Historians? Irish Times Censors Never Mind Lisbon. Brendan Clifford SIPTU on Budget What About London? Manus O'Riordan Labour Comment page 14 page 5 back page IRISH POLITICAL REVIEW ecember 2008 Vol.23, No.12 ISSN 0790-7672 and Northern Star incorporating Workers' Weekly Vol.22 No.12 ISSN 954-5891

War And Remembrance Budget 2009: Nationalist Ireland has this year celebrated the 90th anniversary of its victory in the End of an Era? Great War. All the stops were pulled out to glorify it and make us forget what it was. A fashionable theory about nations, advocated by Professor Comerford of Maynooth amongst many, is that they are "invented" by forgetfulness of their actual past and This was the first budget in more than mythical remembrance of a past that never was. Whatever about nations, that is certainly 20 years that was prepared in the context of recession and rapidly deteriorating .the way that the Great War is having greatness restored to it. At the end of the Great war the nationalist Irish responded to their experience of it by public finances. GNP will contract by 1% voting to have done with the Empire that launched it. In the mostly keenly contested next year. The budget itself and the manner election held in Ireland for a generation, in December 1918, the electorate brushed aside in which the political reaction was dealt the one party system established by John Redmond's movement by Tammany Hall with indicate that the Government is in a methods, and returned the Sinn Fein party. That was the originating act of Irish state of panic. This caused it to announce democracy. one set of measures, which were then The decision of the Imperial Parliament to carry on governing Ireland in defiance of amended piecemeal. the election result was the seminal action which rendered the Great War ideology For no good reason it has departed spurious and inaugurated a generation of authoritarianism and Fascism in European and from 20 years of coherent tax policy. The world affairs. key element in that tax policy involved a But the Great War is what our masters have decided that we should remember and diminution of the burden of tax on the low celebrate, and that the election is what we should forget. paid. This was underpinned by social The election is a "detail"—a word now much used by the academic historians who partnership. Of course there were other are paid to alter our memories. We thought that history consisted of details, and that the elements in those years. The high paid kind of history that transcended details was the "historicism" attributed to Soviet also received relief thanks to the Progres- ideology by two generations of Western historians and condemned. But it seems that sive Democrat influence but that was never we are mistaken. Truth lies beyond the details. an essential element in tax policy. In almost every budget since 1988 Tax President McAleese during the month opened an Archive and Research Centre Allowances and then Tax Credits have attached to Professor Comerford's Modern History Department at Maynooth. It is in a increased while the standard rate of tax building prepared for it by the Office of Public Works (whose Minister is Martin has remained stable or decreased. The Mansergh). This is to be a private research facility—that is to say, it will not be generally only exception I can think of in relation to open to the public as the National Library and the National Archive Centre are, though Tax Credits was the last of McCreevy's it is said that scholarly amateurs will be admitted. budgets in which the credits were increased The President said that the Centre was designed to produce a "new landscape". She by less than the rate of inflation. Brian deplored the old days of 'them and us', "in which so much energy was wasted along those Lenihan, in this budget, did not increase the Tax Credits at all. And since inflation continued on page 2 continued on page 4

and translator into Irish of French and German literature [and a Yiddish speaker The Great War: to boot!], who proudly described herself as a "Gaelic authoress" in the 1901 Census, Remembrance Or Poppycock? had always held a far different view than her brother concerning the wearing of US songwriter George M. Cohan, son Laurence Keohane, whose own first cousin British Army uniforms. A colleague and of Jeremiah Keohane of Clonakilty, West on his mother's side, John Sheehy, would collaborator of Padraig Pearse in An Cork, was the man who provided the be killed on the Somme front in 1918 Claidheamh Soluis, a founder of the Gaelic jingoistic musical accompaniment for while serving in the British Army's Royal League in the Clonakilty area and the America's entry into the Imperialist War Engineers. Irish-language editor of the Cork Sun, in 1917, with such songs as "You're A There was, indeed, hardly a family in Máire was responsible for organising the Grand Old Flag", "I'm A Yankee Doodle Ireland left untouched by the War that very successful Feiseanna in the early Dandy" and "Over There!" [with its refrain: Britain had launched on Germany in years of the twentieth century that for a "The Yanks Are Coming!"]. He was a August 1914. But John Sheehy's sister, time were held in conjunction with the second cousin of my maternal grandfather, Máire Ní Shíthe, a native Irish speaker Clonakilty Agricultural Show. That is, continued on page 9 But are the descendants of those who lived a chosen life of social exclusion, or C O N T E N T S exclusiveness, in the Big Houses, still War And Remembrance. Editorial 1 people apart, "incomprehensible Budget 2009: End Of An Era? John Martin 1 strangers", who can only enter the body The Great War: Remembrance Or Poppycock? Manus O'Riordan 1 politic if we pretend the history of Ireland Editorial Digest (Irish Fascism; British Military Parade; Great War; Durkan Gurning) 2 for a couple of centuries was other than it Readers' Letters: From Australia. Patrick O'Beirne 3 actually was? Junk Economics. M. O'Riordan (Irish Times' PD Censoring of SIPTU on Budget) 5 SIPTU'S Censored Comment On The Budget. Report 7 There is only one Them and Us in Thoughts At Cork City Hall. Jack Lane (Report of 'Lest We Forget' Leaflet, Ireland today: the Protestant community with photo) 10 in the North, which the President compared Poppy Day. Wilson John Haire (A Sonnet) 11 to the Nazis a few years ago, and the Catholic community which certain Blair Says Muslim "Extremists" All "The Same Forces". David Morrison 11 elements in the South have been trying to Shorts from the Long Fellow (Karl Marx; The Internet; Prescott; Nietzsche; disown for a generation. What effect will Coolacrease; Peter Hart) 12 falsification of national history through Little Boy Soldiers. Pat Walsh 13 the medium of the Big Houses have on the Thermobaric Bombs. (Report from Eamon Dyas) 13 Ulster Unionists? It is unlikely to have Historians. Brendan Clifford (Part 1) 14 any effect. The Ulster Protestants have Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy 16 little affection for the Big House Ascend- Ireland 'Betrayed' Before First World War Ended. Brian Murphy (Report) 17 ancy in the rest of the country, and the Big Coolacrease. Offaly Express; Philip O'Connor; Pat Muldowney 18 House nostalgia cultivated by the Southern Fintan's Faulty (?) Ear. Seán McGouran 21 revisionists does not embrace the socially Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Auditor Report; Where Is The Money Spent? connected Big Houses of the North. By far the most influential Big House in the Gun Licences; The Environment; British Democracy) 22 country was Mountstewart, seat of the Parade Of Death David Morrison (Report) 23 Stewart/Castlereagh/Londonderry Index 2008 23 dynasty. It is open to visitors, and is Muriel MacSwiney's Memoir (Part Two) 25 visited, in the way that English Big Houses Labour Comment, edited by Pat Maloney: are, as a place of consequence. But, while Never Mind Lisbon: What About London? Big House nonentities are being dredged back page up for specious nostalgia around the New National Wage Deal Republic, the Londonderry phenomenon page 27 is abominated. The Great War is the means by which formidable demarcation lines of Catholic into Them, retrospectively, in a project the Republic tries to make contact with and Protestant, of landlord and tenant, of that is to be called 'history' but that is the Ulster Unionists. But when nationalist Irish and Anglo", but said that those entirely policy. And the scholarly amateurs Ireland confesses that it was wrong about wasteful divisions have begun to give way who are to be allowed to take part in it the Great War, and indulges in orgies of to a shared purpose to shape a shared must submit to this policy directive. celebration, it tells the Unionists nothing future (IT 14.11.08). It seems that the Centre will focus on they have not always known. And, since The Centre is located in Castletown the Big House, the Anglo-Irish oases that the confession is obviously made for an House, Col. Kildare, which— were once dotted around the country. But ulterior motive, it is actively counter- "was once a Big House, a place of and they are no longer to be called Anglo. And productive. for privileged elites, its demeanour less yet if they had not been Anglo they would Two noteworthy statements were lost than welcoming to the masses. Today it not have been laid low by the Irish national amidst the deluge of re-hashed Great War belongs to the people and is at their development. propaganda. One was by Peter Levy, a service. It will hold protect and tell the The President said that the present is Cork-based Jew who said in an Irish stories of privileged and poor alike, for, full of "toxic weeds generated by Examiner supplement that he thought it without all sides to our many stories, we oppression". Those weeds are now to be would have been better for the world if remain in danger of not just misrepre- cleared away. And it seems that the method Germany had won. The other was by senting our past or having it misrepre- of clearing them away is to present a Myles Dungan in the Daily Mail, Irish sented to us but we remain in danger of schematic history from which they are edition, who wrote: knowing our neighbours only as incom- "The Irish experience of the First prehensible strangers? (ibid). absent—which is the 1984 method; the method heretofore seen as authoritarian World War was, emphatically, not a part In short, Irish history is to be abolished. brainwashing. of the foundation myth of the Irish state… For centuries it consisted in the conflict of "Ransacking the past for edited That, however, does not mean it should "them and us", which was insisted upon highlights with which to distort history be ignored and that we cannot join with by them—the conflict of Protestant against has been commonplace and damaging", other European nations in reminding ourselves of the lies that bind, especially Catholic, and landlord against tenant, of the President said. No doubt we are the at a time when a brutal war is still being ransackers of the past who dig up details British against Irish. What else is Irish fought in Iraq, itself based on a monu- history under the Cromwellian and like the 1918 Election and the Westminster mental fabrication. Williamite conquests and plantations, from response to it, and the Whitehall manipul- "Notions of democracy and the free- the 17th to the early 20th centuries? ation of the Treatyites into 'Civil War'. dom of small nations… were concepts That is how it was. That is how every And the scholarly amateurs admitted to later pitched to the wagon. They were representative figure of Them and Us knew the Centre will not be encouraged to grafted on to give genocidal bloodbaths it during those centuries. In the end they investigate the part played by the Big a retrospectively idealistic gloss. The failed. But now we are to be subsumed House in those events. First World War was an exercise in 2 breathtaking cynicism. It was about making the world safe for oligarchy… LETTERS TO THE EDITOR · LETTERS TO THE EDITOR· LETTERS TO THE EDITOR· "In some respects, Remembrance Day has become a mere celebration of na- tionalism, even triumphalism… "Now that some memory of national- ist Ireland's involvement in the First From Australia World War has been restored, …it is time to seize Our War back from chau- The present ALP Federal government appears to be abiding by its promises to vinism… We must do so “lest we for- abolish the Work Choices legislation, but it is taking a long time to do so, mainly because get” that it is possible for the agenda- they are being careful to ensure that the new legislation is idiot-proof and cannot be setters to frame a cynical conflict in repealed if and when the Tories regain power. terms of crusade and sacrifice. We need The government has managed to ensure that the A W As were made illegal. These a uniquely Irish form of annual com- were the "agreements" that workers were obliged to sign to obtain a job and which memoration and we need a uniquely permitted the employers to "legally" cut pay and conditions of work regardless of how Irish symbol as a poppy substitute… damaging this activity might be to the workers. The Rudd government says they will "We must commemorate. But we have the new legislation in place by January 2009. must know what we are remembering The Opposition have agreed that the present Government does have an electoral and why…" (11.11.08). mandate to implement the changes to Howard's industrial relations legislation. However there is a problem with most new legislation other than Work Choices. This came about It is a sign of our time that it takes an as the result of the bigotry and stupidity of the Right Wing of the Victorian branch of the English newspaper—the Daily Mail !!— ALP, who in the 2004 general election gave their second preferences to a crazy to say that. Christian, in order to block the election of a Green senator. Nobody thought the Christian would be elected, but he surprised everybody by winning the third Senate seat in Victoria by the slimmest of margins. He still has another two years to serve in the Senate. Thus urgent legislation is now being held up, or amended, because of the stupidity of the Right-wing of the Victorian ALP. Editorial Digest Drastic changes have also occurred here in NSW. These changes also have their Irish Fascism Reflecting on the Era of origin in the faction-ridden nature of the ALP. In the distant past the ALP used to be made Fascism in Ireland was the title of Roy up mostly of people of Irish Catholic backgrounds, who were frequently referred to as Garland's regular Monday Column in the "the Irish Mafia". Naturally they were bitterly anti-communist and regularly made deals Irish News on 16th November. It was apt, with the employers. As a reward for these dirty deals the employers enacted the though not in the way that Garland industrial legislation which forced all workers to join a union. In return, the bosses intended. This year Irish fascism was deducted the union dues from the workers' pay packets and forwarded the money to the celebrating its 75th anniversary—the relevant union offices. Ballots for union leadership positions were conducted by the founding of Fine Gael. But Garland tried State Electoral Commissions and voting was compulsory. In return for these concessions in his article to link fascism with the the unions went easy on the bosses when negotiating pay and conditions. All this was Republican Movement. Whatever fascism done under the rubric of anti-communism. These laws were also very much appreciated involves, and it involves a lot of things, it by the union bosses who had a taste for corruption. The Oz do not like to be reminded stands for a pure kind of local nationalism. of these dubious goings on. German, Italian and Spanish fascists in Naturally, there was a strong group of trade unionists, mostly connected to the the 1930s couldn't stand the sight of each Communist Party, who opposed these corrupt practices. These unions included the coal- other. English fascists were different and miners, the metal workers, the waterside workers, the seamen, the transport workers, the took on the form of mainstream—that was crane drivers, and the building workers. Thus there was considerable competition for because of the imperialist factor. Churchill members and for union leadership jobs brought about by the fact that there were was a supporter of Mussolini and of Hitler frequently duplicate unions covering the same work. This situation frequently led to a in the early days. Unlike Mussolini he good deal of struggle between the Left and Right in the workplaces and in the law courts. added racism and anti-semitism (optional With the collapse of the Soviet Union the workers in the so-called Left unions switched extras) to the mix. their allegiances to the Socialist Left of the ALP, or to the Greens. Since its foundation The Republican Movements, in all their the BMUC Inc has always been on the Left. guises, were internationalists in their John Howard abolished all government ties with the right-wing unions and the ALP interests, their outlooks and their practices. when he was elected in 1996. The result was that the Left/Right divisions in the labour Wolfe Tone was a French Republican. movement and the unions frequently became blurred and suddenly we saw some raging Young Ireland and the Fenians were part Right-wingers starting to co-operate with the Left. Thus the result of Howard's blatant of the European revolutionary movements. aggression towards all things related to workers actually reduced antagonisms between James Connolly, Roger Casement and Left and Right wing workers. The net result was that we now have two erstwhile Left- Padraig Pearse were allies of Germany, wingers elected as the Premier and the Deputy Premier of what was previously a very Connolly being closely allied with German Right Wing NSW State government. The Cabinet now consists of a mixed bag of Left Social Democracy. DeValera stood with and Right members of parliament. the independence movement of India and This change of leadership was effected when the NSW Premier, the Right Winger, is feted there as an heroic figure to this Morris Iemma, and his Treasurer, the Trotskyist, Michael Costa, were forced to resign day. Much of the core of the post-Treaty by the party organisation and the unions because of their attempts to privatise the system Republican movement took themselves of electricity generation and supply in NSW. Iemma and Costa defied the decision of the off to Spain to fight against Franco. NSW ALP State Conference and proclaimed that they were going to sell the electricity Goulding's IRA, for worse or for better, system regardless of the opposition of the State Conference. This dispute raged for aligned itself with the Soviet Union on months, but eventually the privateers were forced to resign from parliament. Electricity ideological grounds. The Provos decorated generation will not now be privatized any time soon and the Labour movement is their areas with murals celebrating apparently united. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future. struggles for freedom throughout the Patrick O Beirne world, and were particularly supportive (More next month!) continued on page 8 3 right to Medical Cards for the over 70s. the doctors. At the time of writing a new The level of national outcry was deal is being negotiated whereby a standard Budget surprising (I don't remember Charlie rate of €290 per person will be paid to McCreevy being hailed as a national hero doctors for all Medical Card holders. This continued when the measure was originally will at least eliminate the incentive for introduced in the budget before the 2002 Doctors to move out of working class is expected to be at 2.5% next year the real General election). The problem was that areas, but it looks like the medical value of the credits has decreased. the measure was originally introduced in profession has been bought off in order to haste for electoral reasons without avert a political crisis. 1% LEVY considering how it would be implemented. The Government has suffered badly in To add insult to injury, Lenihan As a result the Irish Medical Organisation, the opinion polls as a result of its climb introduced a 1% Income Levy on all which was then led by the current Fine down, but it can at least console itself that income up to €100,000. Income above Gael spokesman, Dr. James O'Reilly, had the Opposition has shown yet again that it that will be subject to a 2% levy. Following the Government over a barrel. O'Reilly is unfit to govern. The Fine Gael Front- public outcry—in particular, pressure from can hardly be blamed for hypocrisy for Bench spokesman, Leo Varadkar, thinks the Unions—the levy was dropped for representing his members' interests in 2001 that there was nothing wrong with the individuals on the minimum wage. But while denouncing the Government in former arrangement for the over 70s. If it other low income workers will continue to 2008. But the Government can be blamed was generous, it was to compensate the be affected. To compensate for the loss of for caving in to this interest group. doctors for the other Medical Card rates, revenue Lenihan added a further tier to the The IMO succeeded in extracting a which he thinks were too low. In his letter Levy for those with the highest income, €640 payment per year per patient from to The Irish Times (21.10.08) it is clear who will pay 3% on income above the Government. This compared to €170 that he does not wish to tackle the doctors €250,000. The Levy is intended to be a for other adults on the Medical Card because they are: temporary expedient, rather than a perman- scheme and €80 per child eligible for a "…an easy target. They are relatively ent change to the tax system. Medical Card. The social effect was that wealthy and are not numerous". The present writer can see the merit of many GPs were moving out of working Those poor wealthy doctors! an Income Levy in these straitened times. class areas to concentrate on servicing the Varadkar concludes his letter by The tax payer cannot use Tax Credits more lucrative new entrants to the Medical taunting the Government on the issue of against it to reduce his liability. But it Card scheme. teachers' pay without indicating if Fine should never have been imposed on the Lenihan's original 'solution' was an Gael would reduce teachers' salaries. low paid. Anyone under €35,000 should attempt to bypass the Doctor and give the There has been much talk in the media have been excluded from the levy. There benefit directly to the patient. The Govern- about our "bloated" and overpaid public are many such taxpayers in the private ment was going to give a €400 cash sector. But it appears that the medical sector (particularly in manufacturing allowance to pensioners who didn't qualify profession is exempt from the charge of employment) who will not receive any for a Medical Card but were below an being overpaid, even though Irish Medical pay increase in 2009. unspecified income. You can see what the Consultants are the best paid in the world Lenihan had plenty of other options. civil servants were thinking. Pensioners and are the envy of their counterparts in He could have abolished the ceiling for were "on average" compensated for the other countries. Employee PRSI which stands at about reform. Perhaps the average visit to a GP 50k. This would have eliminated a (at €40 a visit) was 10 times a year. But the TARGETING RESOURCES regressive feature of this tax (I refuse to over 70s, even more than the general One of the themes of Lenihan's budget call it "insurance"). He also could have population, are risk adverse. Understand- speech was the idea that State benefits raised the higher rate of tax by a few ably, they don't want to be worried about should be targeted towards those in greatest percentage points. It is now at 41%. What visiting the doctor more than 10 times. need. There is merit in this approach, but was so wrong with the 48% rate which Lenihan's solution was not a good one, I believe that education and health should applied a few years ago? But perhaps that but it was better than the status quo. If he be free at the point of use. The abolition of would not have suited the higher Civil had held out on this issue he would have third level fees was a good development Servants who were advising the Minister. shown that he had the courage of his and was not much more costly than the old Interestingly, Lenihan increased the convictions. Doubtless he would have been system whereby the middle classes were standard rate Tax Bands for individuals accused of playing politics with the lives able to obtain tax benefits through and married couples by €1,000 (an of pensioners. But once the existing system "covenants". The savings in administrative increase of 2.8% to €36,400) and €2,000 had lapsed, he would have been in a strong costs were quite considerable. Certainly (an increase of 4.5% to €46,400) position to renegotiate a new deal with the there may be greater inequities in the respectively. It is the first time since doctors to re-introduce Medical Cards for primary and secondary sectors of our McCreevy introduced individualisation of the over 70s. system, but the abolition of third level fees the Tax Bands that the married Tax Band The French Socialist Francois Mitter- does not prevent these inequities from has increased by double the individual's rand once said that it was sometimes being tackled. In recent years third level Tax Band. With unemployment projected necessary to provoke a political crisis in fees have been introduced by increasing to be at 7.3% in 2009 there is obviously no order to find an equitable solution. In this "registration fees". This is not a positive longer any need to encourage married case the Government has provoked a crisis development. women to enter the workforce! without finding an equitable solution. There are perfectly valid social objec- The increase in the Tax Bands was one There has been a return to the status quo tives besides equality. Most societies of the few significant tax reliefs that ante with the exception that all but 5% of consider it desirable that the population Lenihan introduced. This relief only those previously eligible will now be reproduces itself. This is the justification benefits people on above the average entitled to the Medical Card. Most of for Child Benefit even though millionaires industrial wage. these wouldn't bother claiming a Medical benefit by the same amount as the parents Card anyway. of low income families. A possible solution MEDICAL CARDS OVER 70 But the problem was not universal on the grounds of equity would be to tax The most controversial aspect of the entitlement to the Medical Cards for the Child Benefit. budget was the withdrawal of the automatic over 70s, it was the deal that was given to Lenihan sent a signal that he would 4 look at this issue. Nevertheless, he an attempt to prevent commercial property of business taxation look like tokenism. increased Child Benefit by an amount prices from falling even further. This is There will be a remission in Corporation marginally above the rate of inflation. not in the social interest. The productive Tax and Capital Gains Tax for business in However the Child Benefit for 18 year economy needs a fall in commercial their first three years of operation. But if a olds will be phased out by 2010. property prices and rents. business can make profits in the first three Social welfare rates and State pensions I would not advocate any change in the years of trading it probably doesn't need were also increased by amounts marginally property Rates which businesses pay. They tax relief. above the rate of inflation. seem to be going down with the value of There was an increase in DIRT (deposit commercial property. But it is an interest retention tax) to 23% for ordinary PROPERTY TAXATION interesting reflection on the political deposits and to 26% on certain other There were no significant changes to priorities of successive Irish Governments savings products. property taxation despite the fact that the that, while commercial property Rates are There was no change in the Corporation narrow basis for property taxation is what quite high, Rates (as distinct from the Tax rates. It appears that the Government has caused the rapid deterioration in the inequitable service charges) on domestic still thinks that the rate is important for public finances. Our taxes on property property are non-existent. attracting foreign investment. The present were over-dependent on transactions. writer had thought that the low rate had Liability to Stamp Duty only applies when OTHER TAXES outlived its usefulness but is now willing a house is sold. The collapse in the property The increase in the Capital Gains Tax to give the Government the benefit of the market has dried up this source of revenue. by 2% to 22% (to mirror the Income Levy) doubt on this issue. Lenihan did, however, introduce a €200 is welcome, but in my opinion this tax is per annum per dwelling tax on all still too low. It should be closer to the CONCLUSION residences that are not the principal private higher rate of income tax (41%). The budget will result in a General residence of the taxpayer. This will be The standard VAT rate will increase Government Deficit of 6.5%. This is very collectable by local authorities who are from 21% to 21.5%. This rate does not high but the overall Government debt as a badly in need of new sources of revenue apply to food, children's clothing and percentage of GDP will be at only 43%. now that the revenue from service charges footwear. Nevertheless such an increase This is very low compared to most EU on development land has dried up. €200 is regressive since low income families countries, which have a debt ratio of over per year is a very small amount of tax to spend a greater proportion of their income 80%. pay. One can only hope that this tax on consumption than higher income There is still an infrastructural deficit represents the thin end of the wedge and families. It will not help retailers on the in this country. And in a recessionary will lead to more comprehensive property Border. Our nearest neighbour has a environment there is never more of a need taxes. standard VAT rate of 17.5%. for the Government to spend money in Lenihan made some small efforts The Government will increase the order to give confidence to the rest of the towards resuscitating the building Research & Development Credit for economy. This is most definitely not the industry. He is extending the existing Local businesses from 20% to 25%. The problem time to reduce Capital spending. Authority mortgage scheme by increasing with this is that since the corporation tax But for all the shortcomings of this the maximum loan available to borrowers rate is so low (12.5%) the value of the budget no alternative vision has emerged from €185,000 to €285,000. As Roisin benefit is not that significant. from the Opposition benches. Shortall of Labour has said, the Some of his other measures in the area John Martin Government has become a sub prime lender (see Irish Political Review, November 2008). Now that some realism has entered the mortgage market, the Government has stepped into the breach to finance loan applications that have been Junk Economics: rejected by the banks. The only possible Madam's Own PD Record reason for this is to prevent house prices at the lower end of the market from falling. Not To Be Questioned This is in the interests of building developers. POLITICAL BIAS 17th, great interest was expressed by a Lenihan also increased the relief for More often than not my letters to the Features Editor who indicated that it should first time buyers from 20% to 25% for the Irish Times are not published, something be published early the following week. It first two years and to 22.5% for the next 3 which I have come to expect, recognising was emphasised to the Irish Times that years. This measure will be financed by that Madam has a political animus which this should be before Wednesday, October reducing the relief from 20% to 15% for must be indulged. So be it. Nevertheless, 22nd, when SIPTU's NEC would meet to non-first time buyers. The thinking appears it did initially come to me as a surprise that decide on its recommendation regarding to be that first time buyers will not have the feature article reproduced below was the national pay proposals on which it benefited from the recent property boom denied publication by the self-styled would be balloting its members. On while other buyers will at least have sold "paper of record". For this was not me Sunday it was further emphasised that it their houses at inflated prices at some expressing a personal view on the Budget. should now be published on Tuesday, stage. But again it is difficult to avoid the This was an institutional response from October 21st, at the very latest, as the conclusion that this is an attempt to prevent the largest union in the country. In the end, Government would be making some house prices from falling. after continuing SIPTU representations, a modifications to the Budget that same The top rate of Stamp Duty on very much truncated version was only afternoon. commercial property will be reduced from accepted in the form of a letter a fortnight As it happened, the modifications were 9% to 6%. The commercial property later. minimal. Those on the minimum wage of market has decreased by even more than The Budget took place on October 14th €17,542 a year would not now be liable for the domestic property market. There are a and that article was written on October the Income Levy, but those low paid lot of vacant commercial properties around 16th. Submitted formally by SIPTU to the workers on €17,543 upwards would still the country. Lenihan's measure looks like Irish Times on Friday morning October be liable for the full 1 percent on all of 5 their income. Only on Wednesday did the "But what will they do with it if they reminded of this. It is indeed no longer a Irish Times finally confirm that it would get it? And what will Fine Gael—and mystery to me why my SIPTU feature not be publishing this feature article. On the Progressive Democrats—do to try to article, well within the 800 words upper Friday SIPTU still persisted in pressuring prevent them from getting it? In 1977 limit stipulated for such opinion pieces, the Irish Times to publish a truncated Fianna Fáil, notoriously, set out to en- was so unwelcome that in fact the Irish version as a letter, but this was in fact only sure their success in a general election Times actually sat on it, with the result that published on October 30th. with a dazzling package of bribes to the it could not be offered in good time to any voters. Could 1987 be a repeat of 1977? Had Madam, or somebody reading her other paper. And yet any other paper would Or could it be something even worse? mind, decided that too much prominence The message from the ard-fheis (partly have grabbed it, if only to provide a news should not given to the fact that the rot of open, partly subliminal) was that Fianna headline to the effect that the largest Trade drastically slashing the top rate of Income Fáil will cut personal taxation. The Union in the country was calling for an Tax down to 40 per cent had begun with message from the Progressive Demo- increase in the top rate of tax. Indeed, the political agenda driven by the crats is that they will cut taxes mas- Gageby had rightly seen how infected the Progressive Democrats; with herself sively, benefiting particularly those whole party political system would emerging as a Front-Bench spokesperson on higher incomes [my emphasis— become as a result of PD junk economics, for the first group of that new party's TDs MO'R]. Who believes that Fine Gael are that none of the parties currently in who were elected in 1987? From within so high-minded as not to respond? Small opposition are themselves prepared to Fianna Fáil it had been those same forces, tax cuts are already in the pipeline; un- grasp the nettle of the top rate of tax. spearheaded by Professor Martin less they see clear evidence of electoral It is indeed remarkable that on the O'Donoghue, who had been responsible advantage from the current modest eco- occasion of a PD Conference now voting for drafting the auction politics of Jack nomic upturn, the temptation to engage for its own dissolution, not one sentence Lynch's Election Manifesto 1977, which in an income tax 'auction' could be al- in the "wealth" of Irish Times news they would hone to perfection when most irresistible." coverage saw fit to mention the fact that forming the breakaway PDs in 1986. In "Present income tax levels are both Geraldine Kennedy, its current Editor, his final year as Editor of the Irish Times, crushing and economically counter- had been one of its pioneering Front Bench the late Douglas Gageby had warned productive; that is more or less common TDs. But Madam did have her own say. against the danger that all other parties ground. But a competition on tax cuts (to Under the heading of Demise Of The PDs, would now become infected with the rot say nothing of whatever other 'goodies' her editorial proclaimed on November may go on offer) is nothing more than initiated by the PD leadership from as far 10th: junk economics... But which of our po- "Party founder Des O'Malley did not back as when they had still operated within litical parties has a coherent plan to Fianna Fáil a decade previously. attend. {And why didn't he? Only three encourage enterprise to promote viable days previously I had seen him bound- industry, to create wealth and jobs? Mr. ing up the stairs to a meeting he felt DOUGLAS GAGEBY Haughey, in the various Ministries he In an editorial, aptly titled Junk couldn't do without him—MO'R.} But a held, had an enviable record of compe- message counselling disbandment was Economics, which he published in the tence and imagination; and his friends Irish Times on 21st April 1986, Gageby read out on his behalf … The Progres- argue that his misfortunes during his sive Democrats made an important con- commented on the first Fianna Fáil Ard- two brief spells as Taoiseach were not of tribution. They shattered many core val- Fheis to take place subsequent to the formal his own making. In his speech on Satur- ues, as Mr. O'Malley said … It is diffi- exit of the PDs, as Haughey was at that day he had appealing things to say about cult to comprehend now the circum- point leader of the Opposition, while a the development of such areas as tour- stances in which the PDs were formed shaky Fine Gael-Labour Coalition still ism, forestry and mariculture. But he did almost 23 years ago. The state of the clung to Government office: not explain how Fianna Fáil can both cut economy and crippling taxation … The taxes and eliminate or even reduce the "Fianna Fáil had a lovely weekend, a PDs broke many moulds. They left an Budget deficit; and like the Coalition indelible mark on the history of the state." great family party made more enjoy- parties, Fianna Fáil enjoys little cred- able, and much more united, by the ab- ibility on the question of public expendi- sence of those cousins that they never Indeed they did. And the core value ture." they shattered most successfully was that much liked anyway. And the paterfa- "Junk economics and auction politics milias was at the very top of his form: of social solidarity and the belief that the have helped to give this State a national better off should pay a fair share of taxation. totally in control, strong but benign, debt of £20 billion and an unemploy- 'mature and responsible' to use his own Even when Haughey had to accept the ment rate of over 17 percent. Regardless PDs as Coalition partners, he was to keep two favourite adjectives, basking in, and of which party or combination of parties responding to, the love and admiration their influence well out of the Department is in office, economic policy should be of Finance. It was a pity that Ahern was of the Ard-Fheis delegates. That Fianna directed at laying firm foundations for not Haughey's best pupil in that regard, for Fáil and their leader can react with so the future, not at creating a false impres- much spirit, so much flair, such a display sion of prosperity in the present. Mr. he handed over the reins of Finance to the of unity and confidence, to the many Haughey promises a comprehensive PD's fifth columnist within Fianna Fáil blows struck at them in recent years and strategy for recovery. That certainly is itself, Charlie McCreevy, whose own months, is impressive and admirable. needed: but tax cuts can form at best personal drive to slash the top rate of tax They are a formidable political force at only a small part of any 'mature and was every bit as obsessive as that of all times, but never more so than when responsible' strategy. And if the politi- O'Malley, Harney and Kennedy. the smell of battle—the smell of victory, cians reject strategic thinking in favour the smell of office—is in their nostrils. Notwithstanding Gageby's under- of junk economics, the outlook will be standable apprehensions in 1986, the late They have convinced themselves that bleak." they can not only defeat the 'fractured Charlie Haughey did in fact reject "junk Coalition' but that they can fend off— The present Editor of the Irish Times, economics" in 1987 and went on to lay the that they may already have fended off— Geraldine Kennedy, took leave from her foundations for successful economic and the challenge of the Progressive Demo- employment in that paper from 1987 to social progress. It is a pity that Garret crats. They may be right. In 1987 they 1989 in order to pioneer, as a PD TD, the FitzGerald's continuing animus towards may be back in office, with Mr. Haughey "junk economics" so effectively denoun- Haughey has rendered him incapable of in command of an overall Dail major- ced by outgoing Editor Douglas Gageby giving full credit where credit was more ity." in 1986. She evidently does not wish to be than due. In the Irish Times on November 6 1st FitzGerald has observed: Jack O'Connor certainly takes this view. further account is taken of the National The 1987 Programme for National Re- "The scale and suddenness of both the Pensions Reserve Fund, Ireland's net debt/ covery 'would not have happened with- GDP ratio turns out to be considerably global credit crunch and our own do- out Haughey. Full stop. He and Bertie mestic housing bubble collapse has ob- lower still at 31 per cent, or less than half Ahern understood the subtlety of Irish the average ratio in the Eurozone. scured the fact that long before these two politics' … Jack O'Connor, looking back, crises hit us, our economy was already Nonetheless, it would have been quite believes that Haughey and Bertie Ahern possible to restructure the levy to insulate in serious trouble because of a most understood 'the need to bring people most low to above average paid workers damaging loss of competitiveness, the together'." origins of which go back to the end of the from its effects, while still having a 1990s... There was a radical shift of borrowing requirement of no more than government economic and financial As already stated, Ahern's weakness, 6.6 per cent. policy about 1998, which reversed the once he became Taoiseach himself, was Such restructuring would, of course, wise and prudent policies pursued con- to allow the indistinguishable McCreevy/ challenge the sacred cow of taxation sistently by three successive govern- Harney PD taxation policy line a free policies favouring the greedy over the ments in the eight years that followed hand in Finance. And it was a failure on needy, pursued by successive Ministers the resolution of our last major financial the part of the Labour Party that it did not for Finance who have continued to allow crisis between 1981 and 1989. Those effectively challenge that line in the destructive and self-destructing PD three governments were led successively Opposition, knowing that the Fine Gael tail to wag the Fianna Fáil dog. At odds by Charles Haughey (after Ray Mac leader whom Pat Rabbitte wished to anoint with such policies, I myself have sat on the Sharry had persuaded him to emerge as Taoiseach shared the same PD National Economic and Social Council from his 1980-1987 mood of denial about philosophy on letting off the better-off on whose Strategy Reports, most notably that earlier financial crisis), Albert such tax matters. those of 1996 and 1999, unanimously Reynolds and John Bruton..." Padraig Yeates has also made the "Throughout 2005 to 2007 credit ex- concluded that the priority in income tax following points in a letter published by reform should be to reduce the burden on pansion artificially boosted the growth the Irish Times on November 1st: of Irish personal consumption to an un- lower to middle income earners rather "There is a simple, fair and time- sustainable 6.25 per cent a year—a pro- than the top third of income achievers. I tested way to correct the public finances. cess that this year has gone drastically stress the word "unanimously", because It is to increase the top rate of income tax into reverse. So, well before the start of all such recommendations had been signed by 1 per cent, or even 2 per cent, with the economic crisis—brought about by off by the Department of Finance, only to adjustments to tax credits and bands to an oil price spike combined with a glo- be torn to shreds by that Department's protect lower earners. Many people ex- bal credit crunch, which in our case were own Minister Charlie McCreevy, when, pected such a measure in the Budget. aggravated by the bursting of a domestic from 1998 to 2001, he slashed the top rate Instead we were treated to a shoddy housing bubble—our economy had al- confidence trick called the employment of tax from 48 to 42 per cent. ready been made extremely vulnerable levy, wrapped in a call to patriotic ac- Meanwhile, those on lower incomes by domestic fiscal mismanagement of tion. I know some people will say even were condemned to remain the poor the grossest kind. You may well ask a 1 per cent increase in the top rate of relations of the PAYE regime. True, in how, over such a long period of nine income tax would discourage enterprise 2001 the then Tánaiste Mary Harney years, was it possible for policies to have and drive people into the black economy. promised that tax credits would be been pursued that so undermined our But what do they think the employment sufficiently increased to take the minimum economic viability? Clearly our two post- levy will do? Is the dead hand of the PDs' wage out of the tax net by 2002. This, 1997 governments were primarily to 'low tax' legacy so heavy that there is not however, was to remain a shamefully blame—especially the first. We were one political party in the Dáil with the broken promise. It would be another four singularly unfortunate in having in the courage to try to escape it, rather than years after 1997 as minister for finance years before Budget 2006 completely freed submit to yet another stealth tax and the an ideologically driven politician, pre- the minimum wage from tax. further erosion of public services?" occupied with taxation issues, and ap- By contrast, the policy of giving parently totally resistant to the advice he preference to those with the highest In the meantime, here is the feature incomes again raised its ugly head in must have been receiving from his civil article that the Irish Times refused to servants on the dangers of his spending Budget 2007, when the present Taoiseach publish. and then Minister for Finance reduced the policies—which, it seems, were based Manus O'Riordan on the absurdist principle: 'If we have it, top rate of tax still further from 42 to 41 we should spend it!' ..." per cent, instead of extending the standard The Censored Article rate band to keep the average earner PARTNERSHIP How To Offset An completely out of the top rate. There is one glaring omission in But the worst was yet to come. Budget FitzGerald's article that is part and parcel Unconscionable Levy 2009 is now proposing to hit the lowest of of his failure to give full credit to Haughey's The one per cent levy, applied on low paid workers in a most vicious manner. leadership from 1987 onwards. A rather incomes as low as the minimum wage, is Apart from the 1 per cent levy, this Budget different reading of Irish party politics can a Budget measure that can only be also leaves tax credits completely frozen, be gleaned from the book published last described as unconscionable. True, the while it has only marginally increased the year by Tim Hastings, Brian Sheehan and public finances are in difficulty. The standard rate tax band to €36,400. CSO Padraig Yeates, entitled Saving The Minister for Finance has stated that it was data shows that average industrial earnings Future: How Social Partnership Shaped necessary to pare back his Budget's were €19.20 per hour in the first quarter of Ireland's Economic Success. Part of the opening borrowing requirement from 7 this year, equivalent to annual earnings of authors' scene-setting includes the per cent to 6.5 per cent. Otherwise the €38,450. With the full application of the following observations from SIPTU debt/GDP ratio would have been above proposed cumulative national pay agree- General President Jack O'Connor: 43 per cent next year. ment increases of 6.1 per cent, such earn- "Perhaps the {FitzGerald-led} Fine Yet that figure alone illustrates how ings should rise to €40,800 next year, but Gael-Labour Government (1983-87) relatively healthy Irish public finances with as much as €4,400 being taxed at the also lacked the sort of personalities that remain, with the average Eurozone debt/ top rate. the trade unions felt at ease with. SIPTU's GDP ratio standing at 65 per cent. When It is, however, quite possible to progres- 7 sively amend Budget 2009 in the following It can be seen from this table that manner, while keeping to a borrowing BUDGET EFFECT ON NET INCOME for most workers earning up to requirement of just 6.6 per cent, and €50,000 a year the income levy produce far more equitable outcomes: Gross Income (€) Proposed (%) Alternative (%) would be offset by PAYE re- * Exempt all those on the minimum wage structuring. Indeed, those on average from the income levy; 17,540 20,000 30,000 industrial earnings of €40,000 would * Offset the consequences of the levy for 40,000 50,000 75,000 secure a slight net gain! As a counter- most other lower to moderately paid 100,000 125,000 150,000 balance, a greater contribution earners [and reduce its effect on those would, of course, have to be come earning up to almost twice the indus- -1.0 -1.0 -1.1 from those with incomes over trial average] by two key measures; -0.6 -0.8 -1.1 €100,000—in other words, those * Increase both personal and PAYE tax -1.3 -1.7 -1.9 who benefited most from the skewed credits by €100, to €1,930 each; taxation policies of the past decade. * Increase the standard rate band to 0 0 -0.4 Manus O'Riordan €37,200; +0.5 -0.1 -1.0 * Recoup most of the cost of these mea- Head of Research -1.6 -2.3 -2.7 sures by restoring the top rate of tax to SIPTU 42 per cent. 16 October 2008

Digest continued by the various sections of the Republican gathering in Belfast last year that those Movement. There is no hankering after it present would be better employed doing whatsoever. something about the imperialist ventures of the oppressed peoples of Palestine and Fine Gael has had to celebrate its found- of today rather than coming to gawp at an Latin America. ing 75 years ago, but it has done so with its old fellow like him! Sean Russell's IRA has been particularly blankets drawn firmly over its head. Many Tara was the nearest thing to a fascist singled out as fascist and his statue in party members will not have wanted to organisation in Ireland in recent times. Fairview Park in Dublin was decapitated hear what Prof. Michael Cronin told a Tara was a Protestant extremist group in by British-orientated Trotskyites. Rus- symposium held in Dublin on 2nd the North which advocated the expulsion sell's good name was very effectively November to mark its foundation. He told (ethnic cleansing?) of Catholics. It did not defended by Manus O'Riordan in the the audience that there would have been collapse politically. It collapsed because national press and we have heard no more no Fine Gael without the Blueshirts, of the involvement of its leader in the about that. Garland brings up an instance adding: Kincora boy's home scandal—a scandal from 1934 when a group of marchers from which certain dirty tricks people tried the Shankill was attacked by some Tipper- "They were the midwife which brought a new party into being. The unsuccessfully to use against Ian Paisley. ary IRA-men at the annual Bodenstown Tara's deputy chief was Roy Garland. He Commemoration. This may be true, it members of the Blueshirts went legal having re-energised the political land- has since renounced what he calls Protest- needs to be investigated. But if true it was scape… What was so bad about 50,000 ant extremism. He is now an advocate of very much the exception that proves the men and women becoming active in defeating Republicanism and Fenianism rule. politics at local level?" (It 3.11.08). by bringing the whole of Ireland back into Garland confuses matters by bringing the English fold. in a lot of extraneous matters, such as the While making a distinction between "undemocratic" claim by the IRA to be the "Ireland of 1933 from Nazi Germany the de jure Government of a 32–County during the war", Prof. Cronin said that The British Military Parade in Belfast Republic (no one else does anymore!), General Eoin O'Duffy made the Army on 2nd November was not an edifying and the present Pope's proposed beatific- Comrades Association into a political sight. Belfast City Council, through the ation of priests killed in the Spanish Civil group and chided modern Fine Gaelers support of the Alliance Party, voted for War (presumably a dig at the Pope still for thinking of the General as something ceremonies at the City Hall and St. Ann's comes naturally to him). What Garland like "the drunken uncle at a family Cathedral to welcome back members of most definitely does not do, in spite of the wedding". These people "wanted to forget the Royal Irish Regiment from Iraq and title of his Column, is to give any account where Fine Gael came from". In fact, Afghanistan. As it happened, soldiers of fascism in Ireland or of what became of having been retired from head of the Garda from other regiments also took part. But it. by De Valera— it was the British Ministry of Defence that Fascism in Ireland was organised by "O'Duffy cycled around various parts applied to the Parades Commission for a those on the Treatyite side of the war of of Europe, taking a brief sojourn in Italy major military demonstration. This began 1922-3 who would not accept the election where he witnessed Mussolini's coun- beyond the Black Man statue near the top success of Fianna Fail in 1932—people try at work. He came back wanting to of Castle Street—still the main Catholic from Cumman na nGaedheal and the Free get involved again" (ibid; Prof. Cronin shopping and strolling street. It also passed State Army. It was defeated on the streets is academic director of the centre of down May Street which borders the by the IRA and elsewhere by Fianna Fail Irish programmes in Boston College, Republican Markets area. It is difficult to and DeValera's political police. By 1934 Dublin, and is the author of The see it as anything other than a provocation. it was beaten. By 1936 its core was off to Blueshirts In Irish Politics). The Belfast newspapers, including the Spain to fight for Franco where it hardly Spanish Civil War commemorations Irish News, gave the impression that the distinguished itself. "The first army to go have been attracting Roy Garland as he occasion was one of two demonstrations, to war with fewer men than it came back increasingly portrays himself as a born- Protestant and Catholic, for and against with" was the apt jibe of the time. With all again liberal. It is noticeable that they also the military procession; rather than a march the talk about European fascism of the attract elements of the British establish- organised by the British Government to 1930s, it is conveniently forgotten that it ment and English bigots. 69 years on and which Sinn Fein felt obliged to respond. was in Ireland that it was most it must be safe enough! But the last This writer mingled with the unionist comprehensively defeated, ideologically surviving Irish member of the International heavies on Great Victoria Street(most of and politically. The defeating was done Brigades, Bob Doyle, felt obliged to tell a the families and people in suits went to the 8 City Hall) until a policeman who saw that Edition, was scathing of the commemor- but pleased. The SDLP leader said: "It is I had come from Grosvenor Road (Fenian) ation mania and even went so far as to say clear Sinn Fein and the DUP may not have began videoing and drawing attention to that it would have been better if Germany their act together in public but they me. Time to skiddadle! This unionist had won. When he was writing his piece certainly have their pact together as they crowd included Englishmen in masks on he contacted Sinn Fein for a view and the connive together in cahoots and collusion" scaffolding who I was told were members Party said that the First World War was (IT 18.11.08). Having floated the idea of of Combat 18. This is numerical code for not important. This was borne out by the the end of compulsory power-sharing a AH—Adolf Hitler. fact that not a single Sinn Feiner came to couple of months ago and been shot down The Sinn Fein march was very protest at Cork City Hall when Lord Mayor by his own supporters, Durkan seems to disciplined and was halted at barriers at Bermingham, wearing his poppy, be going erratic. And it is this party that the Great Victoria Street End of the organised a night of entertainment, fancy Eamon Gilmore wants Northern Ireland Grosvenor Road There were no barriers dress wearing, and British Regimental Labour supporters to join! on the unionist side and there was free flag waving. Gibney wants the War to be access for unionists arriving at the train examined by historians. He goes on to say and bus stations and from Protestant Sandy "it was a huge mistake for the Irish Poppycock Road to the Sinn Fein demonstration. So government, which emerged after continued the Sinn Feiners were subjected to a partition, to ignore those who died and until the year the Show organisers also barrage of fireworks and bottles. The riot survived the First World War. It was invited a British Army band to provide police faced the Sinn Feiners but the equally wrong, and still is, for unionists to additional entertainment. In the Cork unionists were "restrained" only by ignore those nationalists who fought and Evening Echo of 1st August 1971 my appeals from policeman in regular died". maternal aunt and godmother, Máire uniforms. The First World War is less a matter of Keohane Bean Uí Shíocháin, completed The Short Strand, an isolated Catholic history and more a matter of current the story of our cousin's stand: "When the enclave in East Belfast, was subjected to politics. The rise of Hitler was far from its Feis committee arrived at the venue they several attacks by unionists from the only result. It turned all of Britain's found the then army of occupation, the Newtownards Road on the night of the subsequent wars, however repulsive, into Redcoats, had taken up positions in the military parade and the local Catholic moral crusades. It completed the fair field. Máire Ní Shíthe refused to go in Church was also attacked. There is almost militarization of British society. It until the Redcoats came out. They refused a media conspiracy of silence about destroyed the harmonious relations in the to do so and the result was that no Feis continuing inter-communal strife in the world of the Ottoman Empire. It causes was held." North—though "dissident" republican civil wars in Lebanon. It imprisons mill- But now we move from Máire's activity is given great publicity. But there ions of Palestinians in vast concentration sublime act of protest to the ridiculous is nightly violence at interfaces, especially camps. And it is the First World War and "act of remembrance" for her fallen brother between the nationalist New Lodge and its glorification, rather than the Boyne or John that took the form of the "Good Old the unionist Tigers Bay, but also on the Rome Rule that mainly divides Protestants Days" "Remembrance" concert in Cork Crumlin Road and Broadway. Some idiot from Catholics on the island of Ireland. City Hall this November 8th. Under the thought it a good idea to build a footbridge Historians who write about that War heading of "Concert an insult to Irish over the Westlink semi-motorway from inevitably are writing politics. The un- victims of world war", the Irish Examiner the Village to the Lower Falls. Now a fortunate thing is that in Ireland most of published the following letter from me on very high fence has had to be erected to the are writing from the British political November 13th: prevent nightly bottle attacks on sheltered viewpoint and even regurgitating the accommodation on the Catholic side. "Two years after the murderous Battle wartime propaganda of 1914. of the Somme, it was still a front being fought over. It was there that John Great War Sinn Fein columnist on the Durkan Gurning The SDLP has been Sheehy of Clonakilty, Co Cork, a first Irish News,Jim Gibney, called on 20th pursuing party-political advantage against cousin of my maternal grandfather, per- November, for a proper analysis of the Sinn Fein while that Party was attempting ished on February 15,1918. I wish there- causes of World War 1, in the light of the to persuade the DUP that St. Andrew's fore to protest most strongly at the gro- outbreak of commemorations here, there commitments had to be met. First the tesque insult to his memory, and that of and everywhere. His own analysis was Party criticised Sinn Fein for threatening 2,600 other Corkmen who also per- that it was a war between two imperialist the continued existence of the Good Friday ished as a result of that war, perpetrated nations, Britain and Germany "trying to institutions by preventing meetings of the by the fancy dress concert organised in carve up the African Continent for NI Executive from being held. Then it Cork City Hall by Fine Gael Lord Mayor economic exploitation and for military alleged that SF had agreed to cede Policing Brian Bermingham last Saturday. superiority worldwide". It seems beyond and Justice powers to other parties for his understanding that Germany had no infinity, in the event that they were My late mother recalled for me the military imperial ambitions and that a devolved to the Executive. All the way heartbreak and sorrow that had been war, necessary or otherwise, on the through the stand-off, the SDLP played experienced by John Sheehy's family, not Continent of Europe, was joined by Britain footsie with Unionism, and undermined least because he had died as British cannon out of choice and thereby turned into a Sinn Fein in its efforts to promote a spirit fodder. Others felt the same way, including World War. He ignores the social natures of partnership and equality within the one of the icons of Fine Gael and a founding of Britain (free market capitalism) and Executive. Even when Prime Minister father of this State, Kevin O'Higgins, who Germany (largely Social Democratic)— Gordon Brown came to Stormont and had lost his own brother in that same war. Something pointed out week after week at criticised only the DUP over the issue— Notwithstanding such personal loss, the time for two years by James Connolly. and shocking Unionism by not also the soon-to-be-assassinated Home Affairs And he ignores that the soldiers who fought criticising Sinn Fein—the Party continued Minister unequivocally declared himself in the war against Britain in 1916 did so in its negative policy. When the DUP and opposed to a proposed Merrion Square conscious alliance with Germany. Sinn Fein announced agreement on an memorial to the Irish world war dead. As Jim Gibney at least recognises that that agenda for a meeting of the Northern he told the Dáil in March 1927: War was important. The Deputy Editor of Ireland Executive to be held on 27th "You have a square here, confront- the Irish Examiner, in its Cork County November, Mark Durkan seemed anything ing the seat of the Government of the 9 country... I say that any intelligent visi- tor not particularly versed in the history Report of this country would be entitled to conclude that the origins of this State were connected... with the lives that Thoughts At Cork City Hall were lost in the Great War in France, Belgium, Gallipoli, and so on. This is The ironies of the Cork City Hall fancy The following leaflet was distributed to the capacity crowd at Cork City Hall on not the position. The State had other dress event are endless. One was the case 8th November origins, and because it had other origins of the well known Cork dog that did not I do not wish it suggested, in stone or bark. There was a total absence of all otherwise, that it has that origin." brands of Republicanism at the protest on the night. Republican representation was "LEST WE Lord Mayor Bermingham has further confined solely to the statutes of Mac FORGET" succeeded in insulting the memory of Curtain and MacSwiney. Their speechless- Fine Gael's own dead heroes, especially ness was appropriate. The protest was left The dead of WWI, or of any war, should that of Kevin O'Higgins, whose name is to two-nationists and doughty anti-war not be commemorated with a fancy dress inscribed alongside Arthur Griffith and campaigners. How could this have concert in the spirit of the 'Good Old Days' Michael Collins on the Leinster House happened at the very heart of Rebel Cork? as this event has been promoted. This is Cenotaph." In the course of one of the most dancing on the graves of the dead. Two years ago, on 17th November thoughtful and trenchant press comments The Cork and Irish dead of WWI were 2006, the Irish Times had felt obliged to on the event, Peter Levy, gave us a clue: already sufficiently abused and humiliated publish the following letter on that year's "If it's going to be in fancy dress why in their lives and in their deaths. They "Wear a poppy!" campaign from its own not have a special guest appearance by were killed in horrible circumstances and former Industry and Employment an impersonator of the late Field their ideals were then betrayed by the correspondent, Padraig Yeates: Marshall Montgomery of World War II government they fought for. They died for fame who was Officer Commanding at a propaganda lie—"the freedom of small "Madam,—My late father served in the then Victoria Barracks (now Collins nations". the British army in the Second World Barracks) in Cork during the War of When Ireland expressed its clear desire War. He never wore a poppy and any- Independence? I wonder what the patri- for freedom in the 1918 General Election one I knew who served with him never ots Tomás MacCurtain and Terence what it got was the Black and Tans and the wore a poppy. They regarded it, and the McSwiney, whose statues grace the Auxiliaries. All the latter being veterans British Legion, as symbolising all that exterior of City Hall, would think of of WWI and they burned down this City was worst, most jingoistic and reac- that? Hall along with countless other atrocities tionary in the British establishment. I "Now, I don't subscribe to the Sinn to show how much they cared for the suspect that this was the attitude of Féin view that World War I has nothing freedom of this nation. How ironic that to do with the Irish people. But I do feel most Second World War veterans, be- these same forces also killed two former cause it was the votes of three million that if Cork people's grandparents and great-grandparents died in this conflict Lord Mayors of the City whose busts servicemen that put Churchill out of patrons will pass on their way into this office in 1945 and Clement Attlee's they deserve something more respect- ful to honour their memories. (Irish concert. Labour government in. I appreciate That First World War was fought to that times change and the poppy means Examiner 28.10.2008). further the expansion and power of the different things to different people. But Levy appears to have sought the Sinn I think it is important not to impose British Empire—and for nothing else. contemporary views of the significance Fein view on all these shenanigans and That war and the way it was 'settled' at of wearing, or not wearing a poppy, on their view is that WWI is not that important Versailles ensured a century of warfare past generations. It would certainly be to people! Why then is everyone from the and we are still living with the consequen- wrong to assume the poppy had, or has, President down thinking and acting ces. All the tensions in the Middle East the same significance for all British otherwise? Is Sinn Fein blind to the today arise directly from that war. The veterans and their families.—Yours, etc, significance of what is happening? 'war to end all wars' and 'the peace that Padraig Yeates." John Redmond, Tom Kettle, et al. ended all peace' at Versailles ensured the thought the War itself was a great way to 20th century was the bloodiest in human With an even more incessant poppy reconcile Unionists and Nationalists. history. It is not a suitable subject for campaign being mounted this year, Padraig Apparently the thinking (if thought was entertainment. also wrote the following to myself on involved) was that those who kill Germans This concert is part of a series of October 30th: together stay together, in fond mutual celebrations, opening of so-called Peace regard for their joint blood letting. No Parks, etc., that claim to honour the Irish "As you know my father and grand- horror story writer ever bettered the notion. who died in WWI on the basis that they father both fought in Britain's wars, the A World War was a price well worth were ignored. Ireland never forgot the Boer War and WWII. I never knew my paying for Home Rule, in their view. dead of WWI—that would have been a grandfather, but my father was a com- Now it appears we must honour the physical impossibility. It just did not mitted socialist and never wore a Poppy. same charnel in the name of reconciliation celebrate Irish slaughter in Britain's interest It is simply hijacking the historic so that the ridiculous farce of the new and it never should. memory for a very questionable estab- Stormont can continue. Some can't buy These commemorations seek to honour lishment agenda in the UK and here. this—the price is simply too high and as Irishmen no matter what uniform or what Pass this on for what it is worth. It is we all know if things get too costly and cause they died for. They seek to inculcate hard to see what can be done to counter expectations get out of hand there can be an attitude of indifference and amorality this development but maybe someone a terrible crash. to war. will have a brainwave." At least in economic crashes nobody There is no thought conveyed by these need get killed but we are dealing here celebrations. Their purpose is to cultivate Comments very much to the point! with something a lot more serious than the feelings that respond to the beat of the buying and selling goods. drum, and to stifle thought about the past, Manus O'Riordan Jack Lane present and future involvement of Irishmen 10 in wars. In reality, their real purpose is to sanctify British militarist activity in the world, regardless of its particular object at a particular time. Celebrate British militarism if you wish. Restore its hegemony over Irish public life if you can. But spare us the humbug.

POPPY DAY Its roots do not grow in soil but in blood Petals of acrylic without perfume It records generations who met their doom All part now of Whitehall's granite death club Where Earl Haig's ghostly voice still calls to arms But in the street few fill their button-hole Sick of the dead flower's murderous role Too many crosses on land that should be farms If you can tell the truth about the past You might tell the truth about the present But having nailed your colours to the mast Beware, the moon's phase is now a crescent More dead, more poppies, more laws, more prison More Birmingham Six, more world-wide derision. Picture shows some of the placards held by the protesters Wilson John Haire 14th November, 2008 outside Cork City Hall, alongside the statue of the Tomas NB: The whole poppy thing used to be called The Earl Haig MacCurtain, the Mayor of Cork murdered by the British Fund. Then Haig became known as Butcher Haig because Forces being remembered inside the City Hall. There was of the heavy loss of life on the Somme and the name also a banner, reading: "Lest we forget—war crimes, changed. genocide, racism, colonialism, Black and Tans".

judge for yourself: Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is actually the same forces that you're fighting. Blair says Muslim JS: Looking back now, you obviously JS: Don't they all want different things? wouldn't have done it {invaded Iraq}? Hamas and Hezbollah, you could say, are "extremists" are all TB: No, I think that if when you go back and absolutely localised, they have certain issues "the same forces" you look at the situation at the time, and the and al-Qaeda is really the only one that seems bloodshed that you've seen and the difficulty to have worldwide there has been, I would have been shocked, but TB: You might have said that some years American satirist, Jon Stewart, I would have asked the question: why has this back— interviewed Tony Blair on The Daily Show come about, why has it been so hard? Because, JS: —before we invaded— broadcast on the More4 channel on 19th after all, Saddam was removed more than five TB: No, I don't say that. You know, there September 2008. A striking feature revealed years ago, but since then we've been fighting was September 11th and that in my view by the interview was that Stewart (who the same type of battle against the same type of changed everything, and I agree there are ele- happens to be a Jew) is obviously much people that you're fighting all over that region. ments within Hamas or Hezbollah that are just better informed about the Muslim world I spend a lot of time in the Middle East now as nationalist forces, but there are others that are than Blair, under whose leadership Britain a representative of the Middle East peace pro- very, very closely linked to the Iranian backed invaded two Muslim countries and who is cess for the international community, and I can militia and to al-Qaeda. Therefore, you know, now employed as a representative of the tell you there's a fundamental struggle going look, none of this is easy "international community" in Palestine, as on, I'm afraid, and there are two sides— … he modestly put it. JS:—Iraq is not, you wouldn't say that's TB: I think what happened once you re- According to Blair, the problem is that Islamic terrorism, that's a very small portion of moved Saddam and these people moved into there are Muslim "extremists", and that's it. Isn't there an old British expression, and you Iraq that. Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Shiite probably know this from 1919 and David JS: Aren't we the ones who created that militias in Iraq and the Taliban in Lloyd George? It's an old expression and it is: vacuum? Afghanistan, "it is actually the same forces Don't invade Iraq, it's a nightmare. TB: I don't think you can say, that if you remove Saddam and then say well now the that you're fighting", he says. Yes, even TB: Well, that's one way of looking at it. United Nations process for democratic elec- though in Iraq, for example, al-Qaeda has But another way is to say that, in the end, if the actual forces we're fighting at the moment, al- tions, and the Iraqi people vote, and you put up been killing Shiite civilians in large numbers, Qaeda on the one hand, are precisely those the funds for development. I don't think it's al-Qaeda and Shiite militias in Iraq are forces of terrorism, based on a perversion of inevitable that people come in and create ter- actually "the same forces", that is, not just Islam, and Iranian-backed militia and they're rorism. There's nothing inevitable about these allies but "the same forces". the people we're fighting in Afghanistan and, people that go with their suicide bombs, and Did he believe this nonsense when he you know, whether it's in the Yemen or Algeria their terrorist attacks and kill totally innocent was Prime Minister? Or has the man gone or Palestine or Pakistan, there's a struggle people. mad since? going on. David Morrison Is JP Morgan still paying him? On his JS: You say, all them. What was that list? www.david-morrison.co.uk appointment, they said he "will bring our TB: No, I don't say you have to take military leaders and clients a unique and invaluable action on all of them 25 October 2008 References: global perspective" [1]. This was hardly JS: So it's one country at a time. In Iraq— [1] www.jpmorgan.com/cm/cs?pagename= what they meant, is it? TB: —No, no, I don't say that. But I do say, JPM_redesign/JPM_Content_C/Generic Extracts from the programme about Blair's whether you look at Hezbollah in Lebanon, or _Detail_Page_Template&cid=11593300 45118&c wars are reproduced below. Read on and Hamas in Palestine, or the militia and the al- =JPM_Content_C 11 Labour John Prescott, who claimed that This was bizarre since Nietsche was classes still existed in British society. The not that well-known in Germany. He was programme-makers, on the other hand, much more popular in France and England. Shorts seemed intent on proving the opposite. Also, he was alienated from the German from We were given plenty of examples of State. Nietzsche was much happier when people from working class backgrounds Germany was a collection of kingdoms. the Long Fellow who had succeeded. But as Prescott In Clifford's opinion when Nietzsche— pointed out, if such people moved from through Zarusthustra—announced that KARL MARX one class to the other, it proves that classes God was dead it was spoken with regret Marx said: "Philosophers interpret the still exist. for the old loose German Federation. world; the point is to change it". In recent The assumption in the programme seem- So the propaganda of Kettle was non- months there has been talk of the end of ed to be that the existence of classes was a sensical even if it was effective. The scales capitalism and the increasing relevance of bad thing and that social mobility was good. fell from his eyes when he heard that his Marx. The three volumes of Das Kapital In the early 1980s the Labour/Fine Gael peers were executed following the 1916 are an intellectual wonder of the world. coalition introduced a £5,000 grant to Rising. Despite some mathematical shortcomings, encourage people living in Council Houses The apologists for British Imperialism Marx's description of the laws of motion to buy a house in the private sector. The in this country ask us to remember Thomas of the capitalist system is unrivalled. idea was to encourage social mobility Kettle and Francis Ledwidge. But they In the nineteenth century he saw some while maintaining the stock of public want to forget the profound regret that undeveloped characteristics of capitalism housing. But the effect was that the people these poets had about participating in which have reached maturity in the twenty- who availed of the grant were the commun- Britain's imperialist adventure. first century. One of his most brilliant ity leaders. Once they had left their working insights was that the capitalist system had class roots the community declined. a tendency to socialise the means of prod- One of the strengths of Marxism was COOLACREASE uction even though control of the means that it developed a working class con- The role of British Imperialism in of production remained in private hands. sciousness. The aim of socialism used to Ireland was a theme of two more launches The individual was no longer able to be to advance the interests of the working last month. The book Coolacrease, produce for himself and must sell his class as a class, not the interests of indivi- published by the Aubane Historical labour power to live. And the system duals within it. But now it is considered Society (472 pages), is about much more makes itself into a world system displacing desirable—even for socialists—that than an incident in the War of Independ- other modes of production. Although con- individuals within the working class ence. It is a detailed, forensic riposte to a trol of production is in private hands in should escape from their roots. campaign to de-legitimise the War of Volume 3 Marx hinted that the system had Independence and by implication the State an inexorable logic of its own. FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE itself. Labour becomes de-skilled and there- Friedrich Nietsche did not say much The Long Fellow was delighted to see fore is transferable across different branches about the working class, but what he did J.J. Dillon at the launch of the book in of production and different countries. say was interesting. He thought that it was Tullamore. J.J. Dillon was made to appear Production has become standardised and the first class in history whose very in the RTE documentary as sympathetic consumption, facilitated by advertising existence was a problem to itself. to the anti-national themes of the and marketing, has adapted to production. And Nietsche featured last month in a documentary. But a close examination of In the twenty-first century the standardisa- talk given by Brendan Clifford at the the documentary indicates that the only tion of consumption is not confined to the launch of the pamphlet The Fighting Irish opinion he expressed was very understand- consumption of material things but extends And The Great War. able regret that the incident had happened to the cultural level, even at the level of In the middle of the nineteenth century in the first place. The presence of Dillon at children's games. a significant element within the British a book launch critical of the RTE docu- The Marxist Prophesy has come to Liberal Party felt that imperialism was no mentary is a clear indication of where he pass. But interpreting the system has not longer needed by Britain and that all that stands on the issue. led to a change in it. was required was Free Trade. But by the early twentieth century the leadership of THE INTERNET the Liberal Party (Asquith, Haldane, Gray) PETER HART About 10 years ago the Long Fellow had adopted an ultra-imperialist position. Brian Murphy and Niall Meehan's read an article by an American pop star The free market and the Empire should pamphlet Troubled History was launched from the 1960s. He thought that the Internet extend throughout the Globe. This contrast- by Tim Pat Coogan. The pamphlet is a would become like a hive with the indivi- ed with the position of Joseph Chamberlain tenth anniversary critique of Peter Hart's dual worker bees contributing to one great who thought that it was in Britain's interest notorious book The IRA And Its Enemies. centralised collective intelligence. And to consolidate what she already had. One of the points that Niall Meehan made the individual bees would cease to have an From Britain's perspective the First at the launch was that the book was independent existence and become World War was different from previous promoted even before it was written by absorbed by the collective will. wars. The British Liberal Party had to the likes of Kevin Myers. Hart's "extra- This vision is a Marxist dystopia. Under enlist the support of the middle class Protest- ordinary" revelations on the Kilmichael communism class conflict would be elim- ant Non-Conformists. As a result the War Ambush were described in detail in The inated and there would be no need for the did not have well-defined and limited object- Irish Times. But much less was said (apart State, which in Lenin's words would wither ives, but it became a moral crusade against from the Irish Political Review) about away. All conflict would be subordinated Evil with the object of annihilating the Hart's even more extraordinary ability to to a collective will. enemy. Clifford made the point that communicate with the dead. Thomas Kettle (Conor Cruise O'Brien's Meehan and Tim Pat gave Hart's book JOHN PRESCOTT uncle) played a crucial role in British a decent burial. And the launch of the There was a documentary on British propaganda. Kettle characterised the con- pamphlet had some of the characteristics television about the meaning of class. It flict as a defence of Christian Civilisation of an Irish wake: some humour, a lot of featured former Deputy Leader of New against German Nietschianism. drink and … a good row at the end! 12 And it was a good excuse to see some war films on the telly, showing how England won the War, with some great escapes and an obscure battle in the desert against the nice Herr Rommel. But it is clear that everything has changed today. Remembrance Little Boy Soldiers is a deeply political thing now and the message is that war is good for you. The Remembrance of the last weeks got me remembering And that message, which I presume originated with Thatcher about Remembrance in the past, in another country. And in this and Sons (Major, Blair and Brown), now washes over Ireland. case the past was another country in more ways than one. Well, give me the militarist England of the 1960s over today's When I was young and growing up in Brixton, South London, Peace Parks of Ireland any day. one of my favourite places was a bus ride down the road in Kennington. It was the Imperial War Museum. The Imperial War Around thirty years ago Paul Weller (of the pop group, The Museum is devoted to the two British wars on Germany that are Jam) wrote a song called Little Boy Soldiers. It is on the record not usually referred to as Imperial wars. But its title is accurate called Setting Sons. It should be sung to the Irish admirers of Our because they were, indeed, Imperial wars. And so credit is due to War, as they are now claiming ownership of it. And it should be the Imperial War Museum for calling a spade a spade. required reading for those History Professors of Trinity College If the Imperial War Museum ever opened a branch in Ireland who would like us to hate Huns again and do our duty in current it would probably have to call itself the Imperial Peace Museum and future wars: so that the Irish who were inclined to pay homage to their Imperial "I'm up on the hills, playing little boy soldiers, warriors could feel good about what they were doing. Reconnaissance duty up at 5:30. Shoot, shoot, shoot and kill the natives, I must admit to being obsessed with war as a boy. I think You're one of us and we love you for that. everyone I knew of my age in London was. I could see the contrast when we went home to the rest of the family in Ireland because Think of honour, Queen and country, my cousins cared little for it. You're a blessed son of the British Empire, London in the 1960s had reminders of war everywhere. There God's on our side and so is Washington. were still bombsites at the end of our street that had yet to be built Come out on the hills with the little boy soldiers. on. The Prefabs were there too and we had an air-raid shelter in our backyard with helmets and even an old Lee Enfield. War Come on outside—I'll sing you a lullaby, comics, war films, model aircraft were our world. And we could Or tell a tale of how goodness prevailed. engage in some contemporary warfare down at West Ham or Millwall on a Saturday if we were that way inclined. We ruled the world—we killed and robbed, England is an intensely militarist society, of course. And, in The fucking lot—but we don't feel bad. those years, when Ted Heath was moving it away from the balance of power and into a new future in Europe, there was a lack It was done beneath the flag of democracy, of wars to be fought. So this became the great time of football hooliganism, when young men, with nothing better to do, engaged You'll believe and I do—yes I do—yes I do— in a bit of 'bovver' with each other (the conflict in Northern Ireland yes I do— that was just re-emerging was seen in the British consciousness very much as a temporary peace-keeping operation in England at These days I find that I can't be bothered, the time). To argue with them, well what's the point, Better to take your shots and drop down dead, But, despite the obsession with war and the militarist nature of Then they send you home in a pine overcoat society, the attitude toward the wars of the past was very much different than today. I cannot remember the wearing of poppies With a letter to your mum at Remembrance as anything like the extent of today. Remembrance Sunday was only celebrated on that Sunday, with Saying: 'Find enclosed one son—one medal and a note— a lot of old veterans of the Great War marching rather harmlessly To say he won.'" down to the Cenotaph, with many of them promoting the message: Pat Walsh "Never Again".

The use of the Hellfire AGM-4N weap- spokesman said. Thermobaric Bombs ons had been deemed so successful they "We call it an enhanced blast weapon." There has been very little publicity would now be fired from RAF Reaper When a bomb, a warhead packed with about a new type of bomb which Britain is unmanned drones controlled by "pilots" at fluorinated aluminium powder surrounding a Creech air force base in Nevada, an Defence small charge, hits its target, the charge disperses using in Afghanistan. The following is the Ministry spokesman added. the aluminium powder throughout the target report as published in the (Australian) Thermobaric weapons, or vacuum building. The cloud then ignites, causing a Sunday Times on 23rd June 2008:- bombs, were first combat-tested by the massive secondary blast that tears throughout "British Forces in Afghanistan have used Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s any enclosed space. one of the world's most deadly and and their use by Russia against civilians in The blast creates a vacuum that draws air controversial missiles to fight the Taliban. Chechnya in the 1990s was condemned and debris back in, creating intense pressure. Apache attack helicopters have fired worldwide. The more heavily the building is protected, the thermobaric weapons against fighters British Apache pilots had complained the more concentrated the blast. in buildings and caves, to create a pressure that the standard Hellfire anti-tank missiles The cloud of burning aluminium powder wave that sucks the air out of victims, were going straight through buildings and means victims often die from asphyxiation shreds their internal organs and crushes out of the other side. before the pressure shreds their organs. their bodies. Legal experts concerned that use of the Lockheed Martin air-to-ground missiles The Ministry of Defence has admitted weapons broke international law simply systems programme director Jim Gribschaw to the use of the weapons, condemned by renamed them. said the thermobaric Hellfire was "capable of human rights groups as "brutal", on several "We no longer accept the term thermo- reaching round corners to strike enemy forces occasions, including against a cave baric (for the AGM-114N) as there is no hiding in caves, bunkers and hardened multi- complex. internationally agreed definition," a ministry room complexes." 13 the new world order was to be, have no institutions carried on equably beyond the influence on the subsequent course of furore of devolved politics. That is why events in Europe? "tribalism" survived and flourished. I'm sure that, if Irish academics posed Historians? questions like this, British intellectuals Marquand writes: like Marquand would apply their minds to "Democratic collectivist centralism David Marquand, a former Labour MP, them. To put it another way: revisionist rested on bad history. It ignored the a founder of the Social Democratic Party, academic in Ireland, in the way that it complex process through which an a Chief Adviser to the European responds to British influence, exercises a overarching “British” identity had been Commission, a leader writer on the debasing influence back on English superimposed on older Irish, Scottish Guardian, and a Professor of Politics, intellectual life. and Welsh identities; and it brushed recently published a book entitled, Britain aside the inconvenient truth that the Since 1918: The Strange Career Of British Marquand writes at much greater length British state created by the Act of Union Democracy. British democracy (or about the conflict in Northern Ireland that in 1707 was multinational, like Aus- tria-Hungary in the 19th century, not something close to it) was established in erupted forty years later. He sees it, Irish national, like France" (p222). 1918. And the first democratic test of the Independent fashion, as a conflict of "rival first democratic British Parliament had to tribes" (p224). He does not ask how it I argued something like that forty years do with the electoral mandate to Sinn Fein could be that tribalism survived and ago. Taking the major political division in to establish independent government in flourished in the late 20th century in this Northern Ireland to be national, I said that Ireland. Marquand does not even mention region of the democratic British state. In it was more appropriate for the multi- the Irish vote for independence. His first other words, he does not ask what kind of national Six Counties to be governed mention of Sinn Fein appears on page 369 entity the British state set up in 1921 in within the multi-national British state than and it has to do with Provisional Sinn Fein this region of itself. within the tightly nationalist Irish State. in the 1980s. The history of the British He says: "Catholics clung to a stubborn But, if that was so, why had the Six relationship with Ireland during the years 'Irish' identity fuelled by the republican Counties not settled down within the multi- immediately following the introduction myth of martyrdom". He does not ask why national British State as Glasgow and of the democratic electoral franchise in they did this instead of participating in the Liverpool had? 1918 is dealt with in a single sentence democratic life of the British state. Could It was an obvious question. And as within a paragraph dealing with something it really be that he doesn't know!? soon as it was asked the answer was else: He writes: "State institutions… were obvious: because the Six Counties were "Signs of strain were unmistake- instruments of Protestant supremacy". excluded from the dimension of the British able… they were not. State which operated beyond nationality— "An emblematic moment came in Leaving aside the police (which in its system of party politics. British party- 1922 when Britain signed the Washing- theory at least were local—County— politics preceded the British Parliamentary ton Treaty, giving the US parity with bodies everywhere), state institutions were Union of 1707 and contained and absorbed her in capital ships. In practice, she had British. all political movements thrown up after ceased to be supreme at sea at the end of About thirty years ago Paddy Devlin, 1707. (And when the Liberal Party the 19th century, but it was one thing to destroyed itself by launching World War abandon supremacy in practice, another who had been a Minister at Stormont, to sign a treaty announcing that she had wrote that the Social Welfare system was in 1914 it was arranged that the Labour done so. Meanwhile, spending on the structurally sectarianised, with different Party should be its evolutionary army was heavily cut. In most places rates of benefits for Protestants and replacement.) strain was not obvious. Where it was, Catholics. That assertion passed muster Britain was multi-national in a very painful change was unavoidable. One with Professor Bew and Devlin's book different sense from Austria-Hungary, as such place was Ireland. In the years was warmly welcomed by the Editor of the names indicate. It was never organised after the First World War, a handful of Books Ireland. Angela Clifford, who had by nationality. Griffith's "Hungarian republican guerillas successfully de- written a history of the Northern Ireland model" was delusory in its moderation. fied the might of a recently triumphant Social Welfare system in connection with Balfour said at one time that, if it came to Britain, and forced the Lloyd George the 1932 Outdoor Relief Riots, published it that there must be one or the other, Irish Government to concede virtual inde- a refutation of it. What she wrote was independence would be preferable to pendence to twenty-six counties in the never disputed. A few years later we were Home Rule because the latter would be a south of Ireland. A second, far more approached by somebody who had been a drag on the British Constitution. Joint complex, example was India. Instinc- student at the Jordanstown Polytechnic at British/Irish government of the Empire on tively, Baldwin approached the Indian the time. His class was given the task of Austro-Hungarian lines never stood a quagmire in the spirit of evolutionary discovering whether what she wrote was chance. whiggism…" (p94). true. Since it was found to be true, nothing British state power was tightly Because of cuts in military spending at was said about it—or about the fact that centralised. It seemed to me that the the end of the Great War, the British Devlin's assertion was grossly inaccurate. communal roots of local authority were Government had to cut a deal with a And this was a fair sample of Irish torn up by the prolonged Reformation handful of Republican guerillas! academic practice in recent decades. with its scorched earth policies. In the That is the view of things one has come (Jordanstown is now a college of the 18th century, the century of freedom for to expect from Professors Garvin, O University of Ulster.) the gentry, the local authority was the Hailpin, Fitzpatrick, Foster, Patterson, British State institutions existed in local gentleman. When an internal Bew, etc. etc. and it is because of them Northern Ireland and were fairly apparatus of state of another kind was that Marquand can say what he said. But administered. But Northern Ireland was established and representative local one somehow expected better from him. excluded from the political system by authorities were set up, this was done as Did the fact that the new British which the State was governed, and which Westminster saw fit. A Local Authority democracy chose to deal with the Irish elicited popular consent to it. Politics in was a highly conditional devolved body democracy by means of Black & Tans and Northern Ireland was local and was that Westminster could do what it pleased Auxiliaries, at a moment when the world disconnected from the business of with. Many of the English Counties that was looking to Britain for signs of what governing the State. And the State I at least once knew the names of are no 14 longer there. But the geometrical divisions the verdict. But he did not act against handled the acquittal only made the sense of the French Republic that Burke ridiculed Haughey within the Party. One would of abandonment—and betrayal—more are still there, and they have some meaning. have expected a subversive who somehow complete. And that was when the Northern escaped criminal conviction to be at least Catholics, finding themselves on their Britain knows Ireland in the mode of expelled from Party membership, own, discovered the ability to act on their pragmatic dogmatism. A dogmatic particularly when he accused the Leader own. They made war and peace on their assertion that plays is pragmatic. That is of putting on a political show trial that own account, obliging others to make the source meaning of the term. damaged the state. But Haughey remained terms with them. British politics operates as far as in active Party membership, returning to possible with stereotypes. Stereotypes the Front Bench in a few years and taking Keogh records that in late August 1969 are reassuring and stabilising. It lost over the leadership of the Party and the the British Ambassador (Gilchrist, who Ireland ninety years ago because state from Lynch within a decade. had not long before overseen the massacre something happened within Ireland that of about a million people in Indonesia) falsified the stereotypes. Thirty years ago Ten years after the Arms Trial (which "hoped and expected that the Irish Raymond Crotty wrote an article for the was either fraudulent or grossly bungled Government would take every possible London Times saying that Ireland had or both), Lynch was indicted of gross step to curb the activities of the IRA and in become intellectually defunct and calling negligence in the conduct of government particular to prevent their crossing the on British ruling circles to do its thinking in 1969-70 when the Diaries of the border to attack the North" (p194). That for it once again. The call was heeded. Secretary of the Department of Justice, hope was released. And that was one of The stereotypes which made Britain feel Peter Berry, were published the reasons why there was a powerful good about Ireland, and which prove posthumously, and had to defend himself insurgency of the abandoned Northern themselves true by playing in Ireland, in the presence of Haughey as Taoiseach. Catholic community acting independently, were resurrected and are flourishing. And instead of defensive operations supported now Irish academics are making sprightly So what was it all about? by the Dublin Government and limited by British intellectuals like Marquand very Keogh's long chapter about the affair it. dull by the way they live the stereotypes. (125 pages of which the trial occupies six In 1956 there was a formal invasion of lines) ends with a speculation of what if the North by the IRA in orderly military Dermot Keogh, formerly a journalist Lynch had not in 1969-70 "successfully formation. It grew out of the great anti- on the Irish Press and now a Professor of stood out against physical-force Partition agitation launched by Fine Gael History at Cork University, has just nationalism". Here is his conclusion: when it was re-discovering itself as published a long biography of Jack Lynch. "The Blaney-Haughey alternative Republican. Because it was an invasion it It is an apologia for Lynch's conduct in may not merely have provided a change came to nothing. The IRA was in the 1969-70. It asserts that Lynch's conduct of leadership: it might have been a case course of re-making itself as a Marxist gave effect to a policy; that Blaney and of regime change, with bloody conse- party of class revolution in 1969 and was Haughey, the senior Ministers in Lynch's quences for the North of Ireland" (p287). an irrelevance in the North. The pogrom Government, disagreed with Lynch's of August 1969 gave rise in the first That there was a Blaney-Haughey policy and ran a policy of their own in instance to Defence Committees in which alternative which attempted to oust Lynch conflict with it; a kind of dual power Catholics who had served in the British is one of those things that can only be resulted from this with Blaney running a Army played a crucial part. Their purpose known through an Act of Faith. But, if "parallel government"; because Lynch's was communal defence, conducted in there was, and if Lynch successfully policy was the policy of the state, the consultation with Dublin. When Lynch defeated it, it needs no Act of Faith to see operation of the parallel government" was ended that relationship and prosecuted that Lynch's success had "bloody subversive of the state; the Northern their representative for criminal conspir- consequences for Northern Ireland" on a policy of Blaney's "parallel government" acy, the phase of defensive insurgency scale that nobody thought possible before was a war policy while Lynch's Govern- was ended. A new IRA was formed out of the Arms Trial. ment had a peace policy; and that this the Northern crisis and the revolutionary state of affairs gave rise to the arms Crisis, One of the things that the Arms Trial insurgency began. which was resolved by the Arms Trials. did was abandon the Northern Catholic There has never been a credible explan- Blaney's "parallel government" was community, or free it. To be abandoned is ation of Lynch's action. Possibly he subjected to criminal prosecution for to be freed. What an abandoned commun- thought he was pricking the bubble that he subversion by Lynch's Government. That ity does with its freedom depends on what had helped to blow in August, and he is the case asserted by Keogh. One would substance it has in itself. The Northern expected the Northern Catholics to relapse therefore have expected an account of the Catholics had looked to Dublin for two into the old sullen subordination. It had arms Trial to be the heart of the book. But, generations. Lynch's inflammatory tele- the contrary effect. in a book of 600 pages, it is skipped over vision speech of mid-August 1969 Keogh shows no interest whatever in with five short sentences. One can see (experienced as inflammatory even by the curious constitutional entity called sufficient reason for this. Blaney, the Protestants active in the Civil Rights move- Northern Ireland and the effect it had on major figure in the "parallel government" ment), raised great expectations of Dublin both of its communities in their interaction. had the charges against him dismissed in support amongst Catholics. Dublin That is a quality he shares with Lynch. the District Court, even though his name delivered on the expectations it had raised He skips over the Arms trial, and relies figured prominently at the Arms Trial. If for about eight months. Then, out of the for evidence of a conspiracy on "a secret Keogh had dealt with the trial, he would blue, a representative of the Northern memorandum", drawn up by Military have had to account for this. He would Catholics to the Dublin Government, John Intelligence "in the latter part of 1970" also have had to account for the Not Guilty Kelly, was arrested on a charge of criminal (p239). This secret memorandum is in the verdict that was the outcome of the trial of conspiracy by Lynch because of his "Jack Lynch Papers"—but where are they? Haughey. association with agents of the Dublin The Prosecution case was put to the test Lynch rejected the Trial verdict. He Government who had been delivering on at the Trial and it failed. The Court regarded Haughey as a criminal who had Lynch's August undertaking. He was transcript of the trial—the most important got away with his crime—at least that is acquitted, along with Capt. Kelly and ever held in the state—has been 'lost'. the logical implication of his rejection of Haughey, but the manner in which Lynch Lynch got a new, politically pliable 15 Director of Military Intelligence to put But our Government, consumed as it is exotic science and I would have thought together a secret case about Arms Con- by fiercely negative headlines and there would be more of an effort made to spiracy to be made public at a future date subsequently ever-falling polls (Hello! get more crop yieldage (what are the third when it would be immune from the cross- there is a financial crisis and popularity is level courses teaching—if not agri- examination that destroyed Lynch's case not going to be there for a while, while business, aqua-business et al—oh yes that's at the Trial. Keogh appears to be the hard decisions have to be made which will right its all media and drama studies but chosen medium through which it is be exploited for the here and now by a for how long?) Was it Hitler who famously released—but only fragments of it. rubbishy opposition) have to take their speculated about what if the Dutch had got The object, of course, is to discredit heads out of their nether regions and get Ireland and we had got the Netherlands? those who enacted Lynch's policy between the business done. The oil rich Iranian Doesn't bear thinking about really. And I August 1969 and his unexplained reversal government plans to build 1,356 million am wedded to the land, being a daughter of April 1970, especially Col. Hefferon units by March 2009 and a total of 7,888 of it. and Capt. Kelly. This will be considered million new houses over the next five We saw a trenched-coat man getting on in a future article. years. The Central Bank of Iran will in Newry, and thought nothing of it at first Brendan Clifford guarantee the investment and repatriation but still I noticed he came into our carriage of profits by participants. Now what are and sat inside the doors. There was hardly we waiting for with potential deals like any-one on the train. When we finally got that—get with the programme. to Grand Central Station what was first Parlon cannot be faulted for flying to noticeable was the number of plastic poppy es ahora * Iran and landing these great deals. But wearers—but then something much more Now that a full blown recession seems there seems to be a curious silence from sinister caught my eye. I have been many to have gripped the country according to our 'talking heads' and RTE. Is it because places but I have never picked up on the all the economists, it is a good time to look there might be just a fuss made about our level of security via CCTV cameras which outwards and see where there is business dealings by the likes of the UK? Yet we boasted not only of watching us but of to be got. Looking to the UK is not an were treated to the sight of their Prime "storing our images". And in the foyer, option with its own currency outside the Minister, Gordon Brown, going with his they had even a notice warning that "our Euro and indeed competing with it (though begging bowl to the Saudis and others in vocals" were being picked up and stored. to listen to Minister for Foreign Affairs, that region. It would be a true mortification Here at home, there might be CCTVs Michael Martin, you might miss this vital if our Taoiseach acted in such a creeping around but one knows they are seldom point—but then what is a former secondary and fawning way. So Cowen get off your working and, if they are, it is for the school teacher to know about the butt—as the Americans would say—forget purpose of traffic control or property intricacies of foreign and national markets/ those house-trained pollsters and get back surveillance. And they are small compared currencies). to doing what you do best. I have heard to those in Belfast. The smart thing is to follow Charlie you speak at many a Fianna Fail function We went to our hotel, and the man (the Haughey and Albert Reynolds, who and you had 700-800 people on their feet trench coated one) followed and stood initiated trade with the oil-rich Arab because it was very obvious you could watching us in the foyer of the hotel as we countries. Having Libya as a customer for deliver. Go ahead—you have certainly asked for our rooms. I was seriously our beef etc. was hard economic sense nothing to lose now if that's how bad you freaked out when we went out to the pub, though it was ridiculed by (surprise, see things. met our fellow diners and came back to surprise) the Dublin media and politicians our hotel and he was still there now openly who should have known better. Now is the Minister Batt O'Keeffe is speaking truth staring at us. We needed a light meal and time to grab opportunities and win to power, i.e. the people, and picking up while in the restaurant as it darkened contracts from places where building is the mess made by the silly promises of a outside as we looked out the window, he almost a fledging industry. former Education Minister, Michael passed by having looked at his watch Many might think Tom Parlon, Director Martin. Third level fees have got to be and—we thought—had come to the end General of the Construction Industry introduced—it is the only economically of his watch. Federation (CIF), as a former PD member viable thing to do. And when the RTE Of course the next day was the march of of Dail Eireann. might still be hampered News at 6 picked up on the pictures of the the soldiers and it was negotiated that they by the right-wing ideology of that now students horsing around in a make-believe passed in buses rather than on foot. The former party, but out in the world, it is protest (after the truly persuasive protest whole feel of the place was scary and surprising what people realise when needs of the elders of our community) well it some of the party who were tough men must. He has announced that Irish was enough for me looking at their thought at first that they would go out and construction firms should "look to Iran". expensive threads, hearing about their see for themselves—but finally watched He heard from the Iranian Housing drinking/drug clubbing activities, to know it from the hotel windows. We watched as Development Minister Khajeh Daloui when enough was enough. When we the soldiers in full dress uniform with himself about the huge opportunities for protested as students in the 80's—not that plumes out of their berets pass in their our firms, as "Ireland's construction long ago—I was wearing my Dunne's buses. Then they were followed by very expertise" has a growing international duffle coat as were many others and it saw badly dressed men—mostly men—some reputation. As Tom puts it: me through college days and well beyond. of whom had tattoos of the British flag on "We have been approached by a num- their shaved heads. These people had ber of international agencies with a Belfast is supposed to be a newly jiving some poppies, many were dilapidated, view to attracting Irish construction have-it-all city, so a number of us went up and their faces bore signs of hardship. I companies to undertake major infra- to meet for a weekend dinner—the date was confused as I thought these to be the structure projects abroad… The re- decided ages before hand—and as it was nationalists, but they actually were the quest by the Iranian Government to my first time going there I was looking unionists. (It went through my mind that if meet and discuss the opportunities avail- forward to it—yet with a slight the protesting students in Dublin had their able in that country is further proof of apprehension. On the train up, I looked at clothes, they would have attracted some this global recognition" the farming fields and saw that the wet sympathy.) It was a terrible sight to see all summer had wreaked an awful lot of these men, smoking and obviously lacking * It Is Time damage. Still, land drainage is not an in nutrition, making as if they were the 16 chosen. When we finally got to see the · Biteback · Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback nationalist part of Belfast, there was the urban Gaeltacht and that was jiving but by then I wanted to go home as quickly as Ireland was 'betrayed' before First World War possible. But to my horror, no taxi or train ended from Grand Central was working while the march was on. Eventually I approached a black taxi-man (we were warned that The following letter appeared in the Irish Examiner of 17th November Several letters in favour of the Remembrance Day concert held in Cork City Hall on one lot of taxis were not "our side" but in November 8 based their support for it on the understanding that the Irish Party supported the compulsion to get away I just the British government's conduct of the war until it ended on November 11, 1918. approached this man and he said it was Such was not the case. On April 18, 1918 the Irish Party, having withdrawn from the impossible to travel and indeed there were House of Commons over the passing of a Military Service Act, joined with other Irish many white police-4-wheelers stringing parties to issue a declaration from the Mansion House, Dublin. out across the road where there was much The declaration stated that "the passing of the Conscription Bill by the British House shouting and throwing of flags and other of Commons must be regarded as a declaration of war on the Irish nation... It is in direct Unionist paraphernalia. In the end, the violation of the rights of small nationalities to self-determination which even the prime man agreed to take us to the train station as minister of England—now preparing to employ naked militarism and force his act upon we assured him money was no object. Ireland—himself officially announced as an essential condition for peace at the (Paris) Smilingly, he shook his head and landed peace conference". us there having gone through other areas Among those who signed the declaration were John Dillon and Joseph Devlin where our own national flag was flying (representing the Irish Party), Eamon de Valera and Arthur Griffith (representing Sinn and parked at several side-streets were the Féin), William O'Brien (All-for-Ireland League), Tim Healy (Independent) and, police-4-wheelers again. By the time the representing Labour, Thomas Johnson, William O'Brien and M Egan. Within days the train came for Dublin we were off and I Roman Catholic bishops issued a statement expressing their opposition to conscription. swore that never again would I come near Moreover, the two worst fears of those who signed the Mansion House declaration were Belfast. I kept asking my companions, to be realised: the promise to recognise "the rights of small nationalities" was broken were we yet out of the woods—and then when Lloyd George prevented the case for Irish independence being heard at the Paris the Mountains of Mourne were behind us peace conference; and the employment of "naked militarism" by the British army began in their glorious purple-hued colours and immediately—well over a year before the Black and Tans arrived in Ireland. one said now we're home and dry. Three stages may be identified in this move towards rule by the military rather than by I happened to look out of the window Dublin Castle. for one last glance and there in the fields Firstly, on May 10, 1918 Lord French accepted the offer to become Lord Lieutenant were sheep, dyed with the colours of red, of Ireland "as a military viceroy at the head of a quasi-military government". blue and their natural white backs—called Secondly, French took steps to send an extra 12,000 troops to Ireland (25,000 were to look, we all stared out and one wit said already there) and planned to establish four "entrenched air camps" which could be used "well talk about being dyed-in-the-wool". to bomb Sinn Féiners. Dublin never looked so good. Thirdly, following a proclamation by Lord French on May 16, 1918 in relation to an alleged German plot, more than 100 members of Sinn Féin were imprisoned without trial While commemorations of Britain's under the Defence of the Realm Act. wars have taken on new life here in the By the end of the world war, about 200 Sinn Féiners were imprisoned under this act. 'South' (I hate using that phrase as In other words, as the world war ended, a British army of occupation was enforcing constitutionally our national name is martial law in Ireland and neither of the two political promises that had inspired Irishmen Ireland or in Irish, Eire, but I am using it to fight in England's interests had been met: there was no Home Rule and there was no only as shorthand here) with the President freedom for a small nation rightly struggling to be free. going off to open so-called 'Peace Parks' These historical realities provided the background against which Irish soldiers fought in Mayo and in Cork, an actual fancy- in the war and, in the words of Eamon de Valera addressed to US President Woodrow dress party was held in the City Hall Wilson, manifested "unselfish heroism". orchestrated by the Fine Gael Lord Mayor, However, to focus on their bravery while neglecting the presence of the British army Brian Birmingham and others, it looks as in Ireland and the duplicity of the British government would be to tell only one part of if our own national self-esteem is on the the story—and that a very unbalanced one. proverbial drip. RTE has so saturated our To provide the necessary balance, it is helpful to recall and to remember (the essence population with their propaganda, not to of Remembrance) the words of the Mansion House conference that "a declaration of war mention the three main national dailies, on the Irish nation" was made by the British government in April 1918. that to even ask any questions as to the Dr. Brian P Murphy OSB propriety of any of this, immediately earns the response of being an Anglophobe. This is of course pure nonsense. But hey events in the past fortnight and will report Correction whatever works they seem to think and if on them thoroughly in next month's issue. In the November 2008 issue of Irish they get away with it once or twice—well Sure the fightback has only begun. Political Review, the article "Irish" they are on their way. I have had enough Julianne Herlihy Regiments: The Empire They Fought For of this blackguarding. We pay their bloated by Philip O'Connor carried a misprint. salaries and we get this in return. And The statement following the "Indian once the politicians see what way the www.atholbooks.org Mutiny" attributed to Charles Darwin in wind is blowing, their supineness in the relation to the Indian people of wanting to face of it, is enough to sicken one. "do my utmost to exterminate the race" But funny enough there seems to be a Back Issues, Articles, was in fact made by Charles Dickens in an bit of a backlash—not much yet—but it is Catalogue, and Ordering editorial in the December 1857 issue of there and for the moment that will do me his magazine Household Words. The fine. I have been to two very important author wishes to apologise for this slip. 17 Military documents had confirmed what Paddy Heaney's book had said. Coolacrease Mr. Muldowney said his own interview on the Joe Duffy show saw him challenged Executions Were A War Time Tragedy on whether there was a legitimate government in Ireland at the time. "He The following report appeared in the Offaly Express of 11th November was saying it wasn't an Irish army. The A new book "Coolacrease:The true reporter present. first Dail was elected in 1918 and the story of the Pearson executions" which The court found that the main reason second was elected in 1921," said Mr claims to disprove RTE slurs against was a military engagement with an IRA Muldowney. Offaly was given both a welcome and road block, in which four IRA members emotional reception when it was launched were wounded, a raid in which the Pearson Launching the book Senator Pat Moylan on Thursday evening by Seanad brothers partook. He said the British said the book made for compelling reading Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan. Military Court agreed it was a reprisal, a for anyone with an interest in local history. retaliation for the Pearsons attack on the He said while he had an interest he was not nor never has been an historian. RTE'S HIDDEN HISTORY 'DAMAGED IRA. LOCAL TOURISM' "There were other large Protestant "It was 87 years ago and the analysis The book, published by the Aubane farms around and none of those fami- is best left with historians," said Sena- Historical Society, and written by Paddy lies or homes were touched. This was a tor Moylan. Heaney, Pat Muldowney, Philip O'Connor particular case because of a particular situation," said Mr O'Connor. He said his own father had been a and other contributors, disputes an RTE volunteer with the Republican forces documentary 'Hidden History' which He said that documents obtained by the during that time and was part of the fight described the execution of the Pearson Land Commission showed no "sectarian for Irish Independence. brothers at Coolacrease as a sectarian act. division of land", or no "sectarian land A large crowd gathered for the launch grab." "It was a great and patriotic genera- tion. There was much suffering and at the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Finally he said that academic historians sacrifice so the people of our country Society in Bury Quay, Tullamore and who appeared in the RTE documentary they showed their support for the may chart their own destiny in the and the broadcaster itself, now have "a world." publication, hailing it as 'a tremendous case to answer". piece of local history'. He said the IRA were working under MC and one of the authors Philip Local Historian and one of the authors the mandate of the Irish people, because O'Connor said it was a book of great Paddy Heaney thanked all those who came of the Declaration of Independence in importance. He said the War of forward with accounts of what happened. 1919. Independence had not ended at the time of He said there was never a mandate for "We were all very annoyed when the the executions, an issue of great national documentary came out. Some were re- ethnic cleansing, and questioned whether importance and said it was dealt with in a luctant to take part in it ," said Mr the shootings were the botched result of 'controversial' way by RTE. Heaney. He said however "it would be inexperienced marksmen, and said it was "It was a tragedy that happened in a sad if we let down the men and women chilling from a modern perspective. time of war. Senator Eoghan Harris of that period." described it as a sectarian atrocity and A comment from the floor described said the men were deliberately shot in He said those interviewed were not the book as "a tremendous piece of local the genitals. He described it as ethnic treated well. history." cleansing," said Mr O'Connor. "We were hauled into Charleville He said there were also claims that the and degraded," said Mr Heaney. He It was said that the RTE documentary executions were carried out by the IRA to said the documentary did untold dam- was now being shown in secondary get land and that a mafia silence descended age to tourism in the area. schools. over Offaly. "Some of us have put in 35 years of Mr O'Connor said the basic facts were hard work trying to encourage people to Following this there were calls for always known and that in 2000 Paddy come to the Slieve Blooms. It was amaz- Senator Pat Moylan to launch an objection Heaney's book "At the Foot of Slieve ing the documentary did a whole lot of with the Minister for Education and the damage. It was a pity the documentary Bloom" showed that the orders came from Taoiseach about the documentary being portrayed the local area in a wrong light shown in schools or to ensure that the senior level within the IRA during a entirely," said Mr Heaney. dangerous time. book is made available in schools where the documentary is being shown. "The IRA command ordered the men He said the book was dedicated to the to be executed. It was not a local event," people of the area involved in the War of said Mr O'Connor. Independence. "A lot of them emigrated Coolacrease. He said in 1918 the people of Ireland and are buried in a foreign land with no voted to have the Dail established and for tombstone to their memory. This book The True Story of the Pearson a republic and that war was declared by will be a memorial to them." Executions in Co. Offaly, the British Government to make the Another author of the book, Pat an Incident in the Muldowney said a lot of controversy has election null and void. He said there was War of Independence talk of 'uncontested seats' but denied this grown since the documentary was first saying it was the election with the least aired. He said all other stories crumble by 'uncontested' seats and was won by a compared to the true story found in Paddy Paddy Heaney,Pat Muldowney, landslide. Heaney's book. Philip O'Connor and others. 427 pp. Mr O'Connor spoke of the court of He said when he learned of the ISBN 978-1-903497-47-0. enquiry which was held in Crinkle, Birr discontent amongst those interviewed for Aubane Historical Society. 2008. into the executions. The Pearson family the documentary he had a feeling it €20, £18. were interviewed and there was even a wouldn't be balanced. He said British 18 (Apologies for the poor Address By Philip quality of this photo. A O'Connor better version can be seen on the Offaly Express website.) Firstly, I would like to thank Steve McNeill, chairman of OHAS, for hosting the event this evening. I would also like to extend a particularly warm welcome to Senator Pat Moylan— Authors of Coolacrease: The True Story Of The Pearson Executions, Paddy Cathairleach of the Seanad—for agreeing Heaney, Philip O'Connor, Pat Muldowney and Jack Lane, with Senator Pat to launch the book. Moylan who officially launched the book at the Offaly Historical & There are many people I would like to Archaeological Society, Bury Quay, Tullamore on 6th November. Those thank for this book— attending the launch included J.J. Dillon, whose contributions to the Jack Lane who urged that it be done, Coolacrease programme were edited to give a misleading impression. Also Especially Paddy Heaney, who had researched this story thoroughly, and first present was Michael Connolly, son of Joe Connolly (commander of the published an account of it in 2000, and Pat Active Service Unit which carried out the execution). He very warmly Muldowney who took up the issue, welcomed us and the book. (Picture: www.JeffHarvey.ie) working with Paddy to reconstruct the full Senator Eoghan Harris proclaimed it to imprisoned at the time, Dillon and Horan detail of the story and track down the have been a sectarian atrocity, carried out following denunciation by the Pearsons documentary record; in a horrendous manner (deliberately shot after the so-called 'Mass path incident'. Many people who provided new details in the "genitals" and left to die), and the Following the roadblock attack most of and information—such as Simon Comer, programme claimed it had been done by the local republicans had been rounded up Nick Folley, Niall Guerin and Claire the local IRA in furtherance of a land grab and interned. In other words, there was no McGrath-Guerin by local people. It was claimed the event attack by the "local" IRA on the Pearsons. Philip McConway for new information was shrouded in a mafia-like silence The execution was of course a tragedy, from his current research into the War of locally, and Sen. Harris demanded as all such events in time of war are. But Independence in Offaly; atonement by the people of Co. Offaly. we must remember why there was a war. Seán McGouran for accessing the The basic facts of what happened have It was not some kind of continuation of the records of the Irish Grants Committee in always been known locally, and they were 1916 rising. The major fact of Irish history the British National Archives; researched twenty years ago by Paddy at that time was the election of November Malachi Lawless for compiling the Heaney and recounted in his pioneering 1918 in which Sinn Fein, standing on a transcripts of the RTÉ programmes; book At the foot of Slieve Bloom, which platform of withdrawing from Brian P. Murphy (who unfortunately appeared nine years ago. There was no Westminster, convening a Dáil in Ireland can't be with us as he is in hospital for a hip local cover-up. and establishing a Republic, had won a operation), Brendan Clifford, Nick Folley The few IRA records from the time landslide. Some commentators now attack and John Martin for contributing excellent make it quite clear what happened: the those elections, referring especially to the chapters to the book; Pearson brothers attacked a group of local issue of some uncontested seats. But it The staffs of the Military Archives, the IRA men building a roadblock, wounding was the first election in which the entire National Archive, the Records Branch of three of them—Tom Donnelly, Mick adult population over 21 had a vote, and in the Department of Agriculture, the Land Heaney and Jack Brophy—as well as an fact the number of uncontested seats was Registry and the Land Valuation Offices RIC man—Bert Hogg—who had been a record low compared to all previous (Dublin) and the British National Archives, apprehended by the roadblock party general elections in Ireland—the facts of Kew (London), coming from the Pearson house. Mick this matter are brought out for the first Angela Clifford and AHS for a Heaney was seriously wounded, and died time here in the article by Brendan Clifford. marvellous work of production a few years later of his wounds. On the The fact is that the British Government Most of all, a special thanks to the basis of many sources of information, the refused to accept the outcome of the people of Cadamstown for consenting to IRA also concluded that the Pearson election in Ireland, and launched a information on their families being brothers had been passing intelligence to campaign of military suppression and published in this book the British side during those dangerous terror in Ireland. The IRA came about by times. They were ordered to be executed people taking an oath to defend the This book is about an incident at the for taking up arms on the British side democratically elected Dail and its end of the War of Independence, and is during a time of war. institutions against this military onslaught. important in both national and local The decision to execute the Pearson The War of Independence was a popular history. But because of the way it was brothers was taken by the senior IRA resistance movement against the war of treated recently in the national press command, not by local men. Also, the terror with which the British responded to following a documentary on RTE, it has execution party did not involve local men, the results of the general election in Ireland. become a battleground in the struggle but consisted of the active service unit of over the very meaning of that history. the South Offaly Brigade, based at A key source of information on the The incident, as everyone now knows, Kilcormac. In addition, many of the events at Coolacrease are the proceedings was the shooting by the IRA of two leaders of the local IRA leaders—e.g. JJ of the official British Military Court of brothers—Richard and Abraham Horan (a substantial farmer and elected Inquiry held at Crinkle into the events at Pearson—and the burning of their house— Sinn Fein councillor for Kinnity), JJ Coolacrease. These already contain much Coolacrease House—in 1921. McRedmond, John Dillon etc.—were of the key evidence debunking the Harris 19 mythology: the Pearson brothers were not did contain were actually rejected by it. "shot in the genitals" as the Senator These include claims of trespass, boycott claimed. They received various wounds and land grabbing by local people against to the back, legs, arms etc., and only in one the family which the evidence assembled case, a wound to the groin area on one of in this book shows simply never happened. Address By the men. The evidence at that Inquiry also Finally, it was claimed by the Pearsons demolishes the later myths that the family in their compensation claim that their farm Pat Muldowney was forced to witness the execution. was squatted and that the Land Indeed, of the many fanciful stories of this Commission accepted this fait accompli I'd like to add my voice to the nature later related in connection with the and divided the land among local IRA acknowledgements of the previous execution, few were mentioned at all at men after William Pearson had been forced speakers. I would also like to thank the Inquiry. The British Military Inquiry to sell it for a quarter of its value to the members of the Offaly news media who also accessed evidence from the top RIC Land Commission at the point of a gun! helped to publicise the story—including officers of the Divisional area, who This nonsense was accepted by the Ger Scully and others who are here tonight. recounted that the executions were Sammon-Harris documentary, and backed And, whether he likes it or not, I want to probably in reprisal for the Pearson attack up in its essentials by various academics acknowledge a particular debt of gratitude on the IRA roadblock (they even thought who participated in the programme. to Niall Meehan who was a pillar of one of the volunteers had been killed). In fact, the Pearsons negotiated a very strength and good counsel throughout the This RIC assessment was, ironically, good price from the Land Commission— controversy. probably based on evidence from the over twice what they had paid for it—and Pearsons themselves. All of this evidence, also received compensations for some Three separate issues can be seen as though made available to Niamh Sammon losses from the County Court in Birr. The emerging from the Coolacrease story. and Eoghan Harris, was suppressed in the Land Commission at that time, as civil making of the RTE documentary. servants who had transferred from the First there are the actual events of 1921. British to the Irish system, did everything These were described by Paddy Heaney in Another area the book examines in by strict procedure, and that included never his book At the Foot of Slieve Bloom. But some detail are the claims of a land grab. dealing with land squatters. In addition, in the course of the past couple of years, Niamh Sammon claimed that the the IRA, the Republican Courts and the Paddy's account was challenged and programme was based on "confidential" Free State authorities never accepted subjected to intense criticism by top files in the Land Commission which seizures of land, and invariably academics, top broadcasters and top proved her claims. And she claimed that a repossessed it and returned it to its owners. pundits. They produced a new version of respected historian—Dr Dooley—had But there was no squatting or land grabbing the events in opposition to Paddy's. examined these records and that that at Coolacrease, as this book proves. The But it turned out to be very easy to provided the basis for the programme's Land Commission paid over the odds for demolish the new version. The top claims of a sectarian land grab. In fact, the the land, and then distributed it in strict academics, top broadcasters and top only "evidence" provided for this were the adherence to procedure. Ironically, one of pundits were talking off the top of their very colourful claims which the Pearson those procedures at the time—arising from head. Paddy's account, on the other hand, family itself made to a later British a British Act of 1919—was to give turned out to be robust and well-founded. compensation commission called the "Irish preference to ex-British Army soldiers, In fact, Paddy set the top professors an Grants Committee." and the first four allocations of land from examination, and the professors flunked The IGC was a very strange fish indeed. the farm were indeed offered to men who the test! It was established after several had fought for the British in WW1. Of the compensation bodies had already 14 allocations only three—of 12, 18 and The second issue emerging from investigated all kinds of compensation 30 acres—were finally made to men who Coolacrease is the public controversy claims for property and life lost during had been involved in the independence surrounding the RTÉ Hidden History Britain's war in Ireland. The IGC was set struggle. There simply was no land grab at programme which was first broadcast up following a vociferous campaign by Coolacrease, sectarian or otherwise. about a year ago. This is the issue of the well connected loyalist lobbying groups interpretation and implementation of the to provide additional compensation for The RTE documentary sought to tar the Broadcasting Act which lays down what was called "extraordinary hardship" people of Cadamstown as sectarian land standards which broadcasting must over and above material losses. It was grabbers, the army of the Dáil as operating comply with. This issue is discussed in staffed by senior unionist and Anglo-Irish a murderous land grabbing campaign detail in the book. loyalist personnel and collected and heard locally, and the officials of the Land Though I wasn't in the programme I evidence from one source only—the Commission as complicit in a sectarian had a role outside of it. I first met Paddy Southern Irish Loyalists Relief crime. This book comprehensively about three years ago, and he told me then Association. Given that no contradicting demolishes all of these charges. that he had been approached by television or other evidence from any other Irish and film people. I got involved in some source was ever sought or heard by the internet debate about the Coolacrease Committee, it was a very one sided body. Coolacrease story. I got in touch again with Paddy in It is hardly surprising in these June 2007, and he told me that a television circumstances that people would embellish programme was being made, and that the and spin extraordinary stories to it. can be ordered interviews were already done. He was Nevertheless, the first claim by the from the addresses on the back concerned at that time about possible bias. Pearsons was rejected by even the IGC as So I made contact with the programme too fanciful to be taken seriously. A page or from and the upshot was that I was invited to be subsequent claim was successful and interviewed for it. I went to see Paddy and brought the family compensation of www.atholbooks.org he introduced me to Philip McConway, £7,400, though as the book shows, hardly and both of them coached me in preparation anything in that claim stands up to serious for what they regarded as prejudicial scrutiny, and even most of the claims it interview practice. In addition, I was able 20 to get hold of the official British records of shock-jock columnists who entertain us the Coolacrease events, and these by sticking pins in what they regard as confirmed Paddy's account of what had Irish sacred cows. happened. I was interviewed for the programme Revisionism is now the mainstream Fintan's Faulty (?) Ear on July 28 2007, and the interview view. The Irish Labour Party website says confirmed suspicions that the programme that constitutional or democratic Irish self- In the Weekend Review (Irish Times was not going to be objective, fair and government began in 1922, not in 1918. 30.08.08) Fintan O'Toole has an encomium of balanced. So the only thing to be done was Many Fine Gael spokesmen say the same Davy Hammond. It is called the "non-sectar- to prepare to publicly contest the thing. A leading Fianna Fáil spokesman ian singer of the Ulster song tradition". programme as soon as it was broadcast. and government minister has declared, on Hammond was a "musician, song collector, And that is what was done. All this is the record, that this is the case. teacher, broadcaster and film maker", accord- described in the book. The implication for the Coolacrease ing to the caption under his photograph adorn- story is clear. If it is the case that the ing the article. The third issue in this affair is what I authority that the Pearsons aligned It is a good, short, retelling of call the Joe Duffy issue. That is, the revision themselves with was the legitimate one, Hammond's life and achievements. But when he got onto the folk singing and folk songs, one and re-interpretation of the events which then they were innocent victims of murder. begins to wonder if Mr. O'Toole had been resulted in an independent Irish State The only thing they can be accused of is paying that much attention. He claims that during the first half of the twentieth recklessness, or excess of valour in their "The Ulster song tradition is one of Europe's century, 1912 to 1948. active defence of legitimate authority in great cultural treasures". (It was being ex- In the week following the broadcast, Ireland. plored by the BBC in Belfast from at least the just over one year ago tonight, for two Likewise, the Hidden History 1940s. This is not an attempt to diminish days in a row Joe Duffy gave over his documentary may have been a bit slipshod Hammond's achievement, but to put it in con- Liveline afternoon radio programme to in its research and its use of sources. But text.) O'Toole claims that there are three countering the criticism to which the its heart was in the right place—that is, if important "things" about 'Ulster song'. Coolacrease Hidden History programme we accept the mainstream view of the From the last to first they are "infused with a passionate sense of place", and they are was being subjected. While he was origins of legitimate, democratic hybrid. The main element is plainness. interviewing me on air I made reference to government in Ireland. "Though sectarian stereotypes need to be the Irish government of the Second Dáil, What is the source of this revisionism avoided, there is an obvious difference be- and to its army. Joe Duffy—the people's which is now the mainstream? Ultimately, tween the baroque, wonderfully ornamented friend, the voice of the common man— this is the British view, according to which singing of Gaelic sean-nós and the generally challenged this and said that, whether we a law enacted by the British government more direct, unadorned style more typical of like it or not there was no constituted Irish in 1920 established a Parliament in Ulster. That difference clearly has something government or Irish army at the time, that Southern Ireland whose powers were to do with the religious cultures of Catholicism the official government was the British- finally determined by the 1922 Articles of and Presbyterianism". appointed one in Dublin Castle, and they Agreement between the British Quite where the Anglicans come into this it is difficult to divine. Surely all genuine had their own armed forces on the ground government and Irish representatives who 'folk' song is 'infused with a sense of place', in Ireland. had been elected to the Parliament of passionate or otherwise? The sean-nós tradi- This leads us onto the delicate ground Southern Ireland in 1921. tion and plainsong (the 'traditional' music of of legitimacy. The first Dáil was elected The British view of Irish affairs is now the Roman Catholic Church until the vandal- with an overwhelming independence predominant in Ireland. In the 20th century ism in the wake of Vatican II) could hardly be mandate in 1918. The independence the Irish fought one and only one war more different. (There is a question about the mandate was confirmed in elections in against a foreign power. That war is now word 'baroque'. Baroque architecture and 'art' 1920 and 1921 when the second Dáil was subjected to intensely hostile critical is curlicued and over-complicated. 'Baroque' elected. analysis, while involvement by individual music is actually quite simple.) Gaelic song in The 30th Dáil was elected in 2007. The Irish people in a variety of foreign wars is Ulster is not generally part of the sean-nós tradition. It is quite simple and straightfor- government that it produced can be acclaimed as something to be commemor- ward, Árd a'Chuine or Buachaill o'n Eirne criticised and opposed, but its authority ated uncritically and indiscriminately. come to mind. They are distantly related to and legitimacy are not seriously In case anyone thinks I've been partisan Scottish ballad-tunes. questioned. in naming political parties, the only senior The folk music of (Protestant) Ulster So what is the root of the Joe Duffy politician I've ever discussed this with has strong connections with Scotland. The in- issue? In the US Presidential election of was in Sinn Féin, and his view was that the migration from Scotland and the north of En- 2000 there was a dispute about the counting Irish should reclaim their rightful role in gland when industry was taking-off strength- of votes in Florida. Disputes about vote- the Remembrance ceremonials. ened these connections (with the Northern counting in the Lebanon, the Ukraine and Ballad tradition straddling the Anglo-Scottish other places sometimes cause dangerous So the revisionist or British view of border). Irish 'Rebel' songs were influenced by this tradition. But, as noted above, not every- and violent crises. Irish history now has broad acceptance in body in the Protestant community is of Scot- What is it that induces us to into a social Ireland. This is the most significant aspect tish, or even northern English, origin. contract with each other, in which we of the Coolacrease story. There was a time when 'Rebel songs' comply with laws, pay taxes, and acknow- became the actual 'folk' song of the English ledge authority outside of ourselves? urban working class—it lasted well into the What is the source of legitimate political Michael O'Leary (Ryanair): 1970s. There is a certain amount of truth in the authority? If it does not come from the accusation that 'Rebel' songs are vainglorious ballot-box then where does it come from? "We had an amazing boom for 10 and crude. But so are a great many folk songs This is the Joe Duffy issue. This is part of years. What Europe now needs is a (not to mention matters like the British bour- the revision or re-interpretation of the recession. It's the only way to get wages geoisie bellowing 'Land of Hope and Glory' on down, to get costs down." the Last Night of the Proms). And some origin and character of the independent 'Rebel' songs are anything but crude either Irish state. (CNBC 4th November) musically, or in their language, the Croppy This challenge is not limited to some Boy and Boolavogue (both about Wexford in radio presenter, or to a few newspaper 1798) come to mind. 21 WHERE IS THE MONEY SPENT? anything of our elected legislators now— In the Department of the Environment, the law on gun licences is uncodified and €1.2 billion in levies which were is spread throughout five Firearms Acts Does contributed by the public under the and also the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Planning Acts for the provision of roads Judges have asked for new legislation. it and sports grounds remained unspent. Why In July last Justice Peter Charleton said in Stack do we have to have toll roads when the court there is "a pressing need" to make money is there already for the roads? And the law clearer. He said reasonable people up? a sure way of reducing teenage crime and were "entitled to feel alarmed" about the vandalism is to provide Sports Facilities increasing number of pistols licensed for for use by them near their their own neigh- private use in Ireland. At the time, in July, COMPTROLLER & AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT bourhood. It should be a standard provision the Minister said that he would bring in in any sizeable development that the legislative proposals to the Cabinet in the It all adds up—€3.8 million here and developer would provide land for a autumn. However in November, there was €5.38 million there, €9.85 million children's playground and a football/ the appalling killing of an innocent man, elsewhere and so on. It seems nobody is in hurling pitch within the area of develop- the very popular Limerick player Shane charge. From 2002 onwards there have ment. Paying money to a City or County Geoghegan by hitmen which has resulted been no border patrols, no checkpoint Council is no substitute for the actual land in emergency legislation being discussed duties, no searches and no explosive for children to play on. If the Planning in Cabinet under which the Minister of ordinance disposal requests. And yet the Acts need to be changed it should be done Justice said all handguns presently licensed Defence Forces were paid allowances for now, immediately and the land should be must be handed in to Gardai and the these duties for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, transferred to the Council. licenses will not be renewed. and 2007 to a total of nearly €25 million The C&AG also reported that €9 million This seems to be progress. We'll see euro. This was extra to their pay. Even intended for flood relief works was not when the legislation is published? soldiers attending courses of instruction spent because contracts were not received the allowances. What is this waste completed. He stated that the money of taxpayer's money all about? It simply should not be made available by the Office THE ENVIRONMENT—ANOTHER VIEW doesn't stack up or does it? Is it about of Public Works to the Councils until the We have only one world. It is not equally buying votes or keeping the Irish Defence contracts have been signed. We would ask shared out—some people have a much Forces sweet about 'peace' in a certain why did the flooding take place mostly bigger slice of the cake than others and by province? And who was awarded the where new modern roads have been built. definition, if some fight and get more, contract in December (!) 2006 for 216 If the designs had included drains—yes then others will get less or almost none of Garda vehicles which are still in storage in actually—to let the rain run off, don't you it. Our ancestors lived off the fruits of the 2008? In the private sector, heads would know—then there would have been less earth and later began to dig into the earth roll for this major misconduct costing flooding. And building houses in flood for stone, bronze and iron to make weapons €3.8 million euro. plains—well what kind of planning and knives. Logical I suppose….. but there The Revenue Commissioners them- officers have we got? Also it seems to be have been no iron cookers found by selves and some Revenue staff were major crass stupidity to build tunnels instead of archaeologists. Just mostly iron weapons. tax dodgers. The C& AG stated the amount bridges in a climate where we thankfully Which are mostly used to carve out a came to €1.656, 920 in tax, interest and have a lot of rainwater. Huge amounts of bigger slice of the world cake and leave penalties in respect of allowances (that energy are needed to keep the pumps less for someone else. word again) paid to Revenue staff as running in tunnels. Can we afford to waste We heap honours and money and Benefits-in-kind for costs of travelling to energy like that? The "tunnels" in Limerick respect on those with the biggest and most and from work. It has always been Revenue and Cork are not tunnels at all. They weapons—i.e. the greediest and most practice to deny deductions to employees consist of huge sections of concrete pipes aggressive people. Material culture i.e. in the private sector for costs of travelling made onshore and laid into dredged river- greed, is what is driving the affluent world to and from work and employers who paid bed trenches. The joints between the huge now and this culture has serious drawbacks such costs for employees were not allowed pipes leak profusely requiring a lot of when the greedy people have to deal with to deduct it either. "Do as I say not as I do" closure time for what is now called a recession. They have to do with less but seems to be the Revenue motto. No "Routine Maintenance". Just think of the they do not know how to. Nor how to mention of B.I.K. tax on the provision of money necessary for such works and who accept it and deal with it. Economists Revenue staff car-parks. And there are no gets the oh-so-lucrative contracts. think in terms of "getting the economy parking spaces for their paying "clients"— going again". But the economy is going: the tax-payers. And the heavily subsidised only it is a little smaller now because two meals in the canteens? One could go on GUN LICENCES billion Chinese people are taking a small and on. It reminds me of the time it was There are over two hundred and thirty bit more of the world cake and this is a discovered that the overtime payments to four thousand gun licences now in Ireland. moving process. More and more, little bit Revenue porters in Lower O'Connell (26 counties). What are the licensees by little bit, is going to those people who Street, Dublin was paid in cash out of shooting at? Why do they want guns? had very little previously. And it has got to "Petty Cash" and was not taxed under And, most important, is it in the interests come from somewhere. There is only one PAYE nor PRSI. It seems those days may of the rest of us to have all those guns in world cake and we're sharing it out more still be with us. Travelling costs to and the community? equally. That's why we have "recession" from work also are paid in the Irish Prison In twelve months to 31st July 2008 the and it is only fair that we should have a Service. One officer received €24, 117 in Gardai in County Wexford issued 141 little more "recession" so as to share out 2007. So the taxpayer has to pay for them new licences and in County Wicklow 112 some more to those who had not their to live where they like? How about the for handguns. In comparison Letter- share of it previously. It is a painful and Costa Brava anyone! To pay anyone for kenny, Co. Donegal issued 41 handgun slow economic process. Weapons should the cost of going to and from work is the licences. There can be no compelling not be part of the process except to restrain equivalent of a rise in pay and should be reason for the issue of all of these licences. the greedy people and if necessary to treated as such for tax reasons. Almost incredibly—but we'd believe enforce law and order. 22 BRITISH DEMOCRACY Readers' Letters: History Ireland Correction. Tommy Index 2008 Graham As I noted in the November Irish (Labour Comment is edited by Pat Maloney: Editorial Digest. (Northern Bank Robbery Revisited; Political Review under this heading, the Unless otherwise stated, articles are by him) Ian Paisley Jnr Resignation; Brendan Huges RIP; Mairead Farrell; Dromore By-Election; New Law Lords who are and were appointed January 2008 by the Prime Minister in Britain duly did SDLP History; Informers; Flags & Emblems; Fianna Fail In The North. Editorial Price Of History; Victims' Industry; David their thing for Queen and country. They Irish Budget 2008. John Martin Burnside; Green Poppies?; Bono & Israel) decided that the Chagos Island people Abbas's Palestine. Conor Lynch (Reflections On The Lisbon Treaty. David Morrison Palestine, 5) who were evicted from their homes by Eu Referendum Group; Stop Blair Petition; Israel Editorial Digest (Ulster Scots; Pyjamas; Pearse In Europe British forces at the request of the USA, Doherty; Sammy Wilson; Fianna Fail; Bertie Ahern The St. Geroge Crusade Against Low Standards. and dumped on the island of Mauritius, At Bodenstown) Manus O'Riordan Letters To The Editor. (Roger Casement from Tim Shorts from the Long Fellow (Casino Capitalism; had no rights because what was done to O'Sullivan, J. Dudgeon; Poppies, S. McGouran) them was done for the security of the "What Friends Are For"; Re-Alignment; The Will Labour Leave Northern Ireland Members In EU; Social Partnership; A "Very Flawed Human realm. Limbo? David Morrison Being" Labour Party Conference On Palestine. D. Morrison Scribbled Recollections. Tim O'Sullivan (Part 3 of None of the Queen's subjects can now Fine Gael Negativity. Report feel safe as a result of the Lords' decision. Casement Report) What Is Possible? Wilson John Haire Cathal O Searcaigh & Casement. Tim O'Sullivan But that's British Democracy in action Shorts from the Long Fellow (Drugs & Society + (report of two letters) and I suppose the British are used to it. Irish Times on Katy French; Another Omission; "Why We Should Not Recognise Kosovo". Report Harney Must Go; Social Partnership; EU Treaty) of Tom O'Donoghue letter Myths, Old And New. Cathal Brugha launches Supporting Lá Nua. Áund Durkin Michael Stack Myths From Easter 1916 The War Of Independence And Peter Hart's 'Sectarian Scribbled Recollections. Tim O'Sullivan report, Argument. Nial Meehan Casement Symposium. Israel: Serial Violator Of UN Resolutions. David A West Briton On… Neutrality And… Allegiance. Morrison Manus O'Riordan and Brian Inglis Israel And Trade Union Boycott. Report of Jewish Parade Of Death The State And The Obvious. Joe Keenan (Ah, The Chronicle article English, 2) Myths From Easter 1916. Brendan Clifford The following letter by David Irish Language And Lawyers. Seán Mc Suibhne Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Erskine Childers; Morrison appeared in the Belfast (report) Irish Militarism?; EU Referendum; British Telegraph of 26th September 2008 Land Grabbers. Brendan Clifford (part 2) Embassy; Lobus Globus Pocus; Dick Spring; (Text in square brackets not published) Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Cork Poppy; Guantanamo Trials; Church And State; O B N) Kilmichael Night; The 7th; No Sympathy For A Hierarchy Of Regret. Jack Lane City's Army Parade Queried Irish Culture?; Budget; Libertas; Catholics On DUP Veto On The 11+ ? Mark Langhammer You quote a Ministry of Defence Throne?) Impact And Palestine Sharon's Scheme. Report Israel & Palestinians. Report of Raymond Deane spokesman saying that the proposed John Dulanty—High Commissioner For Whom? military parade in Belfast in letter and Benny Morris views Manus O'Riordan. Some Realities of Betjeman, Labour Comment: Woodrow Wilson: A Love November "is about people from the Bowen & Anglo-Irish Relations (Part 2) Scorned community who have served on Cork Heroes? Jack Lane Labour Comment: From Fat Cats To Compacts. April 2008 operations and are being welcomed Mark Langhammer back". That is not the whole truth. [In Paisley And 'British Government". Editorial February 2008 A Right-Wing Budget. Mark Langhammer reality, the parade is about Pádraig Ó Cuanacháin. Jack Moylett (an Was It War, Northern Ireland; Indonesia. Editorial appreciation) recruitment:] its purpose is to The Mass Break-Out From Gaza. David Morrison persuade more young "people from Readers' Letters: The Casement 'Black Diaries'. A Visit To Gaza. Conor Lynch Roger Sawyer the community" to join the British Readers' Letters: Casement And San Ramon. Tim A Martian Eye On Russia. Manus O'Riordan armed services to kill and be killed in O'Sullivan Shorts from the Long Fellow (The Irish Woman; Editorial Digest. (Sean Hoey; Ulster/China Afghanistan and other foreign fields. The Kenyan; The Scotsman; The Nepalese Exhibition; GAA & DUP; Liberty) Boy; The American; The Irish Mahon) If these young men and women Trocaire & Gaza. Report Social Partnership. Philip O'Connor; Manus were being recruited to defend us Irish Labour. Mark Langhammer (Report of letter) O'Riordan from aggression from abroad I would Israel Flouts UN Resolutions. David Morrison Labour Party Commission On Northern Ireland. 1916 Speeches In Co. Cork. Report have little objection. [But they are Membership Tibet. Conor Lynch (letter) not: they are being recruited to Shorts from the Long Fellow (Ireland Goes Why History. T. O'Sullivan (report) Scandinavian; France Goes Irish; Brits Go The Elections Of 1918, 1920 And 1921. Pat commit aggression abroad.] Home; Ireland Should Follow Russians; Where The Government sells these Muldowney Is Lbour Going?; State We Are In) Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Boy Soldiers; military adventures abroad as Commemorating The First Dail. Manus O'Riordan Leaseholds; David Irving; necessary to protect us from terrorism Cork Housing Action Committee. Photo from University Funding; Environmental Terrorism) 1969 at home. [In fact, they have increased Reactions To Paisley's Departure. Conor Lynch Brian Hanley, Coolacrease And Related Matters. (Part 1) the threat from terrorism at home, as Jack Lane Lord Professor Bew And The Forging Of A Shared Tony Blair admitted in his resignation Joe Devlin And The Demise Of Redmondism. Joe Past. Brendan Clifford Keenan (review) Spies And Lies—Cui Bono? Julianne Herlihy (Pt 2) speech at Sedgefield on 10 May 2007, Spies And Lies—Cui Bono?. Julianne Herlihy on when he said: Editorial Digest. (Royal Irish Regiment; Saint Ambassador Dulanty Patrick's Day In Belfast . . . and in Dingle; "Removing Saddam and his sons Fianna Fail—'mafia-like'?. Seán McGouran Would You Wear An Easter Lily?; Prisoner from power, as with removing the Bias About The Great War. Philip O'Connor (report) Releases; Israel And Settlers; Simon Community; Barack Obama On Gaza. Report Taliban, was over with relative ease. Outsourcing; Nice Little Earners) Scribbled Recollections. Tim O'Sullivan (Part 2 of Labour Comment: Woodrow Wilson: a lost soul in But the blowback since, from global Casement Conference report) Paris terrorism and those elements that Connolly's Correspondence. Report: Book Launch support it, has been fierce and Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Angelus; Planning May Objection; Treason?; Hidden History's Three Down, ? To Go. Editorial unrelenting and costly."] Coolacrease; Doorley And The Carmelites; For An EU Federal State!. Editorial from Irish Had Britain not invaded Global Holes) Foreign Affairs Afghanistan and Iraq, there would Land Grabbers. Brendan Clifford (Part 3) The Irish Times Record On Kosovo And The Men Thomas Moore And The Moslems. A Poem Of The West. Manus O'Riordan have been no terrorist blowback in Judges And Democratic Society. Manus O'Riordan Readers' Letters: Eoin Neeson Not A Publicity Britain—and the almost 300 young (report of letter) Agent people who have died in these military Labour Comment: "The Men Of Much Property" O Cuanachán And The Record. Report adventures would be alive today. Editorial Digest. (Legislation At Stormont; Easter March 2008 Commemorations; The 'Riot In Derry; IRA Ex- This Mischief-Making Party. Editorial Prisoner Frank McGreevy; Partnership And Kilmichael And Peter Hart. Southern Star Migrant Rights; Markievicz Museum; The Queen; 23 Normality; Cowen's Selection; Parking Protests; Haughey In The Service Of The Nazis? Manus Regions. President Medvedev Black Propaganda; SF On Chad; Selling Our O'Riordan exposes Myers Zionist Colonialism. David Morrison Heritage) Lisbon Treaty Debate. Report of Letters: Barry Around The Cork-Kerry Border. Report of Launch Mitchelstown And Mandeville. Conor Lynch Desmond; Jack O'Connor; Manus O'Riordan Mad Dogs Are Irishmen. Seán McGouran (on Luck And Roy Foster. Jack Lane Labour Comment: Lisbon Losers McDonagh and MacDonald) The Lord Professor Bew And The Forging Of A National Agreements. Conor Lynch Shared Past. Brendan Clifford (Part 4) October Shorts from the Long Fellow (Redmond; Parnell; Does It Stack Up?. Michael Stack (British Army A State Of Chassis. Editorial Ahern & The Irish Times; Ahern & The Tribunals) Recruiting; Macroom & The Duchess; Gormley's The Lisbon Dilemma. Jack Lane Holding The Irish Times To Account. John Martin Eagles; EU Reform; Lest We Forget) Editorial Digest. (IMC; British Army 'homecoming: (launch speech) Coleman: Jacobite Economics? John Martin Reception & SF, & DUP, A Parallel Universe. Pat Murphy on Cynical Use of Palestine. David Morrison (Unpublished Letters) & SDLP, & Alliance; 30 Years War: a tragedy?, Left-minded Journalists The English In Ireland. Conor Lynch (Unpublished mistakes?; 1939; New Book About Irish Times. Irish Times and Letter) Durkan's Somersault: & Chatham House, & Cllr. Phoenix responses Impressions Of The Debate. Liam Murphy McDonald, & Rights; An Easter Message. Brian P. Murphy's Arbour Hill Labour Comment: Whither Labour? Monica's Dictum; Durkan & IN; By Gadd!; Chill Oration Factor 1, & 2; Sarah Lord Professor Bew & The Forging Of A Shared August Palin; Jackie McDonald; Victims; Ulster Scots; Past. B. Clifford (Part 2) Against The Tide. Editorial Hearts of Steel; Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Call This An Open Letter To Cowen. Jack Lane Fermanagh Council results; Welcome Home!; FF Democracy?; A Totalitarian State; The Strike. Bill McClinton (Public Service Dispute & North; Crazy Cork Kyoto Agreement; Duke Of Devonshire; Major In Northern Ireland) Readers' Letters: What About The Sunday Tom; Lest We Forget) Editorial Digest. Afghanistan; McCartneys; Tom Independent. Kells Reader Paddy Heaney On Coolacrease. (Report) Hartley; Irish Passports; Tricolours; British Light On The Hill. Feargus O Raghallaigh Palestinian Suffering: State Urged To Act (Report) Buggers; McGurks Bar; Gerry Fitt; INLA; EU Commercial Policy. Joe Higgins (report) Labour Comment: Silence Of Labour? by Pat Village Development; Radio Eireann; Ian Paisley Maloney (back page) jnr; Dallat & Zimbabwe; 'New NI'; France & Israeli Military Occupation & EU Partnership. David Labour University - call by Jack O'Connor, p20 Ireland; Sarkozy; Obama; Sean Whelan; Srbrenica Morrison Readers' Letters: Anthony Coughlan: Brian Keenan; Israel: Rogue State. Philip O'Connor (report of June Tom Doherty: Captain Corelli's Mandolin letter) Vote No For Gaza. Editorial Israel & UN Resolutions. David Morrison Sectarianism: How Did It Start? Jack Lane Palestine: Has Cowen's New Fianna Fail The Bottle (unpublished letter) Shorts from the Long Fellow (Tales Of The Tiger; To Act? Philip O'Connor Shorts from the Long Fellow (The Great Leader; More Tales From The Tiger; Laffin Girl. Conor Lynch The Great Helmsman; Role OfMcDowell; Des- Global Financial Crisis; Progress; Engels On Readers' Letters: The National Oppression Of Tibet. mond Fennell; Frederick Forsyth; Cathal Finance Capital John Minahane O'Shannon; Birth Of Celtic Tiger; End Of Celtic 1974 & Wilson's Doomsday Scenario For NI. Seán Editorial Digest (Dr. Ian Spellar; John Major; Dublin Tiger; Not The End Of The Judiciary McGouran & Monaghan Bombings; Ian Paisley At What Was The Somme? Leaflet Dubs: A poem from the Internet Bearnageeha; Parades & Marches; Tourist We Are All One Now. Malachi Lawless on Sommetry A British Intelligence Slur On John Swift. Manus Attacks?; Community Policing; Donegal Celtic; Haughey And The Nazi Flags. Manus O'Riordan O'Riordan Myself Alone; "Anti-Terror" Laws; The Brisih Paul Bew On Haughey's 'Nazism'. Report D.D. Sheehan. Jack Lane Link) Fenianism & Irish Exceptionalism. Pat Muldowney Visions & Revisions. Brendan Clifford Raymond McCord. Mark Langhammer (Book (on 'Black Hand') Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (O'Keeffe & launch) Mad Dogs Do Belgium. Seán McGouran Education; Social Ills; Gormley; Palestine: More Balance Needed (Trade Union Only Slegging?. Jeff Dudgeon Letter, with Reply Windfarms; FAS; The Public Service Friends Of Palestine, A Crying Shame. Nick Folley & Mark Urwin on letter by Michael Robinson) Thoughts On Sean Swan's Official Republicanism. Mayo Memorial (report) Shorts from the Long Fellow (The End Of Early Pat Walsh (review) Ireland Crunch. Feargus O Raghallaigh Houses?; End Of An Era?; Puzzling Over Northern Ireland. Brendan Clifford The True Frances Ledwige (Report of letters: Pat End Of Nuala O Faolain; End Of Globalisation; (review of Mulholland) Muldowney, Niall Meehan) 22 Mansergh On Irish Times) Lisbon Treaty Debate. Feargus O Raghallaigh (letter) Julius Fuçik. Wilson John Haire Coolacrease: Seven Complaints Rejected. Pat Troubled History. Niall Meehan's new pamphlet on Errata: A 1968 Mixum-Gatherum, September issue Muldowney Peter Hart & Kilmichael 24 Holding The Irish Times To Account. Philip Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack Labour Comment: Pay 2008: Faugh an Ballagh O'Connor, Conor Lenihan Israel's Wall. David Morrison (unpublished letter) (Book launch speeches, part 2) Labour Comment: The Tip-Off That Shattered A November Myths Of Second World War. Conor Lynch Cabinet (Arms Crisis) War & Remembrance. Editorial Letter From Australia. Patrick O'Beirne Banking On The Country. Editorial Professor Bew & The Forging Of A Shared Past. September The EU And The Credit Crisis. Jack Lane Brendan Clifford (Part 3) International Law?. Editorial Editorial Digest. (Roy Garland; Workers' Party; Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (An Taisce & Doha, Lisbon . . . Offaly. Jack Lane SF; Sunningdale?; Rabbitte & Fintan O'Toole; The English Queen And Her Readers' Letters: Georgia And Russia. Feargus O Gilmore; UUP & Tories; TUV+UUP; Lady Subjects; China & Chad; Nuala O'Faolain & Rahallaigh Sylvia; Molyneaux House; Stormont Death; Lisbon Treaty; English Honours & Peace Editorial Digest. (GB Culture: Olympic Handover; Executive; N.Bank Robbery; Irish News in 1939; Group; Lest We Forget Shopping; The Divide; Irish Army, Then And British Army Parade; British Labour Comment: "Unity Of Labour Is The Hope Of Now; Cowen & Security Council; Small Armies; Recruiting In Ireland; PDFORRA The World": Trade Unions And Lisbon Treaty Resignations From SF; Strategic Investment Board; Readers' Letters: Lenihan's Budget, From Hero To Cobh Apology To James Connolly Letterkenny Union Jack; Stormont & PSNI; Zero? Colm Moylan Archives; Card. Newman; NI Party Finances; Dr. Third Order Of St. Francis. Seán McGouran July Prince At Greaves School; Rule 42; IRA Ex- 'Irish' Regiments: The Empire They Fought For. Lisbon: The People Have Spoken. Editorial Prisoner Appeals; Rip-Off Ireland?; Youth Philip O'Connor DUP Home Rulers! Editorial Workers To Rescue; Help For Gaza) The Dead Hand Of Eamon Gilmore. Editorial Editorial Digest. (Lisbon Vote: Gaeltacht, Gilmore, Partnership & Futurism. Philip O'Connor BBC; Brian Feeney on SDLP, on DUP; Tom Millstreet Credit Union. Report Collapse Of Neo-Liberal Experiment. Jack Hartley, SF Mayor of Belfast; Iris Robinson Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, Inst And Social Responsib- O'Connor, SIPTU (report) 'Outed'; McAleese Barracked; British Recruiting ility. Report Shorts from the Long Fellow (The Internet; In Eire; SF On The Up; Raytheon; Micheál On Fear And Misery In Britain's Six Counties. Wilson Mainstream Media; Cromwell, Lord Lisbon; Ben Dunne And Sinn Fein) John Haire Carrington; National Ploughing Championships; Readers' Letters: Tibet. Madawc Williams Shorts from the Long Fellow (War On Drugs; "Our Journalist Solves Economic Crisis) Thank You, Madam. Editorial: Lisbon Referendum Republican Democracy"; Trade Talks; Georgia; True Story Of The Events At Coolacrease. Report 'Follow Me Up To Carlow'. Conor Lynch Trouble Again; Barack Obama; Family Values; Victory To The Raytheon 9. David Morrison Nice Work) Land Grabbers. Brendan Clifford (Part 3) The Raytheon Case. Eamonn McCann (Statement) Ronnie Drew. McAlpine's Fusiliers (reprint of Michael Collins' False "Vision" Of Ireland In The Israel Said No To UN Resolution. David Morrison Dominic Behan's song) World. Philip O'Connor (report) A 1968 Mixum-Gatherum. Brendan Clifford (review Remembering The British Legion. Jack Lane (report The OECD Report. Colm Moylan of Dr. Prince's book) of letter) Shorts from the Long Fellow (Contempt For The Economic Performance Of Last 15 Years. Tim Muriel MacSwiney. Three Unpublished Letters to People; Contempt For Our History; Contempt For O'Sullivan (unpublished letter) Manus O'Riordan Nations; The Greatest Party; The Greatest R. V. Comerford On Irish Exceptionalism. Pat Muriel MacSwiney's Memoir Of War Of Newspaper Muldowney (part 2 of review) Independence. (Part 1) Mad Dogs Are Limerickmen? S. McGouran (Pt 2) A Russian View Of Georgian Gallantry. Manus Mayo War Park. Nick Folley, Jack Lane (report) 'Remember Mitchelstown'? Jack Lane reports on O'Riordan Commodities: there's anudder way to build an Trevor/Bowen Event Why I Had To Recognise Georgia's Breakaway economy. Feargus O Raghallaigh 24 Antipodean Notes. Feargus O Raghallaigh (Part 2) Sergeant Major who when he heard my Imperial Allegiance. John Martin Witness Statement No. 637 Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (USA Bank name was Murphy - his own name – Crisis; British Democracy and the Chagos admitted me at once and anyone else who Islanders; Lest We Forget) happened to be a Murphy. I saw Tomás Labour Comment: Property Before People. That's Muriel MacSwiney's Budget 2009 and, I think, Terry and the Lynchs from Memoir of the War of Mionán Bridge near Bandon. These were October Diarmuid's brothers, Micheál and another. A State Of Chassis. Editorial Independence The Lisbon Dilemma. Jack Lane The latter had not been a Volunteer and Editorial Digest. (IMC; British Army 'homecoming: PART TWO like many, was arrested by mistake, but Reception & SF, & DUP, & SDLP, & Alliance; 30 It was towards the end of Easter Week Micheál had done a lot with his motor- Years War: a tragedy?, mistakes?; 1939; Durkan's Somersault: & Chatham House, & Cllr. McDonald, that the Volunteers surrendered their arms. bicycle. Micheál is, as far as I know, still & Rights; Monica's Dictum; Durkan & IN; By Some of them gave up wooden instruments living on the farm as Mionán Bridge. Gadd!; Chill Factor 1, & 2; Sarah Palin; Jackie wrapped in stuff and kept their rifles. They were deported then and I was McDonald; Victims; Ulster Scots; Hearts of Steel; Fermanagh Council results; Welcome During the week on my visits to the back in Cork and those who were interested Home!; FF & North; Crazy Cork Volunteer Hall, I often saw Terry and in the Volunteers – probably the Readers' Letters: What About The Sunday Independ- Tom MacCurtain. I think they were still MacSwiney's among others, asked me to ent. Kells Reader find about the National Aid fund which Light On The Hill. Feargus O Raghallaigh hoping that something would happen in EU Commercial Policy. Joe Higgins (report) Cork. I think they were very much was just starting. I went to Dublin to Israeli Military Occupation & EU Partnership. David concerned about maintaining discipline Eccles Street where Louise Gavan Duffy Morrison was teaching and to Min Ryan in Ranelagh Israel: Rogue State. Philip O'Connor (report of and morale among the Volunteers. The letter) surrender of the arms put an end to any Road. I also saw Deóra French who put Sectarianism: How Did It Start? Jack Lane hopes they had. me on to Mrs. Wyse-Power. I did not Shorts from the Long Fellow (Tales Of The Tiger; achieve very much, chiefly because the More Tales From The Tiger; Global Financial Mary MacSwiney was arrested at St. Crisis; Progress; Engels On Finance Capital Angela's on the Monday of the following organisation was only beginning. When I 1974 & Wilson's Doomsday Scenario For NI. Seán week. She was teaching a class of small went back to Cork there was a meeting of McGouran sympathisers in the City Hall to start a Dubs: A poem from the Internet children when it happened. She was of the A British Intelligence Slur On John Swift. Manus opinion that the children were expecting branch of the National Aid and a O'Riordan it. Miss O'Brien was also arrested. They Committee was formed. D.D. Sheehan. Jack Lane were the only women. The Volunteer About the end of May. Seán O'Sullivan Visions & Revisions. Brendan Clifford Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (O'Keeffe & leaders were also arrested. The Bishop who was the city Commandant, and had Education; Social Ills; Gormley; Windfarms; and Mayor had made an agreement with up to then escaped arrest, asked me to go FAS; The Public Service the military which promised no arrest. to England to visit the different prisons A Crying Shame. Nick Folley & Mark Urwin on Mayo Memorial (report) Mary MacSwiney went up next day – where the Volunteers were interned, as no Ireland Crunch. Feargus O Raghallaigh Tuesday – to the school and one of the news or communications were coming The True Frances Ledwige (Report of letters: Pat nuns, probably the Reverend Mother, said from them. I was a free lance, but I had no Muldowney, Niall Meehan) Julius Fuçik. Wilson John Haire to her that they "thought her own good money at all. The Volunteers gave me £5 Errata: A 1968 Mixum-Gatherum, September issue feelings would have prevented her from and I went to London and visited Labour Comment: Pay 2008: Faugh an Ballagh coming back". So she went home and did Wandsworth Prison bringing comforts for November not go back again. After some time she got the prisoners. There were not many Cork War & Remembrance. Editorial a letter from the Reverend Mother saying men there. I asked to see Arthur Griffith Banking On The Country. Editorial that they "had no intention of dismissing but he was not allowed to see me. I saw The EU And The Credit Crisis. Jack Lane Editorial Digest. (Roy Garland; Workers' Party; her". Ginger O'Connell and Douglas French- SF; Sunningdale?; Rabbitte & Gilmore; UUP & I think it was next week that all the Mullen. I cannot remember who else I saw Tories; TUV+UUP; Lady Sylvia; Molyneaux Volunteers throughout the country were but I saw several. I then went to Wakefield House; Stormont Executive; N.Bank Robbery; Irish News in 1939; British Army Parade; British arrested and brought into Cork Gaol. The where most of the Cork Volunteers were. Recruiting In Ireland; PDFORRA city Volunteers were also picked up one I spent a week there. I had a permit from Readers' Letters: Lenihan's Budget, From Hero To by one. I was talking to Tomás MacCurtain the War Office which made things easy Zero? Colm Moylan Third Order Of St. Francis. Seán McGouran one day and when he went back to his for us. But other visitors had difficulty. 'Irish' Regiments: The Empire They Fought For. home in Blackpool he was arrested and Towards the end of the week everybody Philip O'Connor the next time I saw him was in Richmond was gaining admission. Deóra French was The Dead Hand Of Eamon Gilmore. Editorial Collapse Of Neo-Liberal Experiment. Jack O' Barracks. I and many others went to the among them. She had wired to me to let Connor, SIPTU (report) Bishop to protest about the Volunteers' her know whether it was possible to see Shorts from the Long Fellow (The Internet; arrest. I did not know him. I cannot friends. Mainstream Media; Cromwell, Lord Carrington; National Ploughing Championships; Journalist remember what he said. I learned I went to stay in Cambridge about Solves Economic Crisis) afterwards, a year later, that Terry was Christmas 1916-1917. While there I read True Story Of The Events At Coolacrease. Report very annoyed with him on account of the in the press that Terry and some of the Land Grabbers. Brendan Clifford (Part 3) other Volunteers who had been released Michael Collins' False "Vision" Of Ireland In The arrested and would prefer not to see him. World. Philip O'Connor Tomás MacCurtain said to me that he did after 1916, had been re-arrested. Although Remembering The British Legion. Jack Lane (report) not expect Dr. Cohalan would be made we had corresponded there had been no Muriel MacSwiney. Three Unpublished Letters to thought of an engagement between us. I Manus O'Riordan Bishop because he had acted as arbitrator Muriel MacSwiney's Memoir Of War Of Independ- for the Volunteers. Mr. Butterfield, the went then, however, to try and find Terry, ence. (Part 1) Mayor, had acted with Dr. Cohalan. first to Shrewsbury, where an English Mayo War Park. Nick Folley, Jack Lane (report) soldier told me "They were here but they're Commodities: there's anudder way to build an The executions created revulsion of economy. Feargus O Raghallaigh feeling in Cork as elsewhere. The news gone. You'll never find them". Then I went Antipodean Notes. Feargus O Raghallaigh (Part 2) was posted up on the pavement in front of to the Lawrence Ginnells in London, Imperial Allegiance. John Martin whose kindness I shall remember to my Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (USA Bank the "Cork Examiner" office, day and night, Crisis; British Democracy and the Chagos and the crowds gathered to read it. dying day. Naturally they were in Islanders; Lest We Forget) I came to Dublin to see the prisoners communication with the prisoners, they Labour Comment: Property Before People. That's always were. Lawrence Ginnell was for Budget 2009 who had been moved up there from Cork. I went to Richmond Barracks and found a years called "the Member for Ireland", 25 would make progress by picking off key Private Sector: PAY DEAL continued employers, and while they had some * A pay pause of three months (including success, circumstances were against this the Construction Sector). strategy. * A pay increase of 3.5 per cent for a some cases re-joined—by other private PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS period of six months. sector unions in supporting the deal. IMPACT, meanwhile, recorded a * A pay increase of 2.5 per cent for a Apart from Unite, only the tiny higher turnout this time (up to 40% plus), period of 12 months or, for workers on Guinness Staff Association registered a and 91% of those voting backed the deal, €11 per hour or less on the date that 'no' vote. Until now it has been taken for a margin that surprised the union's increase falls due, a pay increase of 3 per granted that these deals require the leadership given the 'Lisbon factor', the cent. backing of the biggest general union, unpopular Budget, the 'Benchmarking SIPTU and usually that of the largest in Two' report and so on. Under the terms of the deal, low-paid the public sector, IMPACT. An even higher margin of acceptance workers with a salary of €20,000 will see their salary rise to €20,700 in the "On this occasion, either union was recorded in the Public Services could have rejected the deal and it Executive Union. first stage of the agreement. In the would still have passed comfortably. Public sector unions, the CPSU and the second phase, their salary would rise to €21,321 over 21 months. Indeed had both rejected it, it still TUI, also reversed their positions. might have squeezed through. This is CPSU members even went against their Public Sector: a measure of the level of membership National Executive, backing the deal in a endorsement of this relatively short * A pay pause of 11 months. high turnout (56%) by 60% to 40%. * From September 1, 2009, a pay increase deal, which has taken almost nine Despite the outcry over the Budget, months to conclude, from start to fin- of 3.5 per cent for nine months. especially from teaching and health unions, ish." (Industrial Relations News, * From June 1, 2010, a pay increase of this deal was backed by all four teacher 18.11.2008). 2.5 per cent—except for workers unions, not just by the traditional backer earning up to and including €430.49 Private sector unions such as the IBOA of social partnership, the INTO, ASTI (Bank employees) and Mandate (Retail per week (€22,463 per annum) on that also backed it, as did the TUI, the latter date, who receive a 3 per cent increase. Trade) reversed their opposition to recording a 70% yes vote and reversing its Towards 2016, the framework agreement position on recent agreements. For those earning €430.49 a week or under which this so-called 'Transition The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) less, which equates to an annual salary Agreement' is a part. voted for it, as did the communications of €22,463, a 3 per cent pay rise will Mandate members—the Union did not union, the CWU. The CWU had also apply in the second phase of the deal. even enter the process last time—backed backed the first phase of Towards 2016, Workers on a salary of €50,000 will this deal by a staggering 90%. A union returning to its traditional backing for see their pay rise to €51,750 in the first that represents lower paid workers, social partnership after rejecting a number stage of the agreement. The second Mandate had hoped that by staying out of deals since the turn of the century. increase of 2.5 per cent will bring their of Module One of Towards 2016 they The New Deal:— salary to just under €53,050.

because he was the only member of the long dead had left me money which I was The Self Determination League. I met Art Irish members of the British House of only to get at 25 if I was unmarried, or O'Brien and I think Seán McGrath. They Commons who had not sold himself to married with the consent of my mother. laughed when they heard that we wanted British Imperialism and Capitalism. I Naturally my mother did everything she to go back but not separately. Just after we should like to emphasise that as it has could to prevent my marriage. We took the were married and were going anyhow, the been conveniently forgotten in Ireland money reluctantly as we both hated private deportation order was lifted. Dick today. Mrs. Ginnell, old and ill, who so property and thought that most of the evils Mulcahy, who was one of Terry's best ably seconded her husband's work and of the world came from this. After all friends (Tomás MacCurtain and Fred made it possible at great personal sacrifice, England's case was that Ireland was her Cronin were the others) came over to be has not been by the British Government. private property, and therefore, a domestic our best man. Naturally Terry's sisters I returned to Cambridge and found a question. We were married on June 9th in were there; Annie was one of my bridesm- wire from Terry who had had the same Bromyard, a tiny place. aids, and Geraldine Sullivan who at that thought as myself. It was from Bromyard, I had not believed in the doctrine of the time was a very dear friend of mine. Hertfordshire, where he was with Seán Roman Catholic religion since I was a On arriving in Dublin with Terry, I met Nolan from Cork. Tomás MacCurtain and young girl but I remained formally a De Valera for the first time, also Pierce Peadar Ó hAnnracháin and another member of that Church, as I had no Beaslaí; the latter took off his hat to show Volunteer (I am afraid I forget who it was) objection to them as an organisation. Later us his shaven head, he had just been were in Ledbury, quite near. They were when I had seen more of the world and was released from penal servitude. We went to all not in prison but had to report regularly less ignorant I left them publicly. This was visit the Eoin MacNeills. It struck me that to the prison. at the time of the Civil War in 1922. I whereas in Cork only working-class people We got engaged at once. This was consider everybody has a right to whatever or at any rate those who worked for a tiny February. My family were, of course, religious beliefs they think right or to the living were Volunteers, in Dublin there violently opposed to my marrying Terry; freethinker ideal which is mine. It is a were people like the MacNeills. I was they looked on the Volunteers as private and personal matter. It is extremely personally for the working-class people. murderers and criminals. A year before wrong when religious bodies interfere with After this we went to Ballingeary. It the Easter Rising Terry had given up his the government of a country as they do in was my first visit to this beautiful place. job as technical teacher; he did nothing Ireland today. We were in a farmhouse near Siobhán a except drill Volunteers and work for the Some of the Volunteers who had been Taggart (I am afraid spelt wrong). She Gaelic League. As when we married we deported in 1917 escaped back to Ireland. was a very famous Irish speaker. When intended to have children, and as Terry's We wanted to do the same, but wanted she was telling you a story in Irish she work for Ireland naturally came before first to be married as Terry might have broke into verse quite naturally. I loved everything else, we waited until after my been arrested. I went to London to Ballingeary. 25th birthday (June 8th), as my father interview our Irish Organisation there – TO BE CONTINUED 26 because of their reliance on the second first 3.5% increase but an estimated EURO continued largest economy in the European Union. 300,000 private sector workers have ISME avoids the politics of the situation, already served the three-month pay pause Investors are shunning an economy and that is understandable, where they are for their sector. overly-reliant on financial services. coming from. This means they are immediately Now more than ever before is an But how can you excuse the Irish entitled to the 3.5% increase in December, opportunity for Gordon Brown to Government, political commentators 2008. demonstrate his European credentials and and the media for turning a blind eye as There were strong signs that the pay place Britain firmly at the heart of Europe. substantial elements of indigenous deal may have a troubled implementation Not only would British entry to the industry bleeds to death because of as IBEC indicated that pay rises would not Euro be a boost for European unity; it Britain's absolute refusal to commit be paid "automatically". would deliver a right bloody nose for the itself fully to the European project? Following the Trade Unions' ratification Eurosceptics but above all, it would be a of the deal, it pointed out that employers massive economic boost for Ireland alone Were the 'Foreign Direct' Investment could opt out of full or part payment of the among the 27 member states and the other Multi-Nationals affected in the same pay increases. 15 Euro zone countries. manner, Dublin would create hell in The Director General of employer Weaker Sterling spells really bad news Brussels. group, IBEC, Mr Turlough O'Sullivan for the Irish economy. Irish companies Forget Lisbon—for Ireland's economic said that people needed to realise that the exporting to the British market will find it well-being, the question of full EU pay terms would not be paid very difficult to compete in what is a integration must in future bear the "automatically". shrinking market, particularly for our obligation of being fully part of the Euro Construction Industry Federation boss, indigenous companies. currency mechanism, indeed the current Tom Parlon admitted it was "likely" that bubble and burst situation may itself force his employer members would renege on INDIGENOUS INDUSTRY such a course on Brussels. paying the 6% increase over 21 months FACES DISASTER It is time to determine whether Britain because they could not afford the increase. The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises is a part member or a full member of the CIF members are not due to vote on the Association, has outlined that their European Union! wage deal until November 26, however, it exporter members are facing meltdown A couple of weeks ago, the present is widely expected they will reject it. If with regard to exports to the UK as sterling writer couldn't believe what he was hearing they do, the Unions could potentially pull continues to dramatically weaken against when Sarkozy started bleating on about out of the deal, especially as 190,000 of the Euro. his concern over the Irish Government's their members work for CIF companies. The Association outlined that 95,000 decision to guarantee bank customers. A total of 100,000 jobs have been lost jobs were at risk as the Euro has appreciated Sarkozy reckoned it was causing liquidity in the private sector in the last 12 months, against Sterling by 24 per cent since the problems for London. which is the most rapid loss since the beginning of the year. How a man committed to the Euro 1980s. The threat to companies exporting to should be so concerned about Sterling the UK has reached crisis proportions beggars belief. British perfidiousness need ****************************************************************************** according to ISME. have no fears over Sarkozy! "This time it was the employers who "The pincer movement of reducing gave a 'cautious' welcome to the deal, sales income as a result of negative language that is generally the preserve currency movements and increasing New National Wage Deal of trade unions" (Industrial Relations domestic costs means that many ex- News, 18.11.2008). porters are walking a very narrow line ****************************************************************************** between continuance and closure, with The most overwhelming vote for a the most vulnerable being those with no new National Wage agreement since THE UNION VOTES offset on their raw material imports," the process began in 1987 when Trade The level of acceptance within the ISME states. Unionists voted 90 per cent in favour of country's largest union, SIPTU, was up A recent ISME survey confirmed that the new National Wage Agreement at a again from the last time—with 80% 47 per cent of companies export to the Special Conference of the Irish Congress backing for the deal on this occasion, UK, with 65 per cent saying it was their of Trade Unions at Liberty Hall, Dublin although the turnout was lower. This is main export market. Of these, 56 per cent on Monday, November 17, 2008. very significant, as the SIPTU vote on are paid in Sterling and 39 per cent in As individual Trade Unions announced module one of Towards 2016 was around Euro. their voting returns on November 14—it 70%, which was considered a very The survey also revealed that 65 per was all over "bar the shouting", so decisive comfortable margin at the time. What this cent of firms said that the impact of the was the voting outcome. means is that the two-thirds of the union's strengthening Euro vis-à-vis Sterling is Congress' 26 affiliate Unions over- members that work in the private sector having a negative impact on their business. whelmingly endorsed the wage agreement have increased their backing for centralised by 305 votes in favour to just 36 against. deals. SIPTU's public sector membership 'Twelve months ago a company sell- On the same day, Employer group (higher than any single public sector ing £100 of goods into the UK would IBEC, the other main social partner, voted Union) has always tended to give have converted the revenue into €143; substantial backing to national pacts. the figure today has dropped to €116, a to accept the deal. difference of €27. This drastic reduc- The Agreement will give most workers It wasn't just the overwhelming vote in tion in income means a similar reduc- a pay rise of 6% over 21 months (3.5% and favour at the Special Conference: 305 to tion in net margin as UK customers 2.5%), or 3.4% a year, although anyone 36. It was the record majorities in most cannot be persuaded to pay higher earning less than €11 an hour will get an individual Trade Unions that was highly prices. extra 0.5%, or 3.7% a year. Their average significant, allied to the fact SIPTU, which is just over 3.5%. had been in danger of standing alone in the These are small to medium indigenous Public sector workers must accept an private sector, has been joined—or in companies who are now being bled 11-month pay freeze before they get the continued on page 26

27 VOLUME 26 No. 12 CORK ISSN 0790-1712

"But now, he says, it's every man for himself, and it's the bigger economies that have the resources to fall back on. 'I noticed the other day that the worst-performing stock market in the world this year is the Belgian stock market, but the second worst was Ireland's, and I'm afraid there is more pain to come'" (Irish Times, 14.11.2008). Never Mind Lisbon: What about London?

This is the opinion of Niall Ferguson European economic unity. single currency debut in 1999) and by 11 who according to the Irish Times is one of The introduction of the Euro in 1999 per cent on a trade weighted basis over the the world's foremost economic historians; was a major step in European integration. past month. and whom Wikipedia describes as a It has also been one of its major successes: The British currency is almost 18 per "Defender of Colonialism" and author of around 320 million EU citizens in 15 cent lower against the Euro than a year Empire: How Britain Made The Modern member states now use it as their currency. ago and down 20 per cent on a trade World. How can the EU hope to achieve a weighted basis. "As budget deficits increase across closer economic and fiscal union, and The decline in the latter is due to the the world, the greatest burden will fall ultimately a single market when the significant fall of 28 per cent versus the on smaller economies. 'The Celtic Ti- member with the second largest economy, US dollar. ger is going to look like a mangy cat this the UK, holding membership since 1973, The British unemployment rate now time next year,' says Ferguson whose shows absolutely no willingness to ever stands at 5.8 per cent, which translates to opinion is based on the fragility of the consider joining? 1.82 million people out of work—it will Republic's economic base. 'It's a pain- In Britain, the Euro is a foreign be two million by Christmas and the ful truth that smaller economies tend to currency! prediction is that it will reach three million suffer disproportionately in the bad times. Places like Ireland are great places The greatest boost the Euro could into 2009/2010. to be when capital is flowing around the receive right now is a declaration by the Gordon Brown has thrown caution to world, globalisation is in full swing, British Government that it is setting an the wind and has embarked on what he and everybody agrees that free trade is immediate time-table for entry into the calls 'fiscal stimulus'. It is borrowing to desirable'" (ibid). Euro zone. The time has never been more pay for tax cuts and Government spending The essence of his comments in the ripe following the disasters of the British in an effort to halt Britain's worst recession Irish Times was: ". . . . it is in Europe not banking system! Such a decision would in generations. America that the most fundamental change go a long way towards the achievement of As much as €120 billion is said to have will take place. a successful unitary EU monetary and flowed out of UK markets in the past two "'The US can cope with this fiscal fiscal system. months. shock in a way that the European Union "One of his key advisers, Gavyn simply can't,' says Ferguson. 'The cur- Sterling has fallen by 9 per cent against Davies, a former top investment banker rent crisis is the biggest test of Euro- the Euro (reaching a low of £0.866 on with Goldman Sachs, is urging him pean economic unity ever.'" November 13—its lowest level since the {Gordon Brown} to simply follow the '"The United States, he says, has a example of South American dictators single unitary fiscal system that can and print money which the Bank of Subscribers to the magazine are regularly England can lend to the Government support a substantial increase in public offered special rates on other publications borrowing in the form of finance when it is running short" (Irish Inde- payouts, costing trillions of dollars. 'The Irish Political Review is published by pendent, 17.11.2008). European Union only has a partially the IPR Group: write to— unitary monetary system—the Euro— No wonder George Osborne, the Tory and no unitary fiscal system worth talk- 2 Heskin Court, Merrion Rd, Dublin 4, or Shadow chancellor has warned that PO Box 339, Belfast BT12 4GQ or ing about. So what we've seen, and "sterling could be about to collapse". Ireland led the way, has been a series of PO Box 6589, London, N7 6SG, or When the clowns start kissing, it's time individual actions by governments try- Labour Comment, to leave the circus! ing to prop up their banks'" (Irish Times, C/O Shandon St. P.O., Cork City. 14.11.2008). Subscription by Post: THE 'MANGY' LION But the "world's foremost economic 12 issues: £20, UK; The British 'Lion' is starting to looking historian" makes not a single mention of € 30, Ireland; € 35, Europe. pretty mangy itself, right now! Furthermore, in light of the uncertainties one of the great contradictions of the Electronic Subscription: European Union, that of his own state, and fragility of confidence in financial Britain, with the second-biggest economy € 15 / £12 for 12 issues markets today, it is not beyond belief that (or € 1.30 / £1.10 per issue) in the Union, refusing to be part of the sterling could weaken further almost to Euro currency zone which was introduced You can also order both postal and the extent of parity with the Euro in the electronic subscriptions from: months ahead. in 1999 and Britain's role as a bulwark www.atholbooks.org against any serious effort towards continued on page 27