1169 And Counting.....

Saturday, October 28, 2006

British 'Lord' Salisbury .

In 1883 , 'Lord' Salisbury stated - " Ireland must be kept , like India , at all costs ; by persuasion , if possible , if not - by force ."

British 'Lord' Hugh Cecil .

In 1918 , 'Lord' Hugh Cecil stated - " We must accept the fact of Irish nationality . It is regrettable , it is unhistorical ; in view of Ulsters feelings it is even absurd . But it is a fact - the majority of Irishmen do think Ireland a nation and we must do the best we can in the circumstances . "

British 'Sir' Patrick Barnabas Burke Mayhew, Baron Mayhew of Twysden (as he liked to be called) , British 'Secretary of State for Northern Ireland' from 1992 to 1997 .

In 1993 , 'Sir' Patrick Mayhew stated - " The British government would very happily release Northern Ireland , to be perfectly frank with you .... " : he then withdrew the word "happily" , and stated that the cost of the Six Counties to the British exchequer was .... "...three billion pounds a year net , for one-and-a-half million people ! "

The "cost" should not only be measured in pounds or euro's , and should not be only applied to what it "costs" the British people : it has 'cost' us on this isle countless dead over more than eight centuries , and has been a blight on each generation during those eight centuries . The British no longer control an 'Empire on which the sun never sets...' , nor are they the 'world power' they once judged themselves to be . For the sake of all of us on these two isles , they will have to move on by removing their jurisdictional claim to any part of this island and withdrawing their military and political presence . We deserve , and demand , no less . And will accept no other .

Friday, October 27, 2006

THE SEEDS OF A POLICE STATE .
There is substantial evidence that a major crime was perpetrated within the Garda Siochana five years ago .
The evidence for this crime has certainly been available to senior Gardai ever since then , but no enquiry whatsoever has taken place , let alone any Garda being disciplined in connection with that crime .
By Vincent Browne and Derek Dunne .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , September 1983 .

Furthermore , no agency , such as the (State) Department of Justice , has undertaken any investigation of the above-mentioned crime , and at least one (State) Minister for Justice , Gerry Collins , baulked at the opportunity to institute a formal investigation into what occured , even though he had earlier called for such an investigation !

The failure to hold an enquiry into the very persuasive prima facie evidence of this criminal conspiracy is made all the more significant by the subsequent promotion of a great number of Gardai involved in the case , although it would be quite wrong to suggest that those Gardai who we later name as having both been involved and promoted were individually guilty of any wrongdoing .

The crime in question concerns a conspiracy to subvert the course of justice and this involved a significant number of Gardai being involved in a plot to commit perjury.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Martin McGuinness stated - " I think that from our perspective in (P) Sinn Fein , we have been conscious all along that there were always going to be people connected to the process who would be concerned at the prospect of , for example , (P) Sinn Fein becoming the largest nationalist party in the North. (P) Sinn Fein's electoral record has clearly sent a message to all of them that you could conceivably have an All-Ireland political party that quite possibly could be in government , both North and South , at the same time . "

He continued - " I think that does put the frighteners into people . And so they are going to , even in the context of a peace process , attempt to , as much as they possibly can , damage the possibility of (P) Sinn Fein ever arriving at such a position . And they're even prepared to do it at the cost of the agreement itself , which is most disturbing and most worrying . " ('1169...' Comment - "..they.." being the infamous 'Securocrats' which the PSF leadership blamed everytime their attempted surrender to Westminster was thrown back in their faces . And it was thrown back in their faces because Westminster had already neutralised the Provos as an effective opposition and had therefore little reason , apart from its own desire to play to the watching media , to hand over any 'prize' .)

It feels quite unreal , given the euphoria of last April , to be sitting around in Stormont talking to Martin McGuinness about the same matters that dominated the previous four years . Decommissioning has remained the slipping clutch of the peace process . ('1169...' Comment - the 'slipping clutch' of a genuine peace process is the lack of a date for British withdrawal) At the time of writing , we appear to have reached a point of absolute inertia , at which the unstoppable force and the immovable object have ground into one another and stand shuddering in their irreconcilability.......
(MORE LATER).

GUNS TO BREAD AND BUTTER .......
EDDIE ROONEY looks at the transformation of the Official Republican movement from a revolutionary organisation run by its military wing to a social democratic electoral party .
From 'Fortnight' magazine , 1983 .

In a relatively brief period the Officials , who once prided themselves on the belief that the British government saw their ' revolutionary socialism ' as a greater long-term threat than the Provisional IRA's military campaign , have moved from being 'terrorists' to become the darlings of the British 'Northern Ireland' Office - under a British Tory government !

Seamus Lynch , former internee and now Workers' Party chief in the North , has become in the British view the 'responsible Irish politician' * ('1169....' Comment* - that 'honour' now belongs to these people - the latest Westminster house-pets) - a considerable achievement for a socialist revolutionary ! But the transition has not been totally painless - the main influence behind the left-wing political development of the Officials in the North of Ireland during the early 1970's was their military commander , Billy McMillen .

Billy McMillen had advocated a revolutionary approach that would blend political and military action in the struggle for an all-Ireland socialist republic : the concept of the ballot in one hand and the armalite in the other is more in line with the Official rather than the Provisional tradition .......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, October 26, 2006

The Elizabethan and Cromwellian wars laid waste the Irish land and its people, and resulted in massive land confiscations , amounting to some 11 million acres out of the islands total of 20 million acres .
The population was halved between 1845 and the turn of the century , decimated by Great Hungers and related disease, and enforced emigration . More than 5 million people fled the country : 4,750,000 to America , 370,000 to Australia and 70,000 to Canada . The record of the British in Ireland was known to those who followed in Cromwells footsteps :
British General 'Sir' Hubert Gough said in 1921 - " Law and order (in Ireland) have given place to a bloody and brutal anarchy in which the armed agents of the Crown violate every law in aimless and vindictive and insolent savagery . England has departed further from her own standards and further from the standards even of any nation in the world , not excepting the Turk and Zulu , than has ever been known in history before . "

Democratic decisions by the Irish people were made in every general election from the introduction of the secret ballot in 1872 : in each election from then until 1918 , the wish of the Irish people to govern themselves was expressed through the ballot box .

In 11 general elections in succession through almost half a century , Irish voters used the ballot to show their will - 60 per cent of those elected by the county and borough constituencies in Ireland in 1874 were 'Home Rulers' and , as more people qualified to vote , this demand grew accordingly : over 80 per cent of Irish representatives from 1885 onwards were elected to win self-government for the country. Britain failed to accept the ballot results and , in 1920 , when Britain partitioned the country , they again ignored the votes of the people whom they insisted in keeping under the Union Jack. Constituencies which in every election for years had voted for Irish self-government were kept within the Unionist 'state' , established at that time .
No 'treaty' , 'deal' or so-called 'Agreement' which fails to include a date for British military and political withdrawal will be accepted by Irish Republicans , regardless of whether said 'deal' is signed in London , Scotland or elsewhere , and regardless of who signs that 'deal' . And that position remains solid .

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY .......
From 'Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .

Michael O' Leary's credibility problem would , of course linger on , even in the PD's. But what are his options? Recent opinion polls have confirmed the message of last year's local elections - that there is no longer a Fine Gael seat in Dublin South West - and he has long since worn out the guarded welcome he received from the local Fine Gael Party organisation .

Unless he gambles on another double departure , the seventh and final age of Michael O' Leary could well be , as one colleague in the bar library put it - "...second childishness and mere oblivion.." : sans teeth , sans balls , and , worst of all , sans a seat in Leinster House !
[END of ' PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY']
(Next- 'The Seeds Of A Police State' : from 1983)

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Martin McGuinness stated re Bertie Ahern's interview in a British newspaper - " Some people put his Sunday Times interview down to the fact that a vote on the determination was being taken and David Trimble was in difficulty and the feeling was that some of his people were going to jump ship . And some people believe that it was all part of Bertie's way of doing things . It certainly confused a lot of people . But I have spoken to the Taoiseach* , and he has told me - and I have no reason to disbelieve him - that he is rock solid behind the Good Friday Agreement and is not interested in rewriting it or renegotiating it ." (* '1169...' Comment : Wow! Martin can get an audience with 'the Taoiseach' ! One knows one has 'arrived' when that happens...)

All of which is perfectly sweet and reasonable . But later in the interview , in response to a different question , when McGuinness poses questions about what he perceives as the renewed opposition to (P) Sinn Fein from various quarters in Dublin , there is no sense that he is excluding from his criticisms the present leadership of Fianna Fail .

Place that beside the fact that he never mentions the former Fianna Fail leader , Albert Reynolds , without pressing his 'most-courageous-Taoiseach-since-the-foundation-of-the-State' button , and you have at least an interesting question about the subtext to present relationships within the 'pan-nationalist alliance' . ('1169...' Comment : such an 'alliance' was always on offer to Republicans - what was asked in return was that they abandon Republicanism and place their faith in constitutionalism . de Valera did so , as did MacGiolla and Adams . But not all can be bought. ).......
(MORE LATER).

GUNS TO BREAD AND BUTTER .
EDDIE ROONEY looks at the transformation of the Official Republican movement from a revolutionary organisation run by its military wing to a social democratic electoral party .
From 'Fortnight' magazine , 1983 .

In the heart of Belfast's Lower Falls , the Cyprus Street club is one of the few remaining buildings in a redevelopment wasteland : it used to be the Headquarters of the Official IRA's Northern Command and of its political wing , the 'Republican Clubs'.

It now houses the Lower Falls branch of the Workers Party - the club is one of the last relics of the Official Republican Movement , which has 'evolved' , through intermediate name changes , into 'The Workers Party' . On the wall beside the door to the main hall there is a mural portraying an armed man in silhouette flanked by the words ' Army Of The People' . On the far wall , an image of James Connolly overlooks a quote : ' The cause of Ireland is the cause of Labour ; the cause of Labour is the cause of Ireland'. Such nationalist and militarist sentiments are a long way from the public image currently being projected by the leaders of The Workers Party .

Yet it is from nationalist working-class areas such as the Lower Falls that 'The Workers Party' draws most of its membership - many have been associated with the 'Officials' for more than a decade , and many have seen the inside of prisons as a result of their political activities . These members are truly the party faithful , remaining loyal* through a period which has seen significant changes in the character of their movement's aims and strategy ( '1169...' Comment - * In other words , they followed [ "remained loyal "] to the man , not the Cause) .......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, October 23, 2006

PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY .......
From 'Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .

At a recent meeting in Tallaght , Dublin , Michael O' Leary urged residents to pay their water charges - scarcely popular advice ! But , with characteristic inconsistency he has cleverly avoided taking sides on the travellers' issue .

O' Leary is quite highly thought of in the PD's and the likelihood is that a formal application to join would be favourably received . Clearly there is no room in Tallaght for both Micko and Mary Harney , but that problem is not insoluble .

At the last constituency revision , some 8,000 voters from middle-class Templeogue were transferred out of Dublin South-West : this could provide Micko with a plausible pretext for moving to an adjoining constituency on the PD ticket . Ironically , there is now an obvious Fine Gael vacancy in Dublin Central following Michael Keating's defection to the PD's , but Micko's chances of returning to his old beat in the North Inner City are just about nil.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Asked , for example , what he thinks of (Free State) Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's rather erratic series of comments in recent months about the emphasis on decommissioning in the 'Good Friday Agreement' , Martin McGuinness leaves no doubt that there is , to say the least , a degree of puzzlement in republican (sic- PSF) circles as to what precisely Bertie Ahern is playing at : the word on the street is that the (P) Sinn Fein leadership (*recent picture here*) was ' incandescent with apoplexy ' ( before the suits and careers they would have just been 'raging' ! - ed) about Bertie Ahern's recent interview with 'The Sunday Times' newspaper , in which Ahern at least allowed the impression to be gained that he believed there needed to be some decommissioning of IRA weapons before (P) Sinn Fein could be admitted to the Stormont executive .

There is no sense , from Martin McGuinness's response , that this 'unhappiness' was not indeed profound , and yet , when one sifts through the entrails of the remarks which one imagined to be somewhat critical of Bertie Ahern , they yield nothing but the merest quizzical expression from McGuinness himself ; " I think the only person who can explain the Taoiseach's contributions to this debate is the Taoiseach himself ..." , says McGuinness , fixing me with his most sincere gaze , " ...although he has told us time and time again that he is committed to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement , that he's opposed to , as he said in Armagh two weeks ago , any attempt to park it or rewrite it ."

Then Martin hits the 'what-people-are-saying-to-me-in-the-street' programme - " If you go out into the streets of West Belfast or many other parts of the North , and nationalist Ireland , I think it is fair to say that there is concern among people about the mixed messages* which are coming from Dublin . I have met quite a number of people in the nationalist community who are seeking explantions as to why this is happening at this time . " (* '1169...' Comment - "Mixed messages..." from Dublin ? That is a "concern" . We mean considering the fact that 'messages from Dublin' have always been strongly pro-republican and vehemently anti-Westminster in the past......!)
(MORE LATER).

EMPIRES OF DUST .......
Britain's leaders talk about remodelling the world and its historians draw attention to the 'good side of the old empire' . But what about the reality ?
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 2003 .
By Edel Brosnan .

The British Empire imploded when the cost of fighting two world wars almost bankrupted the 'mother country' , but it might have muddled through if its ungrateful subjects(!) had wanted it to carry on . We did not - most of us broke free at the first chance we got !

No matter how noble the intentions are - and I have yet to be convinced that Pax Americana's intentions are especially noble to begin with - it will backfire sooner or later . As Robespierre once put it - " Nobody likes a missionary with a gun ."
[END of 'EMPIRES OF DUST']
(Next - 'Guns to bread and butter' - from 1983)

Sunday, October 22, 2006

At the time of writing , we have heard early radio reports of Bertie Ahern's speech to his fellow constitutionalists in Bodenstown , at the grave of Wolfe Tone . Apparently , Mr Ahern applauded the position that more discussion is taking place now in connection with what he terms 'Northern Ireland' than in any other period in recent history . To Bertie Ahern and his likes , that represents 'progress' .
Last year at that same spot ,Bertie '(monied)Friends-in-low-places' Ahern stated that "...violence has no place in securing Irish unity..." , ignoring completely the part that violence , unfortunately , played in 'securing Irish dis-unity' and , in doing so , mentally dis-owning those members of his own party who had used violence in an attempt to secure Irish unity . He also stated that " Fianna Fail holds that unity cannot be built on the divisions and fury of ages...." , yet he is far too quick to place responsibility for the 'divisions and fury of ages' at the feet of Irish Republicans , and never where it belongs - Westminster .
Also , at that sacred spot last year , Bertie Ahern stated - " We oppose all efforts to impose unity through violence or the threat of violence...." : this island was partitioned 'through violence and the threat of violence' , as Mr Ahern well knows , yet that fact will never be raised by any Fianna Fail representative in their many 'discussions' with Westminster - such talk will only be directed against those opposed to the continuing military and political partition of this country .
Maintain the border , Bertie , as your type have done in the past and will continue to do in the future , as instructed by Westminster . . But do not do so from the grave of Wolfe Tone , whose objective was "...to break the connection with England .. " . Now , Mr Ahern - get back to the machinations of your greasy till ....

Saturday, October 21, 2006

100,000 hits . And Counting..... : Go raibh maith agat !
While we are aware that there are other blogs out there with a 'fatter' hitcounter , some of which have probably not been around as 'long' as we have (since 2002) , we are nonetheless delighted with the performance of our own wee 'spot' on the Irish blogosphere !
The one constant we have adhered to over the four years of this blog is our political point of view - Republicanism , as we understand it to be .
The position of this blog has , perhaps , best being summed-up by John from this parish at many a Republican rally / function / protest : " It was never a case of saying to the British - 'Stay if you want , just treat us better' " .
Our political position continues to be one in which we demand a complete British military and political withdrawal from this island . And our stat-counter proves that we are not alone in that demand ...

Once again - Thank You !
Sharon .

Friday, October 20, 2006

PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY .......
From 'Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .

The same element of calculation is clearly evident at present - Michael O' Leary's dogged pursuance of the divorce issue has made him further enemies in Fine Gael - and not only in Dublin - but it has given him a higher profile on a popular issue , which he also researched locally, after more than three years silence .

His more recent support for the renegotiation of oil-licences brings him into line with other Fine Gael 'dissidents' and , more significantly perhaps , would not be incompatible with a further transplant, this time to the PD's . Contrary to some speculation , Micko did not apply to join the new party , though he did publicly welcome their arrival .

Perhaps he was inhibited by a severe local problem - of all the seats in all the constituencies of the State , he had to blunder into the bailiewick of Mary Harney : Tallaght is simply not Mick's place .Though not as bad a constituency deputy as is sometimes made out, he has little stomach for the dreary round of grass-roots 'chores' arising endlessly in working-class districts.......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .......
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Martin McGuinness's in-built 'programmes' include , for example , the 'scale-of-the-republican-achievement' programme , the 'real-issues-of-the-peace-process' programme , the 'decommissioning-the-injustice-of-the-past' programme and the 'what-people-don't-understand-about-the-situation' programme .

The journalist's job is to prevent these programmes being activated . The problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him ! There is also the problem that there are a lot of people out there waiting for (P) Sinn Fein leaders to say something by which they could then justify the antipathy to Irish republicanism which has resurfaced in the wake of the 'Good Friday Agreement' (Stormont Treaty) . This would not contribute to the prolongation of peace . ('1169...' Comment - It is actually the 'GFA'/Stormont Treaty itself which "contributes .... " nothing to "...the prolongation of peace " ! That 'Treaty' simply postpones conflict , whilst allowing former combatants to financially enrich themselves in their master's parlour .)

But Martin McGuinness , like other (P) Sinn Fein leaders , makes few blunders * and says little or nothing that is not carefully studied in advance . ('1169....' Comment * - Not so ! When the man had republican principles he had to be careful in choosing his words , but not now . He can , and does [like others in PSF] come out meekly to plead with the British to introduce their policy in our Six Counties . And he [and those others] can , and do , do that because so little is now expected of them in relation to fighting for a British withdrawal.) Nor does he in any sense* fail to convey his meaning in quite explicit terms : ('1169...' Comment * - Again , not the case - " We will lead you to the Republic.....not a bullet , not an ounce.... no New Stormont... " ; explicit terms , but obviously NOT what he meant !) it's just that he is , to say the least , cautious about telling you what he thinks about something ,tending to couch his strongest responses in terms of "...what republicans are saying.." or "...what people say to me in the street.." ('1169...' Comment - Martin will , soon enough , once again be able to use the 'Expenses' part of his Saxon Shilling to employ someone to tell him 'what people are saying on the street' ).......
(MORE LATER).

EMPIRES OF DUST .......
Britain's leaders talk about remodelling the world and its historians draw attention to the 'good side of the old empire' . But what about the reality ?
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 2003 .
By Edel Brosnan .

If George Bush's new-found interest in the Middle-East simply traded oil for democracy , I would applaud it . Freedom - like bisongrass vodka , or half-fat milk - is undoubtedly a good thing : but parachuting into a 'rogue state' and installing a more congenial leader is pointless .

I supported western intervention in Kosovo - but , in retrospect , that action left it even more lawless than it was before : regime change in Afghanistan just replaced the women-hating bigots of the Taliban with the women-hating thugs of the Northern Alliance .

There was lessons there for the British Empire . But they weren't learned.......
(MORE LATER).

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

This blog has received information , from a source which has never failed us in the past , that a story is about to break concerning people on this isle who have spent the previous 30 years underwater !
Apparently , a connection to said feat can be made to the continuing British military and political presence on this island: details on this story are firming up as I type but , not being a 'tabloid'-type blog , we are holding off on publication until all necessary facts have been confirmed to our satisfaction .
As it stands now we are almost certain that , in the coming days/weeks , we will be publishing full details on this remarkable achievement : we ask our readers to bear with us , remain calm and be patient whilst we wait on the full details to be made available to us and to allow us the time we need to verify 100% the accuracy of all information we receive regarding this unbelievable occurrence .
In the meantime , blogging on '1169...' will resume as normal.......

PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY .......
From 'Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .

Michael O' Leary was known for ignoring the formal Labour Party machinery for much of the time - his leadership had a disastrous effect on the already weakened Labour morale and organisation . Above all , Micko suffered from a severe problem of credibility ; no-one ever really took him seriously !

During the 1960's , the political 'Left' regarded his infantile socialism with a measure of affectionate sceptism , and few were surprised when he performed an abrupt U-turn after the 1969 election . He was elected leader largely because there was no credible alternative , and even then the (State) Labour Party soon came to regret its mistake . His change of party and of constituency merely served to widen an existing credibility gap .

But despite his notorious impetuosity , Michael O' Leary is also capable of careful calculation - for example , his defection to Fine Gael was prompted at least in part by an opinion poll suggesting that he had little chance of holding his Dublin Central seat : abandoning a once-safe seat would have been unthinkable for a Party leader , and so a change of constituency was just as important as the change of party .......
(MORE LATER).

(Martin McGuinness , left , with Henry Kissinger , as usual , on the right ...)

DISARMING MARTIN .
All (P)Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the question .
The task of the journalist is to avoid setting off these reflex responses : the problem with Martin McGuinness is that he does it so pleasantly that it seems impolite to interrupt him .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .
By John Waters .

Listening to the modern-day (P) Sinn Fein leader , one rapidly develops an image of - sometime in the 1980's - a kind of paramilitary Bunny Carr going around giving seminars in safe houses , teaching republicans how to talk in unbroken flow without directly answering questions : Martin McGuinness would have been his proudest achievement !

McGuinness's apparent openness is such as to be ... well , 'disarming' . His eyes , smiling and unflinching , suggest acute friendliness and empathy . It would be easy to imagine that this man was about to unburden his soul . Alas , there is an appropriate comparison to be made between the unionist tactic of delay and procrastination in matters relating to the establishment of the 'shadow executive' , and an interview with Martin McGuinness : you have , perhaps , an hour , which seems more than enough to deal comprehensively with a number of focused , precise questions .

But McGuinness is not in the business of giving focussed , precise answers . Like other republican (sic - 'Provisional') leaders he exhibits a tendency which for interviewers is like being given a suitcase full of obsolute currency . All (P) Sinn Fein leaders have a series of mantras and mini-speeches which they seek to get into every interview , regardless of the questions asked . It is as though these mantras and speeches reside in tiny programmes at the back of their minds , their objective in interviews being to find the first available opportunity to press the nearest relevant button and kill five minutes of interview time.......
(MORE LATER).

EMPIRES OF DUST .......
Britain's leaders talk about remodelling the world and its historians draw attention to the 'good side of the old empire' . But what about the reality ?
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 2003 .
By Edel Brosnan .

Niall Ferguson justifies everything in the end because , he argues , the 19th century's biggest superpower kept the peace (!) : 'Pax Britannia' made the world a safer and more stable place than the scary , fragmented world we have today (!) .

When Tony Blair made a speech to his ambassadors in January , he held up the 'good intentions' of Britain's colonial past ('1169...' Comment - "...past.." ? There are six Irish counties that beg to differ , and a gutless 'parliament' in the 26-County State populated with political whores ....) as something to insipre its future - or , putting it another way : " Where there is war , we should sow peace ; where there is tyranny , we should sow liberty." How can you argue with that ? But when you are no longer a superpower , how can you implement it ?

Tony Blair's answer is simple - he cannot , but he will support the USA in its role as the policeman of the world.......
(MORE LATER).

Monday, October 16, 2006

PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY .......
From 'Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .

Why has the rich promises of the 1960's never been fulfilled ? The answer is clear enough - in the first place , Michael O' Leary , as a potential leader , was fatally flawed , possessing an erratic temperament and occasionally unsound judgment .

Some of his initiatives as leader of the (State) Labour Party were decidedly odd - for example , his decision to abandon Leinster House for several weeks to bury himself in of all places East Galway , in the forlorn hope of achieving a good Labour by-election result .

Again , there was his public and predictably futile attempt to recruit Noel Browne as a Labour candidate for the Dublin West by-election . O' Leary indeed shared many of the faults of Noel Browne without having any of his virtures . Essentially a loner , Michael O' Leary , unlike Frank Cluskey or Dick Spring , was incapable of gathering around him a coterie of trusted confidants who could lend support and advice when the going got tough.......
(MORE LATER).

EMPIRES OF DUST .......
Britain's leaders talk about remodelling the world and its historians draw attention to the 'good side of the old empire' . But what about the reality ?
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 2003 .
By Edel Brosnan .

Behind the hyperbole surrounding him , however , Niall Ferguson's own attitude to 'Empire' is subtler , and more critical than he lets on - " There's no glossing over the ugly side of empire ..." , he says at one point , nor does he defend "...some of the military excesses .. " : so that's all right then ! But , he adds, "...in economic terms it was a positive force . " Which it was- for some people , for some of the time .

But did the people of Mumbai , Mombasa or Mullingar feel so positive ? Were schools and railways enough to compensate for famines , bad administration and loss of independence ? That is the question Niall Ferguson never asks , and cannot answer . Running an empire is an exciting business - a 'boy's own' adventure where the Great White Master always gets to call the shots because he is 'civilised' and he knows best . Britain's empire was also good for business - for centuries , the nation that 'ruled the waves' got to write the rules for trade .

That was the whole point of world government : The British East India Company first 'acquired' India in the name of private enterprise , and Britain got a foothold in Africa thanks to the asset-stripping diamond despot Cecil Rhodes.......
(MORE LATER).

Saturday, October 14, 2006

30-cent-a-text Newstalk Radio , almost Nationwide .

This blog recently published a piece concerning what we consider to be the 30-cent-a-text rip-off charge by Newstalk Radio , and have now been contacted by a person called 'Clancy' who , rightly, used our piece on a Forum (Boards Ireland.com) in connection with the cost of a text to that station . A campaign is presently under way on Boards Ireland.com to encourage the station owners to drop the 30 cent charge - we wish that campaign all the best and would ask our readers to sign the petition .

Incidentally - our records show that ,on Monday 9 February 2004 , Newstalk 106FM (as it was then known) ran a recruitment 'advertisement' for the 'Queens Own Hibernians' , a British Army 'Regiment' : John , from this blog , contacted the station to complain about the fact that any Irish radio station should stoop so low as to assist a foreign army which continued to maintain an unwanted armed presence on Irish soil . On Tuesday morning , 10 February 2004 , the same advertisement was broadcast again on Newstalk Radio - before John could pick up a telephone to ring in a complaint again , his own mobile phone rang : it was Dan Healy , Newstalk Chief Executive at the time , on the line , and he apologised for the fact that John had taken offence at the advertisement. According to Mr Healy , the station had received "...hundreds of complaints.." in connection with that advertisement , which had now "...being pulled.." .
Dan Healy explained that that particular British Army 'regiment' was one which station management had made-up ,and ran an 'advertisement' for , simply as a way to gauge the attention paid to its ads by Newstalk listeners ! The whole thing was a 'joke' , in other words - an internal Newstalk campaign by way of which the station could 'prove' to potential advertisers that its listeners do pay attention to advertisements run on the station .

We can only hope that the 30-cent text charge is another 'internal campaign' by Newstalk , and one which they will 'pull' soon . Because we don't find it at all 'funny' .

Best of luck to all at Boards Ireland.com in their campaign against Newstalk's rip-off text charges . Sign their petition if you can .

Sharon .

Friday, October 13, 2006

PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY .......
From 'Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .

Having fallen in love with ministerial office , Michaeel O' Leary entered a new age , developing a passion for the Labour Leader's job : alas , his ardour was to remain unrequited . It was his arch rival , Frank Cluskey , bearded like the bard , who won the horny hand of the Parliamentary Labour Party .

An alternative career now began to develop with our hero appearing , if not as a Justice , certainly before quite a few of them , in his advocate's role - " Full of wise saws and modern instances?" Well , hardly . However , after four years of sulking in the shadows , Micko finally received the call to arms following Frank Cluskey's election defeat in June 1981 . Jealous of honour , quick in quarrel , the new Labour 'General' eagerly sought the bubble reputation in the cannon's mouth . But the bubble was soon to burst .

Fifteen months later he discovered far too many hostile cannons trained upon him at the 1982 Labour Conference : his reputation in shreds , his policy shot to pieces , the embittered lost Labour Leader abandoned his troops , if not entitrely his 'cause' - and so to his sixth and latest age as ' a lean and slippered pantaloon...' , dwelling uneasily on the Fine Gael backbenches . A strange history indeed.......
(MORE LATER).

PASSPORTS , PLEASE....... !
The latest passports for investment revelations involve a controversial £10,000 donation to Fianna Fail by US investor Gerry Lindzon .
There are grounds for suspicion that much of the money that changed hands in other deals was never intended for investment in the business but rather a 'facility fee' which accrued to the company for allowing its name to be used .
By Daire O' Brien .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .

When it was put to Brian O' Carroll that the political connections of C&D Foods could have helped in that company's application , he said that he could understand how such a " ...conclusion.." was drawn . According to the Dublin consultant previously quoted , some "...political contact was a requirement . The deal would need a sponsor (effectively a serving government Minister) to make representations on the company's behalf and explain why it would provide employment or protect jobs etc .. "

After the Masri affair broke , the rules for the issuing of passports seemed to tighten considerably . One London firm , which provides service in offshore company formation and foreign citizenship , describes what it terms '...the Rolls Royce..' of Irish citizenship in its promotional literature.

However, further enquiries by this reporter into the feasibility of receiving an Irish passport for investment were not received enthusiastically - we were told that "... Ireland is now very hard.." , but that Brazilian citizenship was still very much a runner ....... !
(MORE LATER).

EMPIRES OF DUST .......
Britain's leaders talk about remodelling the world and its historians draw attention to the 'good side of the old empire' . But what about the reality ?
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 2003 .
By Edel Brosnan .

Britain is learning to love its multicultural present but , like a Marxist turned management consultant , the nation that once ruled half the world is embarrassed about its past . Pride in the empire gave way to a vague sense of guilt - the " sorry we shot your grandad , stole your land and enslaved your people' syndrome .

To the delight of 'Daily Telegraph' readers everywhere , that might be about to change : historian Niall Ferguson - flag-waver-in-chief for the good old days- recently unleashed a hefty tome entitled ' Empire : How Britain Made The Modern World ' ('1169.....' Comment - we presume the word 'Suffer' is missing from the end of that title....) . It is being marketed as a shock-the-liberals special , and even had its own TV series on Channel 4 . Guess what ? Subject nations prospered under the kind rule of British masters ; the imperial adventure was a 'Force for Good' !

Come again...? Niall Ferguson is an entertaining figure , enthusiastic as a puppy-dog and just as photogenic , but this is just silly.......
(MORE LATER).

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Abraham Lincoln .

Listening to various radio stations today , I could not help but to get angry over the amount of time which programme presenters and news bulletins dedicated to the so-called "historic" talks in Scotland between those who wish to further surrender and humiliate themselves and those they wish to surrender to (though the latter are in no hurry , having already drawn the military teeth from the former) .

Following a comment from a co-worker , I was reminded of the words of U. S. President Abraham Lincoln , who stated that the American Civil War (1861-1865) was fought to ensure "...that self-determination belonged only to the whole people of the nation.." Mr. Lincoln went on to say - " On what rightful principle may a State , being not more than one-fiftieth part of the nation in soil and population , break up the nation and then coerce a proportionally larger sub-division of itself in the most arbitrary way ."

Those that are "making history" in Scotland would do well to remember that the Six-County area , which was politically cut-off from the rest of this isle in the 1920's , had never existed before as an entity in history , or politics , or economically . Nor should it be allowed or , indeed , encouraged , to exist , regardless of whether its present 'owners' (Westminster) hand over the 'reins of power' to their 'newest' pets , the Provisionals , or not .
The only proper solution is for Westminster to withdraw politically and militarily from this isle - and that is the one issue which is not on the agenda at that particular meeting . Nothing "historic" there , so .

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

PILLARS OF SOCIETY : MICHAEL O' LEARY .
From 'Phoenix' magazine , April 1986 .

All of Leinster House is a stage and all the deputies (members) and senators merely players . They have their exits and their elections , and one man in his time plays many parts - that man is Michael O' Leary , former (State) 'Tanaiste' (ie 'second-in-command') , (State) Minister for Labour , Industry and Energy , and Leader of The Labour Party . The question is , when will Michael O' Leary change parties again ?

The career of O' Leary to date has certainly been , in the words of the Bard , ' a strange and eventful history' ! First there was the enfant terrible of the 1960's , mewling and puking on the otherwise staid and conservative Labour Front Bench . His infantile 'oats' having been sown , Micko began to develop rapidly .

The next stage was the whining schoolboy of the 1970's , creeping not at all unwillingly to his State Ministerial desk : on the whole, Micko didn't have a bad coalition , with various pieces of reforming Labour legislation to his credit , albeit with the assistance of an EEC gun to the Dublin Administration's head.......
(MORE LATER).

PASSPORTS , PLEASE....... !
The latest passports for investment revelations involve a controversial £10,000 donation to Fianna Fail by US investor Gerry Lindzon .
There are grounds for suspicion that much of the money that changed hands in other deals was never intended for investment in the business but rather a 'facility fee' which accrued to the company for allowing its name to be used .
By Daire O' Brien .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .

Of course , there is no suggestion that the deal was anything other that a bona-fide investment in a successful Irish manufacturing company . And Albert Reynolds , who was a serving State Minister at the time , has stated that he had no knowledge or part in the transaction . However , as one of the few companies which have been confirmed beneficiaries of the scheme it would be interesting to know exactly what shape the "...ongoing.." relationship took and how it contributed to the growth of C&D Foods .

The Roscommon accountant , Brian O' Carroll was recently associated with an investment in a Cork pottery company - a deal in which it was revealed that one of the investors had also made a political donation from an account set up for the initial purpose of housing the investors' money ! The sum , £10,000 , ended up in an account where the signatories were prominent Fianna Fail members , including Bertie Ahern : this was in 1993 , when the scheme was run on an ad-hoc basis through the (State) Department of Justice .

Brian O' Carroll brought investors to four Irish companies and a number of passports were issued to the family of each investor - in all he delivered approximately fifteen passports : he stressed that each investor came up with a minimum of £1 million in each case and that no 'discounting' ever took place in any of his deals , although he was aware of such a process.......
(MORE LATER).

EMPIRES OF DUST .
Britain's leaders talk about remodelling the world and its historians draw attention to the 'good side of the old empire' . But what about the reality ?
From 'MAGILL' magazine , March 2003 .
By Edel Brosnan .

The Tower of London dates back to AD 1070 but that does not stopit looking , on the outside , like a stone-clad knock-off monument - a 'Made-in-China' fake . You could buy a decent bottle of Chablis for the price of an entrance ticket . However , to understand the British Empire , and what it really meant , the Jewel House at the Tower is the place to start .

The gems , the gold - the sheer vulgar magnificence of it all - could bring out the forelock-tugging royalist in anyone . Anyone , that is , except my father . He took one look at the Star Of India , the Star of Africa and the Cullinan Diamond (317 carats - you don't find that in Argos!) , then he muttered "...stolen goods , the lot of it.." .

Stolen is probably the wrong word : let's go with extorted or commandeered instead . You cannot walk through central London without tripping over an imperial souvenir - a 'heroic' statue , a triumphal arch , the Tate galleries at Pimlico and Bankside (the Tate fortune has its roots in the Caribbean sugar-and-slave trade) . Until recently, though , the locals didn't like to talk about it.......
(MORE LATER).

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Homelessness .

" Education is an admirable thing . But it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught . " - Oscar Wilde .

In the same few days that attention was focussed on Bertie Ahern and the few shillings that this 'plain-man-of-the-people' received in Manchester - and at the expense of highlighting other dodgy deals and the continuing mis-conduct in this corrupt State's 'Health Service' , 'Allied Irish Bank' announced that none of its Officials will be disciplined in regards to its 'internal investigation' into the manner in which AIB customers were defrauded by over-charging . AIB management announced that they had discovered a further £21 million in illicit fees charged to customers during the late 1980's and early 1990's , bringing to £65.8 million the total (so far?) value of the banks rip-off ! However , no-one will be held accountable because , according to AIB bosses , there is a lack of evidence "...due principally to the passage of time.." So , presumably , if you can avoid paying back your loan to this bank for as long as possible , you will be in the clear ... !
Finally ,if , by some misfortune or other , you find yourself homeless , you may find that a bed awaits you courtesy of the Horsey Set - for it has recently been announced here that , from 2001 to date , €317 million of taxpayers money has been handed over to those that oversee the 'Sport of Kings' in this wee Statelet .
Jolly glad to see that our priorities are right.......

Monday, October 09, 2006

"Will no-one rid me of this troublesome priest...? "

Another day , another "historic" meeting - this one held in Stormont , one of the two British-imposed 'parliaments' in Ireland .
Fr.Brady spoke about 'creating a more stable and prosperous future (in the Six Counties)... ' :
"I firmly believe that such a future is within our grasp if each one of us can find the courage to take account of the needs of the other, and not just those of our own community .I think that real peace will come only when we focus on the common good of all of our society and not just on sectional interest."

Like others that sat in similar chairs , at similar tables ,at similar meetings before them , both men , and the 'camps' they represent , no doubt fully realise that "...real peace.." in the troubled Six North-Eastern counties of Ireland will only materialise after Westminster withdraws its military and political presence from this isle and drops its jurisdictional claim over those six Irish counties . But it would not only hurt the 'Establishment' should they say so - it would also place both men , and their supporters , outside said 'Establishment' . And political careers are not furthered by being outside the tent pissing in . And becuse of that fact , the conflict continues .

LOTTERIES AND OTHER HOLD-UPS .......
From 'New Hibernia' magazine , April 1987.

Joe McGrath and Jack O' Sheehan are dead : Archie Doyle went , though not before telling us how they had shot Kevin O' Higgins : Eamonn Duggan is no more , nor Uncle Jack and Aunt Molly .

Maybe it's time to think about the living , for I believe that there is still some twelve million pounds in the Irish Hospitals Trust account : why not divide it between the sacked employees who , over forty years , have done as much as anybody else for the good of medicine in this State ?
[END of 'LOTTERIES AND OTHER HOLD-UPS']
(Next - 'Pillars of Society - Michael O' Leary' : from 1986)

PASSPORTS , PLEASE....... !
The latest passports for investment revelations involve a controversial £10,000 donation to Fianna Fail by US investor Gerry Lindzon .
There are grounds for suspicion that much of the money that changed hands in other deals was never intended for investment in the business but rather a 'facility fee' which accrued to the company for allowing its name to be used .
By Daire O' Brien .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .

There is an unconfirmed account , related by one source who successfully operated as a go-between for investors and Irish companies , that a bank could give 'letters of comfort' to the investor , effectively guaranteeing the return of his/her money in exchange for a " discounted " facility fee . If this is the case , the 'Passport For Investment Scheme' was abused and no 'investment' , in the sense of risk , was ever made .

In the most 'famous' case , that of the Masri's investment* in C&D Foods (*by Munib R. Masri) , no information has ever been forthcoming on what exactly the Palestinian businessmen got for their investment , or even how much the investment was. The man who is regarded as the facilitator for the Masri deal , Roscommon accountant Brian O' Carroll , spoke to 'Magill' magazine : we asked him three questions regarding the transaction -
A) The size of the Masri's investment ?
b) What class of equity was issued in return for the investment ?
c) If no equity was invested , what did the Masris receive from C&D Foods ?

Brian O' Carroll confirmed to us that the investment was £1.1 million : he stated that he did not negotiate with the Masris on the shape of the investment - that he just effected an introduction - but that the money was a "...loan.." and did not involve equity changing hands . On what the Masris received in return , apart from two passports , he says that there was a promise of "...ongoing.." trade links between the Reynolds and the Masris.......
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : TONY GREGORY .......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , February 1985 .

Tony Gregory was proved wrong in not running Mick Rafferty in the by-election caused by the death of Fianna Fail's George Colley - (Provisional) Sinn Fein's Christy Burke , who was also involved in the anti-drugs campaign, outpolled the (State) LabourParty and gave the Workers Party a run for their money .

With Fianna Fail and Fine Gael now set to throw all their resources into winning Dublin seats at the next election , Tony Gregory's position is in danger : unlike the days when he held the aces , he can no longer deliver . Crumbs from 'the deal' still remain , but that may not be enough . He is still popular , but with Charles Haughey and Garret Fitzgerald offering the sun , moon and stars , Gregory may fall down on the vital first preference vote.

He could then find himself battling for transfers , which was how he came to Leinster House in the first place .
[END of 'The Younger Breed : Tony Gregory']
(Next-'Empires Of Dust' : from 'MAGILL' magazine , 2003)

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Charles Haughey and Dermot Desmond - solving world problems.....

As we in this corrupt wee Statelet lurch from one potential/possible/probable political scandal to another , it is only fitting that we take a look back at previous potential/possible/probable political scandals :

When he was State Minister for Energy, Fianna Fail's Michael Smith agreed to hire NCB Stockbrokers to sell off the 25% of Tara Mines which the State owned : NCB's fee of £530,000 was also agreed on .
A Senior Executive at Morgan Grenfell , one of the top two British merchant banks , said at the time - " The fee was definitely very high . NCB got 1.5% for what was a straight-forward deal ." An executive at Kleinworths , another of London's top merchant banks , said at the time - " It is hard , looking at the deal , to see how NCB could get the fee - £250,000 would have been more like it ."

It should be noted that the sale of Tara Mines was not put out to tender , and that NCB's founder and then Chairperson was Dermot Desmond who , at the time , also acted as an 'Adviser' on economic and financial matters to Charles Haughey .
Coincidence , of course : as such , we would like to apologise for our misleading 'potential/possible/probable...' comment of earlier on . This blog will , hopefully, publish as usual on Monday October 9 - we are heading off now on our flying pigs for a little break.......

Friday, October 06, 2006

LOTTERIES AND OTHER HOLD-UPS .......
From 'New Hibernia' magazine , April 1987.

" Charity? " said Aunt Molly , " is that what you call it ? You're so naive . It's big , big business . Selling Sweep tickets is easier than robbin' banks , and you can't be arrested for it . Except in England ! Less than thirty per cent of what the Hospital Trust makes goes to the hospitals and less than half of what's left is paid to the prizewinners . As for the ordinary staff ? God help them , but a tinker would make more selling lucky white heather in Merrion Square ! And ya say 'Well , I always thought that they were doing all that for charity' ? Aye , that'll be the day ! And Joe McGrath is getting his racehorses on credit ! "

By the time I was a nipper the three biggest men in finance were Joe McGrath , Jack O' Sheehan and Eamonn Duggan . Archie Doyle , even worse at ' the business of business ' than Uncle Jack , was still robbing banks for the IRA well into the 1940's .

I don't go in for anniversaries , but I thought that with the winding up of the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes it would be as well to remember it affectionately , for it meant a great deal to some folk.......
(MORE LATER).

PASSPORTS , PLEASE....... !
The latest passports for investment revelations involve a controversial £10,000 donation to Fianna Fail by US investor Gerry Lindzon .
There are grounds for suspicion that much of the money that changed hands in other deals was never intended for investment in the business but rather a 'facility fee' which accrued to the company for allowing its name to be used .
By Daire O' Brien .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , March 1999 .

The 'consultant' claims that his job was to find the 'right' businesses to liaise with the US investors ; he claims that he had no direct dealings with politicians as this was done by the middleman , who is from North County Dublin . According to the 'consultant' , the 'discounted' sum was never "...represented as an investment.." to those looking for a passport .

Although the source successfully completed a number of deals which saw US investors receive Irish passports in return for injecting cash into small Irish manufacturing firms , he claims that the investments in these cases were real . The problem is that we don't know how many of the investments made in the 1990's were fictional - there is a strong circumstantial case building up that at least some of the passports were issued on the basis of false financial information .

While any political administration can hide behind the need to protect 'investor confidentiality' , surely a cost-benefit analysis of the scheme should be available ? How do we know that the money that was lodged in Ireland was ever actually invested in the business stated.......?
(MORE LATER).

THE YOUNGER BREED : TONY GREGORY .......
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , February 1985 .

By the time the Nicky Kelly campaign was drawing to a close , the Concerned Parents Against Drugs (CPAD) were mounting their battle against pushers : although it began on the southside of Dublin , the CPAD soon spread to the northside and Tony Gregory began backing it when other politicians were more cautious .

The drugs campaign posed a number of problems for Tony Gregory and his supporters - some of his activists had doubts about Sinn Fein involvement , but the drugs epidemic is a major issue for Dublin's inner-city and if Sinn Fein members play a dominant role in the campaign , Gregory does not seem to mind .

But Sinn Fein's emergence in Dublin at a political level may yet pose difficulties for the 37-year-old Gregory : when Fianna Fail's George Colley died , Tony Gregory and his strategists considered running Mick Rafferty in the by-election , but eventually reckoned such a move would not pay off . This left the field open for Sinn Fein.......
(MORE LATER).