitimate . It is no use Republicans burying their heads in the sand and saying - although all these things are true - that it is a bastard State as a result of the Treaty and so on , if everyone else has a totally different view .
You can't develop a strategy without taking into account (1) the effects of the acceptance of the State institutions and (2) the effect an abstentionist policy by Republicans is going to have on that strategy . Sinn Fein does have a position , however , that we will not give recognition to Leinster House . I can't be pragmatic about that ; while that remains the position I will support it . ('1169....' Comment - it should be noted that Adams gave this interview in 1983 - three years later he was instrumental in leading a group out of the Republican Movement over this very issue . That group , Provisional Sinn Fein , is now a constitutional political party , and is similar in political outlook to the SDLP and Fianna Fail . Politically wealthy but morally bankrupt ... )
Essentially what I was trying to say was that you've got to take all these things into account and you can't proceed on the basis of what's happening in the North , on the basis of Sinn Fein being an IRA support group . You can't get support in Ballymun because of doors being kicked in by the Brits in Ballymurphy .
You've got to become a relevant political party with realistic policies which crystallise the disillusionment felt by people at the Thatcherite monetarist policies and the corruption by the Leinster House politicians ....... " ('1169...' Comment - What happens if you put what you believe to be 'good apples' in a barrel of bad apples ? Do the bad apples turn 'good' , or the 'good' apples turn bad ... ?)
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
In concluding this brief summary of the election results it is fitting that an expression of gratitude and sincere thanks be given to all those who assisted the Republican Movement during the election campaign . To all those who worked , who subscribed funds and who voted for the Republican candidates goes this simple expression of thanks for their generous support and willing co-operation .
Linked with this expression of thanks is an expression of hope for the future and confidence in the success of the Cause of Irish Freedom .
[END of ' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties'].
(Tomorrow : ' PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE' - Thomas Davis , 'Essays').
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
On December 20 last , Eddie Gallagher went on hunger strike in the Security Wing of Mountjoy Prison in Dublin in protest at the presence near-by of eight inmates who had anti-bodies to the AIDS virus in their blood . He then began to eat food but still refused anything that came from the prison kitchen .
Early in 1985 , Gallagher ended a 39-day fast in Portlaoise Prison after his condition became critical . At present , his sight is severely impaired .
Eddie Gallagher was sentenced to twenty years for his part in the Tiede Herrema kidnap in 1975 , and his accomplice Marion Coyle received fifteen years ; she was released last year (ie 1985) . A written undertaking given by the then Garda Commissioner , Edmund Garvey , that the two would serve no more than four and two years respectively , if Herrema was released unharmed , has not been honoured .
It was claimed that Gallagher and Coyle had broken the conditions of the agreement - that the agreement itself should not be disclosed except if it was not honoured , and that both prisoners should avoid " serious misconduct " in prison . Four successive (Free State) Ministers for Justice - Gerry Collins (FF) , Jim Mitchell (FG) , Sean Doherty (FF) and Michael Noonan (FG) - have refused to release Eddie Gallagher since 1979 . He has served six years more than he was originally promised .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " You devoted a large part of your recent Bodenstown speech to the need for Sinn Fein to develop new strategies in the South . There seemed to be a hint that you would contest Dail elections and that you might drop the traditional abstentionist policy . Is that so ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " We have not decided to stand for Leinster House . What I was saying at Bodenstown was that Republicans have to come up with a strategy which accepts the fact that most of the people in the 26 counties accept the Free State institution as legitimate . It is no use Republicans burying their heads in the sand and saying - although all these things are true - that it is a bastard State as a result of the Treaty and so on , if everyone else has a totally different view .
You can't develop a strategy without taking into account (1) the effects of the acceptance of the State institutions and (2) the effect an abstentionist policy by Republicans is going to have on that strategy . Sinn Fein does have a position , however , that we will not give recognition to Leinster House . I can't be pragmatic about that ; while that remains the position I will support it . ('1169....' Comment - it should be noted that Adams gave this interview in 1983 - three years later he was instrumental in leading a group out of the Republican Movement over this very issue . That group , Provisional Sinn Fein , is now a constitutional political party , and is similar in political outlook to the SDLP and Fianna Fail . Politically wealthy but morally bankrupt ... )
Essentially what I was trying to say was that you've got to take all these things into account and you can't proceed on the basis of what's happening in the North , on the basis of Sinn Fein being an IRA support group . You can't get support in Ballymun because of doors being kicked in by the Brits in Ballymurphy .
You've got to become a relevant political party with realistic policies which crystallise the disillusionment felt by people at the Thatcherite monetarist policies and the corruption by the Leinster House politicians ....... " ('1169...' Comment - What happens if you put what you believe to be 'good apples' in a barrel of bad apples ? Do the bad apples turn 'good' , or the 'good' apples turn bad ... ?)
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
In concluding this brief summary of the election results it is fitting that an expression of gratitude and sincere thanks be given to all those who assisted the Republican Movement during the election campaign . To all those who worked , who subscribed funds and who voted for the Republican candidates goes this simple expression of thanks for their generous support and willing co-operation .
Linked with this expression of thanks is an expression of hope for the future and confidence in the success of the Cause of Irish Freedom .
[END of ' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties'].
(Tomorrow : ' PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE' - Thomas Davis , 'Essays').
A ROUGH DEAL .
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
On December 20 last , Eddie Gallagher went on hunger strike in the Security Wing of Mountjoy Prison in Dublin in protest at the presence near-by of eight inmates who had anti-bodies to the AIDS virus in their blood . He then began to eat food but still refused anything that came from the prison kitchen .
Early in 1985 , Gallagher ended a 39-day fast in Portlaoise Prison after his condition became critical . At present , his sight is severely impaired .
Eddie Gallagher was sentenced to twenty years for his part in the Tiede Herrema kidnap in 1975 , and his accomplice Marion Coyle received fifteen years ; she was released last year (ie 1985) . A written undertaking given by the then Garda Commissioner , Edmund Garvey , that the two would serve no more than four and two years respectively , if Herrema was released unharmed , has not been honoured .
It was claimed that Gallagher and Coyle had broken the conditions of the agreement - that the agreement itself should not be disclosed except if it was not honoured , and that both prisoners should avoid " serious misconduct " in prison . Four successive (Free State) Ministers for Justice - Gerry Collins (FF) , Jim Mitchell (FG) , Sean Doherty (FF) and Michael Noonan (FG) - have refused to release Eddie Gallagher since 1979 . He has served six years more than he was originally promised .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " You devoted a large part of your recent Bodenstown speech to the need for Sinn Fein to develop new strategies in the South . There seemed to be a hint that you would contest Dail elections and that you might drop the traditional abstentionist policy . Is that so ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " We have not decided to stand for Leinster House . What I was saying at Bodenstown was that Republicans have to come up with a strategy which accepts the fact that most of the people in the 26 counties accept the Free State institution as legitimate . It is no use Republicans burying their heads in the sand and saying - although all these things are true - that it is a bastard State as a result of the Treaty and so on , if everyone else has a totally different view .
You can't develop a strategy without taking into account (1) the effects of the acceptance of the State institutions and (2) the effect an abstentionist policy by Republicans is going to have on that strategy . Sinn Fein does have a position , however , that we will not give recognition to Leinster House . I can't be pragmatic about that ; while that remains the position I will support it . ('1169....' Comment - it should be noted that Adams gave this interview in 1983 - three years later he was instrumental in leading a group out of the Republican Movement over this very issue . That group , Provisional Sinn Fein , is now a constitutional political party , and is similar in political outlook to the SDLP and Fianna Fail . Politically wealthy but morally bankrupt ... )
Essentially what I was trying to say was that you've got to take all these things into account and you can't proceed on the basis of what's happening in the North , on the basis of Sinn Fein being an IRA support group . You can't get support in Ballymun because of doors being kicked in by the Brits in Ballymurphy .
You've got to become a relevant political party with realistic policies which crystallise the disillusionment felt by people at the Thatcherite monetarist policies and the corruption by the Leinster House politicians ....... " ('1169...' Comment - What happens if you put what you believe to be 'good apples' in a barrel of bad apples ? Do the bad apples turn 'good' , or the 'good' apples turn bad ... ?)
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
In concluding this brief summary of the election results it is fitting that an expression of gratitude and sincere thanks be given to all those who assisted the Republican Movement during the election campaign . To all those who worked , who subscribed funds and who voted for the Republican candidates goes this simple expression of thanks for their generous support and willing co-operation .
Linked with this expression of thanks is an expression of hope for the future and confidence in the success of the Cause of Irish Freedom .
<
b>[END of ' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties'].
(Tomorrow : ' PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE' - Thomas Davis , 'Essays').
Ten years ago EDDIE GALLAGHER went to prison for his part in the kidnapping of TIEDE HERREMA . He is still there , even though he did a deal which promised him only four years in jail . His accomplice , MARION COYLE , has been released . DEREK DUNNE reports on GALLAGHER's maverick relationship with the IRA , on the negotiations which led to the release of TIEDE HERREMA and on the roots of GALLAGHER's involvement .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , January 1986 , pages 6 , 7 , 8, and 9 .
On December 20 last , Eddie Gallagher went on hunger strike in the Security Wing of Mountjoy Prison in Dublin in protest at the presence near-by of eight inmates who had anti-bodies to the AIDS virus in their blood . He then began to eat food but still refused anything that came from the prison kitchen .
Early in 1985 , Gallagher ended a 39-day fast in Portlaoise Prison after his condition became critical . At present , his sight is severely impaired .
Eddie Gallagher was sentenced to twenty years for his part in the Tiede Herrema kidnap in 1975 , and his accomplice Marion Coyle received fifteen years ; she was released last year (ie 1985) . A written undertaking given by the then Garda Commissioner , Edmund Garvey , that the two would serve no more than four and two years respectively , if Herrema was released unharmed , has not been honoured .
It was claimed that Gallagher and Coyle had broken the conditions of the agreement - that the agreement itself should not be disclosed except if it was not honoured , and that both prisoners should avoid " serious misconduct " in prison . Four successive (Free State) Ministers for Justice - Gerry Collins (FF) , Jim Mitchell (FG) , Sean Doherty (FF) and Michael Noonan (FG) - have refused to release Eddie Gallagher since 1979 . He has served six years more than he was originally promised .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " You devoted a large part of your recent Bodenstown speech to the need for Sinn Fein to develop new strategies in the South . There seemed to be a hint that you would contest Dail elections and that you might drop the traditional abstentionist policy . Is that so ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " We have not decided to stand for Leinster House . What I was saying at Bodenstown was that Republicans have to come up with a strategy which accepts the fact that most of the people in the 26 counties accept the Free State institution as legitimate . It is no use Republicans burying their heads in the sand and saying - although all these things are true - that it is a bastard State as a result of the Treaty and so on , if everyone else has a totally different view .
You can't develop a strategy without taking into account (1) the effects of the acceptance of the State institutions and (2) the effect an abstentionist policy by Republicans is going to have on that strategy . Sinn Fein does have a position , however , that we will not give recognition to Leinster House . I can't be pragmatic about that ; while that remains the position I will support it . ('1169....' Comment - it should be noted that Adams gave this interview in 1983 - three years later he was instrumental in leading a group out of the Republican Movement over this very issue . That group , Provisional Sinn Fein , is now a constitutional political party , and is similar in political outlook to the SDLP and Fianna Fail . Politically wealthy but morally bankrupt ... )
Essentially what I was trying to say was that you've got to take all these things into account and you can't proceed on the basis of what's happening in the North , on the basis of Sinn Fein being an IRA support group . You can't get support in Ballymun because of doors being kicked in by the Brits in Ballymurphy .
You've got to become a relevant political party with realistic policies which crystallise the disillusionment felt by people at the Thatcherite monetarist policies and the corruption by the Leinster House politicians ....... " ('1169...' Comment - What happens if you put what you believe to be 'good apples' in a barrel of bad apples ? Do the bad apples turn 'good' , or the 'good' apples turn bad ... ?)
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
In concluding this brief summary of the election results it is fitting that an expression of gratitude and sincere thanks be given to all those who assisted the Republican Movement during the election campaign . To all those who worked , who subscribed funds and who voted for the Republican candidates goes this simple expression of thanks for their generous support and willing co-operation .
Linked with this expression of thanks is an expression of hope for the future and confidence in the success of the Cause of Irish Freedom .
<
b>[END of ' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties'].
(Tomorrow : ' PAST , PRESENT AND FUTURE' - Thomas Davis , 'Essays').
Monday, May 09, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP .......
From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 5 ..
Back in the draughty bedroom where we started out from - waiting for the morning and the return journey .
What happens next ? More training camps perhaps . Into an IRA Operational Unit hopefully , to put what we've learned into effect . Our experience of an IRA Training Camp , tiring but enjoyable and completely functional , has made two things clear :
One is that however long the British Army takes to train its mercenary squaddies for combat , they can never be as well-prepared both politically and psychologically , or so highly motivated , as Irish Republican soldiers (and in most cases no better trained in any military sense) .
The other is that for as long as British occupation continues , the IRA will retain the organisational ability and ingenuity to ensure that , no matter how many Republicans are killed or imprisoned , there will never be any shortage of trained Volunteers to spearhead the revolutionary warfare of the IRA !
('1169...' Comment : that "... revolutionary warfare .. " now pretends to manifest itself in British-imposed 'parliaments' on this island - Leinster House and Stormont . And the suits fit even better than the combat fatigues ever did ....)
[END of ' FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP'].
(Tomorrow - ' A ROUGH DEAL' : Tiede Herrema Kidnap).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX .......
" We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......"
Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Sinn Fein appears to have moved a lot to the Left in recent times and talks a lot about socialism , the working class and the rights of women . What are you doing to put all this into practice ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " There have been a number of problems . Republicans , especially in the 26 counties , compartmentalise their activities a lot . I have found many Republicans who have been active trade unionists for years at shop-steward or trades council level but who make a distinction between their trade union activity and for example selling 'An Phoblacht' .
We have established a trade union department which brings Republican trade unionists together and tries to get them to integrate their trade union activities and their Republicanism . We have a lot of trade union members now but we are years behind the Workers' Party in this and have nothing like their position in the unions . But their influence may not be so great in the long run because they have grafted themselves onto the unions , they are not springing up from the bottom of the labour movement .
We have a department of women's affairs going for about two and a half years . It would see its role as politicising women Republicans to fight for their rights as women and politicising male Republicans to support equality for women . It is not a feminist department though there are some strong feminists in it . They are involved in working as Republicans in women's centres , rape crisis centres and so on , North and South .
To be frank , it is only in the last few years that we have begun to treat women's affairs in a political way and we do stand open to criticism on that issue ....... "
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
There are some grounds for the belief that quite a substantial number of the electorate voted for the party from which the new Government emerges simply because the outgoing government had employed coercive measures against members of the Republican Movement .
The new government has in effect been elected on an anti-government vote ; the electors expressed their objection to the imprisonment of Republicans who deemed it a duty to assist their fellowmen in the Six Counties in their present effort to free themselves from English rule and aggression .
Whilst this block of the electorate recorded it's objection to the arrest and imprisonment of members of the Republican Movement it is not unreasonable to assume that its support was given to the party forming the new Government in the firm belief and in the hope that coercion and imprisonment of Republicans would cease .......
(MORE LATER).
( ' Pagdorf ' - Thank you for the visit : your heart is definately in the right place , as are you - a potential unknown 'virus' in that body area you mentioned could prove invaluable , as you said . Hopefully it won't come to that , but it is comforting to know that there are those in your position that understand . Slan go foill , a Chara : stay in touch if you can . Sharon . )
From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 5 ..
Back in the draughty bedroom where we started out from - waiting for the morning and the return journey .
What happens next ? More training camps perhaps . Into an IRA Operational Unit hopefully , to put what we've learned into effect . Our experience of an IRA Training Camp , tiring but enjoyable and completely functional , has made two things clear :
One is that however long the British Army takes to train its mercenary squaddies for combat , they can never be as well-prepared both politically and psychologically , or so highly motivated , as Irish Republican soldiers (and in most cases no better trained in any military sense) .
The other is that for as long as British occupation continues , the IRA will retain the organisational ability and ingenuity to ensure that , no matter how many Republicans are killed or imprisoned , there will never be any shortage of trained Volunteers to spearhead the revolutionary warfare of the IRA !
('1169...' Comment : that "... revolutionary warfare .. " now pretends to manifest itself in British-imposed 'parliaments' on this island - Leinster House and Stormont . And the suits fit even better than the combat fatigues ever did ....)
[END of ' FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP'].
(Tomorrow - ' A ROUGH DEAL' : Tiede Herrema Kidnap).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX .......
" We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......"
Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Sinn Fein appears to have moved a lot to the Left in recent times and talks a lot about socialism , the working class and the rights of women . What are you doing to put all this into practice ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " There have been a number of problems . Republicans , especially in the 26 counties , compartmentalise their activities a lot . I have found many Republicans who have been active trade unionists for years at shop-steward or trades council level but who make a distinction between their trade union activity and for example selling 'An Phoblacht' .
We have established a trade union department which brings Republican trade unionists together and tries to get them to integrate their trade union activities and their Republicanism . We have a lot of trade union members now but we are years behind the Workers' Party in this and have nothing like their position in the unions . But their influence may not be so great in the long run because they have grafted themselves onto the unions , they are not springing up from the bottom of the labour movement .
We have a department of women's affairs going for about two and a half years . It would see its role as politicising women Republicans to fight for their rights as women and politicising male Republicans to support equality for women . It is not a feminist department though there are some strong feminists in it . They are involved in working as Republicans in women's centres , rape crisis centres and so on , North and South .
To be frank , it is only in the last few years that we have begun to treat women's affairs in a political way and we do stand open to criticism on that issue ....... "
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
There are some grounds for the belief that quite a substantial number of the electorate voted for the party from which the new Government emerges simply because the outgoing government had employed coercive measures against members of the Republican Movement .
The new government has in effect been elected on an anti-government vote ; the electors expressed their objection to the imprisonment of Republicans who deemed it a duty to assist their fellowmen in the Six Counties in their present effort to free themselves from English rule and aggression .
Whilst this block of the electorate recorded it's objection to the arrest and imprisonment of members of the Republican Movement it is not unreasonable to assume that its support was given to the party forming the new Government in the firm belief and in the hope that coercion and imprisonment of Republicans would cease .......
(MORE LATER).
( ' Pagdorf ' - Thank you for the visit : your heart is definately in the right place , as are you - a potential unknown 'virus' in that body area you mentioned could prove invaluable , as you said . Hopefully it won't come to that , but it is comforting to know that there are those in your position that understand . Slan go foill , a Chara : stay in touch if you can . Sharon . )
Friday, May 06, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP .......
From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 5 ..
It's now early evening - time to get ready to leave . A lengthy process which involves once again stripping , cleaning and oiling the weapons before they're taken away to be buried in an arms dump . Once we leave there'll be little evidence that the farmhouse has been occupied recently , until the next training camp begins .
We all strip and clean too ( no oiling for us , just a bit of frog spawn in the shampoo rinse !) ; we don't anticipate any problems on our way back from the IRA training camp but we want to get rid of forensic evidence that we've been in contact with firearms .
A car pulls up outside , its lights switched off as it approaches , and we're ready to go . Hurried goodbyes - " See you again ." "Good luck ." Squashed up on the floor of the car (again !) , this time unarmed and in civilian clothes . Another series of cars and detours . Back in the draughy bedroom waiting for the morning and the return journey .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX .......
" We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......"
Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What are your short and medium-term objectives in the North ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " We want to consolidate and strengthen our organisation . The Westminster election took us into some completely new areas and showed up other areas where we were weak . We want to build up our organisation there . We are planning for the next local elections in 1985 when we can probably win the balance of power on a number of councils , certainly Derry City Council , and we will contest by-elections which may be coming up .
We have not yet decided our attitude to the EEC elections - whether to stand and whether to say we would take seats - but I think our vote could be increased there . We found , especially in the rural areas , that we can eat into the SDLP vote . Our longer term objective is to become the majority nationalist party as well as , of course, making considerable inroads in the 26 counties . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Even if you do replace the SDLP as the majority nationalist party you will still be left with the Protestant population . What is your attitude to them ? Do you accept that you have to win the consent of at least some of them to a united Ireland ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " The Unionist working class have no great reason to move away from their present position . The sectarian divisions are caused and maintained by the British ; they have marginal privileges and the Unionist ruling class have significant privileges . You have to get rid of the prop which causes the sectarianism and in that new situation working class unity can be built . It would be preferable , but I don't think it is possible , to win Unionist consent to break the British connection .
We have to break the loyalist veto . But I don't think it would be possible to build a democratic socialist republic without the consent of all the people , including what would then be ex-Unionists ....... "
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Had all 40 Constituencies been contested by our candidates it seems reasonable to assume that the over-all average reached in the 19 contested constituencies would also have been secured in all of the 40 constituencies . This would have given a result of approximately 140,000 which , coupled with the vote of over 152,000 obtained by candidates of the Republican Movement within the Six Counties in the last General Election to Westminster indicates a very practical and satisfactory demonstration of a national resurgence that gives hope for the ultimate success of the Cause of Ireland's liberation from English aggression .
There are several aspects of the election results to which attention could be drawn in the analysis of the first preference figures ; the purpose of this brief survey is not an attempt to examine those figures in detail . From an electorate of 1,738,278 the party forming the Government received a total of 591,994 first preference votes . In view of this piquant situation it will be particularly pointless for spokesmen of the Government to harp about a minority seeking to impose its will on the people of Ireland .
From past experience it may be anticipated that this minority Government will use the resources at its disposal to impose its will on the citizens of the 26 Counties ; that it will continue to use military and police forces of the State in alignment with the British occupation forces in the Six Counties in a combined attempt to prevent Irishmen and Irishwomen from continuing the struggle for Ireland's independence is also to be expected .......
(MORE LATER).
(Re the 'Lyons/Hathaway' query : I can only suggest you enter those names in the 'GOOGLE' searchbox on this blog ; other than that , I can only wish you 'Good Luck' in your search . Sorry ! - Sharon .)
From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 5 ..
It's now early evening - time to get ready to leave . A lengthy process which involves once again stripping , cleaning and oiling the weapons before they're taken away to be buried in an arms dump . Once we leave there'll be little evidence that the farmhouse has been occupied recently , until the next training camp begins .
We all strip and clean too ( no oiling for us , just a bit of frog spawn in the shampoo rinse !) ; we don't anticipate any problems on our way back from the IRA training camp but we want to get rid of forensic evidence that we've been in contact with firearms .
A car pulls up outside , its lights switched off as it approaches , and we're ready to go . Hurried goodbyes - " See you again ." "Good luck ." Squashed up on the floor of the car (again !) , this time unarmed and in civilian clothes . Another series of cars and detours . Back in the draughy bedroom waiting for the morning and the return journey .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX .......
" We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......"
Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What are your short and medium-term objectives in the North ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " We want to consolidate and strengthen our organisation . The Westminster election took us into some completely new areas and showed up other areas where we were weak . We want to build up our organisation there . We are planning for the next local elections in 1985 when we can probably win the balance of power on a number of councils , certainly Derry City Council , and we will contest by-elections which may be coming up .
We have not yet decided our attitude to the EEC elections - whether to stand and whether to say we would take seats - but I think our vote could be increased there . We found , especially in the rural areas , that we can eat into the SDLP vote . Our longer term objective is to become the majority nationalist party as well as , of course, making considerable inroads in the 26 counties . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Even if you do replace the SDLP as the majority nationalist party you will still be left with the Protestant population . What is your attitude to them ? Do you accept that you have to win the consent of at least some of them to a united Ireland ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " The Unionist working class have no great reason to move away from their present position . The sectarian divisions are caused and maintained by the British ; they have marginal privileges and the Unionist ruling class have significant privileges . You have to get rid of the prop which causes the sectarianism and in that new situation working class unity can be built . It would be preferable , but I don't think it is possible , to win Unionist consent to break the British connection .
We have to break the loyalist veto . But I don't think it would be possible to build a democratic socialist republic without the consent of all the people , including what would then be ex-Unionists ....... "
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Had all 40 Constituencies been contested by our candidates it seems reasonable to assume that the over-all average reached in the 19 contested constituencies would also have been secured in all of the 40 constituencies . This would have given a result of approximately 140,000 which , coupled with the vote of over 152,000 obtained by candidates of the Republican Movement within the Six Counties in the last General Election to Westminster indicates a very practical and satisfactory demonstration of a national resurgence that gives hope for the ultimate success of the Cause of Ireland's liberation from English aggression .
There are several aspects of the election results to which attention could be drawn in the analysis of the first preference figures ; the purpose of this brief survey is not an attempt to examine those figures in detail . From an electorate of 1,738,278 the party forming the Government received a total of 591,994 first preference votes . In view of this piquant situation it will be particularly pointless for spokesmen of the Government to harp about a minority seeking to impose its will on the people of Ireland .
From past experience it may be anticipated that this minority Government will use the resources at its disposal to impose its will on the citizens of the 26 Counties ; that it will continue to use military and police forces of the State in alignment with the British occupation forces in the Six Counties in a combined attempt to prevent Irishmen and Irishwomen from continuing the struggle for Ireland's independence is also to be expected .......
(MORE LATER).
(Re the 'Lyons/Hathaway' query : I can only suggest you enter those names in the 'GOOGLE' searchbox on this blog ; other than that , I can only wish you 'Good Luck' in your search . Sorry ! - Sharon .)
Thursday, May 05, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
...day 5 ..
Back to work in the afternoon , talking about other aspects of an IRA Volunteer's work (other than firing a gun , that is ) . The first topic is Operational Intelligence , how to build up patterns of the enemy's movements , and to develop initial sources of intelligence to identify potential targets . Then we itemise the actual planning of an operation : the 'run-back' deployment of personnel , limiting their involvement to the 'need-to-know' , the use of houses and vehicles , the choice of weapons , and so on .
We discuss the need to cover every contingency for what may go wrong in the original plan of operation , the need for personal security , how informers utilise loose-talk , and how to maximise the anonymity and operational independence of an IRA Active Service Unit .
Finally , we discuss the all-important topic of building popular confidence in the integrity and professionalism of the IRA and its Volunteers , to the extent where sympathetic civilians are prepared to help in some aspect of military activity or to increase the level of their assistance . This covers areas such as providing safe houses for arms dumps , houses from which to group before an operation and to return to afterwards , meeting houses , call houses , wash houses (for use after firing/handling weapons) , grub houses , snippets of local intelligence on the enemy etc .
The list of possible assistance is endless , and includes of course the equally valuable non-military help which civilians can provide the Republican struggle with . It's now early evening ; time to get ready to leave .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
... MICHAEL FARRELL asked : " What is your strategy now ? Will your success in the elections affect the balance between political and military action by the Republican Movement ? "
...GERRY ADAMS MP replied : " ... we have now established a sort of Republican veto which I believe will grow . And we want to politicise our own organisation . I don't think the election will make a big difference to the IRA's tactics . Although there have unfortunately been some exceptions over the last few weeks , the IRA has for some time been adopting more discriminating tactics , has been a bit more refined in its tactics . It is up to them to learn the lessons from the application of armed struggle .
I would be confident that if the IRA continue to refine their operations and make sure they have the maximum propaganda and political effect , there won't be any conflict between what they're doing and what we're doing . I think over the last few years the lessons of the previous period - the need for control , the need for a change in tactics , the need to militarise the war , to concentrate against the British , the RUC , and the UDR - have been learned by the IRA . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Revolutionary movements which use force usually argue that it is made necessary because political action is closed to them . Sinn Fein has been able to take political action very successfully recently . How does that , in your view, affect the justification for the use of force ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " It does'nt . I believe the use of force in the six counties is justified by the British presence . They don't give people much choice . At the end of the day they won't be argued or talked out ; a Movement that wants them out will either have to use force or the threat of force . " ('1169 ... ' Comment - at the time that Adams made that statement , Westminster claimed jurisdiction over our six north-eastern counties ; today , 22 years later , Westminster STILL claims jurisdiction over those same six counties . But "the use of force , or the threat of force " to remove that jurisdictional claim is no longer justified , according to Adams and his supporters . Why ? We suggest it is because , as Liam Mellows predicted in the Treaty debate , on 4th January 1922 - " Men will get into positions , men will hold power , and men who get into positions and hold power will desire to remain undisturbed and will not want to be removed . " That is the only context in which we would use Adams' name , and that of Liam Mellows , in the same sentence . And even that hurts . )
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
The General Election in the 26 Counties State is over ; the Republican Movement is justly proud of the support given to its candidates . Some optimists may have hoped for better results in some of the constituencies contested . With a little more time and better organisation such hopes could have been realised .
However , when it is borne in mind that the spokesmen of the Republican Movement did not enter the ' political auction mart ' to bid for the votes of the electorate ; and that the policy and programme of the Republican Movement is based on the National plane , rather than the selfish and party plane of the political parties , the total of almost 66,000 first preference votes is a result most gratifying to those who love Ireland .
The total first preference votes cast in favour of the candidates of the Republican Movement gives an average of approximately 3,500 for the 19 Constituencies contested .......
(MORE LATER).
...day 5 ..
Back to work in the afternoon , talking about other aspects of an IRA Volunteer's work (other than firing a gun , that is ) . The first topic is Operational Intelligence , how to build up patterns of the enemy's movements , and to develop initial sources of intelligence to identify potential targets . Then we itemise the actual planning of an operation : the 'run-back' deployment of personnel , limiting their involvement to the 'need-to-know' , the use of houses and vehicles , the choice of weapons , and so on .
We discuss the need to cover every contingency for what may go wrong in the original plan of operation , the need for personal security , how informers utilise loose-talk , and how to maximise the anonymity and operational independence of an IRA Active Service Unit .
Finally , we discuss the all-important topic of building popular confidence in the integrity and professionalism of the IRA and its Volunteers , to the extent where sympathetic civilians are prepared to help in some aspect of military activity or to increase the level of their assistance . This covers areas such as providing safe houses for arms dumps , houses from which to group before an operation and to return to afterwards , meeting houses , call houses , wash houses (for use after firing/handling weapons) , grub houses , snippets of local intelligence on the enemy etc .
The list of possible assistance is endless , and includes of course the equally valuable non-military help which civilians can provide the Republican struggle with . It's now early evening ; time to get ready to leave .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . ......" Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
... MICHAEL FARRELL asked : " What is your strategy now ? Will your success in the elections affect the balance between political and military action by the Republican Movement ? "
...GERRY ADAMS MP replied : " ... we have now established a sort of Republican veto which I believe will grow . And we want to politicise our own organisation . I don't think the election will make a big difference to the IRA's tactics . Although there have unfortunately been some exceptions over the last few weeks , the IRA has for some time been adopting more discriminating tactics , has been a bit more refined in its tactics . It is up to them to learn the lessons from the application of armed struggle .
I would be confident that if the IRA continue to refine their operations and make sure they have the maximum propaganda and political effect , there won't be any conflict between what they're doing and what we're doing . I think over the last few years the lessons of the previous period - the need for control , the need for a change in tactics , the need to militarise the war , to concentrate against the British , the RUC , and the UDR - have been learned by the IRA . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Revolutionary movements which use force usually argue that it is made necessary because political action is closed to them . Sinn Fein has been able to take political action very successfully recently . How does that , in your view, affect the justification for the use of force ? "
GERRY ADAMS MP : " It does'nt . I believe the use of force in the six counties is justified by the British presence . They don't give people much choice . At the end of the day they won't be argued or talked out ; a Movement that wants them out will either have to use force or the threat of force . " ('1169 ... ' Comment - at the time that Adams made that statement , Westminster claimed jurisdiction over our six north-eastern counties ; today , 22 years later , Westminster STILL claims jurisdiction over those same six counties . But "the use of force , or the threat of force " to remove that jurisdictional claim is no longer justified , according to Adams and his supporters . Why ? We suggest it is because , as Liam Mellows predicted in the Treaty debate , on 4th January 1922 - " Men will get into positions , men will hold power , and men who get into positions and hold power will desire to remain undisturbed and will not want to be removed . " That is the only context in which we would use Adams' name , and that of Liam Mellows , in the same sentence . And even that hurts . )
(MORE LATER).
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
The General Election in the 26 Counties State is over ; the Republican Movement is justly proud of the support given to its candidates . Some optimists may have hoped for better results in some of the constituencies contested . With a little more time and better organisation such hopes could have been realised .
However , when it is borne in mind that the spokesmen of the Republican Movement did not enter the ' political auction mart ' to bid for the votes of the electorate ; and that the policy and programme of the Republican Movement is based on the National plane , rather than the selfish and party plane of the political parties , the total of almost 66,000 first preference votes is a result most gratifying to those who love Ireland .
The total first preference votes cast in favour of the candidates of the Republican Movement gives an average of approximately 3,500 for the 19 Constituencies contested .......
(MORE LATER).
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
DAY 5 .
Not surprisingly perhaps , the final day is more relaxed than those that have gone before , the anti-climax after the shooting . Everyone had been a little keyed-up beforehand , wondering how he or she would do , but now - for better or worse - the results are a pile of used targets which the IRA Training Officers are scrutinising as part of the individual assessment of each Volunteer which will be sent back to the Brigade area .
The assessment covers all aspects of behaviour and ability while at the camp , and is important insofar as it may affect a Volunteer's future deployment by the IRA .
The tension which is inevitable when six strangers are forced upon each other without a break , for five days , and which has flared-up briefly now and again , has its uses too in giving clues to a Volunteers's character , as well as giving us an understanding of the type of personality clashes we will inevitably have to cope with in operational conditions .
I , for one , am weighing up my three Belfast comrades and trying to assess how I'd feel about being in the same IRA Active Service Unit with them - none of us knows at this stage if we'll be working together when the camp is over - and I'm sure they're all doing the same .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . " Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " There has been a lot of argument about whether the Sinn Fein vote was a vote for violence . Was it , or what do you see it as a mandate for ? "
GERRY ADAMS : " The IRA does not need an electoral mandate for armed struggle - it derives its mandate from the presence of the British in the six counties . A large percentage of the Sinn Fein vote was a vote for the armed struggle , but I don't know how to quantify that . The others showed an understanding of the need for armed struggle . Attempts are now being made to explain the vote away as a protest against bad housing , unemployment , discrimination . If we got votes because of that I think that is a good base to build on . We stood on four clear points : against the British connection and the loyalist veto , for a democratic socialist republic and defending the right of people to engage in armed struggle . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What is your strategy now ? Will your success in the elections affect the balance between political and military action by the Republican Movement ? "
GERRY ADAMS : " Our strategy has three main prongs , not in any special order . We want to show clearly the degree of support for Sinn Fein and restrict the SDLP's freedom to manoeuvre ; the British , in order to maintain the partition set-up , need the support of a party which appears to represent the nationalist population and the SDLP have fulfilled that role admirably ....... " ('1169 ...' comment - how ironic that now , 22 years after Adams spoke those words , he is in charge of a political party which is on the same political 'road' as the SDLP were/are on : giving credence to the British 'right' to be in Ireland !)
(MORE LATER).
TOMAS O CRIOMHTAIN COMMEMORATIVE STAMP . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
After some little persuasion , An tAire , Roinn Phoist agus Telegrafa has acceded to the many requests made by Gaelgeori to issue a stamp commemorating Tomas O Criomhtain , the author of 'An tOileanach ' . The stamp will be issued in the twopenny and fivepenny values .
It is worthy of note that a man who shamed his country before the world is being commemorated at the same time ; 40,000 of our countrymen lost their lives fighting for 'Great Britain' in the First World War . For this black betrayal of his fellow countrymen , John Redmond merits not remembrance but the charity of our silence .
We suggest that all friends of the Irish language refrain from stamping their letters with the three-penny Redmond stamp and use instead the two-penny O Criomhtain Commemorative stamp and the penny map of Ireland stamp .
[END of ' TOMAS O CRIOMHTAIN COMMEMORATIVE STAMP .'](Tomorrow - ' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .')
(MORE LATER).
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
DAY 5 .
Not surprisingly perhaps , the final day is more relaxed than those that have gone before , the anti-climax after the shooting . Everyone had been a little keyed-up beforehand , wondering how he or she would do , but now - for better or worse - the results are a pile of used targets which the IRA Training Officers are scrutinising as part of the individual assessment of each Volunteer which will be sent back to the Brigade area .
The assessment covers all aspects of behaviour and ability while at the camp , and is important insofar as it may affect a Volunteer's future deployment by the IRA .
The tension which is inevitable when six strangers are forced upon each other without a break , for five days , and which has flared-up briefly now and again , has its uses too in giving clues to a Volunteers's character , as well as giving us an understanding of the type of personality clashes we will inevitably have to cope with in operational conditions .
I , for one , am weighing up my three Belfast comrades and trying to assess how I'd feel about being in the same IRA Active Service Unit with them - none of us knows at this stage if we'll be working together when the camp is over - and I'm sure they're all doing the same .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " We have now established a sort of Republican veto . " Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP , vice-president of Sinn Fein . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 13 , 14 , and 17 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " There has been a lot of argument about whether the Sinn Fein vote was a vote for violence . Was it , or what do you see it as a mandate for ? "
GERRY ADAMS : " The IRA does not need an electoral mandate for armed struggle - it derives its mandate from the presence of the British in the six counties . A large percentage of the Sinn Fein vote was a vote for the armed struggle , but I don't know how to quantify that . The others showed an understanding of the need for armed struggle . Attempts are now being made to explain the vote away as a protest against bad housing , unemployment , discrimination . If we got votes because of that I think that is a good base to build on . We stood on four clear points : against the British connection and the loyalist veto , for a democratic socialist republic and defending the right of people to engage in armed struggle . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What is your strategy now ? Will your success in the elections affect the balance between political and military action by the Republican Movement ? "
GERRY ADAMS : " Our strategy has three main prongs , not in any special order . We want to show clearly the degree of support for Sinn Fein and restrict the SDLP's freedom to manoeuvre ; the British , in order to maintain the partition set-up , need the support of a party which appears to represent the nationalist population and the SDLP have fulfilled that role admirably ....... " ('1169 ...' comment - how ironic that now , 22 years after Adams spoke those words , he is in charge of a political party which is on the same political 'road' as the SDLP were/are on : giving credence to the British 'right' to be in Ireland !)
(MORE LATER).
TOMAS O CRIOMHTAIN COMMEMORATIVE STAMP . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 7.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
After some little persuasion , An tAire , Roinn Phoist agus Telegrafa has acceded to the many requests made by Gaelgeori to issue a stamp commemorating Tomas O Criomhtain , the author of 'An tOileanach ' . The stamp will be issued in the twopenny and fivepenny values .
It is worthy of note that a man who shamed his country before the world is being commemorated at the same time ; 40,000 of our countrymen lost their lives fighting for 'Great Britain' in the First World War . For this black betrayal of his fellow countrymen , John Redmond merits not remembrance but the charity of our silence .
We suggest that all friends of the Irish language refrain from stamping their letters with the three-penny Redmond stamp and use instead the two-penny O Criomhtain Commemorative stamp and the penny map of Ireland stamp .
[END of ' TOMAS O CRIOMHTAIN COMMEMORATIVE STAMP .'](Tomorrow - ' SEPARATIST MOVEMENT GROWS IN STRENGTH : analysis of recent General Election in the 26-Counties .')
(MORE LATER).
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 4 ..
We are packing-up the camp ; the whole set-up has to be dismantled , carefully covering our tracks so that even aerial reconnaissance would not know we had been there . Then we were ready to move out .
This time there won't be any car to bring us back part of the way , so it's a long , long march across rough country weighed down by packs and rifles . A heavy blanket of cloud has covered the moon so we make slow progress , one uncertain step after another , making it all the more tiring . The T/O's tell us that if at any stage we're confronted by the (Free State) Task Force as we approach the camp , we'll move back the way we've come and try and lose them in the darkness .
But the four of us are so exhausted from this unaccustomed country march , too used to Belfast's tarmac pavements , that I reckon we'd just surrender if anyone mentioned retracing our steps !
At last , the shadow of our farmhouse camp comes into view ; first , a quick reconnaissance , during which a grazing cow momentarily gets mistaken for a Free State raiding party , then we crawl gratefully indoors and collapse . Even the tea tastes good after all that ....... !
[END of 'Day 4']. (Tomorrow - ' Day 5 : military and political discussion' .)
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " In the event of a British withdrawal how do you expect the Protestant population of the North to react ? What will your attitude be towards them ? "
IRA : " Many loyalists have a supremacist mentality like the Afrikaners in South Africa , the Pieds Noirs in Algeria or the Israelis . They may not have as many privileges but the mentality is the same . It is very possible that people with that mentality would try to re-partition the North - as Harold McCusker MP has already suggested .
And they have about 19,000 armed men in the RUC and UDR to help them do it ; we don't know how many of the loyalists would take that line , but anyone who opposes Irish self-determination with force will have to be met with force . On the other hand we are prepared to offer them within a united Ireland what has always been denied to us - equality . "
[END of - " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity ."](Tomorrow - " We have now established a sort of Republican veto " : Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP).
(MORE LATER).
FROM BELFAST PRISON . ...... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Monday , January 28 , 1957 , was a wet and stormy day ; when the internees were going out to exercise in the Belfast Prison yard they had the prospect of being drenched with rain and frozen by the cold in a few minutes . The majority remained in a short corridor between the basement and the yard .
Some time later the Deputy Governor , a Mr. Taylor , came down . He said - " Come on , boys , you know it is against regulations not to be in the yard now . " Half a dozen voices said - " We can't face that rain and get drenched . " Says Mr. Taylor to the Prison Screws : " Give it to 'em , boys ... "
Warders with batons drawn rushed the internees ; one young man of our number was struck by a baton on the throat - he immediately struck the offending warder a blow on the face . A general melee followed , but sheer weight forced the internees into the yard . They took shelter in an open shed exposed to all the winds of Belfast .
When the internees came back to their cells for dinner the Prison Governor , Deputy Governor and the warders were lined along the wire-enclosed passage in front of the cells - intimidation . Since that day the shed in the yard has been covered up half-ways from the bottom with corrigated iron and a stove installed which the internees may light , sticks and coke being provided !
[END of ' FROM BELFAST PRISON '].(Tomorrow - 'Tomas O Criomhtain Commemorative Stamp').
(MORE LATER).
... day 4 ..
We are packing-up the camp ; the whole set-up has to be dismantled , carefully covering our tracks so that even aerial reconnaissance would not know we had been there . Then we were ready to move out .
This time there won't be any car to bring us back part of the way , so it's a long , long march across rough country weighed down by packs and rifles . A heavy blanket of cloud has covered the moon so we make slow progress , one uncertain step after another , making it all the more tiring . The T/O's tell us that if at any stage we're confronted by the (Free State) Task Force as we approach the camp , we'll move back the way we've come and try and lose them in the darkness .
But the four of us are so exhausted from this unaccustomed country march , too used to Belfast's tarmac pavements , that I reckon we'd just surrender if anyone mentioned retracing our steps !
At last , the shadow of our farmhouse camp comes into view ; first , a quick reconnaissance , during which a grazing cow momentarily gets mistaken for a Free State raiding party , then we crawl gratefully indoors and collapse . Even the tea tastes good after all that ....... !
[END of 'Day 4']. (Tomorrow - ' Day 5 : military and political discussion' .)
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " In the event of a British withdrawal how do you expect the Protestant population of the North to react ? What will your attitude be towards them ? "
IRA : " Many loyalists have a supremacist mentality like the Afrikaners in South Africa , the Pieds Noirs in Algeria or the Israelis . They may not have as many privileges but the mentality is the same . It is very possible that people with that mentality would try to re-partition the North - as Harold McCusker MP has already suggested .
And they have about 19,000 armed men in the RUC and UDR to help them do it ; we don't know how many of the loyalists would take that line , but anyone who opposes Irish self-determination with force will have to be met with force . On the other hand we are prepared to offer them within a united Ireland what has always been denied to us - equality . "
[END of - " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity ."](Tomorrow - " We have now established a sort of Republican veto " : Michael Farrell interviews Gerry Adams MP).
(MORE LATER).
FROM BELFAST PRISON . ...... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Monday , January 28 , 1957 , was a wet and stormy day ; when the internees were going out to exercise in the Belfast Prison yard they had the prospect of being drenched with rain and frozen by the cold in a few minutes . The majority remained in a short corridor between the basement and the yard .
Some time later the Deputy Governor , a Mr. Taylor , came down . He said - " Come on , boys , you know it is against regulations not to be in the yard now . " Half a dozen voices said - " We can't face that rain and get drenched . " Says Mr. Taylor to the Prison Screws : " Give it to 'em , boys ... "
Warders with batons drawn rushed the internees ; one young man of our number was struck by a baton on the throat - he immediately struck the offending warder a blow on the face . A general melee followed , but sheer weight forced the internees into the yard . They took shelter in an open shed exposed to all the winds of Belfast .
When the internees came back to their cells for dinner the Prison Governor , Deputy Governor and the warders were lined along the wire-enclosed passage in front of the cells - intimidation . Since that day the shed in the yard has been covered up half-ways from the bottom with corrigated iron and a stove installed which the internees may light , sticks and coke being provided !
[END of ' FROM BELFAST PRISON '].(Tomorrow - 'Tomas O Criomhtain Commemorative Stamp').
(MORE LATER).
Monday, May 02, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 4 ..
During target practice , four great shots and the last pulled an inch off centre is no good , we learn to our regular frustration . We see the point when it's explained that a one-inch miss at that range represents four inches at only 100 yards , the difference between a ' kill ' and whistling a bullet past the enemy's ear .
A Volunteer's 'grouping' is worked out by adding together the furthest distances between shots over the five groups , adding one-fifth to the total , and dividing by five . From this the IRA Training Officers can work out the probability , expressed as a percentage , of a particular Volunteer achieving a ' kill ' at a given range with a given number of shots .
Eventually the shooting's over , the shooting 'tunnel' dismantled and the hundred's of spent ammo cases (and the cigarette butts !) gathered up . Time to pack-up , and clean up the area as if we were never there .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The IRA has kidnapped the father of Raymond Gilmore , the Derry supergrass . What will happen to him ? "
IRA : " The fate of Raymond Gilmore's father rests in Raymond Gilmore's hands . It all rests with him . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The IRA has attacked many off-duty UDR men and RUC Reservists . You justify this because they are members of the British forces , but do you not accept that such killings alienate the Protestant communities among whom these people live and work ? "
IRA : " It is a euphemism to talk of off-duty or part-time UDR men or RUC men . They are never off-duty . They are armed all the time and if they came upon IRA Volunteers they would attack them , whether they were on duty or not . We cannot allow an armed organisation which is ranged against us to go undeterred because of the sensitivities of the loyalist population .
Do they care about the sensitivities of the nationalist population who have suffered so much ....... ? "
(MORE LATER).
FROM BELFAST PRISON . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Belfast Prison , 17th February 1957 .
On the eve of this General Election we , the Internees in Belfast Prison , appeal to all Irish men and women to sink all petty differences and support the Sinn Fein candidates in this contest . After thirty-five years of what is termed 'self-government' it is clear beyond doubt that none of the 'major parties' has a solution for attaining freedom of our country .
The candidates of Sinn Fein are the true followers of Pearse and Connolly despite coercion and misrepresentation by those who deviated from the true Republican principles . In this grave hour when the Freedom Fighters of the North have been treacherously stabbed in the back we call on you to become alive to your serious responsibilities to the Irish Nation .
Every vote cast for Sinn Fein is a vote for freedom - political and economic . Rally to the standard-bearers of the Republican Movement .......
(MORE LATER).
... day 4 ..
During target practice , four great shots and the last pulled an inch off centre is no good , we learn to our regular frustration . We see the point when it's explained that a one-inch miss at that range represents four inches at only 100 yards , the difference between a ' kill ' and whistling a bullet past the enemy's ear .
A Volunteer's 'grouping' is worked out by adding together the furthest distances between shots over the five groups , adding one-fifth to the total , and dividing by five . From this the IRA Training Officers can work out the probability , expressed as a percentage , of a particular Volunteer achieving a ' kill ' at a given range with a given number of shots .
Eventually the shooting's over , the shooting 'tunnel' dismantled and the hundred's of spent ammo cases (and the cigarette butts !) gathered up . Time to pack-up , and clean up the area as if we were never there .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The IRA has kidnapped the father of Raymond Gilmore , the Derry supergrass . What will happen to him ? "
IRA : " The fate of Raymond Gilmore's father rests in Raymond Gilmore's hands . It all rests with him . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The IRA has attacked many off-duty UDR men and RUC Reservists . You justify this because they are members of the British forces , but do you not accept that such killings alienate the Protestant communities among whom these people live and work ? "
IRA : " It is a euphemism to talk of off-duty or part-time UDR men or RUC men . They are never off-duty . They are armed all the time and if they came upon IRA Volunteers they would attack them , whether they were on duty or not . We cannot allow an armed organisation which is ranged against us to go undeterred because of the sensitivities of the loyalist population .
Do they care about the sensitivities of the nationalist population who have suffered so much ....... ? "
(MORE LATER).
FROM BELFAST PRISON . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Belfast Prison , 17th February 1957 .
On the eve of this General Election we , the Internees in Belfast Prison , appeal to all Irish men and women to sink all petty differences and support the Sinn Fein candidates in this contest . After thirty-five years of what is termed 'self-government' it is clear beyond doubt that none of the 'major parties' has a solution for attaining freedom of our country .
The candidates of Sinn Fein are the true followers of Pearse and Connolly despite coercion and misrepresentation by those who deviated from the true Republican principles . In this grave hour when the Freedom Fighters of the North have been treacherously stabbed in the back we call on you to become alive to your serious responsibilities to the Irish Nation .
Every vote cast for Sinn Fein is a vote for freedom - political and economic . Rally to the standard-bearers of the Republican Movement .......
(MORE LATER).
Friday, April 29, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP .......
From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 4 ..
Taking it in turns for each calibre of weapon , we fire off a few shots ; the thing that surprises most of us is that there's no noticeable 'recoil' , although the 'flash' is bigger that I expected and there's a terrible smell of cordite . Firing the Ruger , which has a great 'feel' to it , produces a ringing in the ears , and the Gewher not only looks like an elephant gun but sounds like one as well . We're told it's an accurate sniping weapon at ranges up to 500 yards .
Our confidence is on the increase after seeing the results of the heavy calibre shooting , though there are certainly no 'Annie Oakleys' among us ! One of the IRA Training Officers is patiently explaining the distinction between a marksman and a sniper ; the latter may not be a 'crack shot' , but unlike many of the former category he does possess the toughness of character and individualist aptitude of mind to 'create' the right conditions for a successful 'snipe' . Above all , he tells us , it comes down to total concentration , self-confidence and an unflagging desire for perfection .
The adrenalin's pumping but the total self-confidence has still to be acquired as we each get down to fire 25 rounds of .22 ammunition , in groups of five , into the five miniature 'Faceless Men' on each target . The point of the exercise is to get 'tight grouping' on all five shots in the centre of the blank white space between the peaked cap and the shoulders of the ' RUC man .......'
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX .......
" The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " To what do you attribute the recent emergence of supergrasses ? "
IRA : " The Brits have had to resort to bribing IRA Volunteers - supergrasses - because our adoption of 'cells' , or Active Service Units , as we prefer to call them , meant they could'nt get information anymore . Very big sums of money are involved ; Volunteers have been offered up to £250,000 during interrogation .
A few IRA members who had been broken by spells in jail gave in to this temptation . We have learned from this and will be much more careful in future about re-involving people who have been in jail . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What effect have the supergrasses had on your organisation ? "
IRA : " The supergrasses were also an attempt by the Brits to shake the confidence of the people - on whom we rely for support - in the IRA . This worked for a while when they saw actual IRA Volunteers giving information , but the effect has worn off .
The proof of this is that the IRA is still operating effectively ; remember that every Volunteer needs a billet and every weapon a dump and these are provided by the people . Even if some Volunteers are jailed because of the supergrasses it will not affect our capabilities . We have never had to deploy even 50 per cent of our membership during the periods of most intense activity .
At one time almost 2,000 alleged IRA members were interned and it did'nt affect our capacity to continue the war . For some years now we have been turning away recruits because we don't need them and directing them into other areas of resistance ....... "
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
But threaten and plead as those professional politicians will , denigrate and misrepresent as they do , imprison and persecute as much as they please : in spite of all their efforts they cannot stifle the truth . The young Freedom Fighters of this generation have restored once more for the Irish people and for the world the hard cold truth enunciated by Padraig Pearse -
" One of the sins against Faith is presumption ; which is defined to us as a foolish expectation of salvation without using the necessary means to obtain it .
Surely then it is a sin against national faith to expect freedom without using the necessary means to win and keep it . I know of no other way than the way of the sword ; history records no other . Time , reason and experience suggest no other . "
[END of ' STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957'].
(MONDAY - 'FROM BELFAST PRISON' - THE REPUBLICAN INTERNEES AND ELECTIONS ; 17th February 1957 .)
From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp .
From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 4 ..
Taking it in turns for each calibre of weapon , we fire off a few shots ; the thing that surprises most of us is that there's no noticeable 'recoil' , although the 'flash' is bigger that I expected and there's a terrible smell of cordite . Firing the Ruger , which has a great 'feel' to it , produces a ringing in the ears , and the Gewher not only looks like an elephant gun but sounds like one as well . We're told it's an accurate sniping weapon at ranges up to 500 yards .
Our confidence is on the increase after seeing the results of the heavy calibre shooting , though there are certainly no 'Annie Oakleys' among us ! One of the IRA Training Officers is patiently explaining the distinction between a marksman and a sniper ; the latter may not be a 'crack shot' , but unlike many of the former category he does possess the toughness of character and individualist aptitude of mind to 'create' the right conditions for a successful 'snipe' . Above all , he tells us , it comes down to total concentration , self-confidence and an unflagging desire for perfection .
The adrenalin's pumping but the total self-confidence has still to be acquired as we each get down to fire 25 rounds of .22 ammunition , in groups of five , into the five miniature 'Faceless Men' on each target . The point of the exercise is to get 'tight grouping' on all five shots in the centre of the blank white space between the peaked cap and the shoulders of the ' RUC man .......'
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX .......
" The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " To what do you attribute the recent emergence of supergrasses ? "
IRA : " The Brits have had to resort to bribing IRA Volunteers - supergrasses - because our adoption of 'cells' , or Active Service Units , as we prefer to call them , meant they could'nt get information anymore . Very big sums of money are involved ; Volunteers have been offered up to £250,000 during interrogation .
A few IRA members who had been broken by spells in jail gave in to this temptation . We have learned from this and will be much more careful in future about re-involving people who have been in jail . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What effect have the supergrasses had on your organisation ? "
IRA : " The supergrasses were also an attempt by the Brits to shake the confidence of the people - on whom we rely for support - in the IRA . This worked for a while when they saw actual IRA Volunteers giving information , but the effect has worn off .
The proof of this is that the IRA is still operating effectively ; remember that every Volunteer needs a billet and every weapon a dump and these are provided by the people . Even if some Volunteers are jailed because of the supergrasses it will not affect our capabilities . We have never had to deploy even 50 per cent of our membership during the periods of most intense activity .
At one time almost 2,000 alleged IRA members were interned and it did'nt affect our capacity to continue the war . For some years now we have been turning away recruits because we don't need them and directing them into other areas of resistance ....... "
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 .......
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.
(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].
Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
But threaten and plead as those professional politicians will , denigrate and misrepresent as they do , imprison and persecute as much as they please : in spite of all their efforts they cannot stifle the truth . The young Freedom Fighters of this generation have restored once more for the Irish people and for the world the hard cold truth enunciated by Padraig Pearse -
" One of the sins against Faith is presumption ; which is defined to us as a foolish expectation of salvation without using the necessary means to obtain it .
Surely then it is a sin against national faith to expect freedom without using the necessary means to win and keep it . I know of no other way than the way of the sword ; history records no other . Time , reason and experience suggest no other . "
[END of ' STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957'].
(MONDAY - 'FROM BELFAST PRISON' - THE REPUBLICAN INTERNEES AND ELECTIONS ; 17th February 1957 .)
Thursday, April 28, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
DAY 4.
As soon as one of the IRA Training Officers has constructed an acoustic 'tunnel' we're ready to start firing ; the 'tunnel' on this occasion consists of a triangular wire frame with narrow wooden supports , placed on top of a large flat rock several feet high , which we'll be using to rest on while shooting .
The wire frame is covered by strips of foam , with our sleeping bags laid over the top . The whole structure is about ten feet long and eighteen inches at its apex . Another method of constructing a firing 'tunnel' is by using a series of car tyres arranged rim to rim . Its practical effect is to muffle the initial percussion of the bullet as its fired , although the 'crack' as it breaks the sound barrier is still audible for some distance .
The firing range itself has been carefully chosen so that the land relief acts as a barrier to sound travel ; the shooting takes place in a hollow , so that the bulk of the sound is caught by the higher land around it and deflected upwards rather than outwards . Despite these precautions there are always two of us positioned in the high ground keeping watch on the approaches .
This is a 'standard camp' for beginners , so unlike the more specialised 'sniper camps' we do most of our shooting at only 25 yards range with a few shots at 100 yards . The object is for the IRA Training Officers to get a rough guide to our standard of heavy calibre shooting , and then to guage our ability more precisely with a series of shots from the .22 bolt action rifle . The results will be used to determine whether we will come back later for sniper training .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " How long will this take ( to remove the British presence by force) ? "
IRA : " In 1978-9 we projected a long war lasting for 20 years or more . That was partly to prepare our people psychologically as there was a certain amount of war-weariness at the time . We are not so sure that it will take that long now ; if the Republican Movement can capitalise on all the social discontent in the 26 counties and continue its electoral successes it could be a lot shorter . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " In a previous 'MAGILL' interview the IRA predicted bombing attacks in England . Recently a London Labour councillor who supports British withdrawal argued that such bombings hinder the development of a solidarity movement there . Do you still intend to bomb Britain ? "
IRA : " Our activity in Britain at any given time is dictated by our ability to strike there . It is still a target because we believe one bomb in Britain is worth 50 in Ireland . However , we do not intend to hold the British people responsible for their government's crimes in Ireland ; any attacks will be limited to the British political establishment and to military targets .
And if there is a big growth in anti-war feeling in Britain we would have to revise our attitude ....... "
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Unable to defeat the Freedom Fighters in the field , unable to trap or capture them because of the help and encouragement given to them by the risen people of the North , the English and Six-County governments called on the Dublin Government for assistance ; the Leinster House politicians , ever willing to sacrifice the friends of Ireland at the behest of Ireland's enemies , used 26-County police force and army in an all-out attempt to prevent the men and women of All-Ireland from going to the assistance of our Northern brothers , and enforced the full rigours of coercion to protect the British Occupation Forces and prevent the people of the North from gaining their freedom .
For this they will have to answer at the bar of history ; for this they must account to the Irish people . Every effort is being made by them to involve those who stand by the people of the North in disturbances in the 26-Counties . It is vitally necessary that the people of Ireland should understand that the declared policy of the Republican Movement has not changed .
We have one enemy and one enemy only - the British Occupation Forces in Occupied Ireland . The men and women committed to the resistance movement will not carry out any operation in the 26-County area ; any attempt to link them with raids for arms or explosives or acts of sabotage in the 26-County area can only be viewed as a deliberate attempt at misrepresentation by the professional politicians .......
(MORE LATER).
DAY 4.
As soon as one of the IRA Training Officers has constructed an acoustic 'tunnel' we're ready to start firing ; the 'tunnel' on this occasion consists of a triangular wire frame with narrow wooden supports , placed on top of a large flat rock several feet high , which we'll be using to rest on while shooting .
The wire frame is covered by strips of foam , with our sleeping bags laid over the top . The whole structure is about ten feet long and eighteen inches at its apex . Another method of constructing a firing 'tunnel' is by using a series of car tyres arranged rim to rim . Its practical effect is to muffle the initial percussion of the bullet as its fired , although the 'crack' as it breaks the sound barrier is still audible for some distance .
The firing range itself has been carefully chosen so that the land relief acts as a barrier to sound travel ; the shooting takes place in a hollow , so that the bulk of the sound is caught by the higher land around it and deflected upwards rather than outwards . Despite these precautions there are always two of us positioned in the high ground keeping watch on the approaches .
This is a 'standard camp' for beginners , so unlike the more specialised 'sniper camps' we do most of our shooting at only 25 yards range with a few shots at 100 yards . The object is for the IRA Training Officers to get a rough guide to our standard of heavy calibre shooting , and then to guage our ability more precisely with a series of shots from the .22 bolt action rifle . The results will be used to determine whether we will come back later for sniper training .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " How long will this take ( to remove the British presence by force) ? "
IRA : " In 1978-9 we projected a long war lasting for 20 years or more . That was partly to prepare our people psychologically as there was a certain amount of war-weariness at the time . We are not so sure that it will take that long now ; if the Republican Movement can capitalise on all the social discontent in the 26 counties and continue its electoral successes it could be a lot shorter . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " In a previous 'MAGILL' interview the IRA predicted bombing attacks in England . Recently a London Labour councillor who supports British withdrawal argued that such bombings hinder the development of a solidarity movement there . Do you still intend to bomb Britain ? "
IRA : " Our activity in Britain at any given time is dictated by our ability to strike there . It is still a target because we believe one bomb in Britain is worth 50 in Ireland . However , we do not intend to hold the British people responsible for their government's crimes in Ireland ; any attacks will be limited to the British political establishment and to military targets .
And if there is a big growth in anti-war feeling in Britain we would have to revise our attitude ....... "
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Unable to defeat the Freedom Fighters in the field , unable to trap or capture them because of the help and encouragement given to them by the risen people of the North , the English and Six-County governments called on the Dublin Government for assistance ; the Leinster House politicians , ever willing to sacrifice the friends of Ireland at the behest of Ireland's enemies , used 26-County police force and army in an all-out attempt to prevent the men and women of All-Ireland from going to the assistance of our Northern brothers , and enforced the full rigours of coercion to protect the British Occupation Forces and prevent the people of the North from gaining their freedom .
For this they will have to answer at the bar of history ; for this they must account to the Irish people . Every effort is being made by them to involve those who stand by the people of the North in disturbances in the 26-Counties . It is vitally necessary that the people of Ireland should understand that the declared policy of the Republican Movement has not changed .
We have one enemy and one enemy only - the British Occupation Forces in Occupied Ireland . The men and women committed to the resistance movement will not carry out any operation in the 26-County area ; any attempt to link them with raids for arms or explosives or acts of sabotage in the 26-County area can only be viewed as a deliberate attempt at misrepresentation by the professional politicians .......
(MORE LATER).
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
...day 3 ..
The cross-country hike takes just under an hour ; it's an unusual sensation to be marching through the countryside uniformed and armed , even though it's dark and we don't expect to be seen .
We've been marching in single file behind the IRA Training Officer and suddenly he stops as the ground rises steeply . We're grateful for what we imagine is a short breather before marching on , but then he stoops to pull some strips of foam from behind a rock , and then scrapes away the surface of a patch of ground to reveal some canvas bags . Soon we're busy constructing a makeshift shelter and camouflaging it with materials that have remained hidden since the previous shooting camp .
There's even a gas bottle and a small stove (I pity the poor devil who had to haul them there !) so we'll be able to brew tea . It takes about another hour to complete the shelter in the darkness , and we're just collapsing thankfully inside , the tea-pot almost boiling , when the other three lads arrive breathless .
Too cramped to stretch out for any sleep , we sit around drinking tea and talking through the night .......
[END of 'DAY 3']. (Tomorrow - 'DAY 4' : 'Firing-tunnel constructed...').
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What is your strategy ? "
IRA : " Our strategy has been , by military and political action , to frustrate the British aim of making the six counties governable through local power-sharing-type institutions . So far we have succeeded in this and the Brits can only govern in a direct colonial way , using 30,000 armed men .
Ultimate success will come when the British government decides that even colonial rule is no longer feasible . This will come about when , as a result of our military activity , the British people themselves demand an end to the war . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " How do you see a British withdrawal coming about ? "
IRA : " The level of political and military activity is not yet enough to secure this ; we recognise that , even if the entire nationalist population in the six counties voted for Sinn Fein , that would'nt be enough . There must be an increase in political activity in the 26 counties so that they also demand that the Brits get out .
Even that would'nt be enough , because the only thing colonial rulers will listen to is force . There must also be a big escalation of military activity by us - and there will be ....... "
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Encouraged by the apparent dissension in the Nationalist rank , an unofficial Unionist was nominated and elected . Mitchell , the 'felon' , got 24,000 votes , and Mr. O'Neill , the nominee of the Dublin Government , lost his deposit . In spite of all the warnings , 80 per cent of the Nationalist people , when given the opportunity , had declared for the right to use every honourable means to drive the British Army out of Ireland .
The Nationalist people in Occupied Ireland had spoken ; the era of confusion and false hopes was over . The stage was set , but the people of the North were not strong enough in numbers to defeat unaided the forces of British Occupation . They looked for help to their blood-brothers in the 26 Counties , and asked them - " When we rise , will the young men from the South come to help us ? "
They were told in answer that there would be no question of their rising and then looking for help from the young men of the rest of Ireland : they were told that when they decided to strike for freedom there would be men from the four provinces of Ireland with them in the firing line .
And so it happened that when the people of the North rose on the 12th December 1956 , they had with them fighting men from all parts of Ireland .......
(MORE LATER).
...day 3 ..
The cross-country hike takes just under an hour ; it's an unusual sensation to be marching through the countryside uniformed and armed , even though it's dark and we don't expect to be seen .
We've been marching in single file behind the IRA Training Officer and suddenly he stops as the ground rises steeply . We're grateful for what we imagine is a short breather before marching on , but then he stoops to pull some strips of foam from behind a rock , and then scrapes away the surface of a patch of ground to reveal some canvas bags . Soon we're busy constructing a makeshift shelter and camouflaging it with materials that have remained hidden since the previous shooting camp .
There's even a gas bottle and a small stove (I pity the poor devil who had to haul them there !) so we'll be able to brew tea . It takes about another hour to complete the shelter in the darkness , and we're just collapsing thankfully inside , the tea-pot almost boiling , when the other three lads arrive breathless .
Too cramped to stretch out for any sleep , we sit around drinking tea and talking through the night .......
[END of 'DAY 3']. (Tomorrow - 'DAY 4' : 'Firing-tunnel constructed...').
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What is your strategy ? "
IRA : " Our strategy has been , by military and political action , to frustrate the British aim of making the six counties governable through local power-sharing-type institutions . So far we have succeeded in this and the Brits can only govern in a direct colonial way , using 30,000 armed men .
Ultimate success will come when the British government decides that even colonial rule is no longer feasible . This will come about when , as a result of our military activity , the British people themselves demand an end to the war . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " How do you see a British withdrawal coming about ? "
IRA : " The level of political and military activity is not yet enough to secure this ; we recognise that , even if the entire nationalist population in the six counties voted for Sinn Fein , that would'nt be enough . There must be an increase in political activity in the 26 counties so that they also demand that the Brits get out .
Even that would'nt be enough , because the only thing colonial rulers will listen to is force . There must also be a big escalation of military activity by us - and there will be ....... "
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Encouraged by the apparent dissension in the Nationalist rank , an unofficial Unionist was nominated and elected . Mitchell , the 'felon' , got 24,000 votes , and Mr. O'Neill , the nominee of the Dublin Government , lost his deposit . In spite of all the warnings , 80 per cent of the Nationalist people , when given the opportunity , had declared for the right to use every honourable means to drive the British Army out of Ireland .
The Nationalist people in Occupied Ireland had spoken ; the era of confusion and false hopes was over . The stage was set , but the people of the North were not strong enough in numbers to defeat unaided the forces of British Occupation . They looked for help to their blood-brothers in the 26 Counties , and asked them - " When we rise , will the young men from the South come to help us ? "
They were told in answer that there would be no question of their rising and then looking for help from the young men of the rest of Ireland : they were told that when they decided to strike for freedom there would be men from the four provinces of Ireland with them in the firing line .
And so it happened that when the people of the North rose on the 12th December 1956 , they had with them fighting men from all parts of Ireland .......
(MORE LATER).
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
...day 3 ..
It'll soon be pitch-black outside , and we're getting ready to move ; almost the last task is to check the assorted rounds of ammo we'll be taking with us , smooth any rounds that are a bit pitted with rust from being buried in an arms dump , using emery cloth , and discard any dud or badly corroded rounds . The camp's low on food now , so we each get handed a small rations pack which will have to do us for about 26 hours .
A car pulls up outside , its lights switched off as it approaches , and two of us climb in , along with one of the IRA Training Officers . The three of us are moving off first to establish a camp at the firing range several miles away , with the others following on an hour later . We're getting driven the first part of the journey , but we still have a couple of miles to march after that .
Lying flat on the folded-down car seats for concealment , dressed in IRA combat uniform and clutching an array of automatic weapons between us , I can visualise the looks of astonishment there would be if any republican-harassing gardai inadvertently stopped our car and found us jumping out !
The hypothetical situation does'nt arise of course - the roads having been thoroughly scouted beforehand - and we reach the drop-off point without incident . The cross-country hike is next .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX . " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Sinn Fein has achieved striking successes at the polls in the last nine months . What do you see as the significance of those successes ? "
IRA : " For years the political establishment claimed that the IRA had very little support . The election results have answered that conclusively and have quantified our support . Of course we do not say that all who voted for Sinn Fein were voting for active support of the IRA but they were showing at least passive support .
The results have been a big morale boost for the IRA and have revived the enthusiasm of any Volunteers who were inclined to flag . We see the Sinn Fein vote as a clear vote for the Brits to get out ."
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What effect will the election successes have on the strategy and tactics of the IRA ? "
IRA : " The history of other anti-colonial struggles like those in Zimbabwe , Mozambique and Vietnam have shown the need for guerrilla movements to have widespread political support to succeed . The election results have shown that we are building up that support . They will not lead to any real change in the strategy or tactics of the IRA , however . ('1169...' Comment - As we now know , the "strategy and tactics" of the PIRA [since 1986] have been subverted to suit the requirements of its political representatives in Provisional Sinn Fein).
We attack when and where we can ; our tactics are determined by intelligence and logistics - the availability of weapons and personnel . The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . If anything , subject to logistical considerations , the war is likely to be stepped up . " ('1169...' Comment - the PIRA military struggle , against the British , anyway , is over . Provo Sinn Fein has asked , and indeed encouraged , that this , in effect , be 'put in writing' by the PIRA ; the PSF leadership will then present said statement to Leinster House , Stormont and Westminster . Wrapped , as it should be , in a white flag . ).
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
When Mitchell's seat was declared vacant because he was a " felon " the people showed again that they had not been fooled and that they had voted for Sinn Fein not because they were deceived but because , at last , they saw the light and once more they voted for Sinn Fein and elected Mitchell - a " felon " who was in jail for fighting against the British Army of Occupation , and who was elected this time with an increased majority .
But England again declared the election invalid and for the third time the issue was put to the people ; again the people put forward Mitchell , and the Unionists , beaten twice , decided not to contest the seat . But the politicians of Leinster House , dismayed by the determination and solidarity of the Nationalist people of the North induced an 'Anti-Partition' candidate to go forward against Mitchell so that , as they put it , " ... the people of the North could show their true feelings . "
Outside every Church and at every cross-roads , in every village and town in Mid-Ulster , the supporters of the 'Anti-Partition' candidate - the representative of the Dublin Government , the protege of Mr. Costello and Mr. de Valera - 'warned' the people of Mid-Ulster that a vote for Sinn Fein was a vote for 'violence' ; that a vote for Mitchell was a vote for war ; that a majority of Nationalist votes , if given to Mitchell , would be a mandate for physical force .......
(MORE LATER).
...day 3 ..
It'll soon be pitch-black outside , and we're getting ready to move ; almost the last task is to check the assorted rounds of ammo we'll be taking with us , smooth any rounds that are a bit pitted with rust from being buried in an arms dump , using emery cloth , and discard any dud or badly corroded rounds . The camp's low on food now , so we each get handed a small rations pack which will have to do us for about 26 hours .
A car pulls up outside , its lights switched off as it approaches , and two of us climb in , along with one of the IRA Training Officers . The three of us are moving off first to establish a camp at the firing range several miles away , with the others following on an hour later . We're getting driven the first part of the journey , but we still have a couple of miles to march after that .
Lying flat on the folded-down car seats for concealment , dressed in IRA combat uniform and clutching an array of automatic weapons between us , I can visualise the looks of astonishment there would be if any republican-harassing gardai inadvertently stopped our car and found us jumping out !
The hypothetical situation does'nt arise of course - the roads having been thoroughly scouted beforehand - and we reach the drop-off point without incident . The cross-country hike is next .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX . " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA . From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " Sinn Fein has achieved striking successes at the polls in the last nine months . What do you see as the significance of those successes ? "
IRA : " For years the political establishment claimed that the IRA had very little support . The election results have answered that conclusively and have quantified our support . Of course we do not say that all who voted for Sinn Fein were voting for active support of the IRA but they were showing at least passive support .
The results have been a big morale boost for the IRA and have revived the enthusiasm of any Volunteers who were inclined to flag . We see the Sinn Fein vote as a clear vote for the Brits to get out ."
MICHAEL FARRELL : " What effect will the election successes have on the strategy and tactics of the IRA ? "
IRA : " The history of other anti-colonial struggles like those in Zimbabwe , Mozambique and Vietnam have shown the need for guerrilla movements to have widespread political support to succeed . The election results have shown that we are building up that support . They will not lead to any real change in the strategy or tactics of the IRA , however . ('1169...' Comment - As we now know , the "strategy and tactics" of the PIRA [since 1986] have been subverted to suit the requirements of its political representatives in Provisional Sinn Fein).
We attack when and where we can ; our tactics are determined by intelligence and logistics - the availability of weapons and personnel . The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . If anything , subject to logistical considerations , the war is likely to be stepped up . " ('1169...' Comment - the PIRA military struggle , against the British , anyway , is over . Provo Sinn Fein has asked , and indeed encouraged , that this , in effect , be 'put in writing' by the PIRA ; the PSF leadership will then present said statement to Leinster House , Stormont and Westminster . Wrapped , as it should be , in a white flag . ).
(MORE LATER).
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
When Mitchell's seat was declared vacant because he was a " felon " the people showed again that they had not been fooled and that they had voted for Sinn Fein not because they were deceived but because , at last , they saw the light and once more they voted for Sinn Fein and elected Mitchell - a " felon " who was in jail for fighting against the British Army of Occupation , and who was elected this time with an increased majority .
But England again declared the election invalid and for the third time the issue was put to the people ; again the people put forward Mitchell , and the Unionists , beaten twice , decided not to contest the seat . But the politicians of Leinster House , dismayed by the determination and solidarity of the Nationalist people of the North induced an 'Anti-Partition' candidate to go forward against Mitchell so that , as they put it , " ... the people of the North could show their true feelings . "
Outside every Church and at every cross-roads , in every village and town in Mid-Ulster , the supporters of the 'Anti-Partition' candidate - the representative of the Dublin Government , the protege of Mr. Costello and Mr. de Valera - 'warned' the people of Mid-Ulster that a vote for Sinn Fein was a vote for 'violence' ; that a vote for Mitchell was a vote for war ; that a majority of Nationalist votes , if given to Mitchell , would be a mandate for physical force .......
(MORE LATER).
Monday, April 25, 2005
FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
...day 3..
We pin up a 'Faceless Man' target and fire some air pistol shots at it ; the 'enemy' survives with only a few flesh wounds . We're beginning to think we can't hit the proverbial barn door when one of the IRA Training Officers (perhaps only to boost morale !) says that the pistol is'nt very accurate . A break for tea , and then back to look at a card on which about 20 rounds of ammo of assorted calibres have been pasted . We are told to memorise these calibres and the specific weapon or weapons they fit : 7.92 (Gewher) , 7.62 Short (AK47) , 7.62 NATO (SLR , FN-FAL) , .30 Carbine (M1) , .223 (AR15) , .45 , 9mm , .38 , .22 , 22.250 , .45 Colt and so on .
If we're sent to an ammo dump one day to collect rounds of a specific calibre , this will come in useful . Right now , our heads are spinning with the effort of it . With all this talk of guns and ammunition , it would be wrong to give the impression that an IRA training camp is purely a military experience - practical limitations make it largely so , as time is short , with a lot of weapons training that can't easily be done elsewhere .
There is not much point having formal political lectures surrounded by IRA guns , with all the risk of a raid , but there is a political element to the camp nonetheless , mostly informal (at meals and tea-breaks) but quite informative at times . On one occasion , somehow, we get talking about Ronald Reagan and American politics , and that develops into a discussion about the Tories and the Labour 'Left' , and then about Irish Republican electoral strategy .
It all ends up pretty intense and animated , with camp democracy meaning that even the T/O's have to shout to get their point of view heard . A very republican style of discussion ....... !
(MORE LATER).
STONE COLD ....... Michael Stone is infamous for his attack on a republican funeral at Belfast's Milltown cemetery . By his own count , he has murdered four men and had a hand in the deaths of six others . He says his war is over - but he still expects to meet a violent end . By Andrew Lynch . First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , July 2003 , pages 34, 36 , and 38 . Re-published here in 13 parts . [13 of 13].
I ask Michael Stone if his war is over -
- " It is ," he says , sounding just a little doubtful . " But I'm not optimistic about the future . I support the principles of the Good Friday agreement but many things are not working out in practice . I think the situation could easy blow up again soon and if it does , there are plenty of dangerous men waiting to step back into the breach .
I'm just trying to get on with my life . I'd like to stay alive for a wee while longer . But when my time comes , I won't be surprised . You should'nt be , either . "
[END of 'STONE COLD'].(Tomorrow - 'THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX' ; "The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity " - PIRA .)
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
It is well to remember that ever since they were betrayed in 1922 , and thrown to the wolves , the Nationalist people of Occupied Ireland had tried to gain some measure of justice by constitutional processes . Year after year they had elected 'Nationalists' to the Stormont parliament or county councils , for the declared purpose of "... ending partition .. " .
Lulled into a false sense of hope by the specious promises of the party politicians , the people of Ireland on one Sunday morning contributed approximately £54,000 in answer to the hope held out to them that in this way the terrible wrongs of occupation and exploitation could be righted . But like snow of May , the money disappeared and with it the illusion that Ireland's freedom and unity could be gained by propaganda .
A stronger , more virile , spirit of resistance was awakened in the people of the North and in the elections to Westminster , they returned once more to their old allegiance , and voted 152,000 for the old principles and policy of Sinn Fein .
Subsequent to this election , they were told by the politicians of all parties that they had been deceived and that Sinn Fein had betrayed them .......
(MORE LATER).
...day 3..
We pin up a 'Faceless Man' target and fire some air pistol shots at it ; the 'enemy' survives with only a few flesh wounds . We're beginning to think we can't hit the proverbial barn door when one of the IRA Training Officers (perhaps only to boost morale !) says that the pistol is'nt very accurate . A break for tea , and then back to look at a card on which about 20 rounds of ammo of assorted calibres have been pasted . We are told to memorise these calibres and the specific weapon or weapons they fit : 7.92 (Gewher) , 7.62 Short (AK47) , 7.62 NATO (SLR , FN-FAL) , .30 Carbine (M1) , .223 (AR15) , .45 , 9mm , .38 , .22 , 22.250 , .45 Colt and so on .
If we're sent to an ammo dump one day to collect rounds of a specific calibre , this will come in useful . Right now , our heads are spinning with the effort of it . With all this talk of guns and ammunition , it would be wrong to give the impression that an IRA training camp is purely a military experience - practical limitations make it largely so , as time is short , with a lot of weapons training that can't easily be done elsewhere .
There is not much point having formal political lectures surrounded by IRA guns , with all the risk of a raid , but there is a political element to the camp nonetheless , mostly informal (at meals and tea-breaks) but quite informative at times . On one occasion , somehow, we get talking about Ronald Reagan and American politics , and that develops into a discussion about the Tories and the Labour 'Left' , and then about Irish Republican electoral strategy .
It all ends up pretty intense and animated , with camp democracy meaning that even the T/O's have to shout to get their point of view heard . A very republican style of discussion ....... !
(MORE LATER).
STONE COLD ....... Michael Stone is infamous for his attack on a republican funeral at Belfast's Milltown cemetery . By his own count , he has murdered four men and had a hand in the deaths of six others . He says his war is over - but he still expects to meet a violent end . By Andrew Lynch . First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , July 2003 , pages 34, 36 , and 38 . Re-published here in 13 parts . [13 of 13].
I ask Michael Stone if his war is over -
- " It is ," he says , sounding just a little doubtful . " But I'm not optimistic about the future . I support the principles of the Good Friday agreement but many things are not working out in practice . I think the situation could easy blow up again soon and if it does , there are plenty of dangerous men waiting to step back into the breach .
I'm just trying to get on with my life . I'd like to stay alive for a wee while longer . But when my time comes , I won't be surprised . You should'nt be , either . "
[END of 'STONE COLD'].(Tomorrow - 'THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX' ; "The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity " - PIRA .)
STATEMENT RELEASED BY J. McGarrity , IRISH REPUBLICAN PUBLICITY BUREAU , February 1957 ....... From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
It is well to remember that ever since they were betrayed in 1922 , and thrown to the wolves , the Nationalist people of Occupied Ireland had tried to gain some measure of justice by constitutional processes . Year after year they had elected 'Nationalists' to the Stormont parliament or county councils , for the declared purpose of "... ending partition .. " .
Lulled into a false sense of hope by the specious promises of the party politicians , the people of Ireland on one Sunday morning contributed approximately £54,000 in answer to the hope held out to them that in this way the terrible wrongs of occupation and exploitation could be righted . But like snow of May , the money disappeared and with it the illusion that Ireland's freedom and unity could be gained by propaganda .
A stronger , more virile , spirit of resistance was awakened in the people of the North and in the elections to Westminster , they returned once more to their old allegiance , and voted 152,000 for the old principles and policy of Sinn Fein .
Subsequent to this election , they were told by the politicians of all parties that they had been deceived and that Sinn Fein had betrayed them .......
(MORE LATER).
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