TRADE UNIONS ACTING AS STATE 'SAFETY VALVES' .

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

My first startled reaction was that IRA repudiation of the raid would take the heart out of the resistance ,for , in however vague a way, they must have encouraged themselves to believe they were not without some support from that body. Fortunately Agent Sweeney called the raiders "Republicans" so that the word "official" had no meaning.

On the level of Republicans the raid was an affair of neighbours , but what was I to do about this telegram ? Had the police come to challenge me on the raid, I should have refused to discuss it or, maybe, in order to lessen the challenge that was in it , and the excuse it gave for vigorous government action. I might have said I was certain the committee had nothing to do with it but I could not dodge this cheeky, impertinent message, so I replied that I would not use my influence to have the books returned nor even to have the landlord's agent returned should he happen to serve a useful purpose by following the books, and I published both messages in that week's 'An Phoblacht'.

The townlands were delighted with the raid, and I soon had encouraging reports that people hitherto hesitant were now coming our way. I urged on Phil McCauley that this was a time to win new townland delegates and impress on everybody that the townlands were their own weapon against the bailiff. It should not be possible for the bailiff to drive cattle out of the area without finding himself and his escort driving through a storm - but I had no great success along this line. The government could strike back with a lot more confidence at a movement that left most of its chores to small groups moving in the dark. Phil reported that for the moment the bailiff seemed to have passed out of the picture and that the townlands were now infested with plain-clothes policemen, looking for evidence to pin the raid on local people.(MORE LATER).

FEAR AND LOATHING IN SOUTH ARMAGH......

The inside story of a personal feud that has left one man dead and tarnished the reputation of the PIRA's most fearsome brigade.

From 'Magill' magazine , April 2003.

By John Keane.

Should the generals be simply ordered to dump arms - the 'pike in the thatch' solution - or should the army be stood down and the generals retired? The (P)IRA statement condemning the killers of (P)IRA Volunteer Keith Rodgers was signed "P O'Neill, Runai" , the traditional imprimatur of the chief of staff but, if the (P)IRA is formally stood down, then that signature can no longer be used as a flag of convenience to drape the coffins of the victims of vendetta. Slab Murphy may just have shot himself in the foot.

[END of 'FEAR AND LOATHING IN SOUTH ARMAGH......']

(Next : 'WRONG ARM OF THE LAW' , from 2002.)

HOIST THE BUTCHERS APRON.....

Even the now-decreed 18 days is too long to fly that soiled rag in any part of Ireland.

When the Stormont Treaty was being spawned in 1998 by most of the political parties in the Six Counties and the Westminster and Leinster House administrations , one of the 'terms and conditions' that almost closed it down was the demand from the so-called 'republican' element, Provisional Sinn Féin, that 'policing powers' be gifted by Westminster to the Stormont Six-County Assembly and, after many tantrums were played-out in front of the cameras, the wish was granted , prompting 'Lords' Adams and McGuinness to declare that they could now "put manners" on the RUC(/PSNI).

The on-going (six-week old, at the time of writing) 'Flag protest' in the Six Counties has put paid to that lie : the 'unmannered' RUC(/PSNI) paramilitary 'police force' , renowned for moving against Irish republican street pickets , demonstrations and protest marches has, as expected by republicans, donned the kid gloves in relation to their fellow pro-union colleagues and even Provisional Sinn Féin members and supporters - and voters - must now be asking themselves where the 'impartial police force' is that they were promised in that 1998 Treaty - where is 'the manners' that was supposedly imposed on that pro-British 'police force' as a part trade-off for voting in favour of that Treaty ?

The reality , as stated at the time by the Republican Movement, is that that Treaty was but yet another stop-gap by Westminster and Leinster House to be used to buy time re 'the Irish Question' and to use that bought time to convince those that wanted to believe it, that 'the conflict is at long last resolved'. That claim, like the 'now-mannered RUC(/PSNI)' , is nonsense : there is no such solution possible as long as Westminster continues to interfere in Irish affairs and the reason for that is clear - it is that very act of interference that is causing the problem. Remove the interference - rather than 'tweak' it - and the problem will be removed. And that is the objective of this Movement.

"AND NOLAN AND MAHON BOTH SCORE IN A THRILLING FIRST-OF-SEASON CONTEST....!"

Mr.Nolan (or is it Mahon?) poses for a pic on hearing that he's 'scored' but freezes in sheer terror on realising that his wife is aware that the ticket cost him only €2 and not "the shirt of my back.." !

Those bleedin' GAAaaa and soccer supporters just can't take no for an answer!

As hoped for, we received 23 unsold raffle tickets back but, by the time they were delivered to us, we had €70 (enough to buy 35 tickets!) in the 'stand-by' dish from wannabe punters , 12 of whom we had to give money back to - plus, of course, we had the usual couple of dozen punters call over to our table between 12 noon and 2pm, looking for tickets , all of whom we had to disappoint :-( !

One person who was LOUDLY not disappointed was Tony Nolan , from the Dublin 10 area, who was sold ticket number 181 by one of our regular ticket sellers , bus-driver Anto - Tony won first prize , €200, and himself and Anto immediately retired to the bar after booking a taxi for 4pm to take them both back home! But before he left our table, Anto pulled-out the second prize - ticket 449 - €100, which our Gerry had sold that very afternoon to local man Alex , who promptly disappeared to the 'winners enclosure' to join an exclusive club! We found Alex (under a table!) and managed to calm him down enough to pull-out the third prize (€40) for us, and he removed ticket stub 125, which elicited a loud 'YES!' from Kildare resident Cameron , who had bought her ticket from Darren, who was rewarded with a pint and a big sloppy gooser from the Diaz look-a-like. Darren was later heard crying hysterically, lamenting the fact that he hadn't sold her the first prize lol!

Cameron put her delicate hand in the raffle drum and removed stub 014 - 4th prize , worth €20 - which was won by Robert, from Dublin city centre, who was sold the ticket by Owen and, in Robert's absence, Owen pulled the fifth prize , (€20) for us - and 'JR' , from Wexford, stub number 380, was a few bob richer for it. Sixth prize went to a Wicklow man , Pat Keogh (388) who then pulled the second-last prize (also €20) which was won by Tommy D , who bought the ticket (495) from our Jeff , one of the lads who works that hotel for us regarding ticket sales. Tommy had the honour of pulling out the 8th and last prize of €20 which was won by Jimmy Hughes from Roscommon on stub 475.

Apart from the football madness and the packed house (and the never-ending requests for non-existent tickets!) the day , and the raffle, was great craic and a huge success : and we are fully confident that we can do the same again next month, but will ask Mr Nolan(/Mahon ?) to keep his shirt on.....!

'BLOODY SUNDAY' PICKET , DUBLIN , JANUARY 2013.

RSF 'Bloody Sunday' placard which will be on display in Dublin on Saturday 26th January 2013.

After a peaceful Civil Rights march on January 30 , 1972 - from Creggan to Free Derry Corner, in Ireland - units of the British army Parachute Regiment opened fire with automatic rifles and shot dead 13 unarmed civilians , injuring many more . It was later revealed that some days prior to the massacre , the British soldiers involved had been briefed to "...shoot to kill.." at the march.

"This Sunday became known as 'Bloody Sunday' and bloody it was . It was quite unnecessary . It strikes me that the (British) army ran amok that day and shot without thinking of what they were doing . They were shooting innocent people . They may have been taking part in a parade which was banned , but that did not justify the troops coming in and firing live rounds indiscriminately . I would say without reservations that it was sheer unadulterated murder. It was murder , gentlemen." - the words of British Major Hubert O'Neill , Derry City Coroner, at the conclusion of the inquests on the 13 people killed that day by the British Army.

On Saturday 26th January 2013 , a picket to mark the Anniversary of that massacre will be held at the GPO in Dublin , from 12 Noon to 2pm . All genuine republicans welcome!

TRADE UNION-ORGANISED 'SAFETY VALVE'.

THIS WAY - to blow off steam....

An ICTU protest against wage and welfare cutbacks, in which SIPTU, amongst other trade union groups will take part, has been organised in this State for Saturday 9th February 2013 : street protests will be held in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo and Waterford and, no doubt, hundreds of thousands of people will take part, and rightly so. And, again without a doubt, the trade union leadership will be given a loud 'welcome' - and rightly so.

This blog has posted before on this issue and we will be taking part in that protest on 9th February next but will be doing so to voice our objection against those in Leinster House more so than as a show of support for the leadership of the trade union movement in this State. And Mr O'Connor and anyone else beside him , on or off the Dublin stage, can again call me and other workers and the unemployed "fascists" if he wants and/or he can again speak over us but that won't change the fact that he is emotionally and morally closer to those he is allegedly protesting against than he is to those on whose behalf he claims to be protesting. And no amount of waffle or fist-shaking can change that.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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WILLIE FRAZER POSTPONES HIS 'LOVE FOR ULSTER'.

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

A temporary rent office was set up at Dungloe and tenants were asked to call there on promise that things would be made easy for them ('1169...' Comment : shades of 'Please self-register' your family home with us so we can tax you on it...'). I took no notice of this performance and the committee placed no ban on it but I think it is likely , indeed, that this was a period when I gave little leadership to the townlands beyond reporting on incidents, for I find a poster issued at Dungloe in September 1926 that I can tell from the wording I did not write.

Seán McCool gave the committee a lot of help - I heard of him regularly from Phil McCauley and I was greatly encouraged by his active interest. He attended meetings of the committee and it is likely that the feeling of working in isolation , from which the townlands suffered at that period, influenced him towards some act on their behalf , outside the district, from which they might draw encouragement. Anyway, without a hint to me that he had the like in mind, he raided the office of the Conyngham Estate at Donegal town , a good thirty miles distant, and took away whatever documents he found there.

The first I knew of it was a telegram addressed to 'Padra' O'Donnell TD, Dungloe , and relayed to me from there : I was one of the Sinn Féin TD's for County Donegal at the time. The telegram read - ' Men calling themselves Republicans called here last night , took away Conyngham rentals. If official and you have any influence , try to get them returned otherwise it will mean a claim of thousands of pounds on the already heavy-taxed Rosses people. Signed Sweeney Agent'. It was not a very welcome message. (MORE LATER).

FEAR AND LOATHING IN SOUTH ARMAGH......

The inside story of a personal feud that has left one man dead and tarnished the reputation of the PIRA's most fearsome brigade.

From 'Magill' magazine , April 2003.

By John Keane.

The innuendo and smears aimed at the victims of these attacks have done little to satisfy the growing anger at what appears to be the settling of personal scores by prominent republicans. As the Adams/McGuinness leadership debates the final chapter in the (P)IRA's history, the "act of completion" that will effectively allow the British government to legislate the unionist veto out of existence * , they cannot continue to ignore the crisis of confidence in South Armagh republicanism which might return to haunt the peace**.

The leadership is faced with the problem encountered by all revolutionary*** organisations - what to do with its generals when the armed struggle has outlived its usefulness.

* The only acceptable method by which the British government can "... legislate the unionist veto out of existence.." is to, firstly, announce a date for it to withdraw its military and political presence from Ireland and, secondly, implement that policy. Westminster (and Leinster House) have attempted everything else - direct rule, indirect rule, genocide, apartheid, puppet parliaments, real parliaments, martial law, civil law, colonisation, land reform and partition, all of which failed to solve their 'Irish problem'. Withdrawal is the only proper solution.

**There has been no "peace" in this country in over 840 years nor can there be in the current circumstances. What there has been is ebbs in the level of opposition to British interference, the low points of which the British (and their colleagues in Leinster House and Stormont) are ever-eager to misrepresent as 'peace'.

***In 1986, Provisional Sinn Féin morphed from a revolutionary organisation into a constitutional political party and was supported in doing so by the PIRA which eventually resulted in the latter surrendering its arms to the British. (MORE LATER).

COULD HAVE BEEN A 'LOVE ULSTER' ROUND TWO ?

Anti-Irish loyalist thugs have again threatened to cause havoc on the streets of Dublin.

The same gang of semi-political pro-British trouble-makers that caused trouble in Dublin in 2006 last week stated their intention to try and do so again on Saturday 12th January 2013 , and the same instigator was in charge - Willie Frazer , a man who, amongst other strings to his bow, has given EU money-men a reason to look twice before they agree to fund any other 'good causes' in troubled lands. When the 2006 loyalist parade was first mooted, the Republican Movement made its intention known to hold a counter protest and explained its reasons for doing so and those reasons are just as valid today.

There is no doubt that counter-protests would have been held on Saturday 12th 2013 (if these loyalists had again attempted to parade triumphantly with Union Jack flags through the streets of Dublin , as was their stated intention) and, should they parade through Dublin in their usual sectarian manner in the future and if the State authorities again try and prevent what was then (2006) and would be a peaceful political counter-protest then there is every likelihood that others would have sought to fill the void and raise objections in a non-political manner.
Michael McDowell is not now in the same State Administration position he was then in to welcome his loyalist colleagues to Dublin but his pro-British mentality is alive and well in the so-called 'corridors of power' in this kip of a State and, as such , the shared attitude of 'loyalists welcome/republicans not' still prevails and would no doubt have been acted on in the streets of Dublin had that loyalist parade taken place.

Now that this has been postponed, a lesson to be learned by all concerned is that the misguided so-called 'republican voices of caution' (Provisional Sinn Féin , the SDLP ,Fianna Fail and the State Labour Party , all of whom consider themselves to be 'republicans') re people taking to the streets in opposition to Frazer's loyalist bigotry have again been exposed for what they are- establishment figures who haven't the political strength of their alleged 'republican convictions' , who were witnessed to be closer to the establishment point of view than they are to a republican one. There should be no excuse now for politically-aware republican supporters to be taken in by them and, hopefully, supporters like that and others that are interested in Irish republicanism will in future know not to allow themselves to be misled and distracted by those 'establishment republicans' who are now politically and morally closer to those they once fought against then they are to those whom they once stood beside during this on-going struggle. We can thank Willie Frazer for that , if nothing else.

PRIVATE ADAMS.

Can't afford private health care ? Here's your trolley....

As a mother of three children , working full time outside the family home (as well as in it) and involuntarily (ie it's stopped at source) paying this State more than it deserves, it annoys and sickens me to see wealthy people, politicians in particular, in this society, pontificate about how they can emphasise with people like me and how they can 'feel my pain'. They'll agree that, for instance, it's a dreadful situation to have to subject yourself to the trial and tribulation of that which remains of the taxpayer-funded so-called 'health service' in this State and will do they best to assure you that 'we're all in the same boat in that regard'.

Well , we're not. Your health protection money is stopped at source yet when you visit a GP you pay between €50 and €80 for the visit, if sent to hospital you will get billed for it separately and if advised to get a prescription you will be charged, again, by the chemist. A huge percentage of the population in this State is failed and failed regularly by the 'health system' despite paying weekly taxes to maintain the system , and 10-hour 'waiting time' in A+E is now an expected and allowed-for part of , eventually, getting looked at by a doctor. The politicians , the health care 'industry' and the management and their committees are responsible for the collapsing system, as they pay and reward themselves way more than the kitty can sustain. Meanwhile, those of us who pay into the system not only get a very poor return for our money, but have now become conditioned into expecting nothing less than that poor return.

Gerry Adams is but the latest in a long line of hypocrites in this regard : a wealthy career politician who gained the trust of enough voters because, amongst other election promises, he stated that he understood the dangers associated with such a run-down and dilapidated health care system and loudly proclaimed that he could affect change to it if he got elected. And he did get elected to Leinster House but, instead of using his position there to constantly campaign , in-house, for the change he spoke about on the election trial he used part of his €1930 a week salary to go for private health care (in America) !

That particular politician claims that he 'only' earns €708 a week for his 'job' in Leinster House yet he can afford private health care in a foreign jurisdiction - about as believable as an election 'promise' !

'APOLOGISES FOR TRYING TO DEFEND MYSELF WHILST YOU WERE TRYING TO ANNIHILATE ME , BUT CAN I HAVE YOUR PERMISSION TO CARRY A TOY GUN ON MY OWN STREET.....?'

Provo weapons : either toys or , if genuine, only to be used against those that they once fought shoulder-to-shoulder with.

If you have lost your once-vaunted 'smell of sulphur' , perhaps the smell of caps will do ? And, actually, the latter would attract a 'better class' of so-called 'support' than the former , even if that former support base had heretofore been with you through hell and high water. Thus the now-prevalent SDLP-type of watery 'nationalists' that form the backbone of the Provisional Sinn Féin camp would have considered this to be 'daring' or somesuch - an opportunity to (safely!) 'prove your rebel credentials' in front of your family , friends and neighbours.

And those 'rebels' that participated would have stuck their chest out that wee bit further safe in the knowledge , as stated in the linked article, above, that, regardless of which type of cap gun /water pistol they swaggered through the streets with on that day last summer, they would not be accosted by the genuinely-armed representatives of the parliament responsible for the atrocity they were meekly highlighting : "...(Provisional)Sinn Fein has notified police and the Parades Commission of their intention to hold a public procession in Dungiven on Sunday, August 5, 2012 to commemorate the Hunger Strike...imitation/replica firearms will be on show during these re-enactments. (P)Sinn Fein holds valid certification for these items which will be inspected by police prior to the events..."

That encapsulates the 'new republicanism' promoted by British Crown Bailiffs Adams and McGuinness - 'make a name' for yourself during an on-going legitimate campaign of resistance and then , later, seek permission from those you were campaigning and fighting against to hold a demonstration in honour of those days! More like a strong smell of bullshit than a weak odour of sulphur.

WATER NEVER SEEN THE LIKE OF IT....!

The CABHAIR organisation were kept busy over the Christmas/New Year period with various fund-raising activities : a 650-ticket raffle and a Christmas Day sponsored swim kept them on the go in Dublin and they weren't far behind in Armagh , Wexford or Kerry, either. And a team of CABHAIR supporters in New York also braved the elements on New Years Day and flew the Fenian flag for our prisoners in the waters of Coney Island !

This short post is just by way of saying a big 'Thank You!' to all involved in the above events, as those for whom it was done - the POW'S - are unable to do that themselves. I know from my contacts with the republican prisoners (and their families) how much the actual support - not just the money end of it - means to them in confirming that their comrades in their republican family have not forgot them and never will. And not only at Christmas/New Year time either. Well done to all involved and thanks !

WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THESE SINCE LAST YEAR......

.....but we're having one on Sunday next , 13th January 2013 - a 650-ticket raffle in aid of the Republican Movement. And we are boxing clever in advance of it : the sport-mad hotel near Kildare in which we hold the monthly raffle has a very nice and understanding floor-manager who was on to one of the girls from the raffle team to inform her that a good few 'fixtures' are due to be held that same Sunday - apparently , Manchester United are playing a match against Liverpool at around lunch time and then later in the afternoon Arsenal are playing against Manchester City and, as if that wasn't reason enough for us to expect a hectic raffle, Fermanagh are playing against some college or other and Donegal and Monaghan square-up to each other either before or after (or maybe even at the same time!) Antrim do battle with Tyrone. Or something.

By all accounts we are going to be rushed off our feet this Sunday and, so far , we can only locate 25 possible tickets that might be returned to us for re-sale between now and then , but we know from experience that even if we had twice that amount it still wouldn't be enough! If we get out of there in one piece and recover enough, I'll post the raffle results here on Sunday night. If you don't see them here by Monday night, send out a search party.....!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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'STRONGLY FORTIFIED (AND) IMPREGNABLE...' BRITISH BARRACKS TAKEN BY IRA.

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

I had the great good fortune to realise almost at the outset that I was having an unusual experience and I canvassed every aspect of it : I was , perhaps, unusually well-equipped to pass through such a storm, for attacks on me had to be made on platform level where nobody is my master. Then , too, I had a mighty flail in 'An Phoblacht'. I was lucky also in that, for all the noise around my name, I was not known by appearance much, outside Dublin and Donegal, so that I was often able to join in the talk, at the next table to me in a provincial hotel, on this 'blackguard' Peadar O' Donnell (!) , and I always added to their store of knowledge and helped them abuse him. I think I learned a lot about people during that period , about certain people, anyway. And I learned a little, too, about Peadar O' Donnell..... There were two fronts to the Donegal resistance - the trustees to the estate of the Marquess of Conyngham and the 'Irish Land Commission'. The tenants of the Conyngham Estate were the more caught-up in the 1919 campaign and the trustees who were anxious to sell to the Commission had trouble with title, or some legal nicety, in many cases. They were willing to forgo arrears in some cases if tenants would only pay the current year but their greatest difficulty was with islands and they made some attempts to enforce payments there. I made noises in 'An Phoblacht' over attacks on Owey Island , Arranmore Island and Innisfree. (MORE LATER).

FEAR AND LOATHING IN SOUTH ARMAGH......

The inside story of a personal feud that has left one man dead and tarnished the reputation of the PIRA's most fearsome brigade.

From 'Magill' magazine , April 2003.

By John Keane.

Peter Kelly laid the blame firmly at the door of the (P)IRA and described them as psychopaths who behaved like the mafia and alleged the gang had attempted to sever his son's head with sledgehammer blows. (P) Sinn Féin's response was to query why the family had waited for one month after the attack to blame the (P)IRA and, six months after the attack, (P) Sinn Féin still have not approached the Kelly family with an explanation. Local republicans privately admit that Raymond Kelly is not a criminal. Described as a young man who 'can handle himself' , the keen athlete and kickboxer is believed to have got into a row with a leading republican shortly before the attack on him and an older brother, Barry, now 27, was the victim of a brutal punishment beating two years ago which left him with broken arms and legs. A kick-boxer too, he apparently gatecrashed a republican celebration and resisted vigorously when ejected. One of the party guests was top South Armagh Provo Michael 'Micksey' Martin , who served a 16-month sentence in a US jail for his part in the 1990 attempt by the PIRA to procure Stinger missiles for use against British Army helicopters in South Armagh. A month after the near-fatal attack on Raymond Kelly , another young South Armagh man was targeted ; this time the gang rammed a chip van owned by Ciaran Toner (22) of Camlough just as he arrived to set up at his regular late-night pitch outside the Lough Inn public house. They dragged Toner behind the pub and set upon him with iron bars, breaking both his arms and one leg before burning a jeep belonging to him. He told his family he recognised his attackers as PIRA men who had previously demanded protection money from him for pitching his fast-food business in the ataunchly republican village. The PIRA did not admit the attack but local republicans hinted that there had been a spate of joyriding incidents......(MORE LATER).

'STRONGLY FORTIFIED (AND) IMPREGNABLE...' BRITISH BARRACKS TAKEN BY IRA.

Between the hours of 9pm and 10pm on Friday 2nd January 1920 - the same date and year, incidentally, when the British Government began its recruitment campaign for the notorious 'Black and Tan' paramilitary unit , which first reared its ugly head and body in Dublin on 25th March that year , 1920 (and which, apropos of nothing, like 2012 , was a leap year!) , IRA Volunteers in Cork began an operation which was to boost the morale of all those engaged in the on-going freedom struggle in Ireland : after a gun battle which lasted approximately four hours over Friday 2nd January 1920 and Saturday 3rd , the British Army barracks in Carrigtwohill, in Cork - which was staffed by armed members of the RIC Westminster militia - fell to rebel forces.

For IRA Commandant Mick Leahy , Officer Commanding of the IRA Battalion of Cork 1st Brigade comprising Volunteers from East Cork , Midleton and Cobh, the operation was a great success and even more so for the IRA GHQ , who were said to be somewhat reluctant to sanction the operation which was, in effect, officially, the first IRA attack on an RIC barracks. That particular barracks was said by its inhabitants to be 'strongly fortified and....almost impregnable...' and was known to contain an arsenal of weapons including bombs, rifles, revolvers and ammunition. Those attacking the barracks, on the other hand, had twelve revolvers , a few rifles and some sticks of gelignite to rely on.

At about 9pm on Friday night, 2nd January 1920, the IRA Volunteers taking part in the operation silently placed themselves around the barracks and two of their number set about cutting the telephone wires going into the structure but, towards the end of the job, they were challenged by two RIC members returning from a foot patrol in the town as to what they were doing and who then tried to 'arrest' the two Volunteers , unsuccessfully. The RIC members ran into the barracks and raised the alarm to their Sergeant, a man named 'Scott', who immediately attempted to telephone for reinforcements but, because the lines were down, was unable to do so. He ordered his men to close the steel shutters , barricade the doors and to prepare for an assault.

A hay barn at the back of the barracks was contained within a five-foot high wall and it was from within the barn and from behind that wall that the attack began , proper - a volley of shots from IRA guns thudded into the barracks, from which heavy fire was returned. Continuous fire without cessation was exchanged between the two parties for a number of hours , under the cover of which an IRA Volunteer managed to place a stick of gelignite in a wall of the barracks thus blowing a hole in it : three IRA men - Diarmuid O'Hurley , Joe Aherne and Tadhg Manley - led a section of their men into the barracks, through the recently-created 'entry' , only to find that the ground-floor was deserted ; the RIC enemy had fled upstairs. Their surrender was demanded by the IRA unit and this demand was complied with. All remaining weapons and associated material in the barracks , and £115 in cash (worth about £4,700 in todays money!) , was commandeered by the Irish rebels and removed in a car to a safe house.

Today, the British Administration in Westminster and its spawn in Stormont consider that its writ in the six north-eastern counties of Ireland is 'strongly fortified (and) impregnable...' but, thankfully, there are many five-foot high walls left to explore.....

OUR CUP OVERFLOWETH - McGUINNESS THE ARISTOCRAT JOINS BARON ADAMS IN THE TITLE AWARDS !

Hands all-a-tremble, she manages, again, to pin him down. And his hands stop trembling long enough for him to show off his Award....

It would indeed be small-minded of us not to extend our congrats to Baron J118 , better known here as 'Martin McGuinness' , on reaching the same lofty heights as one of his Irish bosses , Baron Adams - and we do so not in a sarcastic manner, like this crowd, but in a spirit of genuine happiness for what it might mean : that more watery nationalists, (ex-)Stickies , Stoops , Labourites and Fianna Failers will see the 'value' in becoming a 'Provie' rebel and join-up in the hope , belief (and likelihood) that, one day in the near-distant future (after first being allowed to mingle with other Westminster-approved 'Establishment' figures) they too can get a name as an early riser despite staying in bed all day ie trade on and benefit, financially and 'socially', from the 'old days' whilst still being allowed to reach new heights (!) in a political career which has been gifted to you by your new friends.

It must help , too, in realising that the person most likely to fill the void in your absence is a wannabe-go-getter with his tongue firmly placed on the career ladder, just like you and, again just like you, being supported by some VIP's !

Master McGuinness, those of his ilk and those whose ambition it is to be of that ilk have long since proved that their (alleged) passion is but a quotation borrowed from other people. Those with a genuine republican aim recognised that fact decades ago.

CHARGING YOUR OWN MOTHER €7 EACH DAY TO VISIT HER.

The more I read of this , the angrier I get. And sadder, too. And frightened. And the more I appreciate the many I know in this community that look after their Mam or Dad because they love them, not because they get money from their parent(s) to do it. And it's even more sickening when you consider that the parent in question is in her mid-80's, living on her own, trying to pay her bills , feed and cloth herself and keep her small home warm on a widow's pension.

One of the two daughters involved seemingly convinced herself that it was okay to keep taking big sums of money from her Mam's pension account once she put the loose change back in every so often (here and here) whereas the other daughter not only re-paid none of it but also charged her own mother €7 each day she called in to see her. Those two women are definitely ill , God help them - there must be a shared mental and/or moral blockage or deficit that they are both inflicted with , otherwise they couldn't possibly live with themselves after doing what they done. Not only must every day for them be a false statement but it is one lived with a deliberate intent to deceive. If people like that are free to walk the streets then none of us are safe.

" I SWEAR......

.....THIS SOUNDS SO GOOD IT MUST BE TRUE !"

We get so much spam and mindless 'contributions' to this blog (99% of it through our 'Blogsome' site) that our 'Junior' has really earned his keep with the unbelievable amount of the stuff that he has sorted out but, now and then, even he gets a wee bit of craic from some of the nonsense that he has to deal with - like the following comment , which he retrieved from the bowels of one of our filters a few days ago :

ATTENTION DEAR,

I know it is because of your past expenses that make you not to believe me but I told you before that I cannot deceive you because my bible says what shall it profit a man to gain material things and=loose your soul, any way their is good news now, i raised some money=to help you out and make sure that your payment will be release to you the same day you send the $59.00 as well.

I borrowed money yesterday after service from my Pastor, then you have to send the remain balance now only $$59.00 but i don't see the reason=you have to keep silent on me, honestly I am just is appointed at your behaviors before because you know that I cannot deceive you, Just pay the $59.00 and leave rest for me watching me if I am telling you lies.

Your payments is already approval today for you to receive it but the management here says that you must pay $59.00 for the Stamp and activation charge before you can receive the payment today, please send the charge through western union immediately, i have assured you=a time without number that this is genuine and legitimate.

I swear If I fail to release your payment after you send the $59.00 as I promise don't count on me again, I cannot fail you, I promise you don’t fear as soon as you send the $$59.00 today please leave the rest to me and see if I am lie to you because I can not use my life swear because of $59.00, how can I swear against my life because of this small amount? it is to show you that I am telling you the truth.

HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE MONEY TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER BELOW:

Receiver Name=====Igbanugo Lawrence

Country====Benin Republic

City======Cotonou

Question====what color

Answer======Blue

Amount====$59.00

(M.T.C.N)=====

Sender's name===

Sender's Direct Telephone===

I promise you as soon as we hear from you with the payment of $59. today we shall send your pick up information the same day you send the $59.00 I swear.

Yours Sincerely

Mr. Daniel Williams

Foreign Operation Manager

:- ) LOL!

But thank God that our 'Junior' got this before myself or the rest of the 1169 Team did, as we probably would have fallen for it (!) even though we should have learned our lesson after our 'Mustafa Incident'. But..... then again, maybe it's our 'Junior' that's trying to scam us out of a small fortune , courtesy of Mr. Williams....? The thick plottens , but we'll let you know how we get on later - right now I have to find my cheque-book....

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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DÁITHÍ Ó CONAILL COMMEMORATION , DUBLIN , 1ST JANUARY 2013.

At the Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin on Tuesday 1st January 2013, ten armed members of the State Special Branch made their presence felt by harassing those in attendance and generally making a nuisance of themselves. However, they failed to interrupt or delay proceedings and, at 12.45pm at the main gates, as planned, those present fell-in behind the RSF Colour Party and the uniformed Na Fianna Éireann and Cumann na mBan representatives and the parade made its way to the Republican Plot, where they were welcomed by the Chairperson , Andy Connolly , Dublin.

The Commemoration began with a decade of the Rosary as Gaeilge following which a Lament for the Dead was played on the tin whistle and two wreaths were laid from the Republican Movement. A fine oration was then delivered by Fergal Moore , Monaghan, during which Dáithí's contribution to the on-going struggle against British interference in Irish affairs was outlined in some detail and a breakdown and timeline of his involvement in the formation of the 'Éire Nua' policy was highlighted by the speaker. The Chairperson brought the commemoration to an end by thanking all those present and our National Anthem was then played , following which the parade marched back to the cemetery gates and most of the attendees made their way to a local pub for refreshments. A full report and more pics will be published in the January 2013 issue of Saoirse , which goes to print on Wednesday 9th of that month. Meanwhile, we publish with this brief report some pics from the commemoration -

The Parade makes its way to the Republican Plot in Glasnevin Cemetery , Dublin, led by an RSF Colour Party and uniformed Na Fianna Éireann and Cumann na mBan representatives.

The Chairperson , Cumann na mBan and the RSF Colour Party.

A Decade of the Rosary being recited , in our first language, at the commemoration.

A Lament for the Dead.

Two wreaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement.

Fergal Moore , Monaghan, delivering the oration.

Cumann na mBan members at the commemoration.

The main speaker and a section of the crowd.

NFE and RSF Colour Party.

Fergal thanks the crowd and brings proceedings to an end.

All concerned , except for ten of those present, are to be congratulated for such a dignified and well-planned commemoration - well done , Republican Sinn Féin , NFE, Cumann na mBan and the Colour Party : it was a fitting tribute to the man being honoured.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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DÁITHÍ Ó CONAILL COMMEMORATION : TUESDAY 1ST JANUARY 2013.

The Annual Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration will be held on Tuesday 1st January 2013 in Glasnevin Cemetery.

"Dáithí came from a strong Cork Republican family. His uncle Michael O’Sullivan (17), along with five of his comrades, was bayoneted to death by British Crown forces in March 1921. He joined Sinn Féin at the age of 17 during the local elections in 1955. By the end of the following year he was on active service as a Volunteer in the Irish Republican Army , serving as an organiser under GHQ staff in Co Fermanagh.

On January 1, 1957 he was second-in-command of the Pearse Column during the attack on Brookeborough RUC barracks which resulted in the deaths of two of his comrades, Fearghal Ó hAnluáin and Seán Sabhat. Four others were wounded including the column commander. At 18 years of age Dáithí took command and led a successful withdrawal back across the border – evading 400 RUC, B-Specials, two helicopters and the British army – where they were forced to retire. He was then imprisoned in Mountjoy and the Curragh Concentration camp from where he escaped with his friend and comrade Ruairí Ó Brádaigh in September 1958.

He returned to active service and for a period was Director of Operations. He was critically wounded in an ambush by the RUC and B-Specials in Arboe, Co Tyrone on the shores of Lough Neagh in November 1959. He made his escape but was forced to seek help because of loss of blood and his weakened condition. He was captured by Crown Forces and was sentenced to eight years which he served in Belfast’s Crumlin Road Jail. Following his release in 1963 he reported back to active service.

In 1969/70 he again made his talents available to the Republican Movement. Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said of him he possessed the 'ablest mind in the Republican Movement for over 20 years'. The sheer breadth of his ability and intellect was evidenced by his service to the All-Ireland Republic both militarily and politically. He had a central role in framing ÉIRE NUA and remained a tireless advocate of it right up to his death in 1991.

Dáithí Ó Conaill never equivocated on what was the cause of the war in Ireland or what was required to deliver a just and lasting peace for all of the Irish people. Speaking in Belfast at Easter 1973 he said: 'Today, the central issue in the war is one of conflict between Ireland’s right to freedom and England’s determination to keep us in subjection. All other issues are subordinate to this basic point. There can be no compromise on the fundamental issue as to who should rule Ireland: the British Parliament or the Irish people. We have had 800 years of British ineptitude in ruling Ireland; we have never known rule by the Irish, of the Irish, for the Irish. Until we do, we shall never enjoy peace and stability in our land.....' " (From here)

Those attending the commemoration are requested to assemble at the gates of Glasnevin Cemetery at 12.45pm. The commemoration will be Chaired by Andy Connolly , Dublin, Fergal Moore , Monaghan, will deliver the oration , and refreshments will be available afterwards in a near-by venue.

All genuine Republicans Welcome!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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CABHAIR SWIM : 8 FOR THE 36TH ON THE 25TH !

The CABHAIR swim banner , on display at the 3rd Lock at Inchicore, Dublin, on December 25th 2012.

About seventy people turned up to watch the annual CABHAIR Christmas Day Swim at the 3rd Lock of the Grand Canal in Inchicore , Dublin, yesterday , and they, in turn, were being watched by the occupants of two Special Branch cars, who endeavoured to record , at the canal entry point, the personal details of all present , including Santa Clause, who later lamented that he hadn't got a couple of wild reindeer with him to 'introduce' them to ! The weather , whilst dry, was cold , with a strong, constant breeze blowing down the wind-tunnel that the canal is, from the Bluebell direction, but that didn't deter the crowd or those that were 'booked in' to actually do the swim.

The CABHAIR organisation had, as usual, provided the usual 'goodies' for the crowd, including mince pies, endless cups of hot whiskey , beer, ale , lemonade , crisps , sweets, christmas crackers etc , all laid out on two tables , yards away from a roaring fire and all within earshot of a twin-speakered music system, which filled that part of the canal with Irish rebel music. Between the noise from the crowd, the music, the kids and the constant loud beeping and honking of support from the cars and vans etc which slowly drove past the site,the noise, at times,was over-powering but made for a fantastic atmosphere.

Over the three-and-a-half hours that the event lasted for, eight swimmers bravely took the plunge , not only 'earning' their own keep but also earning much-needed funds for the dependants of Irish Republican prisoners , and the speech delivered from the Lock (!) , in the usual rough-and-ready fashion, by John Horan, emphasised that important point , adding that CABHAIR had also organised sponsored swims this month in Armagh and Wexford, and that the first such CABHAIR fund-raiser of 2013 will be held at Coney Island , New York, on New Years Day. Altogether we rounded-up about twenty pics of the Dublin Swim , eight of which we publish with this post and the rest can be viewed at the links mentioned, below , plus a video of the proceedings can be seen via 'Facebook' , at the link supplied.

Seven of the eight CABHAIR swimmers....

....and 'COME OUT , NUMBER EIGHT - YOUR KEEP IS EARNED !'

One of the swimmers, searching for a mermaid....

...this fella thinks he's spotted her whilst....

....this swimmer thinks she's 'over there'.....

....but it's these two lads that have the best catch of the day....

....and all this swimmer gets is a big squishy hug from Santa !

More Swim pics can be viewed here and here (posts dated Wednesday 26th December 2012) and a four-minute long video of the event (via 'Facebook') can be seen here , and a full report (and more pics) will be published in the January 2013 issue of 'Saoirse'. Congrats and a cheerful 'Well Done !' to almost all of those who turned up yesterday at the 3rd Lock of the Grand Canal in Inchicore , Dublin, for their help in ensuring that our prisoners and their loved ones have a wee bit less of a burden to carry with them into the New Year.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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ARMED MILITIA USE SCHOOLCHILDREN IN IRELAND AS A PROPAGANDA TOOL.

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

Paddy Hogan , the Free State Minister for Agriculture, seemed to consider that the IRA was lurking in the shadows and I did not know how to take this news. There was the danger that if he considered I was merely doing a chore for the IRA he might hit , hard and quick, before the movement got a basis. It took me a little while to realise that the attack on the land annuity agitation was to be a specialised one - that it was to become almost entirely an attack on me.

It was a wise choice of whoever it was that guided government propaganda in that particular field, for to accuse the IRA of responsibility for this new land war would be to gesture people to join it, whereas by denying it any right of succession from the land wars of the past, and isolating it from current Republican struggles by relating it to foreign influences, there would be all the greater hope of confining it.

So the land annuity agitation became a 'communist activity' with Peadar O' Donnell as its 'High Priest' : it was easier to charge communism against me than any other in the leadership of the IRA. Herein, I think , lies the explanation of the storm of abuse that followed me around during those days. It is rarely that anybody with so little public support comes under so much hostile notice as I experienced during the campaign against land annuities. It makes sense only on the ground that it was intended to make it difficult for me to work outside my own district. Paddy Hogan was not the 'minute hand' of that abuse but he was its 'Big Ben' . (MORE LATER).

FEAR AND LOATHING IN SOUTH ARMAGH......

The inside story of a personal feud that has left one man dead and tarnished the reputation of the PIRA's most fearsome brigade.

From 'Magill' magazine , April 2003.

By John Keane.

The gang smashed Raymond Kelly's windscreen , hit him over the head with a hammer and bound his hands ; they told him they were from the (P)IRA , he was dragged from his car and bundled into a van which was driven to a school. There, he was ordered to lie on the ground and then savagely beaten with iron bars, nail-studded bats and a sledgehammer. Hardly a bone in his legs, arms, feet and hands was left unbroken. The gang used such force that his left hand was almost severed and scraps of tissue , skin and bone mixed with blood were found at the crime scene.

The injured man's father , alerted by a neighbour, was one of the first at the scene. Covered in the blood gushing from Raymond's wounds, he tended his injured son until the ambulance arrived. The ambulance crew who rushed the injured man to hospital had to halt en route to give him blood and, at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, doctors worked for 11 hours in the operating theatre to reconstruct Raymond Kelly's arms and legs. They told the injured man's family it was the worst beating they had ever encountered.

Raymond Kelly's parents are well respected locally - his father , Peter, is a building-control officer with Newry and Mourne Council and his mother, Jane , is a teacher at St Patrick's primary school in Crossmaglen. When young men are beaten in such a fashion a statement is rarely issued ; the perpetrators prefer a few carefully placed rumours alleging criminal or anti-social behaviour and, usually , such rumours are not challenged but, in this case , one month after the attack, and with his son on the road to at least partial recovery, Peter Kelly went public.......(MORE LATER).

18TH DECEMBER 1970 : LOYALIST DEATH-SQUAD FORMED.