JULY-DECEMBER 1921 : Revenge Attacks on Republicans During The 'Truce' .......
.......the 'Truce' between the Brits and the IRA came into effect on July 11th , 1921 ; but British soldiers and Officers in Ireland wanted revenge on Irish Republicans for past deeds , but their political leaders in Westminster told them any such action could jeopardise the peace talks - unless of course , such revenge attacks were carried-out in a manner by which it would not be clear who inflicted the injuries on , or caused the death of , the victim.......
It is probably correct to say that Westminster would have instructed its troops on the ground in Ireland that any military action they took would not be ' authorised' : under the terms of the 'Truce' , Irish Republicans , too , were ordered by their own leadership not to take any offensive military action against the Brits but were instructed to continue with military drills and to maintain their contact with , and use of, training camps in their area .
As well as obviously 'keeping the machine oiled' , the drilling and training camps kept the British alerted to the fact that political discussion was but one of the options open to the IRA ; thousands of armed IRA Volunteers took part in the drills and attended training camps throughout the 32 Counties of Ireland . Dozens , if not hundreds, of these Irish Republican activists were on the British 'MOST WANTED' list and had been 'living' underground (ie safe-houses, 'on-the-run' etc) up to the introduction of the 'Truce' - they were now openly walking around ...
...British troops and their colleagues in the Black and Tans , and the Auxiliaries and the RUC were 'chomping at the bit' to get at them , but were ('Officially') restrained from doing so by the terms of the 'Truce' ... but - 'no claim , no blame.....'
(MORE LATER). (...after the holidays!)
WHERE MOUNTAINY MEN HAVE SOWN :
war and peace in rebel Cork ,
in the turbulent years 1916-21.
By Micheal O'Suilleabhain : published 1965.
THE CASTLE OF MACROOM .......
".......we had marched 20 of the 30 miles ; we rested at Ullanes and were fed and , the following afternoon , were marching towards Macroom ......."
" We descended through Carraigaphooca , crossed the main Macroom-Killarney Road and , passing by the old castle, we crossed to the southern bank of the Sullane by the stepping stones . Upwards and to the south-east we crossed the third road to Macroom and passed through Dromonig and Brohaun to reach the southern road from Kilnamartyra to Macroom .
Moving paralel to this road , we reached the hill of Sleibhin on the twilight . Coming out on the road , we marched downhill on its grass margins until we reached the castle boundary wall . Climbing over the wall we dropped noiselessly into the castle grounds . Our scouts now got busy - like shadows they came and went ; we were led expertly forward , each IRA Section to its own position until the whole Column had noved within striking distance of both the castle door and gate .
A tedious and trying operation it was in itself for , apart from the terrace , the ground sloped upwards in front of the castle . Except for a few distant trees it was entirely devoid of shelter . Without doubt , all available cover around the terrace would , in the event of attack , be scourged with rifle-fire . The burning of a loyalist's house was to be the start of the first phase of the operation ; his house was overdue for burning , in any case , not because he was a loyalist but because he was an active agent who nightly entertained the Auxiliaries in the house .
The house would be plainly visible from the castle , and at no great distance from it . It was hoped that a strong party from the castle would rush to the scene to try to save the building ......."
(MORE LATER). (...after the holidays!)
' COLONEL OLIVER NORTH WOULD'NT DO ANYTHING THAT REAGAN DID'NT APPROVE ' .......
'The chain of events that has become known as IRANGATE is circling ever tighter around President Reagan . Sean Cronin draws together some of the links in the bizarre story'
First published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper , Tuesday , February 10th , 1987 , page 14 .
Re-produced here in 12 parts.
9 of 12.
A memorandum for the U S President , drafted by Colonel Oliver North and read by Admiral Poindexter to President Reagan , who initialled it , said - " Prime Minister Peres of Israel secretly dispatched his special adviser on terrorism with instructions to propose a plan by which Israel , with limited assistance from the U S , can create conditions to help bring about a more moderate Government in Iran . As described by the Prime Minister's Emissary , the only requirements the Israelis have is an assurance that they will be allowed to purchase U S replenishments for the stocks that they sell to Iran .
The Israelis are also sensitive to a strong American desire to free our Beirut hostages and have insisted that the Iranians demonstrate both influence and good intent by an early release of the five Americans . "
The first U S arms shipment followed in February (1986) but no hostages were released . It was flown to Israel from the U S by 'Southern Air Transport' which also supplied the Contras . Another American crew flew the weapons to Iran on an unmarked Israeli Air Force plane . Adnan Khasshoggi , a Saudi Arabian businessman and arms dealer , financed the deal , raising some of the money from Canadians .......
(MORE LATER). (...after the holidays!)
(Slan go foill anois - we should be back 'on air' on Saturday , 24th July - depending , dontcha know , on the cash flow...)
