MARTIN McDERMOTT , 1823-1905 : YOUNG IRELANDER .......
....... Martin McDermott's mentor , Patrick Byrne , had been 'out' with the United Irishmen as a young boy of 15 ; he went on to design and build some of Leinster's better-known landmarks . He died in 1864 , at 81 years of age .......
When Daniel O'Connell's 'Repeal Association' split , ostensibly due to O'Connell acquiescing to British demands that he cancel his planned 'Monster Meeting' for October 1843 , the militant 'Young Ireland' group stated that O'Connell's leadership had failed to address the threat " of the decay of Irish culture , language and custom " under British influence .
One of the many who left the 'Repeal Association' to lead the 'Young Ireland' Movement , John Mitchel , the son of a Northern Presbyterian Minister , called on the Irish people to strike back against the British -
- " England ! All England , operating through her government : through all her organised and effectual public opinion , press , platform , parliament has done , is doing , and means to do grievous wrongs to Ireland . She must be punished - that punishment will , as I believe , come upon her by and through Ireland ; and so Ireland will be avenged ! "
It was a sentiment with which Martin McDermott agreed .......
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
1921 - The Big Round-Up.......
" I was armed and going cross-country to a British Army military camp to have a go at them ; I was walking beside a dried-up ditch when I heard voices and noise near me - I took cover in the ditch . Only yards in front of me , the group I was hiding from almost fell into the ditch ......."
"The fright they got naturally loosened their tongues and I knew by their accents that they were not of the enemy . Curiosity got the better of me - " Where the devil are ye going to ? " I asked them , thinking at the same time that perhaps the enemy was not far behind them . The voice immediately behind them caused the utmost confusion amongst them : they were not IRA Volunteers but said they would help as best they could . They had come from the Ballyvourney district to avoid being rounded up ; I asked them where they proposed going to avoid capture . " To Doiranaonaig " , they replied . " There is a British Army camp at Doiranaonaig " , I told them , and pointed out the great danger of travelling together in a group .
They had come down on the road talking loudly , and had the enemy been in my place they would have been greeted with a volley ; questions would be deferred until too late . There were many other reasons why they should not have left home at all . I had pity for them travelling thus , a target for the enemy - I asked them if they knew any friends to the south-east , and one of the group said he had relations a few miles away in that direction , so it was decided to go to that place . Before leaving , they told me the news of the day from Ballyvourney . A number of prisoners had been brought in by the Brits .
Among the prisoners there were a few members of my IRA Column ......."
(MORE LATER).
TALKING TO THE PROVISIONALS.
" The British Government has twice entered into detailed negotiations with representatives of the IRA . Nollaig O Gadhra recalls the talks that took place exactly ten years ago between the Northern Ireland (sic) Office and the Provisional Republican Movement . "
By Nollaig O Gadhra .
(From 'The Sunday Press' newspaper , 10th February 1985).
Re-produced here in 12 parts .
1 of 12 .
When the British Government , through its spokespersons from Stormont Castle , met the Provos to negotiate a continuation of the 1974 Christmas Truce , on 19th January 1975 , they made four main points :
* We are prepared for (our) officials to discuss with members of Provisional Sinn Fein how a permanent cessation of violence might be agreed and what would be the practical problems to be solved .
* We are , as we have already said , prepared for (our) officials to engage in a discreet exchange of views with Provisional Sinn Fein on matters arising from their objectives . We would not exclude the raising of any relevant questions .
* Our representatives would remain , as at present , for both sets of talks . We would be content to engage in these consecutively or in parallel , but the urgency of the ceasefire question suggests that this should be taken first .
* The representation would have to be within the terms of the statement in parliament about not negotiating with the IRA though being ready to speak to Provisional Sinn Fein .
(MORE LATER).
