ONE MAN'S CORRUPTION IS ANOTHER MAN'S CRONYISM.

By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

To make matters harder for himself, when he was brought before the court he refused to plead. He was held at Loughrea until late in the evening while ecclesiastics in authority over him and priests devoted to him stormed at him and pleaded with him - in refusing to recognise the court , it followed that he could not be remanded on bail. He left the State no option but to imprison him and was lodged that night in Galway Jail. I went on to Galway where I saw his sister, Agnes , and his brother, Joe , and they were anxious that having taken this stand Father John should be let follow his own course, the good, sturdy folk. "Father John is a man who always has to stand well with himself" , Joe told me.

Father John was not sent forward to the Central Criminal Court but remanded for trial before a jury in Galway , and we had little anxiety about the verdict. The worry was how to get him out of the difficulty that followed from his refusal to recognise the court - we were afraid he might be silenced if he persisted in it , but Father John himself had no worry. He spent in all about six weeks in Galway jail and he certainly made his presence felt in it , and his concern for people in trouble made him 'big brother' to all the prisoners. He was laughter in the grey of their misery , and everybody was courteous to him and he wandered around pretty much at will.

One day he spotted a newcomer, a tinker, one of the Wards from Ballinasloe. Father John knew the people of the roads and the people of the roads knew Father John well. He called the prisoners and the warders to halt as they marched past him, and with such sharp authority that he got almost a barrack-square response. All the ex-soldiers among them rapped the cobbles and , said the one among the prisoners who told the story to me, "any old farmer that had a foot in the air , froze it in the air." Father John addressed the tinker - "Macaward, Bard to the O'Donnells, it is an evil day for Ireland when I see thee thus. But be of good heart, Brother, for when we achieve our independent Republic , Peadar O'Donnell will restore to you your tribal lands in Tirconail and your great herds of kine, and you will have your flowing robes..." , and he went on to describe the brave world that awaited the tinker. When he paused for breath, Macaward spoke urgently : "For the love of God, Father John, slip me a chew of tobacco......" (MORE LATER).



THE ANATOMY OF AN AFTERNOON : THE STORY OF THE GIBRALTAR KILLINGS........

By Michael O'Higgins and John Waters. From 'Magill Magazine' , October 1988.

Soldiers 'C' and 'D' , having identified the three from Trafalgar Cemetery just before 3pm, had moved northwards back down Main Street, through the Landport Tunnel, down Winston Churchill Avenue and had reached the sundial roundabout , less than five minutes' walk from the airport when they heard on the radio that the three suspects had been seen moving back towards the assembly area where the car was parked. They were instructed to turn back and head up Smith Dorrien Avenue towards the Mobil petrol station on Line Wall Road , about mid-way between the airport and the assembly area.

The IRA threesome were being tailed along Line Wall Road by a number of surveillance officers, including Officer 'H' , who noted that after Seán Savage split from the others to go to the tourist office, he did not immediately rejoin them but walked some distance behind. Officer 'H' said in court that he recognised this as a counter-surveillance measure. Seán Savage had bought a newspaper and was using it to enable him to look discreetly around him. Officer 'H' adjudged all three to be "extremely alert and sensitive" and when Seán Savage again caught up with the others , they all relaxed somewhat. Officer 'H' , following the three from about thirty metres, met up with Soldiers 'C' and 'D' who had been waiting behind the Mobil petrol station. He identified the three to Soldiers 'C' and 'D' who began following also.

Soldiers 'A' and 'B' , meanwhile, had passed through Casemates Square and the Landport Tunnel where they had met up with Officer 'J' , one of two female surveillance officers who would give evidence to the inquest. They emerged from the tunnel together and passed through Kings Lines towards Corral Road which runs into Winston Churchill Avenue at the junction with Smith Dorrien Avenue. (MORE LATER).



BLOODY SUNDAY PICKET , DUBLIN , SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY 2014.

Republican Sinn Féin in Dublin will hold a picket on Saturday 25th January 2014 at 12 Noon at the GPO in O'Connell Street , Dublin, to mark the 42nd Anniversary of Ireland's Bloody Sunday.

After a peaceful Civil Rights march on January 30 , 1972 - from Creggan to Free Derry Corner - 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 by the British Army. On Saturday , January 25th 2014 , a picket to mark the 42th Anniversary of that massacre will be held at the GPO in Dublin , at 12 Noon and, on Sunday 2nd February next, a Bloody Sunday march will be held in Derry, and those attending are asked to assemble at the Creggan shops at 2.30pm.



ONE MAN'S CORRUPTION IS ANOTHER MAN'S CRONYISM.

The Establishment has two ways of 'passing the buck' - blame someone else (ie "the previous administration...") and the method pictured above.

Our 'RA Extortion' post last week was in reference to corruption and cronyism in political circles and just how perverse such occurrences are can be gauged by how quickly and often they filter down to what has always been the level below those particular political circles - that of the business word. One depends on the other : politicians need finance from big business to secure election and to maintain their political positions and , in turn, in order to stay 'big' (competitive), business needs political backing. Nothing new there, as we are all aware.

However, just how far and fast that cronyism seeps across from one part of the Establishment to another may occasionally be hinted at in the 'mainstream media' but, to a certain and usually lesser extent, that media outlet itself can and has been compromised by its connections, in one form or another, to those that operate further up that particular greasy pole - career politicians and the party they have aligned themselves with and the other side of that same coin, big business interests. But those of us that know where to look for it can find practically endless accounts of that corruption and cronyism (here and here, for example) and, obviously, if we can find it, the political and business classes can, too. But because of their own insatiable moral greed, they not only choose not to but they refuse to use their position in society to even properly highlight those injustices. As always, the 'Top Tier' will close ranks to protect their own interests and resources and so it will remain until the opportunity to do so is no longer an option for them. And this policy would do just that - it's an opportunity for us, and an opportunity-remover for them.



AN (UNUSUALLY) SUBDUED 'GAME' , BUT RSF ROMP HOME....!

Rugby crowd : more 'restrained'(!) than our usual clients!

We had the usual complement of workers at the monthly raffle on Sunday 12th January last , we were in the usual venue and we were looked after by the same staff as usual - but the 'punters/clients' were different and, to this 'non-sporter', that difference was notable. Remarkable, even, and I was assured before the raffle that the difference would be notable, but I really didn't believe it would be as extreme as it was.

The sporting fixture that day was a rugby match between an Irish (Leinster) team and a French side , Castres Olympique which, incidentally , the Irish team won , by seven points, I'm told. The monthly raffles always seem to coincide with a soccer fixture (by accident, not design) and maybe there was a soccer match that day but the hotel was jam-packed with rugby supporters , at least ninty per-cent of whom were Irish - but the atmosphere was not the same ; it was, as I said above, more 'restrained' than usual although, having said that, when Julie, one of the lounge girls, pulled the first prize for us , the winner - a Wicklow man , Niall Ó C (ticket 362) - metamorphosed, briefly, into a soccer supporter but restrained himself quickly after the initial shock of winning €200 but, in fairness, he did buy the raffle team a round of drinks which , briefly, in turn, shocked us! And we got him to pull the second prize , €100, with no problem and the winner , a lovely lady from Dublin , Eva G, who had bought ticket 225 from our Gavin, politely made her way to the raffle table , presented her ticket stub and, after it was verified, smiled and winked at us in delight.

Eva then pulled the third prize for us , and the winner - a young man from Tallaght, Dublin , Brian H (ticket 601) was thrilled to win €40 and told us repeatedly that he had never won anything in a raffle before , to which we replied , in broken French accents, that he should remember how good it feels as it may temper his feelings of rejection later on when the French win the game! That was nasty of us, and poor Brian walked back to his pals, looking over his shoulder at us , not altogether sure if we were serious or not!

Our fourth winner , Declan , from Mullingar in County Westmeath (ticket 355, €20) was a very happy little man , who wasn't all that interested in the rugby game but was brought out for the day by two of his rugby-mad sons whom he described as 'good lads but they have a fondness for odd-shaped balls....' and, with an introduction like that, we couldn't help but to ask him to sit with us and tell us more! And we jobbed him , in between the jibes, to pull prize number five (€20, ticket 310) which Wicklow-born Patricia B won, and claimed, seemingly glad to get away from her hubbie, who was roaring at the screen with most of the others and who hadn't noticed her absence which, she told us, means he won't notice that she's a few bob richer! Patricia pulled our sixth prize , €20, which was won on ticket number 241 by a young local lass, Caitlyn D , who had bought it from our Gavin earlier on that day and asked where he was so as she could buy him a drink. She was, we think, a bit disappointed when we told her that Gav was up at the bar with Eva G and she didn't know what to make of it when Declan offered to take her up on the offer! We told him to behave himself and stop trying to 'score'!

Prize number seven ,€20, the second-last prize for this raffle, was won with ticket 218 by D. Felton, who seemed to be genuinely amazed that he had won anything , thanked us , remarked on how well presented his prize envelope , and the raffle itself, was , opened it carefully in front of us (he wanted to keep the empty envelope as a keepsake!) , gave us a tenner and asked that we put him in for five tickets for the next raffle, which we were glad to do. He pulled out the last prize for us and by coincidence one of his friends, Willie L. who had also bought his ticket from one of our local sellers, Paul, won €20 on number 001. A near look-a-like for James Bond, we told him....!

But anyway - whatever the game , the team or the outcome , RSF won the day and took home the 'trophy' - but I hope the February raffle clashes with loads of soccer matches. The craic is better!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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BEWARE THE 'RA' AND ITS SUPPORTERS......

WHAT'S ANOTHER YEAR : 2014 AND COUNTING.....

Welcome back to the blog for the first 'official' post of 2014 , even though we did post a piece on the Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration which was held on New Years Day. We intend to carry on in the same format and schedule etc with no major or minor tweaks planned , although we did discuss some changes to the blog , but decided against on the basis that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'! And considering we have over half-a-million hits (see stat counter, bottom of page) , we must be doing something right! Hope you all enjoyed the break , as we did and, like us, you're probably finding it hard to get back into the swing of things. We all of us need a holiday to help us get over the Christmas and New Year break.... ;-) !

By Peadar O'Donnell ; first published in January 1963.

There is an element of luck in life , and Father John's luck ran out : the bailiff seized three cows from a widow for arrears of land annuity , and Father John was among a group of men working at a graveyard wall when the bailiff went by, wheeling his bicycle and driving the cattle before him. No man among those at work on the wall was a member of the local committee , but at Father John's bidding they rushed on to the road to free the cattle , at which the bailiff promptly drew his revolver and fired in the air. He soon had the road to himself, except for Father John - here was something he just could not dodge. He sent the bailiff staggering into the ditch with a thrust of his shoulder and young Cooney, one of the road workers, sprinted back to give Father John a helping hand, and he took over the cattle.

The bailiff got on his bicycle and cycled off for help and, at Father John's bidding, Cooney turned the cattle in on the land of a man named Kane, an ex-soldier of the 1914-18 war in which he lost a leg. Kane rose to it, and when the guards came swarming down on the scene the cows were safely tucked away in his byre. I arrived at Fr. John's on the following evening and there was a good gathering of us : I shed my own anxiety in the gaiety of the others , as the bailiff would make no complaint - they were certain he would make no complaint , so we joked over what lay ahead for Father John Fahy. He would be jailed, of course, maybe transported. I would come down to Loughrea and make a speech to protest against people saying Willie Cosgrave was anti-clerical, that he was making war on the Church , that he had Father John Fahy in jail. I would say people must stop talking such nonsense , as Willie Cosgrave was a holy man.

If he put Father John Fahy in jail , it was only because he didn't like Father John's politics , and who knew but maybe Joe Stalin was a bit like Willie Cosgrave as he, too, had priests in jail and who knew but it was simply that he didn't like their politics! All great fun. I went into Clare next day or the day after and I was still in Clare when I learned of Father John Fahy's arrest..... (MORE LATER).




THE ANATOMY OF AN AFTERNOON : THE STORY OF THE GIBRALTAR KILLINGS........

By Michael O'Higgins and John Waters. From 'Magill Magazine' , October 1988.

Soldiers 'A' and 'B' were still in the confectioner's shop near the top of Main Street with their 'Joe' , the Gibraltar policeman in plain clothes. The three suspects passed by the shop and Soldier 'A' caught a fleeting glimpse of Mairead Farrell as she passed by the window. Under instructions, Soldiers 'A' and 'B' remained in the shop for a few minutes. Information was relayed over the radio that Seán Savage had separated from the others and had gone into the tourist office in the Piazza and shortly afterwards they heard that the three had met up again and were heading northwards along the Line Wall Road.

Soldiers 'A' and 'B' were instructed to move northwards also, but along Main Street, parallel to Line Road Wall , and they were told that Soldiers 'C' and 'D' were in place behind a garage further up Line Wall Road, waiting for the suspects to pass. It was around this time that, according to his own evidence to the inquest, Commissioner Canepa was given a written report to read which provided 100 per cent confirmation that the three suspects were in fact Mairead Farrell , Daniel McCann and Seán Savage.

He also instructed Soldier 'G' , the bomb expert who had been assigned to the operation, to go and examine the Renault which the three IRA members had left behind in the assembly area. Within minutes, Soldier 'G' returned to the Operations Room out of breath, and gesturing with his hands in a downward sweeping motion, as though shushing a noisy group of people. Soldier 'G' had been to look at the car which he discovered parked with its boot to the road in the second bay of the car park. Almost immediately he noticed that, although the car was relatively new, it had an aerial on the roof which appeared much older , as it was grimy and beginning to rust. He immediately returned to the Operations Room and reported to the Commissioner that in his opinion the Renault was a suspect car bomb. (MORE LATER).


WHAT'S THIS "OUR" BUSINESS , MR. McGUINNESS ?

Martin McGuinness receives part-payment from his employer.

Christmas ,Easter and summer holiday times are three of the 'old reliables' , as far as politicians are concerned, in that bad news statements and 'position papers' etc are best released then as people in general have other issues on their mind and by the time the voters cop-on to what has happened it's a 'done deal'. And so it must have been with a British Minister in Stormont , Martin 'Babe' McGuinness who, in a previous life, was a Provisional Sinn Féin and PIRA activist.

This particular instance, in which the 'Babe' again showed how grateful he is to the British for the upturn in his financial and social circle fortunes, happened after a gun attack , two days before Christmas Day, on one of the RUC/PSNI British 'police' barracks in Fermanagh , a not unusual occurrence in any occupied area and, indeed, an action which ex-PIRA activists here in Ireland would know more about than I do. Now ensconced firmly as part of the establishment, Mr McGuinness was asked for his reaction about that dastardly deed and, as expected , condemned it and went on to describe it as an attack "on our police service" ! This man and his followers/party members and supporters, would have you believe that he is still the same 'Irish republican' that he was in his younger , more active (!) days and he and they will tell you that he still has the same political objectives now as he had then. And perhaps he has - maybe he did put himself literally in the firing line (in his very early days, that is, before he was recruited by the British and placed in a position of 'political respectability' by them) in the mistaken belief that the campaign at that time was to secure better treatment from Westminster rather than that which republicans considered it to be - a campaign to secure a British military and political withdrawal from Ireland. But the 'Babe' McGuinness wouldn't want that now if, indeed , he ever did , as he depends on the British for his own political survival. And they know that, too.


THE 'RA' ON THE EXTORTION TRAIL : THEY HAVEN'T GONE AWAY , YOU KNOW....

They wear a different political suit now than they did before, but the 'morality' of the balaclava-type method of doing 'business' , is exactly the same with them now as it was before they 'jumped ship'.

Yes , it's true , and it has to be said : the 'RA' make their money from wheeling-and-dealing in the business world, from extorting money from anyone it can , when in a position to do so - employed , unemployed, rich or poor - in the guise of the 'taxes' and 'levies' it imposes on State benefits , wages and savings, and is directly and indirectly responsible for driving ordinary , innocent people to despair.

They are a law on to themselves, and have the backing of their own 'justice' system and various armed militia within their groups of supporters , who will enforce the writ of the 'RA' and , indeed - if the money is right - those armed gangs will do the same for the groups that the 'RA' claims to be opposed to , even though members of the 'RA' are known to have previous history with said groups. For in the murky world of the 'RA' , there are no permanent enemies or friends , no stable alliances , no guaranteed allegiances : it is a treacherous , 'words-are-cheap' and unprincipled mini-society , which operates quite openly in this State and, indeed, it has formed contacts with other 'RA'-like groups in Europe and beyond. And they all share the same objective : to mercilessly use any means necessary to enrich themselves.

Indeed, so embolded have the 'RA' become , and so sure of themselves , that they have organised an indoor public rally in Dublin , to be held this very month - January 2014 - at which the present leadership will attempt to show a 'kinder face' to its victims, and will promise to offer a 'new beginning' to those who, in one guise or another over the years, they have terrorised - financially , morally and physically - but only if those people give their unconditional support to the 'RA'. In the best tradition of these gangsters, it is an 'offer' that best not be refused , least they take whatever it is you still possess. However , whether you attend their rally or not, or pledge your allegiance to them or not, or try and stay neutral in the storm of their onslaught , one or other of the 'RA' family members or their close connections will get you one way or the other. Of that there is little doubt.

Details of the 'RA' Dublin rally can be had here , but be warned - whether you attend or not, pledge your support or not, oppose them or stay neutral - there is no escape from the 'RA' or from their 'family' connections. They have no reason to let you off their hook, even though they have already enriched themselves at your expense. They figure you have more to give..... [Postscript: apologises if you were led to believe that something other than the above would be posted here....;-) ]


TWO IRISH REPUBLICAN EVENTS WILL BE HELD THIS COMING SUNDAY , 12TH JANUARY 2014....

The Fearghal Ó hAnluain (Fergal O Hanlon) Monument in Monaghan.

This coming Sunday , 12th January 2014 , the Republican Movement will be holding two events - one in Monaghan , the other on the Dublin/Kildare border. At 2pm on that Sunday , republicans will assemble at the Cathedral in Monaghan and march from there to Latlurgan Cemetery , where a commemoration will be held for Fergal O Hanlon : incidentally , O Hanlon and the republican men and women of that era were regarded by nationalists and , indeed, former republicans at that time , as being irrelevant and unrepresentative of republicanism much the same as republicans today are regarded , by those in Leinster House and Stormont. But just as O Hanlon and the men and women of the 1950's took inspiration from those that went before them, so, too, do republicans today take inspiration from Fergal and his comrades.

A cousin-in-law of Feargal's , Maitiu O Cinneide, wrote a song about Fergal which was recorded (on 78 disc!) , by Deirdre O Cinneide (Deirdre Donnelly)- these are the lyrics :

Oh hark to the tale of young Fergal O'h-Annluan

Who died in Brookboro' to make Ireland free

For his heart he had pledged to the cause of his country

And he took to the hills like a bold rapparee



And he feared not to walk to the walls of the barracks

A volley of death poured from window to door

Alas for young Fergal, his life blood for freedom

Oh Brookboro' pavements profused to pour



When the smoke and the dim from the battle was over

And Fergal was borne by his comrades away

He asked them to fly from that place and take cover

But he died in the hands of the foe that day



God strike from your hands all your hierlings and traitors

The weopens that murdered our brave volunteer

God grant us our freedom, the dreams of O'hAnnluain

And lift from our valleys all sorrow and fear.

If you can get there , please do - 2pm , the Cathedral in Monaghan , Sunday 12th January 2014.

The second event is a 650-ticket raffle , the first of 2014, which will be held in a hotel on the Dublin/Kildare border , also at 2pm on that same Sunday, the proceeds of which will help boost the coffers of the Republican Movement in Dublin , which I will be attending. And I'm sure Fergal will forgive my absence.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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THE 'RA' : EXTORTION OVER THE YEARS - DIFFERENT SUITS , SAME MORALITY, SAME OBJECTIVES : SELF ENRICHMENT.

EXCLUSIVE TO THIS BLOG : THE 'RA AND EXTORTION OVER THE YEARS , ITS 'TAXES' AND 'LEVIES' , ITS SO-CALLED 'ALLIES' AND 'ENEMIES' OVER THE YEARS , WHO HAVE AFFECTED IT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IN ONE OR OTHER OF ITS MANY GUISES : the article will be posted on this blog on Wednesday 8th January 2014 , come what may......

They wear a different political suit now than they did before, but the 'morality' of the balaclava-type method of doing 'business' , is exactly the same with them now as it was before they 'jumped ship'.

Extracts from the piece to be posted here on Wednesday 8th January 2014 : "...the 'RA' make their money from wheeling-and-dealing in the business world, from extorting money from anyone it can , when in a position to do so - employed , unemployed, rich or poor - in the guise of 'taxes' and 'levies' .....if the money is right - those armed gangs will do the same for the groups that the 'RA' claims to be opposed to , even though members of the 'RA' are known to have previous history with said groups.....to mercilessly use any means necessary to enrich themselves.... in the best tradition of these gangsters, it is an 'offer' that best not be refused , least they take whatever it is you still possess..... there is no escape from the 'RA' or from their 'family' connections...."

We expect some opposition from various quarters in relation to us posting this piece and , as such, a back-up of the piece has already been sent to two colleagues , one or other of whom will ensure publication here, should I be unable to do so myself. The 'RA' has powerful friends , but this piece deserves to be seen and it will be - on Wednesday 8th January 2014, on this blog.

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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DÁITHÍ Ó CONAILL COMMEMORATION , NEW YEARS DAY 2014 , GLASNEVIN CEMETERY, DUBLIN.

CUMANN NA MBAN VETERAN DELIVERS MAIN ORATION.

As with our swim report, we'll just give a quick mention of the weather on the day which, again, as with the Cabhair Swim (or any outdoor event) , is a vital element : it started raining heavily in Dublin on the morning of New Years Day at about 8am , it eased off at around 12 noon , stopped altogether at about 12.30pm and , despite a dark and threatening sky, somehow managed to stay dry for the following two hours, which was more than enough time to allow us, in some comfort (dry but very cold!) , to hold our commemoration for Dáithi Ó Conaill.

Approximately fifty people (and five 'Special Branch/Political Police' members) observed proceedings as the RSF Colour Party and Na Fianna Éireann members formed-up just inside the gates of Glasnevin Cemetery and , having taken up positions behind the uniformed republicans, the parade marched the short distance to the Republican Plot. The commemoration was Chaired by Andy Connolly , who welcomed all to the commemoration , and outlined how he and Dáithí had practically "grown up together in the republican family" , and highlighted various events and issues that Dáithí was involved in during his 36 years in the Movement.

As per a request from the Ó Conaill family , a Decade of the Rosary was recited by Padraig Ennis , following which the Chairperson asked Seán Ó Sé to play a Lament for the Dead on the tin whistle. A wreath from the Republican Movement was laid in the republican plot by Matt Conway and the oration was delivered by life-long republican and Cumann na mBan veteran , Peig King , Dublin, who gave a detailed account of Dáithí's early years in the Movement and outlined the many instances when their paths crossed , in Dublin and Donegal and all points in between. A full report on this commemoration will be published in the January 2014 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday 8th of this month. We post with this brief report a few pics taken at the commemoration, more of which can be viewed in 'Saoirse'.

Andy Connolly , Chairperson.

Peig King , giving the oration.

Andy and Peig.

Séan Ó Sé, playing the Lament for the Dead.

Paddy Ennis , saying a Decade of the Rosary.

Matt Conway , laying the wreath on behalf of the Republican Movement.

RSF Colour Party and NFÉ.

The National Anthem and the lowering of the flags, bringing proceedings to a close.

Finally , a reminder that the annual Seán Sabhat Commemoration will be held this coming Sunday , 5th January, in Mount St Lawrence Cemetery in Limerick ; those attending are asked to assemble at the Horse and Hound Pub in Mulgrave Street at 1pm, and all genuine republicans are welcome!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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DÁITHÍ Ó CONAILL : 'THE ABLEST MIND IN THE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS'.

DÁITHÍ Ó CONAILL COMMEMORATION TO BE HELD ON NEW YEARS DAY 2014.

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.)

We will post a brief report on the commemoration, with a few pics , on this blog , before the weekend. But if you can make it to the commemoration itself , please do - all genuine republicans welcome!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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CABHAIR SWIM , INCHICORE , DUBLIN , 25TH DECEMBER 2013 : WORDS AND PICS!

CABHAIR CHRISTMAS SWIM , 37TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR (1976-2013).

The six CABHAIR swimmers (including one whose hand is so glad to be out of the freezing water that it's laughing!) that took part in the Swim at the 3rd lock in Inchicore, Dublin, on Christmas Day 2013.

First , the weather forecast : the swim was held on what was the only dry and 'gale-less' day that we have had in Dublin in about two weeks , and not only that , but a wee bit of weak sunshine managed to land on and around the swim site for the four hours that the whole event lasted for. The only dark cloud was the presence of four Special Branch detectives (three male, one female) who were a bit more intrusive than they usually are and, indeed, threatened to arrest at least one person whom they felt was not co-operating with them to their satisfaction : a few words were exchanged and that threat came to nothing.

The annual 'Speech from The Lock' was , as usual, delivered by John Horan, Clondalkin, Dublin, during which Martin Corey , Marian Price and Stephen Murney were mentioned , and attention was also drawn to the fact that Cabhair had held similar fund-raising swims in that same week in Armagh , Coney Island in New York , Australia and , on New Years Day, a sponsored swim will be held on Banna Strand in Kerry - plus , when we were on site, we got word from the Wexford Swim that fourteen swimmers had earned their keep there, that same morning!

A crowd of about fifty people gathered at the site (with approximately two dozen others observing proceedings from the bridge) and all watched intently as six brave souls stripped off and eased, jumped and/or dived (!) into the cold waters in which , on the far side of the lock gates - mere meters from where the actual swim was taking place - lumps of ice could be spotted floating in the water and frost was visible on the grass! One of the swim organisers let it be known that , on Christmas Eve , at around lunch time, he had received a phone call from an RTE television reporter who wanted to verify the swim details re timimg, location etc and, when same was confirmed to the reporter, the swim organiser was told that an RTE TV crew would be on site between 11.30am and 12 Noon to record a few minutes of the activity for their news broadcast. And, as has happened before, no such RTE crew arrived. Self-censorship is still in operation, without a doubt.

Anyway : aside from the political police 'show' and the RTE 'no-show' , the Swim went according to plan , a decent amount of money was raised (with more to come!) , the fifty-or-so of us on the banks of the Grand Canal in Inchicore in Dublin had great craic ( with loud rebel music from, amongst others, the Pogues!) and the POW's and their families were remembered. We have , so far , about thirty pictures from the Swim which we publish with this report and a more detailed account of these Cabhair events will be carried in the January 2014 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday the 8th of that month. Enjoy the pics, and if we get more of same , we will post them here.

Frost on the grass , ice in the water : 3rd lock , Inchicore, Christmas Day.

An RSF banner , on display at the swim site.

The right of the people of Ireland....

Cabhair and RSF banners on display.

Cabhair Swim 'goodies' , available on a 'first up, best dressed' basis! And....

....a close-up of the offerings , with even more available....

...here!

Santa dropped in at about 10.30am for....

....a mince pie and a quick drink, after circumventing the globe , and....

...., satisfied that all was well, he settled-in to observe the swimmers, after which.....

...he hung around at the 'Goodie Table' !

A few of the many faces that stuffed themselves (!) at the 'Goodie Table' , once they noticed that Santa had no parcels with him!

The Swim fire, minutes after it was lit, and rough-and-ready 'mats' for the swimmers placed around it!

Meanwhile , on a serious note (!) , this is one of the two swimmers about whom debates are continuing as to whether they actually earned their sponsorship money or not , as 'floating above the water' , according to some, shouldn't count. And....

....this is the other contentious swim attempt : if floating is allowed, then walking on the water should be okay, as well !

And then there's this fella , who refused to get in under 'Health and Safety' legislation, claiming that there was "..something in the water waiting on me..." !

And whatever it was that was 'in there' , put this swimmer on the ropes...

This swimmer was heard to shout - "OH MY GOD! What was I thinking....." !

And this chancer said he wasn't getting in as "yer man" was doing a pee in the water....

....and this fella decided to jump in backwards so he wouldn't see any of the above-mentioned carry-on!

This fella was in shock when he was pulled out out of the water, and the swimmer behind him was seen rubbing his chin and going "Aahhh , dunno , maybe not...." !

And these two played the Gentleman - "You first" . "No, I insist...."

...and this fella spent the whole time "limbering up.." , as he called it....

....whilst this swimmer , Michael, from England, refused to jump in until he got his OWN towel!

The 'splashy thing' in the water chased a swimmer , but we shouted at him to get back in as it was safe enough 'cause we had it on camera....

Not sure if this is the 'splashy thing' or two swimmers....?

The six swimmers, posing for the cameras....

....after they dried themselves off....

....watched by the crowd in the dry 'seats' !

And they are white TOWELS , not flags - the 'splashy thing' lost , CABHAIR won!

And, finally -

Daniel, one of the CABHAIR Swimmers in Australia, doin' his stuff!

- thanks to CABHAIR for all the work and time they put in to organise all these fund-raisers and many thanks to the hundreds of people that sponsored and/or turned up on the day to show their support. Much appreciated!

Thanks for reading, Sharon.

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