Imsh Oemociuc December 99/January 2000 Connolly Association: campaigning for a united and independent Ireland ISSN 0021-1125 60p Remembering | Legacy of Robert Hamlll: a patriot and antl-Cathollc a family crying mayor of Cork bigotry out for Justice Page 4 Page 7 j Pa$e 5
PEACE PROCESS Bobbie Heatley
ON 29 November, 19 months after the signing of the Good Friday agreement and after 601 days of on-off negotiations, the Ulster Unionist Party finally agreed to allow the cross-party, inclusive, responsibility-sharing executive to be set up at Stormont. Within days of ministers being nominated under the complicated d'Hont system, the cross-border body was activated, devolutionary powers handed over to the Assembly and the appointment of an interlocutor to the decommissioning body was made by the Irish Republican Army. In order to get to this point, David Trimble had, again, to step outside the terms of both the agreement and the Mitchell review, in so doing, creating another hostage to fortune. Trimble's apologists insisted that he had no other option. Sinn Fein has some understanding for that viewpoint. However, in violation of the Mitchell Stuck in the middle with you: David Trimble's Ulster Unionists have finally jumped. But will they be able to cope with the rigours of a genuine power-sharing recommendations, meticulously crafted arrangement commlted to implementing equality throughout the six counties. Pictured: new ministers Bairbre de Brun, David Trimble and Martin McGuinness to stay within the terms of the agreement, Trimble, backed by the percent vote in their favour on a joint placating unionists, although, until quite generosity in making funds available to dependent upon it. Ulster Unionist Council, has set a new ticket. Controversial measures can be recently, these two players were clearly meet the social needs of the common Meanwhile, there should be no deadline for the IRA to hand over its enacted provided that one of the acting, through the UUP, in consort. people and Northern Ireland is no backtracking on the part of the British weapons. Failure to meet this new communities casts a 40 percent vote in Gerry Adams recently issued a coded different in that respect. government. unilaterally-imposed deadline will result favour and the overall result is 60 warning to Downing Street of the Despite the good intentions of people The Patten recommendation on in the UUP withdrawing from the percent. Uncontroversial matters can be dangers to the whole process of allowing such as the SDLP's Mark Durkan, the police reform musi be implemented executive, threatening the gains of the enacted on the basis of a simple majority. current UUP difficulties entice it into Sinn Fein 'ministers' and even some pro- swiftly and improvements outlined by entire peace process. As the shenanigans to ensure that the making more concessions to unionism agreement UUP office holders, the civil and human rights bodies, such as It is not just republicans who see that SDLP's Seamus Mallon was for the benefit of short-term incremental potential for a sectarian scrambling after the independent Committee on the the move will make decommissioning successfully able to resume his position gain. very limited resources will be difficult to Administration of Justice, incorporated. more difficult to obtain. as joint first 'minister', despite his Yet it is still possible that, despite avoid in a context which is regarded by The British government's overdue Given that, at this stage, British resignation during the summer over what the DUP and other unionist sceptics as a further 'institutionalisation' strategy papers for demilitarisation and government tactics are to get incremental UUP stalling, clearly demonstrate, there rejectionists threaten, the erstwhile of sectarianism. changes to the way in which justice is steps forward, the threat may not is extremely flimsy support among wreckers will imperceptibly ease But, the primary reason for taking the administered must also be published. materialise in February but it does, as unionists in general for the agreement. themselves into their cushy Assembly unionist rejectionist threat to the The message must be unambiguous Martin McGuinness put it, take us Indeed, unionists in the Assembly are seats and permit things to function. Assembly seriously is the fact that other over fundamental democratic reform: forward into uncertainty. split, with anti-agreement forces, Among the inducements are greater agreement institutions have been made there is no going back. The fragility of the whole process, including UUP dissidents, matching the local TV and news-media exposure, insofar as it depends on UUP UUP on a 29:29 seats basis. With only good perks and salaries, while some will compliance, is illustrated by the 58 per cent support from within his own view it as a stepping-stone to From civil rights to equal rights manoeuvres that were required to get us party Trimble is continually faced with Westminster. Connolly Association annual conference to this point. the possibility of major defections from Nevertheless, there are outside Despite the new precondition and a his assembly group. pressures inhibiting them from 4 March 2000 post-dated resignation letter to the UUP, The danger is that a logjammed disregarding their habitual sectarian Stephen Lawrence Room predilections. Despite its system of in the event of IRA non-compliance, Assembly could lead to it being Britannia Street Conference Centre Trimble secured only a 58 per cent mothballed, making inoperable the other checks and balances, there is a danger backing for his position. Worse still, institutions. For those who wish to see that the Assembly will simply lock them London WC1X under the agreement there are three ways politics replace armed conflict but who in to these old ways. Speakers: Maggie Beirne, in which vote-taking can be effected in are also determined that top-to-bottom Apart from its role in the cross- Committee on Administration of Justice the Assembly. reform of the six counties is delivered, border institutions, the Assembly is Sean Redmond, TUIUI For the election of the first and the the situation is complex. nothing more than a glorified county joint-first 'ministers' each of the In the opinion of nationalists and council whose purse-strings are held by Public meeting 10:30 am, all welcome. designated communities, unionist and republicans, the Northern Ireland Office tfie occupant of 11 Downing Street. The Conference business 2pm (delegates and observers only) nationalist, has to return a greater than 50 has already acquired a reputation for Exchequer is not noted for its over Page 10 Irish Democrat December 1999/January 2000 Irish Democrat December 1999/January 2000 Page I| Page 3 News iBish Oemociuc Minister rejects inquiry pleas Founded 1939 Volume 54. Number 6 NEWS IN BRIEF The political road O'NEILL SHOOTING State widens net In Its Another Clegg appeal Democrat reporter Lee Clegg was back in court at the end of November in an attempt to overturn his THE ESTABLISHMENT of a power-sharing executive and the all- RELATIVES' CAMPAIGN for an remaining conviction of 'unlawfully Ireland bodies is a vindication of the policy for uniting Ireland independent inquiry into the killing of fight against 'terrorism' wounding' Karen Reilly. the Belfast IRA volunteer Diarmuid O'Neill by an teenager killed b\ members of the advocated by the Connolly Association for over 40 years. That This was particularly true in relation to armed Metropolitan Police unit in PTA ABOLITION current phase of the Irish peace process provisions between 1974 and 1991. Paratroop regiment along with Martin policy, worked out by the late Desmond Greaves when he was London in 1996 received another seven-day detention and exclusion unveiled by John Hume and Gerry 6,097 (86 per cent) were released Peake in 1990. orders, which were widely condemned editor of this paper, was based on the recognition that there are only setback in November, despite winning Democrat reporter Adams, many Irish people in Britain without charge. Clegg, who has been allowed to as a form of temporary exile. two ways of ending partition: by physical force or by obtaining the support of Hammersmith coroner, Dr were afraid to publicly discuss, let alone Commenting on the government's resume his army career, was eventually THE PREVENTION of Terrorism Act, John Burton, and Irish foreign affairs Joy at the PTA's passing, along with criticise, British government policy in decision to abolish the PTA, Connolly acquitted of murdering Karen Reilly at majority northern consent to a united Ireland. one of the most dreaded, controversial minister David Andrews. an explicit recognition that militant the North for fear of bringing on the Association general secretary Enda an appeal hearing in March following the and draconian pieces of British The physical-force option involved taking up the IRA's guerrilla The Hammersmith coroner wrote to republicanism is no longer a major attentions of the authorities as Finlay said: "While we are delighted to presentation of new ballistic evidence legislation, is finally being consigned to struggle suspended at the time of the 1921 truce in the Anglo-Irish Home Office minister Paul Boateng in threat, will, however, be tempered by its 'republican sympathisers'. note its demise, it should be remembered and a major campaign by elements October, asking him to consider a history, only to be replaced by further replacement by all-encompassing Sadly, like the PTA, the new that the main legacy of the PTA is an war. But physical force cannot succeed unless one has more force within the British establishment. even wider-ranging 'anti-terrorist' legislation aimed at the new "enemies of judicial inquiry on grounds of the measures to be put before the British attack on civil liberties and human rights. Clegg, who has previously been than one's enemy. The Provisionals' offensive against the British measures. the state", namely eco-activists and so- controversial circumstances surrounding parliament in December appear to take "It is therefore particularly disturbing shown to have lied about his involvement The operation of the PTA, now called Islamic fundamentalists. Army in 1970, at the height of the Cold War, meant taking on O'Neill's death on 23 September 1996. from Sinn F6in TD Caoimhghfn O Police have put maximum pressure on no account of the fact that perfectly that its nefarious influence can also be in the shooting and to have participated officially recognised to be as ineffective NATO, for which retaining bases in Ireland was a key element in However, a subsequent letter to the Caoldin in early November, the Irish the Home Office to deny a judicial The PTA will go down in history as a adequate laws already exist to combat seen in other legislation including the in an attempted cover-up, could finally in combating political violence as it was O'Neill family and campaign from the minister for foreign affairs had also lent inquiry. pernicious anti-Irish measure, which had violent criminal acts and si aversion and Criminal Justice Act which removed the face dismissal from the Army if his Alliance defence, as well as the British state. The IRA was never draconian, forced Britain to seek office of junior Home Office minister the Irish government's support to call for the effect of intimidating and terrorising that, despite its panoply o. powers, the right to silence, and also in recent moves current appeal is turned down. strong enough to win. Charles Clarke stressed that the minister a judicial inquiry into O'Neill's death # The Justice for Diarmuid O'Neill derogation from key European and an entire community. PTA was stunningly inefficient - of the to restrict the right to trial by jury, international treaties and conventions. It kept up an extraordinary armed struggle for a quarter-century, was "not persuaded that the stressing that it would be "a positive and campaign can be contacted at BM Box So much so, that until the start of the 7,052 people detained under its outlined in the recent Queen's speech." Poor language results circumstances justify a judicial inquiry". helpful development". D. O'Neill, London WC1N 3XX; email: helping to unite unionism in the process. It could have kept going IRISH GOVERNMENT minister* have Replying to a parliamentary question It is known that the Metropolitan [email protected] expressed concern over the results of this indefinitely, but could never get beyond military stalemate. The Ireland signs up to NATO-led alliance year's examination results for Junior alternative - to get majority northern consent for reunification - Certificate Irish. was through intelligent politics and by dividing unionism though Centre seeks support for dismissal Only 51.3 per cent of the Junior Union, the US and NATO in helping the led operations.' Last summer Xavier the establishment of a regime based on equality in the North. IRISH NEUTRALITY Certificate entrants received grade C or released by Secretary of State Mo Mark Wright and James Fisher should be break-up of former Yugoslavia. Solana, the former NATO secretary- above in Irish at ordinary level this year, Unionism would be eroded, over time, because the rational basis McBRIDE MURDER Mowlam last year under the terms of the sent to the armed forces minister, John Democrat reporter The PfP is NATO re-inventing itself general, was made 'high representative' r a figure which is down the third year of the unionism of most unionists is the desire to be top-dog over Democrat reporter Good Friday deal following two failed Spellar MP at (telephone) 0171 218 after the end of the Cold War, to keep the for EU foreign and security policy. Now running. In 1997, 62.8 per cent of Junior WHEN IN opposition three years ago Catholics — bigotry based on ignorance. Make inequality based on court appeals. 6666; (fax) 0171 218 6542; E-mail: generals and military bureaucrats in he has become boss of the Western Certificate candidates received grade C THE DERRY-BASED Pat Finucane As reported in the last issue of the [email protected] Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahern said that business. Instead of giving full backing European Union as well, the nuclear- or above while last year it saw a further bigotry impossible and unionism will erode in a generation, 1 Centre (PFC) is appealing for people to Irish Democrat, the High Court All correspondence should be it would be "a breach of faith and to the United Nations and paying up the armed military alliance with which the drop to 58.8 per cent. causing liberal unionists or ex-unionists to unite with nationalists as contact the British armed forces minister overruled a subsequent Army Board marked for the attention of the Minister fundamentally undemocratic" for back dues it owes, the US government EU aims to merge. Where is Irish Figures for students studying at they discover the political implications of their common Irishness. in an effort to ensure that two Scots decision to allow the two soldiers to of State for the Armed Forces, Mr John Ireland to join Nato's so-called has surrounded NATO with the satellite neutrality in all this? foundation level also reveal that the continue their careers. A new Army Spellar MP. Partnership for Peace (PfP) organisation states of PfP. It sees NATO-PfP as a That was what the 1960s civil rights movement set out to do, Guardsmen convicted of murdering There is plenty of disquiet in Fianna percentage of those scoring grades A, B Peter McBride in 1992 are finally Board is now expected to convene in The PFC would also appreciate a without a referendum. Fianna Fail's substitute for the UN in Europe, the Fail at Bertie Ahem's broken promises. and C fell from 62.4 per cent to 49.5 per dividing unionism between Paisleyites and O'Neillites. dismissed from the army. December. copy: PFC, 1 West End Park, Derry 1997 election manifesto gave the same Middle East and Central Asia Many in his own party despise his soft- cent over the same period. " Unfortunately, under the pressures of 1970, the IRA reverted to Given life sentences by the court, Phone calls, faxes or emails calling BT48 9JF; 01504 266453 (fax); (email) commitment. Meanwhile PfP members agree to shoe-shuffle towards an EU-NATO physical force. Now, after 30 years of bloody conflict and lost James Fisher and Mark Wright were for the dismissal of Scots Guardsmen pfc @ www.serve.com. However, Ahenj'» government, bring their weaponry in line with that military tie-up. The Amsterdam Treaty, • 6amon 6 Cuiv, Irish Minister of State backed by Fine Gael, has new signed up used by NATO ones, which means more on which the Republic's population opportunity, we are back to a situation with remarkable parallels to at the Department of Arts, Culture and investment by over half of all US for PfP without a refenertdum, even orders for the arms manufacturers. voted last year, wp ratified by all EU the Gaeltacht admitted at the beginning the late 1960s. Equality of treatment, parity of esteem and power- NEWS IN BRIEF New abortion vote pension funds within the MacBride code though opinion polls showai that two- Joining PfP is a watershed in member states on 1 May last But no of October that Irish "may never become sharing between nationalists and unionists in a devolved Stormont, of practice. THE DUBLIN government has thirds of the population wanted a poll. Ireland's involvement with EU sooner was that done than plans were the vernacular language of the majority are effectively the continuation of the civil rights approach. New MacBride victory confirmed that there will be a further It is a bad day for those who value militarisation. EU defence ministers being made for a successor. This is of the population". Mr 6 Cuiv suggested CALIFORNIA HAS become the latest Wirral famine plaque controversial referendum on abortion, Irish neutrality as an expression of its have now started to meet beside EU already being called provisionally the fore in this. But if it comes off, as is that past government policies and The Connolly Association, like the Civil Rights Association US state to sign up to the MacBride THE MAYOR or Wirral, councillor though it is as yet uncertain as to whether independence, a bad day for those who foreign ministers, including defence Treaty of Paris, for it is meant to be ready probable, Bertie Ahem will be unable to inadequate services for Irish-speakers which it influenced, opposed the abolition of Stormont in 1972. Not principles, a set of fair-employment Hugh Lloyd, unveiled a special plaque at it would be held prior to the next Irish want Ireland to work though the United ministers of the four EU 'neutrals'. by the end of next year, when France will avoid a referendum on it, for all EU were largely to blame. hold the EU presidency. through love of unionism, but because a forum was necessary guidelines aimed at curbing investment the beginning of November general election. Nations in settling international conflict, There is now open talk of an EU treaties require a referendum to be not contribute to it as did the European Army 'using NATO resources for EU- where nationalists could exploit unionist divisions. The CA saw in six-county companies with a track commemorating Irish migration to The news was revealed in early Military matters are likely to be to the ratified in Ireland. Cancer rising record of sectarianism and Birkenhead during the Famine years September shortly before the publication A LARGE increase in cancers along the that direct rule from London would make this hugely harder by discriminatory employment practices. between 1845 and 1852. of a Green Paper outlining various Welsh coast of the Irish sea has been removing all the key issues to Westminster. The latest MacBride victory, the The brightly-coloured bilingual options. Loyalist 'pastor' caught red-handed revealed in a recent report by 'Direct rule' was first called for by The People's Democracy - culmination of a 12-year campaign to get plaque, which is situated at 1 Price The proposals have now been sent to independent researchers Green Audit. Street, Birkenhead, reminds visitors and the all-party Oireachtas Committee on some of whom are still around today as well-known journalistic the principles enshrined in Califomian The survey, which concentrated on a In April this year he was again law, is likely to have a major impact. passers-by that the area provided shelter the Constitution which will study the SECTARIAN VIOLENCE Six loyalists were question by the Irish Regiment has been infiltrated by narrow 800 metre strip along the snipers at the peace process. It was then taken up by the newly Around $11 billion dollars of the state's and employment to thousands of Irish document and put forward released without charge after being police in connection with the discovery, loyalist sympathisers. The investigation coastline, revealed while there was a formed Provisionals, swept like wildfire through the British $248 billion pension fund is invested in migrants during this traumatic period of recommendations. Democrat reporter arrested tftider anti-terrorist legislation in three of whom were subsequently is believed to focus on allegations of large increase in the number of all types Parliamentary Labour Party before being implemented by Tory companies operating in Northern Irish history. Anti-abortion campaigners will connection with loyalist attacks against charged, variously with possessing the sectarian intimidation over a four-year of cancer in the area surveyed, children Asking people to remember the undoubtedly see a new referendum as an THE TWISTED hopes of violent anti- Catholics across the six counties. documents, weapons and ammunition, period at the army's Catterick base in in the 0-4 age range were over four and a premier Ted Heath. One can only speculate how much closer to a Ireland. Eighteen US states - including all but 'Great Famine', the plaque also points opportunity to overturn the already agreement loyalist were dealt a blow However, sources suggest that the conspiracy and membership of the North Yorkshire. half times more at risk from leukaemia united Ireland we would be if the political approach of civil rights one of the US's top industrial states, the out that by 1851 a quarter of narrow opportunities for legal abortion recently with the discovery, in late latest developments are likely to mark Orange Volunteers. According to the 24-year old private, than the average child in the same age had continued uninterrupted. District of Colombia and around 30 US Birkenhead's population was Irish born in Ireland which became available October, of explosive devices near the end of the road for the viciously- • In a separate development, The British loyalist sympathisers openly wore group in England and Wales. Dungannon, County Tyrone, which sectarian Orange Volunteers. History has moved on. The Cold War is over. The cohesion of the cities and municipalities now back the - the highest proportion in any British following the Supreme Court X-case Army is investigating allegations by a clothing displaying slogans in support of Medical experts and environmental MacBride principles, bringing town at that time. ruling in 1992. resulted in the arrest of fundamentalist Despite Peebles arrest, the threat serving Catholic soldier that the Royal both the UDA and UVF. campaigners are among those who have British state is weakening. The Republic has become prosperous. Protestant preacher 'Pastor' Clifford firom sectarian loyalists elements shows expressed grave concern at the survey's The EU now takes the key political and economic decisions for its Peebles. Donations to the Connolly little sign of diminishing. The Derry- results which they believe to be linked to Bloody Sunday March London Saturday 22ml January 2000 member states. The united Ireland that is now inevitable in a Association and the Irish Democrat Peebles, who is from north Belfast, based Pat Finucane Centre has added pollution from the nuclear-reprocessing Rssenillle 12 IIOOH at Whitehall Place ICIurliK! Cress ftalMiUrusnt © intoiil was one of two men questioned by information about scores of sectarian or plant at Sellafield, Cumbria. generation or so will not be 'independent' unless the latter issue is (including 60th anniversary appeal) police in Armagh after a pipe bomb and attacks against Catholics and nationalists tackled. The task ahead for all those in Britain, and internationally, iRish OemocHAc two grenades were discovered in a car in to its database in recent months, (details 1 October to 23 November 1999 SA policeman for Nl? of attacks from 30 October -1 December who wish to see a united Ireland is to develop a solidarity F.Jennings £10; J. Gaster £44.50; R. which the Pastor was travelling. IT IS still unclear as to whether a top For a united and independent Ireland can be found on their website: Bloody Sunday movement with those pushing the equality agenda in Northern Deacon £10; P.T. Mullin £40; F. Oldaker It was claimed the Russian-made South African policeman tipped for the grenades were part of a cache of www.serve.com/pfc) job f overseeing police reforms Ireland, and to press the British government to bring home to Published continuously since 1939, the Irish Democrat is the bi-monthly journal £10; S. Gray £10; H. Cremin £12; A. of the Connolly Association, which campaigns for a united and independent Noone; S.&T. Gronin £5; D. Hanna £10; explosives previously put on display by In early November, 300 nationalists resulting from the Patten commission unionists that their political and economic future lies with their Ireland and the rights of the Irish in Britain J. Friel £5; J. Doyle £5; R. Johnston £5; the Orange Volunteers as they threatened and republicans were warned by the report is to be offered this key role in the nationalist fellow-countrymen and that their love affair with the UK i P. Riddell £20; UNISON NW region to launch a campaign against RUC that their lives could be in danger ongoing process of democratic reform. | Annual subscription rates (six issues) is an anachronism. £50; M.&R. Walker £4; M. Donoghue nationalists. from loyalist attacks following the Suggestions that current South £5.50 Britain I enclose a cheque £5; M. Taylor £5; C. Bland £9; G. Logan Members of the group recently told discovery in Stonyford Orange hall, Co. African Police commissioner George j £10.00 Solidarity subscription (payable to Connolly £3; J. Logan (in memory of Desmond how they and their explosive devices are Antrim, of an arms cache and military Fivaz, who has served under both the £8.00 Europe (airmail) Publications Ltd)/postal Greaves & Paddy Bond) £5; N.&R. blessed by a pastor before setting out on files containing photographs, names and white minority regime and the personal details of people in the Belfast ! £11.(X) USA/Canada (airmail) order for £ Harris £4; W.A. Booth £10; R. missions to kill Catholics. democratically-elected, post-apartheid iRish Oemociuc and South Armagh areas A | £12.00 Australia (airmail) Thompson £18; D. Flynn £5; A. Rogers The self-styled pastor has an governments, was being considered for Bi-monthly newspaper of the Connolly Association spokesperson for the Orange Order said £5; A. Donaghy £5; B. Murphy £15; M. interesting history. Once a prominent the job originally emerged recently in the j Name member of the British government- that he was "aghast" at the discovery. Mail on Sunday. Editorial Board i Jones £15; T. Mathews £15; A. Morton Gerard Curran; David Granville (editor); Peter Mulligan j Address £5; R. Rossiter £15; collection at funded group Families Against The discovery of the documents, As yet, Mr Fivaz, who, if selected, is Production: Derek Kotz i Intimidation and Terror (FAIT), Pfcebles believed by some to hav^ come directly likely to be a controversial choice, has i MacSwiney memorial meeting £44.22; Published by Connolly Publications Lid. 244 Gray* Irjn Road. London WCIX 8JR. i ^ Anon donations £35.03. was released withibut ' charge last from MI5's 'anti-tSerronst' divisibrt, has tefused to comment yn Aiirtours and has lei 0171 833 3022 ' ' , ' November after grenades and detonators provide^ farther diptyirbing ^id^nc? pf f let it be known that he is committed to Email: connolly@ge(j2^opyl^ng,uk, ,, ^njjjq: Coniplly fAibJi^atic*is244 Gray's Inn Road, London WCIX 8JR Bankers orders (2 months) £249.90 were Uisayvefed in the hall where he Collaboration becwu the security forces let flie truth be told hjs,current jot> until )iis cpntijapt runs put Printed by RipleyPnnlers (Till) Ltd, Noltihgham tfotid, Hipl<^,**r4>y&rtrMel 0177 3 743.6^1 ' ' ' -Total £713.65 Th« 81900V Sttitftl Brww»v»" .rMtimtMfc i t (ins 10VII loaitoti SW; 'W retetttWfte 01814428771 emafl WJKwuik -olto u* i > , > , t > » t < < preaches on the Woodvale Road. and loyalist murder gangs. in January 2000.
ma Irish Democrat December 1999/January 2000 Page 4 Irish Democrat December 1999/January 2000 Page 5
News/analysis News/analysis
VIEWPOINT MacSwiney memorial lecture success by JOHN MURPHY
welcomed the fact that, after many MacSWINEY LECTURE difficult years, it was now possible to Old languages Democrat reporter discuss Irish issues calmly in south Crying London. He pointed out that, in 1920, a fall silent AROUND 60 people attended a leading east London labour-movement successful Terence MacSwiney activist, John Scurr, had written a fine AT LEAST half the world's 6,000 or so memorial lecture held at Brixton Town obituary for MacSwiney in the Daily languages will die out during the comit g Hall. London towards the end of Herald and that there had been century at their present rate of October. considerable grassroots trade union and disappearance. Onl^ 500-MX) or so of MacSwiney, a former Lord labour support for the Irish these are 'safe' in that they are spoken by Mayor of Cork and prominent freedom struggle. out for at least a million people and so have a figure in the campaign for Ian McKeane of the chance of receiving state backing Irish independence, died Irish studies institute at through a formal education system. on 25 October 1920 after the University of There are hundreds of languages in 74 days on hunger Liverpool gave an places like the Amazon, the Congo or on strike in Brixton jail. account of native American reservations in the Opening the event, MacSwiney's life Mural, Lower Ormeau Road, Belfast by Danny Deveney USA, which are down to a few elderly which was organised Justice and times, MacSwiney. Kathleen Jones, left, remembered being taken as a small child surviving speakers and are. for the most by the Connolly highlighting the to see MacSwiney lying in state in St George's Cathedral, Southwark part, beyond hope of revival. This loss is Association, prominent role One of the officers to arrive after the By October, charges against Forbes. damaging because when a language dies Lambeth Lord Mayor played by the Irish military might of the British empire. also contributed to the meeting with a a four-year-old child to see MacSwiney's Jeremy Hardy sets out the case for an attack was Constable Clare Halley. She Hanvey and Robinson had been dropped. much of a culture dies with it. Cllr Stephen Bourne Volunteers in Cork in Other speakers at the event included talk on MacSwiney's influence on the body which lay in state in St. George's took one of the crowd, Wayne Lunt, into Releasing the men, the magistrate said: The human race evolved amid a made clear his support the fight for Irish Avtar Sadiq, president of the Indian language movement. Catholic Cathedral. independent judicial inquiry into the the Land Rover. After confirming his "It has been a terrible ordeal for all three diversity of languages, which formed a for the current peace freedom. Workers' Association, who spoke about Messages of support for the event Commenting on the successful event, name and address, by radio, she let him of you". He said nothing to members of rich pool of varied ideas and world process and expressed The point was the contacts between the Indian and Irish were received from Cllr Damien a spokesperson for the Connolly circumstances surrounding the sectarian go. Halley has testified that two men the Hamill family present in court. In views, but the pool is shrinking fast. It is the hope that the lecture reinforced by veteran freedom movements. Wallace, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Association said: "The lecture was approached her, one of them, asking why November, charges against Bridget! and a cultural narrowing, a loss of would encourage greater Cork Sinn Fein activist Dr Louise Ryan of the University of 'Charlie' Cherrill, Mayor of Southwark, organised to highlight the significant role murder, on 27 April 1997, of young she had released Lunt and telling her, Lunt were also dropped. intellectual diversity comparable to what understanding between Irish George O'Mahony. Central Lancashire provided disturbing Cllr John Fahy, Mayor of Greenwich and played by MacSwiney and the people of "He's one of the ones that did it." She This prompted Colin Prunty, the biologists say is happening to animal and and British people. O'Mahony noted that details of the Black and Tans' use of Cork TDs Deidre Clune, Simon Coveney Cork in the struggle to establish an Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill did not even take this man's name. No witness who had approached Halley, to plant species as wilderness areas are Extending the fraternal greetings MacSwiney had established the Irish sexual violence in the war of and John Denneby. independent Irish state and to encourage statements were taken from anyone - complain to the Crown Prosecutions cleared. Each language contains words of local trade unionists, Lambeth Trades Volunteers as a strong fighting machine independence. Eighty-three-year-old Kathleen Jones increased attendance at the annual witnesses or suspects. Even after the Service that he had never been asked to that uniquely capture ideas, and when Union Council secretary Greg Tucker capable of holding its own against the Language campaigner Mairead Holt recalled how her mother had taken her as memorial mass at St. George's." HE DIRECTOR of Public to hang around on Saturday nights. Local arrival of a senior officer, no crime scene attend an ID parade. the words are lost, so are the ideas. Prosecutions for Northern publicans had warned the RUC that the was declared and no evidence gathered. Hobson finally came to trial earlier The reason for the loss is that Ireland has decided that no junction of Thomas Street and Market In short, the police made no effort to this year. Constable Neill testified that, dominant languages kill off smaller police officers are to be Street was becoming increasingly approaching the scene, he saw Robert ones. Or rather dominant states and In the aftermath of the 1798 rebellion prosecuted for neglect of dangerous for Catholics. lying unconscious and Hobson aiming a cultures often oppress weaker. Irish was duty in the case of Robert Indeed, just a few minutes before the The police made kick at his head, but couldn't tell if it spoken by most people in Ireland 2(X) THamill. Shortly before that decision, attack on Robert, another man was able connected. years ago. One of the reasons why the James Kirwan reports on the theme of a one-day conference in 1797, based in Philadelphia, has major for less than objective motives, while while she was still Secretary of State, Mo to get past a hostile group of loyalists and no effort to start Lord Justice McCollum convicted English government set up a national Belfast on 6 November held in the implications. Rev. Finlay Holmes, former Moderator a conference held in Mowlam told an American newspaper, warned the officers in the Land Rover Hobson of unlawfully fighting and system of primary schools in Ireland Central Hall, under the aegis of the Detailing rebel activity in the of the Presbyterian Church, and Daire j "I am very angry about Hamill." Of the that more Catholics were on their way any sort of causing an affray but, ruling that Robert several decades before doing so in United Irishmen Commemoration aftermath of the rebellion, Ruan Keogh of St. Patrick's College, DPP, she said, "If I don't see progress, I and would be in danger. was probably already fatally injured by Britain was to eradicate Irish and turn Belfast recenfl> examining Society (U1CS). O'Donnell of the University of Limerick Drumcondra, spoke on the predicaments shall act." The officers remained in the vehicle, investigation the time Neill approached, acquitted rebellious peasants into loyal citizens. Opening the event, John Gray, Linen stressed that Wicktow, Wexford, Kildare which faced leaders of the Presbyterian the experience of the Unfortunately, there has been no and radio logs show that nothing was Hobson of murder. Now there are only a few thousand Hall Library librarian and UICS and Carlow were consistently disturbed and Catholic faiths during the rebellion. progress and now she cannot be held to done to warn people at the hall until when all the The Hamills are looking for justice native speakers left and Irish would not United Irish movement in president, explained that the Central Hall by rebel factions adhering, in some Contrary to popular opinion, while account for her pledge. The government 2.11 am, 30 to 40 minutes after the rather than vengeance. If there is to be an survive were it nol for the establishment had a long association with non- degree, to their United Irish identities clerical sedition never exceeded four per says no inquiry will be considered until attack. evidence was in independent judicial inquiry into the of an independent state and its language the aftermath of the subscribing Presbyterians in Belfast who until 1804. cent of Catholic priests, Presbyterian the Royal Ulster Constabulary has Robert was with three friends: circumstances surrounding Robert's revival efforts. played a major role in Irish Post-rebellion insurgent activity in ministers were more than twice as likely rebellion of 1798 carried out an internal investigation. Joanne, Siobhan and Gregory Girvan. front of them murder, it must be ordered by Tony Blair Unfortunately, most languages republicanism from 1791. Clare, Tipperary, Limerick and Antrim to participate in revolutionary politics, In Portadown, at about 1.30am on They left the club at about l.20am. under the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) belong to peoples who have no state of ALTHOUGH THE military defeat of the Kevin Whelan of Notre Dame was also discussed in the context of obliging their administrators to institute April 27, 1997, Robert Hamill, a 25 year Unable to raise a taxi, they walked Act. He did it for the Bloody Sunday their own. The process of language United Irishmen was a pivotal historical University, Dublin, traced the impact of United Irish efforts in 1799 and 1800 to a tightly regulated system of old Catholic, was kicked to death by a cautiously toward Market Street. Seeing families and it is to be hoped that he will extinction begins when children stop event it did not extinguish their ideal of the United Irish programme across the re-establish a network to assist the endorsement and financial support. mob of about 30 loyalists in full view of the Land Rover, they felt safe enough to be persuaded do it for the Hamills, but it learning it. Often this is motivated by uniting Protestant, Catholic and world as disseminated by its exiled French invaders they still had reason to Emigration and eviction may also an RUC Land Rover, 200 yards from an proceed, Robert walking slightly ahead will take pressure. shame at speaking what they regard as a Dissenter in the cause of radical, political members and by those who grasped the believe would deliver ultimate victory. have played a more significant role than RUC station. Four RUC officers, of the others. 'primitive' language. If the native tongue reform. utility of grafting their modus operandi Other speakers included Philip Orr, hitherto imagined in shriving east Ulster wearing body armour and armed with When Robert stepped onto Market is not taught in schools, people will not Most United Irishmen survived the onto local issues. who spoke about the complex figure of of its Presbyterian radicals. plastic baton rounds, revolvers and Street he was beaten to the ground. How you can help pass it on to their children. cataclysm of 1798 and many, not least His account of United Irish Archibald Hamilton Rowan as a 'case Given the event's success, it appears machine guns, remained in the Land Gregory ran to help and was also In some countries the slate actively Robert Emmet, James Hope and Thomas engagement in the fledgling republican study in demonisation'. Orr's insights likely that the UICS will continue as a the campaign Rover during the attack. attacked. Both were kicked and beaten seeks to wipe out minority languages, as Russell, remained dedicated to and democratic parties of the United into the wilful misrepresentation of forum capable of stimulating research Robert had been to a dance at St unconscious. Gregory survived. Robert the 19th century British did with Irish, furthering its pluralist objectives in the States was fascinating. However, his Rowan's character by an early into one of the most important political United Irish leader James Hope: one Patrick's Hall, a Catholic social club that was to die after 12 days in a coma. • Write to the Prime Minister, Rt the Turks do with Kurdish and ihe early years of the 19th century. revelation that there was a United biographer reminds us that near organisations in the history of these ot those who remained dedicated to stands in isolation in the centre of Joanne and SiobhSn screamed for Hon. Tony Blair, 10 Downing Indonesian government does in its Explaining their activity and agenda was Irishman Society of America as early as contemporary histories are often written islands. the movement's pluralist cause Portadown. To get home to their enclave help. They could be heard outside a bar Street, London SW1A2AA polyglot archipelago. The former USSR around Garvaghy Road and Obins Street, 120 yards. away, from where people was almost unique in doing the opposite. Catholics leaving St Patrick's have to came running to help, trying in vain to 0 Ask your MP to support the It devoted huge resources to fostering the citizen, and married Brid Nf widely differing attitudes of its members. editor of the paper, Helen Bennett, and to Jack in his journalistic work with the OBITUARIES travel down Thomas Street and across get through the mob to reach the injured campaign's call for an languages and cultures of its many Dhochartaigh, a native Irish speaker The League was, ever, always in the Owen Bennett Belfast Telegraph and the Northern Market Street where young loyalists tend men. No one, however, got out of the independent judicial review and nationalities, realising that such from Conamara, who was also active in radical camp and socialist in overall Anna and Jack were married for 56 edition of the Sunday Press, where he Land Rover, just 20 yards from the start any sort of investigation, when all forward responses to the encouragement of cultural differences the language movement. attitudes. years and were a model of a close Peter Berresford Ellis wrote the influential 'Claude Gordon' attack. Siobhan ran to the vehicle, the evidence was in front of them campaign actually makes for greater political Alan joined Conradh na Gaelige and His was a major contribution to the couple, bound together by love, political column during the 1960s. Robert Hamill shouting and banging on the side, but At 6am. the first of a number of harmony and state cohesion. served on its executive committee. His development of the modern Celtic friendship and a shared view of the remembers Alan Heustaff, And they were much enjoyed by there was no response contradictory press statements was put 9 Ask your trade union, political In New Guinea some 500 languages work promoting the Irish language was consciousness and his place in the world. She was a true comrade and a victim of racist murder former Irish Democrat editor Desmond out by the RUC suggesting a clash party, religious or community were spoken until recently. The Peruvian former general secretary recognised when he became a recipient history of the Celtic struggle is assured. encourager of her husband during that Greaves, who used look forward to between "two rival factions". A second organisation to adopt Robert's Amazon was called a Tower of Babel by of the Pearse Award, which was His commitment was to a reunited time, and an inspirer of the political Public Meeting of the Celtic League, who Anna's hospitality and repartee when he statement three days later claimed: "A case and invite campaign early Spanish missionaries, who were presented to him by the then Irish Ireland and self-government for all the outlook of her children. visited Belfast in the 1950s and 1960s, in 14 December, 7.30 pm police Land Rover crew in Portadown speakers stunned by number of languages they died at his home in Co. president, the late Dr Patrick Hilary. Celtic countries; for social, cultural and She came of a Belfast republican the lead-up to the Civil Rights movement town centre were alerted to a disturbance found among isolated communities But, he never ceased to support the economic freedom for all the Celtic family, the Quinns. Her father, Joe Camden Town Hall of which she was a staunch supporter. INALLY, SOME ten and immediately intervened to gain • Help distribute information and separated by dense jungle. Linguists Galway on 3 November right of his native land to struggle for peoples. Quinn, had been in the Old IRA and She was a great woman and a good one, Judd Street, order and prevent assaults." publicity material estimate there were probably MX) to 150 national, social and economic helped guard De Valera against the and will be much missed. minutes after the attack, two It was not until 7 May. after the Amazonian languages altogether, 'iiit BORN IN Sant Ivi, Cornouaille, independence from France, editing a Devlinites when Dev stood for election London WC1 F Jack Bennett adds: My Anna was a of the officers. Constables Hamill family had protested at this • Make a donation (Cheques with a dizzving array ol dialects. Brittany, on 23 July. 1921. Alan Heuslaff number of Breton publications and Anthony Coughlan pays in that city. He later joined the lively, exuberant and witty personality, Neill and Atkinson, got out distortion, that an RUC statement was payable to Robert Hamill Today only 57 survive a' I 25 ol was a native Breton speaker who learnt contributing to various Breton-language Communist Party. Anna worked as a Speakers: tribute to Anna Bennett and admired Desmond Greaves above of the Land Rover, at which issued acknowledging the incident was. Campaign) these are on the last road to e\tinclion French only when he went to school. magazines. young woman in the CP bookshop in anyone else she knew on account of his Diane Hamill, point police reinforcements as all the witnesses say, an unprovoked South America lias languages thai arc He became a member of the Breton In 1960, it was his inspiration to set who died recently in Belfast, where she met Jack Bennett, powerful intellect. arrived. The Northern Ireland Office assault "M two men by a large group • Write to BM Hamill Campaign. onK now being discovered, but as soon National Party from 1938 and dedicated up the Celtic League, a movement to link who was of Protestant background. Michael Mansfield QC, Dublin after a short illness On his visits, the sparks would fly confirms that there were 19 Rl 'C officers The iicvl day. Robert died (mm Ins Loudon \V( IN 3XX as tltov are they become endangered his energies to securing independence the struggles of all six Celtic nations and Together Anna and Jack embodied Gareth Pierce, between them, for she knew how to tease on duly in I'ortadown that night and four injuries 11 was after lliis thai 1 mil ami And once lost tlie\ aie gone tm CUM for his native country. he was elected general secretary, a the best traditions of Irish republicanism out his mischievous sense of fun. They Dr Robbie McVeigh. army units available within ten minutes. live oilieis. Kory Robinson \llisi.ni j • I null The |...i • ol ih,. In 1950, he made his way to Ireland position he held until he retired in 1985 ANNA BENNETT, will be remembered and socialism. Her warm personality, would roar and laugh together while At 2.1 lam. a mobile arms mill radioed llanu'N. I Van l-orbes. Stac\ \ Brnk'cil hamilk impaign!'' holtnail coin unexampled eul.tilial In'.s air and studied physics al University Alan steered the I eague through bv many Connolly Association stalwarts wide literaiy culture, political insight and Jeremy Hardy, Desmond thumped the arms of his l'ortadown police station to oiler and I'.ml llobson. wvre anested ami' j colonialism, imperials m and now j College, Galway. before joining the Irish much turbulent water, trying to maintain as the wife of Jack Bennett, former astringent comments on people and Imran Khan, armchair with delight at her comments assMance. but were told that they were charged with Ills ifiurder. All asked to be' •'Website capitalist 'g obali'zation . as so called Meteorological Service in 1952. He a balance between the diverse individual Belfast correspondent of the Irish affairs were evident to everyone she gave on people and things. I believe he Sukhdev Reel not needed held i'i losali't 'paramilitarv wiliL's at tlic'i ' Vww.jilstiie.cluh24.co.iik' ' , ' market lor e' wreak lia\'oc with became a fluent Irish speaker, an Irish problems of the six nations and the Democrat, and the mother of a former her friendship to. They were invaluable • ' V , | thought highly of her. I Ik uiiiuleiei • loik'ied appaienlK Yfa/e mantjnd's cultural lierila'j unconcerned lot about an lioni but nobody was ,|neMcd . When the ambulance arrived, il luid (o drive through the mob No'llist aiif lla'd been1 given to Robert or Gregory bv the police Page 10 Irish Democrat December 1999/January 2000 Irish Democrat December 1999/January 2000 Page I| Page ~l Features Connolly column Features This article was written A defining moment tor the Irish Worker of Irish historian Patrick M. ' ^ "ff A question of political power 22 November 1913, to Geoghegan contributes the mark the 46th f\j| * phenomenon was largely associated with entitled Anti-Catholicism in Northern •sectarian clashes ot those times in terms ! Irish Democrat correspondent Jack political protestantism. anniversary of the second in a series of 5 * .rviM M V Ireland, 1600-1998. of proto-proletarian rivalry, bin Nevertheless, he was lit upon by the Aspects of the phenomenon have animosities of thai sort could onK have articles to appear in the execution of the * • % '% ffA f If % 1 * % Bennett challenges the largely British view proverbial ton of bricks, thrown by been touched upon and examined in faded into limbo together with all the Irish Democrat in the run- (b • fftt A ® ' * * • S t 4* Protestant bishops and top Methodists earlier scholarly works, but this is the other Irish faction fighters il ihe\ had not Manchester martyrs. & - - X and Presbyterians, who responded wiih first book, I believe, that tackles it head- had the blessing and encouragement of f * ft* 5* t % Z I 4 t 'ft < of religious bigotry in the six counties as a " .» up to the bi-centenary of horror, anger and extravagant on as a specific problem which, on its the ruling power Connolly's description of
Book reviews Book reviews
MP for South Tyrone. Plunkett had (a different ID, ed ), denied being a 0? ' anomalously remained for a time in communist whilst refusing to criticise charge of the Department of Agriculture Taking sides: the Irish * IRISH the ideology He was clearly determined The appliance of science and Technical Instruction after the to avoid confirming the propaganda of V POLITICS Liberal victory. Russell's role in , ' , AND THE his Irish enemies. good accepted theoretical model for the University' question, which was not promoting research into agriculture, and the Spanish war SPANISH Many of his followers, however, went Ro\ Joluwhm re\ /en s Science and processes at work resolved until the foundation of the forestry and fisheries was significant. to Spain in the earnest hope of furthering cited in over forty pages of notes. m®Ll CIVIL Colonialism in Ireland by Whyte leans on the Huropean- National University of Ireland in 1908. The decline of the Geological Survey Ruan O 'Donnell reviews Fearghal and gave the country the dubious S WAR what McGarry terms "subversive foreign Nicholas Whyte, Cork University Press, diffusionist model of Basalla, and on the Whyte is also correctly dismissive of the under the new state is analysed, and the McGarry, Irish politics and Straddling, Professor of History at distinction of harbouring the largest non- ideology" regardless of the efforts of Cardiff University, also details the a 7. w pbk Canadian work of Pyenson on science in perception that the Catholic Church as break-up of the College of Science under the Spanish Civil War, Cork government fascist party in Europe. Ryan and the Comintern to present a such was 'anti-science'; this perception the pressure of the civil war. Whyte origins, composition and behaviour of O'Duffy's 'Irish Brigade' was arguably the British Empire, but does not seem to University Press, £15.95 pbk, and The more acceptable face of the struggle to the various Irish factions in Spain and THIS IS ;in important ground-breaking have come across the work of Elisabeth was held by some of the ascendancy however lets the Free State government in the tradition of the Wild Geese' international opinion. Irish and the Spanish Civil provides a lucid account of their military hook, in thai it is ihe first work by a Crawford of Strasbourg, on scientific scientific elite. down lightly as regards their neglect of regiments which served 17th century Interestingly, similar problems of War, crusades in conflict, contribution to the wider struggle. professional historian of science to esteem and national consciousness, and Whyte gives credit to the Royal Irish science; he holds that it simply did not continental powers but bore little organisation and logistics beset O'Duffy 1936-39 by Robert A. Straddling, Many Irish people were outraged in resemblance to the later more examine how science fared in the on the 'core-fringe' question in the Academy (RIA) for resisting the divisive want to spend money on anything, and in the light of the Irish Government's Manchester UP, £11 pbk early August 1936 by the reputed ideologically motivated formations this transition from Ireland in the UK to post- Austro-Hungarian Empire 'National Academy' concept which science suffered accidentally in this adherence to the disgraceful non- maltreatment of Catholic clergy by title evoked. 1921. partitioned, partially-independent Whyte covers the ascendancy- emerged under the leadership of Eoghan context. He is therefore somewhat intervention agreement and Eamon De Spanish socialists. Stories of atrocities statehood, and how the emerging state dominated 19th century and is on the MacNeill, and which if it had won dismissive of my 1983 Crane Bag Frank Ryan's XVth International Valera's personal antipathy towards THE APPEARANCE in 1999 of two committed by the supporters of Spain's i related to the rule of science in the whole correctly dismissive of the through would have introduced the argument that this was an opportunity Brigade volunteers, however, could more Blueshirts. new studies of the Irish involvement in legitimate government ensured that modernising process. 'gentleman-amateur' aspect as expressed partitionist principle explicitly into missed for putting constructive science plausibly invoke the legacy of the United O'Duffy's Irish Brigade arrived in the Spanish Civil War has added greatly ultra-conservatives felt vindicated in It is ironic that the project under in the concentration on astronomy, cultural life, with the all-Ireland aspect at the service of the new state, and that Irishmen of France's Irish Legion if not prompting the defence of the most Spain in November/December 1936 and to the historiography of that important their detestation of what they regarded as which the material for the book was though I think he does not give credit of the RIA being undermined. This this myopia was due to the culture-gap that of the Transvaal Irish Commando popular socialist government in Europe were incorporated into the Foreign conflict. the workings of international which opposed British Imperialism in collected was funded by the British enough to the indirect influence of the episode however lapsed in the civil war between science and the national from the insurgency of a fascist junta. Legion as the XV Bandera (15th Fearghal McGarry of Trinity College communism. southern Africa during the Boer War. Academy, and that although the work 1840s Bin Castle telescope project on context, leaving the RIA with the movement in previous decades, with Nor, indeed, did O'Duffy's men leave battalion). They were well received at Dublin concentrates on the political The Fine Gael party in opposition, was done from Queens University in important book which I hope will act as the teaching and practice of engineering, opportunity to become an inclusive science being viewed as part of the McGarry dismisses such "rhetoric... Ireland solely to contain Spanish first by Franco and Mola and granted the reaction to the Spanish situation in widely supported by large farmers and Belfast, the history of science in a trigger for initiating the resourcing of and on the optical industry via the firm of transitional body, which it did colonial culture. characteristic of communist communism. Catholics, conservatives concession of not being deployed against Ireland and discusses the perspectives big business, gave its imprimatur to Northern Ireland is explicitly excluded. an academic centre, somewhere in the Grubb, which supplied telescopes to the successfully. Whyte however does not On the whole there is plenty of propaganda" in a section which critiques and anti-communists of various the staunchly Catholic Basques. Their developed by such diverse interest Spanish fascism by attempting to have This must be noted as a basic Haw in the Republic, for the historical study of the world from its factory in Rathmines. The seem to appreciate the significance of unfinished business here, and Whyte's the various historic precedents claimed backgrounds evidently formed the bulk overall military performance was less groups as the Irish Christian Front, Fine Franco's government recognised by the by Irish, British and American book, given the all-Ireland nature of pre - science component of Irish culture, l>- ' between big-house science and the this all-Ireland status of the Academy, book constitutes an important beginning of their membership along with a than glorious and they returned to Gael and Catholic Church on the one Ddil in November 1936. The explicitly International Brigade battalions. independence science culture in Ireland, throughout Ireland, and its embedding in m jds of the emerging nation was on the and does not develop it. for an innovative cultural-exploration leavening of mercenaries and Ireland in June 1937 to find that opinion hand and the Irish Republican Army and Catholic dimension to fascism in Ireland adventurers. and the persistence of this all-Ireland the Irish studies agenda globally. whole, however, tenuous. On the other hand he does draw project, for which he deserves credit, This is discussed in the context of the on Franco was divided. Communist Party of Ireland on the other. engendered O'Duffv's expedition with culture in all sectors of science despite It is difficult in a short review to give Of greater significance was the attention to forgotten all-Ireland e Some of the reviewer's own work in Comintern's practice of wedding A complication is that members of Ryan's 'Connolly Column' and the The main strength of the book is the status of a 'crusade', a role suggested partition. much feel for the complexity of the question of access to science via a episodes like the replacement of Horace this area can be found on his website progressive patriotism and, in Ireland's the Irish Republican Army were well other Irish groupings in Spain with the McGarry's expert unravelling of the by Count Ramirez de Arellano, a right- transition, especially where there is no university training, and the 'Catholic Plunkett in 1907 by TW Russell, Liberal www.iol.ie/~tjtechne/ case, republicanism, to the "goals of represented in the International Xllth, XlVth and XVth International Despite this limitation, we have an wing Navarrese aristocrat resident in highly complex effect of the Spanish international communism". McGarry Brigades, notwithstanding the Brigades generally fared much better on London. War on Irish politics at both local and claims that this was "ultimately prohibition imposed by the chief of staff, the battlefield and most uneaptured Behind the facade of Migration and settlement national level. He also documents the O'Duffy, former leader of Fine Gael, responsible for the creation of the Tom Barry, on their going to Spain. They survivors were repatriated in December social background, age, occupation and had led Ireland's quasi-fascist International Brigades". fought under Ryan and other members of 1938. political affiliation of the majority of 'Blueshirts' and in late 1936 revived the This oversimplification is Republican Congress (the IRA's In sharp contrast to the status of colonial discourse those who saw action in Spain. networks of that partially suppressed Ruan O'Donnell reviews The Irish and presents work by several leading unconvincing and belied by his own and beleaguered left wing splinter group) O'Duffy's Brigade, the right to McGarry's findings are illustrated organisation to defend Spanish Straddling's in depth examinations of the and alongside members of the McLoughlin reads Gulliver's Travels as In Victorian Britain, the local authorities, not least Alan O'Day, Frank commemorate and celebrate Ryan's Sally Richardson reviews Boyce and John Belchem. with numerous charts and annotated catholicism. This, as Straddling explains, composition of the Irish units. The hand Communist Party of Ireland. followers remains keenly contested in an anti-colonial tract. In Gulliver's dimension, Roger Swift and Contesting Ireland: Irish Essays by Paul O'Leary, Louise maps, the fruits of painstaking research was aided by the Irish Catholic hierarchy of the Comintern was hardly decisive in Ryan, then editor of Irish Democrat Irish politics. relationship to the Houyhnhnms Swift Sheridan Gilley (eds.), Four Courts voices against England in Miskell, Carl Chinn and Frank Neal depicts his own attitude to the English: Press £17.50 pbk the eighteenth century by he aspired to their civilisation but, to examine aspects of the Irish immigrant Civil war out west and historical context that would make Thomas Mi Untghlin. Four Courts them, remained a Yahoo. experiences in south Wales, Cornwall, Defending the realm the book a useful resource for students in Press, tl 7.50 pbk Like Swift, Burke was caught THE ORIGINS and development of Birmingham and the North of England the future." between two cultures. McLoughlin Britain's Irish communities is during the mid to late Nineteenth Sally Richardson reviews Civil War Interspersed with the Waldron notes Irish Archives Act. Dr O'Halpin's BRITISH RULE in 18th-century Ireland detects beneath Burke's passionate undoubtedly one of the most important century. Later articles deal with the Irish Anthony Coughlan reviews i- In Connacht 1922-1923 by is a variety of local and national material. masterly use of it means that his book culminated in rebellion and the Act of denunciation of British atrocities in India themes in the social history of these in Stafford, Liverpool, Lancashire and Defending Ireland, the Irish Nollaig O Gadhra, Mercier Press, It includes the text of a letter written by either supersedes or must be read as a Union. Irish studies have, in recent years, a similar criticism of Britain's role in islands. It has long been a neglected London. state and its enemies since £9.99 pbk Rory O'Connor from the Four Courts, An important unifying feature of the necessary complement to most other reproductions of propaganda posters benefited greatly from being viewed in a Ireland which his position "as an topic in comparison to the many volumes 1922, by Eunan O'Halpin, Oxford political histories dealing with these wider 'colonial' context - comparing the Irishman at Westminster... essentially an dedicated to the story of the Irish in volume is an assessment of British from both sides, and the general election Universirty Press, £30 hbk. different decades. Irish experience to the that of other outsider" prevented him from expressing North America and Australasia. reactions to the influx of often destitute NOLLAIG O GADHRA has put results (with analysis) between 1922 and Some criticisms regarding things that 1938 for Gal way, which show extensive countries in other continents which have his opinions, except in private. This is now changing and with good post-Famine refugees. O'Leary. for together an interesting patchwork of IF THE monopoly of legal force over a I have personal knowledge about. It is support for the anti-treaty candidates. also been invaded by colonial powers. Charles O'Conor, a highly-educated mutual respect and dialogue". reason given that the migrations across instance, demonstrates that the violent narrative and documents that give a te rritory is the most fundamental feature wrong to describe the late George Thomas McLoughlin's book shows Catholic native Irish speaker from Sligo Appropriately, McLoughlin finishes the Irish Sea were without parallel in anti-Irish outburst in Cardiff in 1848 had picture of parts of Connacht during the Local men were among the 77 IRA of a state, a study of its policy for Gilmore as "a republican turned how Irish writers and commentators was in an ideal position to contribute to with an examination of Wolfe Tone. terms of duration and frequently much to do with the prevailing civil war. volunteers executed by the Free State defending istelf against external and communist". He also refers "to the resisted England's attempts to denigrate the reclamation of Irish history in which Earlier, many Catholics had felt it unequalled in scale. conditions of hardship in south Wales. A major source for the book is the and some of their almost unbearably internal enemies is bound to tell one Connolly clubs in Ireland and Britain" )• l-NI )ING Ireland by simplifying it and denying its many writers engaged. McLoughlin necessary to protest Ireland's loyalty to Irish travel to Britain, moreover, was Miskell, similarly, documents notes regarding local events of 1922-23 touching letters to family, written the much about its character. after 1945, although there was no such complexity. He describes "what happens shows him to be a careful scholar, the British crown when arguing for the sharpened by a unique range of social, Cornwall's Irish community in great IRI I.AND compiled more than twenty-five years night before execution, are reproduced. This Eunan O'Halpin - recently organisation in Ireland. Officialdom's epistolary efforts are also to Ireland behind the facade of colonial countering English misrepresentations of repeal of the penal laws. economic and political factors which add detail over a twenty year period which ago by J.J. Waldron of Tuam. O Gadhra appointed as the first professor of In discussing the turn towards represented, chillingly, by the stark text discourse". the Irish with an uncovering and The lesson had to be learnt that considerably to the complexities and culminated in the 1882 Camborne riot. writes: " My aim was to try and establish contemporary Irish History at Trinity politics by physical-force republicanism of a specimen letter sent out to the Swift stood up for Ireland's rights, recovering of the old culture the English equality was a right better secured in an value of diaspora research. Mary J. Hickman of the Irish Studies a record... and to add whatever national College, Dublin - does for the Irish state in the 1960s something quite analogous but remained hostile to most of his had tried to stamp out, showing that it independent republic than as a favour Dr. Roger Swift of University Centre at the University of North from its foundation in 1921 to the recent to what is happening in today's northern flawed work, which he quotes as gospel compatriots, whom he regarded as could make a contribution to modern from the British. Tone's republicanism College Chester and Dr. Sheridan Gilley London contributes a compelling present. peace process - he speaks of "the on this topic. savages much in need of what he saw as Ireland. He spoke to the Irish on both was a new departure, but it had more of the University of Durham have done historiographical essay which explores This is one of the most important republican socialist paradigm". His treatment of the genesis of the England's civilising influence. But. sides of the Pale, a precursor of Tone: than 100 years of political discourse more than most to fill the gaping holes in many of the principal issues concerning books to be written about modern Presumably he means "socialist northern civil rights movement and the Swift's attitude was ambivalent; "the first to advocate hybridity (and) behind it. the historical record having previously the study of the Irish who settled in co-edited volumes concerning the Irish Britain. Hickman's piece, together with Ireland. It conveys a vast amount of republican", something rather different, republicans' role in it is inadequate. CAPITAL Bardon's Belfast, A Century in the Victorian city and during the years the succinct introduction co-authored by information on the activities of the for has he ever come across such a thing He also implies in the book's last (Blackstaff Press, £25 hbk). Written and 1815-1939. Swift and Gilley. comprises the most up Special Branch, the Gardai and the Irish as monarchical, that is non-republican, paragraph that Ireland is seeking to be 80 compiled by a man who knows more This new collection of twelve essays to date survey of the field while laying Army over years. socialism? "the Mother Teresa of the international Autumn than most about Belfast's history, the tocuses primarily on the Irish at local down markers for the next phase of A large cache of hitherto secret data, His treatment of the relation of community" by being reluctant to get 1999 & CLASS especially on so-called 'internal republicanism, socialism and the involved with NATO. Such a patronising book includes 340 striking photographs, and community level in the Victorian era research. « i * i:•.)I.i i ;Im; sneer is unworthy of a good historian. many of them previously unpublished. subversion' by the IRA and left-wing political left is somewhat shaky, as his But the merits of the book greatly Three other titles aimed at the general gives into the political evolution of Gerry groups, has become available since the use of this formulation implies, somthing Brandon the brave coming into operation in 1991 of the he shares with Richard English's deeply outweight its defects. #69SPECIA L ISSUE reader are a must: The Belfast Adams, who became McDonagh's Anthology edited by Patricia Craig friend in the course of their difficult that, especially for a club (Blackstaff Press £20 hbk) is a Anthony Couglilan reviews Open collaboration. BffTWIM MACS AND WKI? secretary called Moses Alcorn! fascinating collection providing hours ol Book: one publisher's war by Il was McDonagh who arranged Commotion in small-town sojurn As with most British writers, his enjoyable reading. The book features Sieve McDonagh. Brandon Books. Adams' first appearances on Gay with contributions from while endearingly exhibiting his ignorance of Ireland and history shows, contributions ranging from William Byrne's hue Ixiie Show - important Ruai'ri 6 Domhnaill reviews News at Paul Stewart. Peter Shirlow, LH.99 pbk and it surely weakened his defence of Makepiece I hackery to Gerry Adams. moments in developing southern affection for people. Denis 0*Heam with Sam Porter and Alan Harpur. Throat Lake by Lawrence Donegan, 'travellers'. I Equally diverse and enjoyable is attitudes. Uncharacteristically, the magnan- tlto Ian Shuttle-worth, Alan Finkyson, Colin Coulter, Viking, £15.99 hbk Further, the 'Sweenys' did not face The Ireland Anthology edited h\ THIS IS the fascinating story ol Steve McDonagh fought legal battles with imity founders on the Daniel O'Donnell Jim Smyth, Alan Bairnw and Linda Connolly, phenomenon - perhaps influenced by his the O'Donnells and the O'Neills at \S IS usual >ii ilns time of vcar. there is 1 compiling the Irish Times Book of Sc.in Dunne which is now available u. NK'Donagh. lounder of Brandon Books, the British government and RTE over plus the usual full quota of reviews. HAVING SEEN a Guardian preview, I own less than distinguished career in Farsetmoor: Gaelic chieftainships cannot i .,„,, Kinks a'med at the gilt , the Century null \ Macmillan. L'25 payback from Gill & Macmillan priced publisher ol Gerry Adams' ! political censorship and is scathing on k be inherited through the operation of £12.99 ind Ireland in Quotes: a itiitobiogiaphy and political writings. j the self-censorship of the southern Irish feared that reading the book would be 'pop' music, as bassist with Lloyd Cole Available NOW iii.nkcl Mlhou.'h ion titans to iiiciilinn libk ) is I" Iv commended. This sii|X'rhl\ primogeniture. 1 Alice lavlor's To Si hool Ihrougli the | media m the 1970s and '80s. when lie like watching the edited highlights of a and the Commotions. ihcin .ill I,. .iu loin v.Inch reailei- illuMiakil i • ilk\ lion IIOIII the history of the 20th century In T soccer match followed by the boring Worse still, Donegan appears to have £ 7.00 from CSEy 25 HontU Road. London, \ 5 1X1. ( onoi i ! ( li i\ i<) linen Press. 3> hbk / , ,.' and Ilia! lale ol MIS ,mo MK , »,is one el tlk lew people n. pub'; I He concedes his love for Gaelic ,nl„l,l |„,(,.••,. iind in then .tocking f»M>..!-ii>:.\.- .•( lU lush , aahhshnienl. ninety minutes of the real thing. It wasn't football. But did he grasp why his club attended the Julie Burchill Foundation Tel/Fax: 0171 6079615 win'. • ic i nil Juitice ol I int.in pill! : >". in i kc\ cm . lion, the althoi! 'h I \ , di appointed not to sec .Milking; cl \. Itiilr.il IniiTfC^cih i nihl books sympathetic to tiorthcii - quite! delayed his registration? Was it really for WASP promotion, which cannot lll.i,.', • In in line to be the iw.'-mvii.- . nt •• \i.twil\ stunning, ( mi, .If. s quote about partition < ,m il \< lion | nationalists Via*. Aocm/Mutercani acccpted. The narrative veers from interesting because of the GAA requirement that grasp the concept of-state terrorism. next cu i i >1.. /.(»/'; limes, making it * IV '•' w i . :m • unleashing "a carnival ol reaction I lie volume in,Ikes a significant And all done by an Irish pi'ilestant. tuk *bou* jmhicrijrtiaru and back aniv-i 1 to engaging, openly acknowledging the names be translated into Gaelic? Authentic terrorists don't .wear uniforms nun ihc ."> "" -'loi \ li.sl, ol la^rjle ., I lie. >inic is undoubtedly tfiie it' indliiVd al