Dublin Ógra Shinn Féin activists travelled to Howth on Saturday to take part in a day of activities to commemorate the Howth gun-running of 1914.The significant milestone in Irish history was in response to the arming of the Ulster Volunteers. The weapons, from Hamburg in Germany were to be used to to arm the Irish Volunteers in the run up to the 1916 rising. Nine hundred Mauser rifles 29,000 rounds of ammunition were to prove pivotal in the events of Easter Week.Dublin Ógra activists from across the county arrived in Howth in the afternoon. Donning replica Irish Volunteers uniforms, they distributed leaflets in English, Irish, Spanish and Polish to the many locals and tourists who had gathered to watch the commemoration take place. After the distribution of thousands of leaflets and... Similar posts

This seems appropriate given the debate over here… thanks to those who forwarded it to the CLR. Here’s the SF Bodenstown speech on the very interesting An Phoblacht online site – of which more later… Oration by Valerie Hayes, member of Central Executive Committee / Ard Comhairle of the Workers’ Party at the annual Theobald Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown, Co. Kildare on Sunday 4th July 2010 WP Ard Comhairle member Valerie Hayes Valerie Hayes at Bodenstown Comrades and friends, When we gather here to commemorate the life and ideals of Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen, we also celebrate the entire radical, republican, and socialist tradition from which our party has sprung. When we look at those who inspire us individually and as a movement they all... Similar posts

A Moral Quagmire Punctuated by Political IndifferenceSexual Crime in IrelandBy theirishobserver.blogspot.comSexual crimes cover a wide range of behaviour and events. These crimes are compounded by the intense emotions involved in sexual behaviour, the distortion that can be caused to an individuals sexual identity by sexual crimes being perpetrated upon them, by the dominant sexual culture and by moral and religious dimensions (O’Mahony.1996). Particularly in the past two decades with the advent of the proliferation of media and in particular new technologies, we are more acutely aware of the many cases of sexual crime coming before the Courts and perhaps in greater number, persons claiming to have been raped and sexually abused when they were children being held in institutions of... Similar posts

A Moral Quagmire Punctuated by Political IndifferenceSexual Crime in IrelandBy theirishobserver.blogspot.comSexual crimes cover a wide range of behaviour and events. These crimes are compounded by the intense emotions involved in sexual behaviour, the distortion that can be caused to an individuals sexual identity by sexual crimes being perpetrated upon them, by the dominant sexual culture and by moral and religious dimensions (O’Mahony.1996). Particularly in the past two decades with the advent of the proliferation of media and in particular new technologies, we are more acutely aware of the many cases of sexual crime coming before the Courts and perhaps in greater number, persons claiming to have been raped and sexually abused when they were children being held in institutions of... Similar posts

Ah, another week of fun and frolics. What does the second chamber of our bicameral legislature offer us? Well, one Senator is very certain he knows what’s going on in Irish political polling and the masterminds behind the current chaos in our political parties of the centre right and if you want to know about that scroll right to the end. Another, a friend of the Cedar Lounge Revolution, is attacked outside Leinster House while another unlikely individual calls for stimulus… Let us start with an outline of the financial crisis… Senator Dan Boyle: The House would be served well by having a debate on the draft terms of reference for the commission of inquiry into the banking crisis. The Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service has received the draft terms... Similar posts

Let’s stick with the old Kremlinology for the time being, because I want to discuss That Mysterious Email and matters arising. Many of you will already have heard of That Email that’s doing the rounds, the one that when you click on the attachment sets off all sorts of alarms and sternly warns you that your IP address has been logged and if you’re viewing this content without authorisation you will be liable for divers lurid punishments in this life and the next. There are several curious things about this. One is that the email emanates from the Diocese of Westminster, not an organisation known to be overburdened with computer whizzkids. However, the email itself is advertising an upcoming seminar to be held Monday week at Eland House, the corporate headquarters of the... Similar posts

A Moral Quagmire Punctuated by Political IndifferenceSexual Crime in IrelandBy theirishobserver.blogspot.comSexual crimes cover a wide range of behaviour and events. These crimes are compounded by the intense emotions involved in sexual behaviour, the distortion that can be caused to an individuals sexual identity by sexual crimes being perpetrated upon them, by the dominant sexual culture and by moral and religious dimensions (O’Mahony.1996). Particularly in the past two decades with the advent of the proliferation of media and in particular new technologies, we are more acutely aware of the many cases of sexual crime coming before the Courts and perhaps in greater number, persons claiming to have been raped and sexually abused when they were children being held in institutions of... Similar posts

A Moral Quagmire Punctuated by Political IndifferenceSexual Crime in IrelandBy theirishobserver.blogspot.comSexual crimes cover a wide range of behaviour and events. These crimes are compounded by the intense emotions involved in sexual behaviour, the distortion that can be caused to an individuals sexual identity by sexual crimes being perpetrated upon them, by the dominant sexual culture and by moral and religious dimensions (O’Mahony.1996). Particularly in the past two decades with the advent of the proliferation of media and in particular new technologies, we are more acutely aware of the many cases of sexual crime coming before the Courts and perhaps in greater number, persons claiming to have been raped and sexually abused when they were children being held in institutions of... Similar posts

Return to WorksWallsMarket Street, Derry, silver gelatin print, toners and watercolours, 120cms x 193cms, 1989.Londonderry, or Derry as it is familiarly know (through the respective appellations indicate the official protestant and catholic attitudes to the city) has been the definitive symbol of the Irish protestant’s determination to register a ‘No Surrender’ response to any threat, real or apparent, to their way of life. It is a symbol with a three - hundred year lineage. For the siege of Derry, one of the most famous stories in Irish history took place in 1689. It was a key point, not only in Irish history, but in a major European war. As J.G. Simms remarked in his authoritative The Siege of Derry (APCK, Dublin 1966, rep.1987) from an Irish point of view ‘it was a desperate... Similar posts

In his column on Saturday, this paper’s political editor Stephen Collins outlined (using many historical examples) why there is an, ahem, certain reluctance on the part of the Government to call any of the three byelections in a hurry. He also argued that the precedent shows that the more you delay the more you are damaged. History will give Brian Cowen little succour. The last incumbent Government to win a byelection was Fianna Fail and that was almost 30 years ago, when Noel Treacy won Galway East in 1992. Since then the opposition has triumphed in these mini-plebiscites on the Government’s performance. If a Government is strong, it makes little difference. The Fianna Fail and PD coalition lost both the Meath and Kildare byelections in 2005; the opposition claimed the... Similar posts

Late again, but worth a thought. Stephen Collins had a curious column last week. Particularly curious, given his thoughts in previous weeks about a new ‘populist’ party… Let’s start with this... FINE GAEL has done itself no favours by attempting to turn a European Commission proposal on budget co-ordination across the EU into a scare about the erosion of Irish sovereignty. In their scramble to score points against the Government, Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton have only done damage to their own credibility as potential leaders of an alternative government. One of the guiding principles of Fine Gael for the past 40 years has been an unwavering commitment to the European project. That is what makes such an ill-judged reaction from the party leadership to a modest... Similar posts

Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 / Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989....."The mind boggles at an administration which bails out a private company by restricting the future growth possibilities of a state company in which all Irish taxpayers are the shareholders. Perhaps Aer Lingus will have to start paying secret party contributions just as it seems a weak-kneed RTE management now apologise to a State Minister for having the cheek to ask him something every citizen has a right to know - in case there might be another attempt to favour... Similar posts

Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 / Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989….. “The mind boggles at an administration which bails out a private company by restricting the future growth possibilities of a state company in which all Irish taxpayers are the shareholders. Perhaps Aer Lingus will have to start paying secret party contributions just as it seems a weak-kneed RTE management now apologise to a State Minister for having the cheek to ask him something every citizen has a right to know - in case there might be another attempt... Similar posts

John Waters is troubled by the minor outbreaks of violence during the week. Not very troubled for he sees it as unserious. And in that he may well be correct. But he starts, as ever, with something insipid about ideology. Catching sight last week of a poster advertising a “Right to Work” event, I was put in mind of Ali G’s deadpan question to Tony Benn: “Everyone’s goin’ on about the right to work – what about the right not to work?” It’s a good joke, because it touches on something fundamental: the inability of ideologies to comprehend human desire for happiness resides neither in working nor not working, but always in a “something else”, and contingent on factors that change as that-which-is-desired is attained. Is he entirely serious? Has he read Marx, or indeed... Similar posts

The following text was distributed to every household in the greater Ardoyne area on Thursday past.....The Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective or G.A.R.C. was formed after an Orange Parade was forced through the Ardoyne area last July. Prior to the march, dozens of residents attempted to demonstrate their opposition to the unwelcome parade but were prevented from holding a peaceful protest due to the hostile actions of the RUC/PSNI. This triggered a predictable response from young people which the PSNI responded to in time honoured fashion with batons, water cannon and plastic bullets. Afterwards, a number of public meetings were held to prevent future parades from taking place and ending the cycle of associated violence. In September a meeting took place in Ardoyne Hall attended by a... Similar posts

Or should We Rephrase NO to Public Assembly and  YES to Orange Trampling Bill! The Sinn Fein Leadership’s lurch to the right has been highlighted by its incessant quest for Policing and Justice powers to be devolved by Royal Assent to the neo-liberal and partitioned Six County Stormont Executive. Part of this Stormont Executive salvage mission has been movement on the conjoined issue of Parades and the proposed abolition of the Parades Commission is a centre-piece of the DUP’s negotiating platform.    On the 20th April 2010, the First Minister (Peter Robinson) and Deputy First Minister (Martin McGuinness) published draft legislation in the form of the “Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill”. If the Bill becomes law, ALL gatherings involving 50 or more... Similar posts

So, last time we had a look at the mental health issues in the manifestos of the two main unionist parties in Northern Ireland. Today it’s the turn of the two main nationalist parties, Sinn Féin (SF) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). There is a certain curiosity in the potential influence of both of these parties. SF, perhaps unsurprisingly, may take a certain amount of interest in the politics of the Irish Republic, discussed mainly in its Parliament, the Dáil. In that regard, their policies might not necessarily fit a similar pattern to those of the other Northern Ireland parties, which are more likely to be influenced by their colleagues in Westminster. More surprising is the fact that, despite their status as supporters of a United Ireland, it’s... Similar posts

AROUND 35 concerned and affected residents and businesspeople from all over Clonakilty attended last Thursdays public meeting at O’Donovan’s Hotel, on the topic of reckless driving on the streets and roads of Clonakilty and surrounding areas. However, there was huge disappointment and frustration, bordering on anger from some at the meeting that no representative from An Gárda Síochána was present to address peoples concerns. Local Sinn Féin Town Councillor Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, who organised the meeting, welcomed everyone, in particular the Town Mayor, Cllr Anthony McDermott. Cllr Kevin O’ Regan, TC gave his apologies, as had around 10 other residents as well as people from Ardfield, who were unable to attend due to other commitments on the night. In his introduction, he... Similar posts

In the same week as Policing and Justice has been transferred from London to the devolved Stormont administration, the trial of Gerry McGeough has opened in Belfast. McGeough, a former senior official of Sinn Féin and member of its ard Comhairle; and the much feared Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade, is charged with PIRA membership in 1975, and the attempted murder of a UDR man in 1981, making him the first former member of the PIRA to be placed on trial in the North for historical crimes since the 1998 Good Friday agreement.McGeough, a staunch Roman Catholic, is the type of Irish Republican who would rather defy his God than the oath he took to the Irish Republic. Nevertheless, since the ceasefire he has refused to join any of the armed republican groups. He retrained as a teacher and... Similar posts