RSF CLONDALKIN , DUBLIN , POW PICKET , SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH 2012.

P.O.W. PICKET , CLONDALKIN , DUBLIN , SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2012 : BRIEF REPORT AND PICS.

Group pic of RSF members and supporters in Clondalkin on the POW picket.

Thirteen RSF members and supporters held a 75-minute picket on Saturday 29th September 2012 in Clondalkin , Dublin, in support of Irish Republican POW's. The event was well received by passers-by and motorists , who beeped their car horns in support , and a three-person team distributed 100 'leaflet/information packs' (comprising a total of 350 items ie 60 'packs' with four items each , 30 X 3 and 10 X 2) .

State 'Special Branch' men approaching those on the picket...

Two State Special Branch men , who had been observing the proceedings from a short distance away for about 15 minutes before they approached those on the picket, spent about ten minutes recording the names and addresses of the Republicans before returning to their car where , again, they continued to observe for another twenty minutes, before driving away (probably to a local hotel for a taxpayer-funded lunch).

Special Branch man Kieran Lunn (and his associate) 'on' the picket.....

Apart from the unwelcome above-mentioned 'interlude' , the 75-minute picket achieved its objective in that the plight of Irish Republican prisoners was highlighted , with particular emphasis on Martin Corey and Marian Price.

One of the RSF supporters on the picket in Clondalkin , outside the offices of SDCC.

A more complete report , with additional pictures , will be published in the October 2012 issue of 'SAOIRSE' , which goes to print on Wednesday 3rd October 2012.

Thanks for reading , Sharon.

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FAMILY - A POISON TREE ?

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

De Valera had an easier road now, but he still felt his way carefully. His first proposal did little more than pose the question whether Republican TD's should declare themselves willing to enter the Free State Parliament , if the Oath were removed , but Sinn Féin did not take the proposal kindly and it was defeated at the Ard Fheis. De Valera withdrew to found Fianna Fáil , a decision which created new problems , as many members of the IRA favoured political action of this kind. There was sharp discussion on whether membership of Fianna Fáil was compatible with membership of the IRA. In these circumstances the IRA put forward a plan that Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin ('1169..' Comment : the two are practically one Party today...) should agree on a panel of candidates to go forward at the forthcoming general election with IRA support , 'to win a majority'. The majority should then meet outside the Free State Parliament to agree on the composition of the government , and on the steps 'progressively to restore the Republic peacefully'. The Republican TD's would enter the Free State Parliament to get control of the instruments of the State. The executive committee , senior officers and army council met at my place , 39 Marlborough Road , Donnybrook , Dublin, and held a long session on this proposal , finally recommending it to the army council. Jack Plunkett alone dissented. Sinn Féin resented IRA intervention into the political field which they looked on as their own but they agreed to go along, provided Fianna Fáil candidates pledged themselves not to enter the Free State Parliament as a minority. Fianna Fáil said the only way to win a majority was to declare willingness to go into the parliament as a minority and, when the discussions broke down, Sinn Féin leaders considered that they had been pushed dangerously near to 'the slippery slopes of politics' and many of them, justifiably enough, blamed me for it.(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.

From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" Mr Craig said that he would give this matter serious concern and stated that he was greatly relieved to hear what I had conveyed to him from my Minister. He referred to the impending visit of a member of the IRA to America and asked me were we aware of and concerned about that . I was already aware that the FBI had told Scotland Yard who told the RUC that information about the visit had emanated from Dublin. I admitted awareness and said that that was taken care of. Scotland Yard are already aware from the FBI of the steps to be taken. Mr Craig referred to the leniency with which our Courts treated the IRA and referred to the very short sentences given to the men armed with machine guns who were arrested near Cappoquin. I explained that under our Constitution our summary courts could only try minor offences , that if we had charged the men with indictable offences they would have been entitled to trial by jury and that, from bitter experience, we could not hope to get a jury unanimously to bring in a guilty verdict. In reply to an inquiry I explained that the Special Criminal Court could only function when the Government made a proclamation that the ordinary courts of justice were not sufficient for the maintenance of law and order and that before such a proclamation could be made , incidents would have to occur which would demonstrate to the public that the ordinary Courts were inadequate. Mr Craig said that he appreciated the sequence but the people in the Six Counties did not and they were only concerned that, somehow or other , effective steps should be taken so that they could live their lives in peace and safety....."(MORE LATER).

DON'T FORGET.....

......this coming Saturday (29th September) the Clondalkin-based Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin (the Maire Drumm/Kevin Barry Cumann) will be holding a picket in Clondalkin in support of Irish POW's : details here.

This hour-long picket will start at 12.30pm : bus info here or, if you're driving to the event , you can avail of free parking in the carpark of the Mill Shopping Centre , which is less than ten metres distance from where the picket will be taking place. All genuine republicans welcome !

" I WAS OUTTA ME HEAD WHEN I DONE IT...."

'AMPLIFIED' : A powder, containing dimethocaine, a local anaesthetic with stimulant properties similar to cocaine. Also sold as Mind Melt.....

Well, that explains it : why Doctor Reilly so blatantly broke one of the 'values' of Fine Gael ("Fine Gael believes in being truthful and courageous in what we do....we stand for integrity in public life...") - the man just wasn't himself when he done it . He was 'tired and emotional' as opposed to being just another Free State 'Stroker'. However , this 'JR' - like his equally obnoxious tv-namesake - claims to be 'the innocent bystander' in developments that have nothing (much) to do with him and that he acted above board and in good faith at all times. Well , doctors differ , Mr Reilly , and not all your 'patients' will swallow that particular medicine.

A POISON TREE : YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS BUT YOU CAN'T CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY.

This type of post is a first for us. The blog in question is 'doing the rounds' in the area where I live (Clondalkin, Dublin) and has left those that have read it in an angry mood - sad , yes , and feeling disgusted, but angry , too. And no wonder. I actually cried having read it - a mixture of disgust , sadness and anger brought tears to my eyes and I just can't get the subject matter out of my mind. It's very hard to believe that people could do this to each other , but all the harder to think that family members could do it on their own parents. But read the blog yourself (I'll give you the link before I finish this post) and the proof seems to be irrefutable. For some reason , it brought William Blake's poem to mind :

I was angry with my friend:

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe:

I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears

Night and morning with my tears,

And I sunned it with smiles

And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,

Till it bore an apple bright,

And my foe beheld it shine,

And he knew that it was mine -

And into my garden stole

When the night had veiled the pole;

In the morning, glad, I see

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

I don't know the author of the blog (a teenage girl, I think...?) , nor do I know the family involved , although I would like to find out : the author deserves a hug and could do with someone to share his/her justifiable anger with, whilst his/her cold-shouldered uncle should be highlighted as a role-model. But his two sisters should be shunned by all humans and exiled to a place where they could only hurt , disappoint, vex and irritate each other. The mother and her late husband deserve sympathy and an understanding of the distress that has been forced on them by two of their own daughters. I feel quesy having read it because I know and visit all the places mentioned in the various blog posts and the thought that I might have actually rubbed shoulders - even breathed the same air - as one or other of those two women makes me uneasy and leaves me feeling unclean.

The author has asked his/her readers to publicise the blog (".... I am asking readers that have a Facebook page or a Twitter account or their own blog or website , or if they have contacts with journalists, if they could please help publicise my blog as I know from the experiences that my immediate and extended family are going through just how divisive theft like this can be for all concerned....") and whoever you are that is reading this now - and wherever you are - I'm asking you to please do the same : spread the link , share it with your contacts on Facebook , Twitter etc , highlight it on your own blog or website , bring it to the attention of print journalists , pass it on to radio presenters etc - anything you could do in that regard would be appreciated. It is truly a worrying and disgusting occurance and it disturbs me that it has happened. Read it for yourself , and feel the anger.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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'EVE RALLY' , DUBLIN , 22-9-12 - BRIEF REPORT AND SOME PICS.

RSF ANNUAL EVE OF ALL-IRELAND RALLY , SATURDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 2012.

Lectern front , 22-9-12.

The Republican Sinn Féin-organised 'Eve of All-Ireland Rally' was held , as advertised, on Saturday 22nd September 2012 , in O'Connell Street , Dublin , and was observed by approximately 200 people. The event began at 2pm outside the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square when those present assembled behind an RSF Colour Party , uniformed representatives from Na Fianna Éireann and Cumann na mBan : and the 'Pride of Erin' Republican Flute Band from Portadown in County Armagh. The parade marched from there and arrived on the isle facing the GPO at 2.15pm and the Chairperson , Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais , RSF Ard Chomhairle, introduced himself to the crowd and began proceedings. The speeches delivered by the three Republican speakers - Des Dalton , Róisín Hayden and Fergal Moore - all highlighted the prisoner issue , mentioning in particular Martin Corey and Marian Price. The full text of each speech will be published in the October 2012 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday 3rd of that month. We publish with this short report a few pics from the event and , if you have a 'Facebook' account , more pics and videos can be seen here.

Pride of Erin Republican Flute Band , Portadown , County Armagh , at the 'Eve Rally' , Saturday 22-9-12.

Chairperson , RSF Colour Party and Na Fianna Éireann.

RSF Colour Party and Cumann na mBan.

Des Dalton , RSF President , 22-9-12.

Fergal Moore , RSF Vice-President , 22-9-12.

Young Na Fianna Éireann member....

...and the same young NFÉ member , pictured with a member of the RSF Colour Party.

The whole event went like clockwork , and even the weather was on our side ! All involved are to be congratulated for their contribution - RSF and the Colour Party , the Pride of Erin Flute Band , NFÉ , Cumann na mBan and the crowd that stood with us in O'Connell Street. The only 'downer' was in regards to the leaflet 'packs' , 300 of which were distributed at the Rally (these 'packs' had five items per pack , meaning that a total of 1,500 leaflets were distributed) : the problem here was that we hadn't enough of them. Myself and the rest of the 'leaflet team' could easily have distributed another 150 'packs' between us , had we had them, but I suppose that's more of a good thing rather than a 'problem', as it shows that there is , thankfully, a healthy interest in the Movement and in Irish republicanism, in general. And events like this Rally help to promote and encourage that interest!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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VISITING THE 'SINS' OF THE FATHER.....

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

Seán Lemass was Minister for Defence in the Republican Government , and he summoned senior officers of the IRA to a secret meeting in Dublin to review the position created by the defeat of the independence movement : de Valera was present , and I think he presided. It was agreed among us that the members of the IRA should be ordered to report back to their units and that a General Army Convention be called as soon as Companies were in a position to elect their delegates. Lemass would be assisted , meanwhile, by an advisory army council , and I was a member of that council. As the time for the IRA Convention drew near , I suggested at an army council meeting that the IRA should declare itself an independent organisation , but the proposal found no support. I moved it at the General Army Convention but here again the case I made won very little backing. An overwhelming decision against it had almost been taken when George Plunkett asked Frank Aiken whether there was any truth in a rumour of talks , on a responsible level, on the advisability of Sinn Féin TD's entering the Free State Parliament if the oath of allegiance was removed. Frank Aiken said there had been informal talks along that line - he was IRA Chief of Staff at the time. It would be difficult to give a picture of the commotion this statement caused. To those IRA delegates , the Free State Parliament was not merely an usurping authority but the meeting place of the very men at whose orders so many of our friends had been executed. There was no real discussion , just an outburst of pain and passion. IRA Officer Commanding , Cork 1 Brigade , in an emotion-choked speech , declared for the shelter of my resolution, which was carried by a stampede vote, but for reasons far other than had influenced me to move it as I had no idea, just then, that de Valera had in mind to ask Sinn Féin to drop its rigid* pose before history and give itself* a role in life.

(* - the author obviously wouldn't agree with me, but I would consider Sinn Féin's position at that time [and, from when it became 'Provisional' and up to 1986 at least] to be 'principled' rather than "rigid" , nor would I agree that it must, as the author suggests, change that which it believes in in order to "give itself a role in life". What good or value is there in 'a role in [political] life' if you are not true to yourself in that 'role' ?) (MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.

From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

"Mr. Craig went on to say that there was considerable uneasiness in Government circles and that they were not at all satisfied that the IRA were not preparing for a resumption of hostilities. He said that his information was that the IRA attacks this time would be on persons rather than on police barracks and it emerged, at this stage, in a general discussion, that he was referring to a circular issued by Scotland Yard to all Chief Constables , Naval Installation Commanders etc warning them to be on the watch-out for IRA saboteurs. As I was already aware that Scotland Yard had informed the RUC that their information had come from the Garda I made a show of saying that we were the source of information to the British authorities , that we had intended to put them on their guard and no more than that , that we had no reason to think that an outbreak of violence was imminent. I said that if the Six-County statements were based on the information circulated by Scotland Yard they were completely out of proportion to the weight of our news and I mentioned that the Scotland Yard directive had been publicised in the 'Daily Express' newspaper of 26th August - I produced a photostat of the 'Daily Express' article and I deprecated such newspaper publicity. I suggested that it would be too much to expect that an organisation like the IRA would die overnight , that the organisation itself had admitted publicly in February 1962 that it had no public support ('1169' Comment : not the case **LINK** ...) and that they could not hope to reorganise on any scale without newspaper publicity. I suggested that publicity was their life's blood and that statements emanating from the Six Counties, such as Mr. Craig's , would be precisely what they would want...."(MORE LATER).

MARIAN PRICE DEMO , DUBLIN , SATURDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2012.

Marian Price (in green coat).

On Saturday 15th September last, we shared the centre of Dublin City with between one and two-thousand Irish republicans, who had marched from the Garden of Remembrance to the GPO in O'Connell Street in a show of solidarity with one of our imprisoned comrades , Marian Price , although if you were dependent on State/mainstream media you would never know that this event took place as both RTE television and its clone , TV3, completely ignored the fact that Dublin city centre was brought to a standstill for a couple of hours by those that filled O'Connell Street in support of the woman. Pure censorship , as expected. However , a 'YouTube' video of proceedings can be viewed here (thanks, Paula) and if you have a 'Facebook' account you can view pics and other videos of that demonstration here (...and thank you, Trev!).

Incidentally , we distributed 300 'packs' of Irish republican leaflets (a total of 1,200 items) before and during the demonstration , leaving us with only 200 'packs' for the 'Eve Rally' this coming Saturday (22nd September) which , as we know only too well from past experience, won't be enough - and so another 100 'packs' will , I'm told, be readied in time for distribution at the event. If you can't make it to this RSF-organised Rally - and you can spare about six minutes of your time - you can see where the organisers are 'coming from' by watching this video. And if you can make it , you'll be more than welcome , whether you're a Dub or you're from Meath , Donegal or Mayo (...or any of the other 28 Counties!) .

VISITING THE 'SINS' OF THE FATHER UPON THE CHILD.....

An extreme example , no doubt - but when a precedent is set it can open the doors for a lot more than was first envisaged : and that's the danger with this proposed policy which, should they be allowed to do so, they will implement with gusto. They will have to do so in order to preserve their own place in the pecking order, ensuring that they themselves , their family and their political colleagues are not forced to suffer the indignities of the 'ordinary life' which they condemn their 'subjects' to. It can only be a matter of time before this 'Sins-of-The Father' policy will be 'tweaked' to disallow a person his/her social welfare entitlements if there is another person in the same house already in receipt of a welfare payment. The politicians here have financially (and morally) insulated themselves from the ravages of economic recession but there is a price to be paid for doing so. And it's the rest of us that will be made pay that price. A white-washed wall is too good for them.

"IN THE 22nd YEAR OF HIS AGE...."

On 20th September 1803, Robert Emmet was hanged, drawn and quartered in Thomas Street, Dublin. In Thomas Street this Thursday night (20th September) at 7.30pm outside St Catherine's Church , a wreath will be laid in memory of Emmet and those other Irish Rebels and a few words will be spoken by Pat Wallace . Then , on Friday 21st September , the film ' 'Mise Éire' will be screened at the 'Ireland Institute' in Pearse Street in Dublin , at 6.30pm , following which a talk on James Connolly and the Irish Revolution , delivered by Lorcan Collins , will be held. At 9.00pm that evening , for 30 minutes, 'Songs of The Revolution' will be discussed. More information can be obtained from the organisers - The Ireland Institute, The Pearse Centre, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Phone: 01 670 4644. Please support , if you can or, at least, give them a ring and thank them for their continuing efforts in this field. It's an uphill struggle, believe me !

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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GREEN LABOUR TO GET THE 'GO LIGHT'.

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.
But I was a bad messenger to the Republican Movement just then : Sinn Féin held it against me that I sponsored the resolution, at the first General Army Convention after the cease-fire, by which the IRA declared itself an independent organisation and withdrew its allegiance from the Republican Government. The Sinn Féin position was a simple one : the people were confused by press and pulpit and must be won back to the allegiance of the Republic , and they would express this allegiance by returning a majority of Sinn Féin candidates at a general election. The Treaty was simply a piece of penal legislation directed against the Republic by Britain and no laws proceeding it were binding. The surviving members of the second Dáil Éireann who voted against the Treaty were the basis for the legitimate government of the Republic and all republicans owed that government their allegiance ; that second Dáil Éireann was never properly dissolved.

Sinn Féin TD's , elected for the first time in 1923 - I was one of them - sat with those others of the Second Dáil in somewhat the same relation as townland delegates sat with our committee. I very quickly formed the conviction that nothing good could come out of this body , for here was the same climate of ideas as in 1918 - the same impatience with every gesture towards agitation on social issues. It seemed to me that the IRA must separate itself from this political pattern , if it was to make its way into vital association with the people by giving itself a role in struggles on concrete issues , which alone could expose the interests with which the Treaty corresponded and create the forces for their overthrow.(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.

From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

"I referred to the newspaper reports (Irish Times , Irish Press , Belfast Telegraph etc) in which Mr. Craig was reported as having said that he was concerned about the amount of illegal activities of the IRA across the Border and that security precautions were being increased on that account. I said that my Minister had received , even in the past 48 hours, the most categoric assurances from the Garda Authorities that there was no drilling going on in any of the Border counties of Donegal , Monaghan , Cavan or Louth (which had been named in the newspapers). I said that the Officer at Garda Headquarters specifically in charge of such matters had, on my instructions on 2nd October , made personal enquiries of each of the Chief Superintendents in charge of our Border Counties and had been told by each, in turn, that no drilling was going on. I invited my listeners to give me particulars identifying the places.

Mr. Craig said that he had full confidence in his police who had informed him of the IRA activities without particularising and that he had been told by "the brother of a friend of his" that while motoring in the 26 Counties beyond Belleek in August he had seen two men with rifles wearing blue berets and wearing armlets or shoulder flashes. He asked what were they but IRA : as to this , I have made enquiries - the Gardai suggest that the two men may be soldiers in mufti , or ex-soldiers , who served in the UN Force in the Congo who were all permitted to retain their blue UNO berets , armlets and shoulder flashes when leaving. The Gardai suggest that they may have been shooting rabbits with .22 rifles and completely discount the idea that they were IRA...." (MORE LATER).

THE STATE LABOUR PARTY ARE THE 'NEW' GREENS.

This missive was released last week by SIPTU for two reasons : to try and present the State Labour Party as the only trusted 'political safeguard' that working-class people have against a right-wing onslaught and in the hope that the union involved (SIPTU) can promote itself as a 'concerned organisation' to the public. It failed on both counts : the "....all-out attack on workers.." is well underway and is not only being supported by 'Labour' but is being encouraged by that party. SIPTU will never recover from 'Slushfund Gate', nore does it deserve to. This is a case of one useless organisation attempting to protect another , in the hope that the favour will be returned.

Like the State Labour Party (which it is affiliated to) SIPTU is only in it for what it itself can get out of it. Just as the failed 'Green Party' were only in Leinster House for the pensions , the State Labour Party will get their answer the next time voters are given the opportunity. These two Green-impersonators deserve that same treatment and the sooner they get it, the better - maybe then the people will realise that they will have to fight for themselves to improve their own standards , and not put their faith in charlatan outfits like SIPTU and the State Labour Party.

IT'S A DRAW.........

......THAT 'P' WANTS THE GAA TO BAN WOMEN AND THIS WOMAN WANTS TO BAN THE GAA FROM MY RAFFLE OUTINGS !

On Sunday 9th September last at the monthly Irish Republican raffle , in our usual hotel venue, we were very lucky to get seats , never mind the two tables we needed to work off and the wee bit of floor space we were looking for : I didn't know it at the time , but Dublin were playing against Tipperary and an hour or so later Kilkenny were playing against Galway and, apparently, there were more fans wanting tickets than there were tickets to sell - resulting in a very packed sports venue , which was excellent for us (raffle ticket sales!) but made for an uncomfortable three-hour job!

But we managed , and the winners we had on the day were from Dublin ,Clare and Wexford : the first county drew with Tipperary in the game that day whilst Clare weren't on the pitch at all and only 'scored' once with us - and Wexford is only good for your holidays !

One of our regular ticket-sellers , Owen , who sells quite a few tickets in a Dublin city centre pub for the Movement , claimed a free pint (point!) or two as two of those he sold to won a few bob: Josh won 1st Prize of €200 with ticket number 114 and Máire took home €40 , having won the third prize on ticket number 103. Seán Ó snook up the middle and took home the 2nd Prize , €100 , on ticket 459 , followed to the winners table by Michael B. from Kilrush , in Clare, who, with ticket 358, claimed 4th Prize of €20. Wexford came in at number 5 when Mr. Rigley took a twenty-spot from us with ticket 333 , which he bought from long-time ticket-seller Kevin K and a young lad known to all of us here collected €20 on 697 , 6th Prize, - good on ya , Owen from Tallaght! Another friend of ours , Anto, sold ticket number 196 to the lovely Theresa and she won 7th Prize of €20 and our last envelope , with €20 in it , was claimed by Mary P on ticket number 004.

It was a hectic few hours , and the noise was deafening - but the rewards for the Movement are well worth the 'pain' and we wouldn't have it any other way , once we can get a good outcome. We'll do it all over again in October next and with a bit of good fortune (and good planning with this good Crew) we'll earn more cash , all of which is gratefully received by our colleagues in Head Office !

COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY THE STICKS , THE STOOPS OR BY FIANNA FÁIL....

....ABOUT ANY IRISH REPUBLICAN FUNERAL THAT WAS HELD DURING THEIR TENURE.

But it wasn't : instead , it was penned and released by ex-republican Mícheál MacDonncha (pictured above) , a Councillor for Provisional Sinn Féin. Maybe Mícheál is sorry he missed this opportunity for the headlines - or this one - and was pining for a bit of Free State Fame for himself. Whatever his reason is , he has proved the old maxim about the tangled web.... The shame is in the fact that it's himself he's deceiving.

500 4-IN-1 4 15 + 22 (+29?).....

....500 leaflet 'packs', each containing four items, have been prepared by RSF for distribution on 15th and 22nd September 2012.

Four of these items comprise one 'pack'.

Republican Sinn Féin Head Office has prepared 500 leaflet 'packs' (each containing four items) for distribution at two up-coming Dublin political rallies : 250 of these 'packs' will be handed-out to those at the Marian Price Rally this coming Saturday (15th September) and the remaining 250 'packs' will be distributed the following Saturday (22nd) at the Eve of All-Ireland Rally.

500 of these leaflet 'packs' have been prepared by RSF for distribution in Dublin over the next two weekends.

If there are any 'packs' left over (doubtful!) they will be distributed at the Clondalkin POW picket on Saturday 29th. Fair play to the RSF HO staff that collated those 2,000 items and thanks (again!) for not asking me to assist!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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REV. DR. J A H IRWIN : DISCUSS !

THE (REPUBLICAN) REV. MINISTER AND THE POLITICIAN....

Rev J A H Irwin.

...just a quick note re an interesting discussion which will be held at 8pm on Monday 10th September 2012 at the Lucan Festival , County Dublin , just up the road from '1169 Towers' !

Friends of ours in the vicinity contacted us today and asked for a wee plug , knowing well that it's a subject that would be of interest to us. Rev. Irwin had an interesting life , some of which will be highlighted during the discussion ("....in 1920 Dr Irwin, unknown to his congregation at first, travelled secretly to New York in order to undertake a speaking tour of the USA with Éamon de Valera, President of the First Dáil. Irwin remained a supporter of Sinn Féin and a friend of de Valera until the Minister's death in 1954....[more here]...") . The talk will be delivered by Dr Eamonn Phoenix and it's an event which we on this blog would ordinarily attend but this time we won't be able to make it : at that same time on that Monday night we will be at least one hour into the monthly post mortem into the 'Second Sunday Raffle' , which was held today (Sunday 9th). The 'post mortem' is held to give a voice to the organisers , the 'Raffle Crew' and our customers , as a means of improving the event , if need be , and is too important to miss. So Sorry , Mattie , Louise and Mark , in Lucan - we won't be able to make it (as explained in our 'phone conversation) but we are more than happy to give ye a plug!

And we will have a raffle report ready for the blog before or on Wednesday , in the course of which we will mention the 'four tribes that went to war...' !

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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EXCLUSIVE !! WE REVEAL WHO SHOT JR !!

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.
I detailed to him the form the struggle must take : I would rather have the bailiff and his escort trapped in a townland for an hour by the people themselves , using their stone fences to block the roads, than see him scared out of it by a few rifle shots. I warned him, too , that it would bring thunder and lightning down on my head if I could be accused of trying to drag the IRA into this agitation by the back door. IRA Members could only help me in their capacity as neighbours. I wanted the seized cattle traced , no more - Seán McCool promised me he would do that and would have such cattle driven into mountainy Drumkeen or Glendowan , where there would be less risk for us in taking them over. He thought it would be a good thing if he went to Dungloe to have a talk with Phil McCauley and maybe meet other members of the committee , so I gave him a note for Phil and then I caught the train to Dublin. My mind was a busy thoroughfare of ideas during that train journey : those men who sat with me in Getins' wide, roomy kitchen were a fair sample of their world. When they talked many people talked and an idea that made sense to them could spread , and this was a good idea - it was a print other men contemplated at other periods in the nation's struggle. Here was what Lalor sighed for - a tax directly payable to Britain , a tax devoid of any vestige of moral sanction. Refuse this tax , have the people take their stand on that refusal and you faced the government with a challenge it could not refuse and a fight it could not win. Republicans could roast the Treaty in the fire from this kindling. My thoughts raced.....(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.

From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" On 26th September 1963 , reports appeared in the daily newspapers giving considerable publicity to statements , attributed to Mr. Craig , Minister for Home Affairs, about IRA drilling in our Border counties , the presence here of a 'sizeable splinter-group' of the IRA , the lack of effort on the part of the "Dublin authorities" to control such activities and the taking of security precautions in the Six Counties. On my Minister's directions I wrote to Stout , Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, suggesting that I might meet him to discuss "matters of mutual interest" and I enclosed a cutting from the 'Irish Times' newspaper of 26th September. He phoned me at my home on the evening of Tuesday 1st October and an appointment was fixed for Stormont at 12.00 noon on Friday 4th October. I saw Stout alone on Friday 4th October and our discussions were very cordial - we had met and corresponded on earlier occasions. After about 20 minutes he suggested that I should repeat to his Minister what I had said to him about the undesirability of giving the IRA free publicity. He felt that his Minister would be impressed by what I had to say , and I agreed to this as such an eventuality had been considered in advance and I had received my Minister's directions in the matter. The discussions with the Secretary and, secondly , the Minister with the Secretary, followed on similar lines and I shall give an account as if the discussions were one....."(MORE LATER).

IRISH REPUBLICAN ACTIVITIES FOR SEPTEMBER 2012 IN DUBLIN :

On Saturday September 8th , from 12 Noon to 2pm on the traffic isle facing the GPO in O'Connell Street in Dublin City Centre , a picket will be held to show support for Martin Corey and other Irish Republican prisoners and in support of the August 2010 Agreement : Des Dalton and Cait Trainor will each say a few words at this picket. The following day (Sunday 9th) an RSF-organised 650-ticket raffle will be held in the usual hotel venue. The following Saturday (15th September) a march will be held from the Garden of Remembrance to the GPO at 2pm in support of Marian Price and the following Saturday , 22nd September , the Annual Eve Of All-Ireland Rally will take place from the GOR (12.45pm) to the GPO (2.00pm). Finally (for now, anyway !) , on Saturday 29th September a POW picket will be held in Clondakin , South-West Dublin.

I hope to be able to steal two hours or so from my ticket-gathering exercises on Saturday 8th and help-out the lads and lassies at the GPO and I will most definitely be with the usual crew in the hotel on Sunday 9th to assist in the running of the raffle. Myself and a good few others have already made arrangements to attend the Marian Price march on Saturday 15th and I'll be on two five-person leaflet-teams ('Eve Rally' on 22nd and in Clondalkin on the 29th) to assist the Republican Movement with their events : we have been 'jobbed' to leaflet O'Connell Street , from the Bridge to the Ambassador Building (22nd) and the Mill and Tesco Shopping Centres in Clondalkin and all points in between (29th) !

If you can make it to any or all of these events it would be appreciated - and I might even 'sub-contract' you to distribute a few leaflets for me....!

JACK AND JILL WENT UP THE HILL.....

.....LOOKING FOR NATIVES TO KILL.

When a charity goes bad : this well-known children's charity has , I believe (and I hope) made a major faux pas by getting itself involved with the British Army in order to 'boost its profile' and fill its coffers. It has teamed-up with a musical gang of British Army cheerleaders and has decided to do so in a plush venue with the type of people who will only use the charity to boost their own profile. Whatever financial gain Mr Irwin and his colleagues derive from this charade deserves to be costly in terms of the moral standing amongst decent people which the charity will lose. This is the only ceremony involving that band that I might consider attending and I intend to bring that fact to the attention of the organisers and I hope you will do the same.

5TH SEPTEMBER 1908 - "...the group became Sinn Féin..."

".....a number of women gathered on Easter Sunday 1900 in the rooms of the Celtic Literary Society, and formed an ad hoc committee, later to be known as the 'Patriotic Children’s Treat Committee', with Maud Gonne as the unanimous choice for president. The committee was formed to provide a treat for children who had stayed away from an official function during the visit of Queen Victoria some weeks earlier. By the 30th of June 1900, 25,000 children had registered for inclusion, and the event was held in Clonturk Park on the Sunday following the Wolfe Tone commemoration at Bodenstown.....when the committee had completed this work, they realised that they had skills and talents which should be further utilised. A National Women’s Committee was formed which led, at the beginning of October, to the inaugural meeting of Inghinidhe na hEireann (Daughters of Ireland). The Inghinidhe had as their aims: to re-establish the independence of Ireland; to actively promote the study of Irish language, literature, music,history and art; to discourage interest in English popular culture; to support Irish industry. Besides pursuing their aims, and in the process influencing the way Irish people thought of themselves, the Inghinidhe also gave many women the opportunity to find and use their talents in public speaking, and as organisers, leaders, teachers and journalists. They provided free classes in Irish, history and music to children over the age of nine......in 1902, the Inghinidhe voted to join Cumann na nGhaedheal. In 1907 the Dungannon Clubs unified with Cumann na nGhaedheal as the Sinn Fein League; a year later, after merging with the National Council, the group became Sinn Fein......"

More here , and it's well worth a read. Mr Irwin and his 'Jack And Jill' colleagues could do worse than spend an hour or two reading it and finding out just why it is that the British Army connection they wish to make does nothing "to discourage interest in English popular culture" but will , I hope, 'discourage interest' in their Foundation.

EXCLUSIVE !!! WE REVEAL WHO SHOT JR.......

....HE DID - IN THE FOOT.

Our JR is a lously actor surrounded by other lously actors in an equally lously production , as can be confirmed by anyone who watches his present performance - as a doctor playing the part of a failed politician. Indeed , the only people who like his attempts at an accurate portrayal of the part are some of those who hang non-productively around the Leinster House set and soundstage where this latest in a long line of disasters is grinding to a halt. And what would they know anyway - were it not for a rich benefactor in the IMF Studio they themselves wouldn't be there : they would be slumming it in the Costa Del Dodgy with other criminal elements.....

Thanks for reading , Sharon.

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RABBITTE DOESN'T SEE THE LIGHT......

I SCREAM....

....about the fact that this doesn't happen often enough : one of the socialist and worker-friendly (!) Leinster House reps was still digesting his taxpayer-funded lunch when he was served some 'afters' at a s(h)ell-out conference where he was earning his pension by rubbing shoulders with fellow-business men. This man and his Party campaigned for votes in order that they could "....create an economy and a society that is fair , prosperous and sustainable....(in)a country (sic) that cherishes all children equally.....that values the contribution of the elderly.....where family and community are given priority....etc etc " : the second tragedy here is that 431,796 voters in this State believed those 'promises' and the first tragedy is that those votes were enough to get this 'socialist' Labour Party into an administration as part of a coalition. But perhaps the real tragedy is that voters like those will more than likely be fooled by Fianna Fail 'promises' the next time round and give that shower of time-serving chancers an overall majority. Anyway : full marks to those protestors , and I hope Oscar Wilde was right when he stated " Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion." Let's put the 'Rabbittes' on the run.....

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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IT IS NOT ONE SWALOWE THAT BRYNGETH IN SOMER.....

'THERE WILL BE ANOTHER DAY.....' By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.
All he need do was give the names to a local school teacher who was, I knew, sib to his wife's people - he could tell this teacher and forget all about it. I soothed him a little , telling him I was not trying to frighten him as he was not that type but he was a greedy man else he would not be in this job and that he could now feed his greed and stay alive. I saluted his wife and left , half expecting him to cycle past me on his way to the barracks , as I walked to the railway station. But he didn't , and that was the only word passed between us on an arrangement that worked very well indeed. I had a little while to wait for the train and as I paced the platform the station-master recognised me. When I found out who he was I went into his office and wrote a careful note , which he would deliver, to the teacher I named to the bailiff. I worded the note in such a way it would be a protection to her if he reported on my talk with him. I found I could break my journey in Stranorlar and still make a connection for Dublin : at Stranorlar , I met Seán McCool , the senior IRA Officer for East Donegal. I wanted him to alert his units to keep an eye out for seized cattle , for I could not be sure the bailiff would be helpful to us. It seemed likely to me that seized cattle would be sold somewhere within his area , and he was interested in doing that , even eager to do it. He was deeply read in James Fintan Lalor but he was very much the IRA man and found it hard to believe that mere agitation would get us far. He thought we would help things a lot more if we kidnapped the bailiff.....(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.

From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" At the end of November 1970 there were all the signs that I was to be the centrepiece of a Government decision - I should really say a decision of a caucus in Government - ostensibly promoted for my safety from kidnapping by Saor Éire but timed to come into effect before a by-election in County Donegal which Fianna Fail hoped to win with the help of a substantial Protestant vote which would be attracted by the Government's evident determination to put an end to violence." (Mr. Berry's point is that all the security advice available to the Government at the time - from the Gardai and the Department of Justice - was against the introduction of internment at that time but that in the face of this opposition the Government was prepared to go ahead at a time when it appeared likely to be to their electoral advantage.

Following his retirement in January 1971 , the Government refused to make their monetary recompense to Mr. Berry which he said he was explicitly promised by Mr. O'Malley following consultations with the Taoiseach and the Government.)

On January 14th 1965 , the then Taoiseach, Seán Lemass, travelled to Stormont to meet the Northern Ireland Prime Minister (sic) , Captain Terence O'Neill. The meeting was regarded as a seminal event in Irish history but it was not known then that contacts had been taking place on a regular basis at a lower echelon in the public service. Peter Berry describes a remarkable meeting in September 1963 , which took place between him and his counterpart in the Northern administration , William Stout (!) , as well as the then Northern Minister for Home Affairs , William Craig. The meeting took place at the instigation of the then Minister for Justice , Charles Haughey....... (MORE LATER).

PICKET IN SUPPORT OF IRISH REPUBLICAN POW'S....

On Saturday 29th September 2012 , the Clondalkin (Dublin South-West) based Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin - the Maire Drumm/Kevin Barry Cumann - will hold a picket in support of Irish Republican POW's outside the Offices of South Dublin County Council in Clondalkin Village (facing the Mill Shopping Centre) between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. All genuine Republicans welcome !

"LET ME EAT CAKE. SHOULD BE HUMBLE PIE BUT IT'S NOT...."

One of our (!) wealthy [alleged] 'poacher-turned-gamekeeper' politicians was interrupted by reality whilst dining-out at taxpayers expense on Friday 24th August last. Most unbecoming , I must say , as poor Pat deserves some thanks for having "led the successful campaign against the water charges..." (details here) and is one of the many Socialist bulwarks in Leinster House that are fighting hard to protect the low working and living standards of the employed and the unemployed against the greedy right-wing Fine Gael tide. And the nice restaurant where Pat was dining at taxpayers expense serves flying pigs. There are two lessons to be learned here : posh restaurants should not let scumbags into their premises as politically-unelected members of the public don't get on too good with them and Pat should bring a packed lunch with him in future and rough it at his oak desk. And be grateful that he can afford a few sandwiches and that he has an oak desk from which to eat them.

KENNY , COLLINS AND LENIN : ENDA WILL READ WHATEVER IS PUT IN FRONT OF HIM BECAUSE HE KNOWS NO BETTER. JUST THE TYPE THE IMF LIKE.

Our pic shows Lenin addressing a bunch of Free Staters in O'Connell Street , Dublin , in 1920 , with Michael Collins on the platform. Enda Kenny can be seen in the crowd , over there on the far right of the pic.....

.....but it seems it never happened. And, for what it's worth, we can confirm that it has all been like a bad dream.

PROUD TO BE AN IRISH REPUBLICAN.

Hunger-Strikers Commemoration in Bundoran , 25th August 2012.

During his oration , Diarmuid MacDubhghlais quoted a comment from Paul Johnson, a political friend of Margaret Thatcher : "In Ireland we have tried every possible formula; direct rule, indirect rule, genocide, apartheid, puppet parliaments, real parliaments, martial law, civil law, colonisation, lane reform and partition. Nothing has worked. The only solution we have not tried is absolute and unconditional withdrawal...."

Diarmuid addressed that as-yet untried 'British formula' in his speech and commented , in an equally well-received Republican fashion, on other aspects of the on-going British military and political presence in this country. A few pics from the event can be viewed here and this wee blog would like to extend congrats to the Bundoran/Ballyshannon H-Block Committee for organising the commemoration and to the many Irish Republicans that attended despite the usual hassle from the protectors of this corrupt Free State. Well done !

IT IS NOT ONE SWALOWE THAT BRYNGETH IN SOMER.....

...but we'll take a ray of sunshine whenever we can get it , Mr. Maginnis !

One-time 'Apprentice Boy' and ex-UDR Major (now 'Baron of Drumglass') Ken Maginnis made the news today for doing something decent , as opposed to one such occasion when he dismissed the SAS killings of two Irish Republicans by gloating "Two swallows don't make a summer..."

Maginnis may be taking a back seat , but he leaves behind a party of like-minded individuals , loyal to Westminster and to the half-crown. But the summer sun melts slush , and our day will come.....

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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FOREIGN INJUSTICES : EASIER TO HIGHLIGHT.

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

I stepped off the mail car at the bailiff's gate and was lucky enough to find him tinkering with his motorcycle : I was a motorbike enthusiast as early as 1915 and he knew that - it did not seem strange to him that I should halt to ask him what was wrong , but when I turned in on the gravel path to his door the friendliness went out of him. He sulked through a few brief exchanges on motorbike talk then asked me sharply what I wanted. His wife came to the door when he raised his voice and he flashed her a warning : "This man didn't come to our door to bid us the time of day." She nodded her agreement and I walked past and seated myself on the motorbike. I told him I came that way to see him , that there would be a rich harvest for him to reap in the townlands around Dungloe and he could reap it and walk the road at night whistling if he showed a bit of sense. He warned me he wanted no talk of that kind and that he would not listen to the like , but his wife was listening. If he did not make the seizures another bailiff would be called in , I said, stating that people were sensible. The thing was , seized cattle would have to be sold and they would go for a song. We would want to seize such cattle back and all we wanted from the bailiff was the names of the people who bought them. He really did storm at me then and went half-way to the public road threatening to go to the barracks but I sat where I was and he came back. "Who the hell do you think would take such a message to you ? Me? My wife? Or do you think I'd be mad enough to put myself in somebody else's hands?" This was the moment and the question I was awaiting. I told him all that was fixed.....

(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.

From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

"On the 4th December the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice met the press and issued a policy statement. On the evening of Monday 7th December , the Taoiseach phoned me at my home and asked me if my mind were irrevocably made up to retire ; I mentioned that my wife had already been in hospital three times with coronary thrombosis , brought on by the threats she had received on the telephone , the picketing of my home by Sinn Féin , the constant armed police guard outside my house , the fact that I was restricted to travelling in police cars , the placards calling me informer , traitor and so on. I told the Taoiseach that I had been subjected to such continuous strain that I doubted that I was in a fit condition to give an objective assessment of the IRA situation and that I thought that my usefulness to Government in that sphere was impaired. The Taoiseach was sympathetic and said that he appreciated what I had said. In speaking to the Taoiseach I was doing so in the context of what Mr. O'Malley had said about recompense. The Government announcement on 9th December of my intention to retire read - 'The Government, conscious of the criticisms and threats to which Mr. Berry had been subjected to in recent times arising out of the loyal discharge of his duties as a public servant, wish to record that they have noted his retirement with regret.' "(MORE LATER).

"ON AUGUST 21st 1971......

..... a convention was assembled in Monaghan to consider the establishment of an Ulster Parliament (Dail Ulaidh). Invitations were sent to a broad spectrum of people including elected officials representing various political viewpoints. All nine counties of Ulster were represented. This convention drew both national and international attention and received major media coverage. Amongst those attending were two Westminster parliamentarians, Frank McManus and Paddy Kennedy. Since these were the only parliamentary level officials present, it was decided that as a first step a council would be set up to promote Dail Ulaidh. Paddy Kennedy and Frank McManus were selected to head up the council. Aided by a constitutional expert from Dublin the council drafted structures for local and provincial governments....."(More here.)

The 'Eire Nua' document has of course been updated a number of times since then but its basic principle and objective have not been changed : a fair , just, permanent and final settlement to the on-going problem inflicted on the Irish people by Westminster. It is the only properly workable answer to partition and offers in-built safeguards to those in Ireland who consider themselves to be 'British' : it is not reliant on 'smoke and mirrors' nor will those promoting it make a rich career from it (indeed, it may even cost those rich careerists the loss of their ill-gotten gains) but it will save future generations from living through the turmoil that Westminster has cursed this country with.

FOREIGN INJUSTICES : EASIER TO HIGHLIGHT.

Fair play to Amnesty Ireland for protesting against the 'Pussy Riot' injustice but here's three more injustices that that fine Human Rights organisation may wish to address :

1) Martin Corey.

2) Marian Price.

3) The fact that when either of the two above-mentioned names are entered into the 'Search' facility of the 'Amnesty Ireland' website a 'YOUR SEARCH YIELDED NO RESULTS' reply is received.

Don't assist in putting out the flame , Amnesty.....

AND FINALLY....

....the twenty-two men that died on hunger-strike in Ireland (and for Ireland) between 1917 and 1981 will be commemorated in Donegal on Saturday 25th August 2012 :

Thomas Ashe, Kerry, 5 days, 25 September 1917 (force fed by tube , died as a result).

Terence McSwiney, Cork, 74 days, 25 October 1920.

Michael Fitzgerald, Cork, 67 days, 17 October 1920.

Joseph Murphy, Cork, 76 days , 25 October 1920.

Joe Witty, Wexford , 2 September 1923.

Dennis Barry, Cork, 34 days, 20 November 1923.

Andy O Sullivan , Cork, 40 days, 22 November 1923.

Tony Darcy, Galway, 52 days, 16 April 1940.

Jack 'Sean' McNeela, Mayo, 55 days, 19 April 1940.

Sean McCaughey, Tyrone ,22 days, 11 May 1946 (hunger and thirst Strike).

Michael Gaughan, Mayo , 64 days, 3 June 1974.

Frank Stagg, Mayo , 62 days, 12 February 1976.

Bobby Sands, Belfast , 66 days, 5 May 1981.

Frank Hughes , Bellaghy (Derry) , 59 days, 12 May 1981.

Raymond McCreesh , South Armagh , 61 days, 21 May 1981.

Patsy O Hara , Derry , 61 days, 21 May 1981.

Joe McDonnell , Belfast , 61 days, 8 July 1981.

Martin Hurson , Tyrone , 46 days, 13 July 1981.

Kevin Lynch, Dungiven (Derry) ,71 days, 1 August 1981.

Kieran Doherty , Belfast , 73 days, 2 August 1981.

Tom McIlwee , Bellaghy (Derry) , 62 days, 8 August 1981.

Micky Devine , Derry , 60 days, 20 August 1981.

Pics from the 2011 commemoration can be viewed here , and from what we hear in Irish Republican circles there will be just as good a turn-out at this years event. See you there!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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