Saturday, May 14, 2011

THE FIANNA FÁIL STORY.......

The Rise And Decline Of Fianna Fáil , by Kevin Boland - Mercier Press.

Seán Lemass And The Making Of Modern Ireland , by Paul Bew and Henry Patterson - Gill and Macmillan.

By Roy Johnston.
From 'Gralton' magazine, Aug/Sept 1983.

On the whole , this is an unsatisfactory analysis of the period , unlikely to fuel the necessary synthesis of the national-democratic and socialist forces. It should , however, be bought and read for the partial insights it gives as it might stimulate a response from some marxist academic who understands what imperialism is all about and has some feel for the complexities of the Irish national question - if there be any such who has managed to survive with integrity the academic brain-washing machine.

[END of 'THE FIANNA FÁIL STORY'.]
(NEXT : 'LAW IN DISORDER' , from 2002.)





THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.
From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

" I did not have a 100% recollection of my conversation with the Taoiseach as I was a bit muzzy and bloody from the medical tests but I am quite certain that I told him of Captain Kelly's prominent part in the Baileboro meeting with known members of the IRA , of his possession of a wad of money , of his standing drinks and of the sum of money - £50,000 - that would be made available for the purchase of arms.

I remember a conjecture of the Taoiseach as to where could they possibly get it and my suggestion that perhaps 'Mr Y' or 'Mr Z' , two millionaires of the TACA Group, might put up the money and the Taoiseach's observation that those boys didn't give it up easily.

In the aftermath of that discussion the Minister for Defence , Mr Gibbons , sent for Col. Hefferon , the Director of Military Intelligence , and questioned him about the Baileboro meeting and Captain Kelly's part in it. Col. Hefferon's versions are given extensively in his evidence before the CPA in Booklets No. 7, 8, 15 , 16 , 19 and 33 , while Mr Gibbon's evidence which is contradictory is given in Booklet 24 , Paragraph 11150 :
" I am absolutely certain that I was never informed of the Baileboro meeting and that the reference to it in the Four Courts is the first reference I can recall..." and at Paragraph 11168 : "There was no question of a complaint from the Taoiseach that I can recall . Absolutely none..." "
(MORE LATER).






AN ENGLISH QUEEN IN IRELAND.....



















The 'Cairo Gang' , dispatched to Dublin by Westminster in 1920 in an attempt to militarily secure 'the Union' : the modern-day equivalent of that bunch of British marauders are in Dublin now , in an attempt to militarily secure another Westminster objective - that of securing safe passage for their (Commander-In-) Chief Paymaster. One wishes them the best of luck.....




......and speaking of (pro-) British gangs of marauders , we were unfortunate enough to be bumped into by this shower of armed thugs on Saturday , 7th May last , in O'Connell Street in Dublin , at the RSF-organised Hunger Strike Commemoration -



- and they will no doubt be part of the 'queens own guard' whilst she is amongst us , but you won't recognise them ; they'll be washed , shaved and suited (in more ways than one) for that particular job.





Assembly points for protests at visit of British Queen :

Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a series of protests during the visit of the Queen of England to Dublin on May 17th/18th 2011 and in Kildare on May 19th -

On May 17th Republican Sinn Féin will assemble at the Black Church, St Mary’s Place
(facing Granby Row and the Maldron Hotel) in Upper Dorset St at 12 noon.

On Wednesday May 18th we will assemble at the junction of Summerhill Parade and Portland Row at 12 noon and, that same evening, we will assemble at the junction of New St and Nicholas St near St Patrick’s Cathedral at 5pm.

On Thursday May 19th in Kildare Town at 10am in the Market Square.

Some venues may be subject to change ; for up to date information contact Republican Sinn Féin Ard Oifig at: 01 8729747 / 087 9374277.




New York protest re English 'queen' in Ireland...

Great to see that an event of this nature has been organised -

"Ireland’s exiled children in America will gather at the Great Hunger Memorial to help put the English Queen’s state visit in proper perspective. Brief vignettes of famine stories will be read to provide historical context. Instead of bouquets of flowers, she will be presented with a list of her crimes against Irish humanity. A piper will lead her to be judged by a jury of starving and exiled Irish men and women.
All over Ireland, protests are planned for Queen Elizabeth’s visit on May 17th 2011. Irish Americans who wish to show solidarity should join Radio Free Eireann at the Great Hunger Memorial at 290 Vesey Street and North End Avenue in Battery Park City at 1:00 p.m."



And , staying on a U.S.-based theme , we want to remind our many readers in the States that the printed 'Voice of The Republican Movement' , the monthly newspaper 'SAOIRSE', is available in America for $30 a year subscription (12 issues) by writing to the following address :
Saoirse
PO BOX 1396
Laurence Harbor NJ 08879.



And finally.....

RSF banner in Rome , Italy , May 2011.

....a wee mention for our friends in Italy who recently held an anti-'royal' visit protest in Rome - WELL DONE ! It's heartening to see events of this nature being held by Irish Republicans and their supporters as it helps to remind a 'new audience' that , despite what some would have you believe , the so-called 'Irish Question' has not yet been fully 'answered' !

Thanks,
Sharon.







Wednesday, May 11, 2011

THE NATIVES PUT ON A LITTLE SHOW....






















"What an honour it is to be asked to sing in front of The Queen. I am so excited, and a little nervous to be honest. This is a dream come true, to be able to perform for somebody I have respected and admired for so long. I am thrilled....."
- Mary Byrne (more here.).

How truly sickening. Is this woman so desperate to escape from , and so ashamed off , her working-class roots that she will verbally prostitute herself in front of morally useless burdens on society like the British 'royal' family ?
Has she no 'bottom line' ? Must
everything be 'fair game' in her rush to join those she judges to be the 'elite' ? Is there nothing she won't 'sell' in order to 'escape' ? Has she no level-headed friends to advise her of where not to thread , of how far not to go ?
And it's just as sickening to realise that there are more of her type out there , willing to sell their spirit and their very soul to please the 'elite' , in the hope that they , too , will be lifted into a 'better Class' , an easier lifestyle , regardless of the fact that they must disown their own culture to do so -



Jedward - 'Poppy Lipstick...'


















- like the 'Jedward' twins who, like 'Queen Mary' , are more than willing to sell everything in their quest to 'make it'. Have those Irish people no shame ? To sell out is bad enough , but to do so with such gusto - and to the British 'establishment'- embarrasses all of us in the eyes of decent , respectable people everywhere. They should be ashamed of themselves for bringing such disrepute on the Irish. As Oscar Wilde put it - "The development of the race depends on the development of the individual , and where self-culture has ceased to be the ideal , the intellectual standard is instantly lowered , and, often , ultimately lost."

I hope all three - and those like them - make a financial fortune and move , permanently , out of Ireland. It would be the one good thing to come out of their betrayal......
Thanks for reading,
Sharon.







Sunday, May 08, 2011

Saturday 7th May 2011 , Dublin : Hunger-Strikers Rally and Commemorative Function/ Sunday 8th May 2011 : 650-ticket raffle.









The RSF-organised Hunger-Strikers Rally at the GPO in Dublin on Saturday 7th May 2011 was held , as advertised , despite a very heavy State Garda and Special Branch presence : Republican Sinn Féin members , supporters and a Colour Party formed-up on the traffic isle facing the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street where , after the 'warm-up' speaker had concluded - having delivered a detailed history on an Irish Republican POW , Joe Malone, who was force-fed whilst on hunger-strike - a musician on a Bagpipe played an Irish Republican Lament , following which the Chairperson , Andy Connolly , got proceedings under way. Andy named all 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers , giving a brief history of each man, and highlighted the seriousness of the situation being faced today by Irish POW's , as they are now victims of a system which gives them no option but to constantly protest for proper conditions.
That view was echoed by other speakers , including RSF Vice-President Fergal Moore
(pictured, above) , who also voiced opposition to the impending visit to Ireland by an English 'queen'.
The Chairperson brought the Rally to an end by thanking all present , including the RNU organisation , which was holding a 'No Royal Visit'-protest at the GPO and , following a rendition of our National Anthem on the Bagpipes , the RSF Rally ended.
A few photographs of same are published with this post, with a more detailed report to be published in the June 2011 issue of 'Saoirse' , which goes to print on Wednesday 8th June next.



'Political Status' Banner.



The Piper plays a Republican Lament.


"We are here today , in O'Connell Street in Dublin , to remember all 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers......"


Andy Connolly , Chairperson.


A section of the crowd.


RNU at the GPO.






HUNGER-STRIKERS COMMEMORATIVE FUNCTION , SATURDAY 7th MAY 2011 :










'The Druids' (pictured above) played to a full house , as expected , in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot to a very receptive audience , who cheered , clapped and sang-along with every rebel ballad during the almost three-hour session.
The group received loud applause after they issued a verbal statement from the stage in which they condemned recent 'advice offered to them' in relation to which organisations they should or should not take bookings from and stated , as Irish Republicans, they will not be intimidated , morally , financially or any other way, into ignoring the on-going political struggle in this country , regardless of the wishes of those that have attempted to issue 'stay-away advice' to them.
Before the ballad session began , an RSF spokesperson on stage welcomed the full house and highlighted the brutal treatment endured by all 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers , making particular reference to the conditions now being forced on Irish POW's , asking if the 'establishment' will ever learn , in this regard , from the mistakes they have made in the past in attempting to criminalise Irish Republican prisoners and the on-going Struggle itself.
'The Druids' played to their usual high standards , the crowd knew all the words and sang along , and the two car loads of Special Branch failed in their efforts to prevent people from entering the venue - a good night
(and early morning!) all round !






Some of the nine raffle prizes won on the night - and a special 'Go raibh maith agat' to Cathy , for her generous contribution to same : really appreciated , and much sought after on the night !



A section of the crowd at the ballad session.


The Hunger-Strike Commemorative Candle , donated by Cathy - and claimed by everyone in the audience !


More of the crowd at the ballad session.











Monthly 650-ticket raffle , Sunday 8th May 2011 :















Due to the fact that extra monthly raffle tickets were sold at the above-mentioned rally and ballad session , the 'Raffle Crew' were only left with 12 tickets to sell in a venue in which they normally sell between 30 and 50 - the regulars in the hotel were disappointed but were promised a 'freebie' next month , such was the desire of the 'Crew' to get out of there alive.... !
Anyway ; all tickets were sold , €440 was won in prize money and these are the lucky eight winners-
1st.............Kate................068.................Robbie.
2nd............Jack and Mick......271...............Gavin.
3rd............Teddy................485.................'Carristown'.
4th...........Óisin..................214...................Mullingar.
5th..........Cíaron................506....................PE.
6th.........Jem ..................011.....................RN.
7th.........Francis.............255.......................Gav.
8th.........Joe Ralph..........064......................'Tim Young'.


It was a very busy weekend in Dublin for the Republican Sinn Féin organisation , but one which they managed , professionally , in their stride : well done to all involved - you are a credit to Irish Republicanism!
Thanks for reading ,
Sharon.