• T is because the Connolly Associ- i ation was founded at a meeting in the Engineers'' Hall, Bloomsbury exactly forty years ago on Septem- ber 4th, 1938. To have kept going all that time and kept a paper going month by LET THEM GO month is not a bad record for any association. TO IRELAND One thing we can claim. The Headers of the Connolly Association CPEAKING in Hyde Park on have more experience In handling the complexities of what lit called the "Irish question" than any other Association speakereurtttj . committee in England. GWrernment should reootntse tM isnt that Just one of the reasons nw. who are In prison ae a n«tt why you, who aiw. reading this of politically motivated offences as paper, shoufct decide to to«Boin* • a special ^ . member and so make. t*s oelotorat^ a bit more? 1*m was not We want the Irish •rganised in the right they can act as a powerful poHUeal O FIAICH. CathoUc Primate^of Ireland, has called on the British Lobby In this oountry as- tjngr to do something abottt the appalling conditions of republican prisoners fa In the U.S.A. .» antftHere / ii I'tii.'Wiwy^il mini There are nearly 3,000 prison- the Holy See at the situation "The prisoners' cell* ojrd wftiwut ers in JWorttoecn Ireland today, which has arisen in the prison ^ chaii* or laMes. They sleep on MANY $&s must beacause^oi grave " .'- anxiety to ^ spirttLl iSder * ' L SHOCKED ^ caws I noticed M^Mfe*; jfr* CONSIDERING all the other ap- Nearfy 2fl0 frolhSe Archdiocese "Having ^^ the-l^-oC Sun- no - peals we have beenputttng out, gf S^wS 4ay In. the pr^on I was shocked at » * the Irish Democrat support {void „t, has held up reasonably wflfc W6 JV^ze^lft^^at m ~ . in H-blocks 3, « aiul «Ci T»E editorial St fe*>' Mirror" - -ffl^fiMfoij called for English troops j counties, shows ci (4 public opinion in "tMe -. try. . |j it is a sign that Goviftnimeni policy has «s well i; At the santg editorial shows says that the must decide to live united: leave it to the***., But that <«; Britain S Now things t>ut to let ..-.-•I.- ... imtiM: M^mmm^ I THE IRISH DEMOCRAT September 1978 September 1*7* THE HUSH DEMOCRAT ALL IS NOT WELL IN DUBLIN CATCHING OUR A sober black shawl hides her femaie > and represent TRAM UNIONISM IN IRELAND body entirely one-third of those emplo; Touched by the sun and the salt IT HE Irish trade union movement spray of the sea, has a proud heritage of work- Problems, present and future The Trades Councils which have And safe in the darkness her ing-class struggle dating back to gone from strength to strength in (Noted Dublin Architect) the 18th century. Not surprisingly, slim hand so lovely recent years, have a vital role to ;r,e development of the movement Carries a rich bunch of red as seen by play in this regard. Greater efforts the qualifying Leaving Certificate, is inextricably bound up with the roses for me. at organising must be made, parti- essential for all white-collar posts .political life of the country and in cularly among women workers. and many trades. This compares particular with the fight < for na- Changes in technology and infla- with around 35 per cent from iitaial independence. better circumstanced areas (edu- tion have hit many of the smaller The best of its leaders, men like entry and the relatively low level craft unions hard and reduced their cational survey quoted in An Dail, Protestant workforce which was the February 1977) Mxhael Davitt, Jamie Hope, James of industrial development. effectiveness. Rationalisation, -al- Connolly and Jim Larkin, all recog- Much thought has been given to decisive factor will have access to ways a complicated process, Lr tivade his factory., in Twinbrook his only • 73% of people over the age of 51 nised the need to look beyond the these problems in the movement at even more difficult because of the workforce will be those BepUbhcaos living in the lower income areas immediate demands for better pay individual trade union and at Con- duplication of Irish-based an^ are living on diets that are nutri- gress ley el. Progressive policies whpsa desi«e t© wort has St431 to tish-based unions. It will require wad working conditions; to exa- be proved." tionally inadequate to some de- ejiie the nature of the society in which point the way forward have skill and leadership to otfry gree (National Prices Commission which they lived; who held control been fought for and adopted. In the South the jjpresolved n8r through the necessary rationalisa- Survery, Mar 1977) ar*d .in whose interest that control tional question remaps the main tion in a way which will strengthen The -Better Life for A!P pro- the movement without was exercised. gramme which combines economic fscUff in id^i^Tuwffiwg' ppl^jrul ail&- • 14.9 per cent of the working popu- giMl^e. Thoi^aads;.o£ trade ]xoi0r its unity. , " lation officially are unemployed and democratic demands and which This inevitably brought them into has the support of ag sections at ists, disenchanted with tftp l#tmr T ^JOKING ahead. ti»fe- TO^ist although it is known that the the political arena and into the Party, because of it« opportanteB> actual number is more than this. the working class, provides the 'f^ cpme when it is possiWe lo. dis- struggle for national independence in periodically allying itself to cuss the question <>f An official report of May 1977 m champions of working-class in- means of breaking the immediate impasse in Northern Ireland. As Right-wing Fine Gael, and because flcation inv the expects these figures to Increase, (4 terests. of its poor record on the naUoqpl iiatijin- and the chairman of the Central wett as seeking- jobs, housing, equal aUy and without And it was not in Ireland alone educational opportunity and im- question and demeeratie the most 1 Bank describes their prospects as t^m to FiawMk Faji o&m Wt "chilling". In terms of numbers that the influence of Irish labour proved social welfare services, it Irish politics leaders was felt. Forced emigration demands "the right to live free though It is iHdnStSEifilfy Strong and this probably means about 50,060 indee^-mlfitMit, M- j^stitte record unemployed adults Mid their and deportation spread the spirit frow vtoleaee, sectarianism, intimi- trade, union mosemeot to. jjerfom noutical aU«siance. families in Dublin. And in case c! rebellion and intolerance of d^m and jdiKfuoiiMliioB'' and "the will stow, tWs strengtti te not te- polittcai ta§)fs, wWle H»oi1ng. the eicial injustice far sod. wide, to right to associate freely and to flectee- in the pohttcal arena where need for political Dotfer. one thinks they have a cushy time it is very wesk and di»Wed A an official statement from the Britain, the U.S.A., and Ausfcralia. advocate political change by peace- v restraint, .in the for^R natipiud pphttoalartfta. ful means." cloeter examination will show the wage agreements or Social Contract, Director of the National Social reason® why this is so. • divergent views Service Council in January 1977 The British trade urtfon may^ is seen as tte^ means fer acWertog question, but ; K * •( • THE IRISH DEMOCRAT September 1978 September 1978 v THE IRISH DEMOCRAT IKIMR BREAKING THE LINK DUBLIN IN THE DOp#OUR THERE has been some 'alk in When exchange rates between won't commit themselves to proved a miserable damp-squib W FIGHT FOR THE LANGUAGE Ireland of breaking the link currencies are fixed it means anything until after the general afterwards. But Mr Colley's brave words T \UBLIN seems like the continent TT is very fashionable nowa- with sterling since the I'remen internal national economic poli- election, for the scheme is an- ment. But the movement itself, suf- these days, there is so much days to speak of the "fail- meeting of EEC heads of gov- cies must be tailored to keep other giant step in the direction about "breaking the link" show fering from institutionalisation, failed French and German and Spanish ure" of the attempt to restore by ernment in July. That v as the them that way. Interest rates, of a European superstate and Ireland balancing for a moment to establish itself as a political force. and Dutch to be heard as you casu- the Irish language. While it is From the ending of the "economic meeting at which Germary pro- investment rates and rates of Mr Callaghan does not want to between two of the big rivals in alty walk along. A fei'S 6 THE IRISH DEMOi September 1978 Jlte&Aaye foam the faundei A Y I offer my heartiest fraternal congratula- Jl/U&&ag& ptam Sean Jtedmend M tions to the Connolly Club on its 40 years sations without any regard meetings, with a lecture anniversary. Congratulations in particular to I REMEMBER one Sun- water, got new heart and day afternoon in Hyde for the effort needed to and the arguing out of started similar campaigns Desmond Greaves and to his Executive both for Park, after having done keep (hem going. Conse- ideas, resulted in political themselves. their endurance in all the years and for the continued my stint on the Connolly quently, Irish history is unity. Apart from the progress also of " Irish Democrat." These two Association platform, over- littered with organisations short - lived u Itra - Leftist The Connolly Association which sprang up like dispute of the late 1950s, achievements are among the highest of all that hearing a remark of a started the civil rights member- of the audience. mushrooms, only to vanish the Association has been movement, a statement Irish and English workers have done together as almost as quickly, or else remarkably fre« of splits. HE "Irish Democrat" sends greetings to all the members of the Connolli 'ation whose will and At this time it was not which can be proved. We comrades. unusual to have two or they are kept going by a This did not happen be- can regret the stupid mis- Long may the work continue for essentially it T determination has kept an Irish organisation going continuously for fori in a foreign country. three Irish meetings in the couple of lads holding an cause dissidents were sup- takes of others, which annual meeting once a is positive work and positive endeavour with an Park. Looking over at the pressed, but because there side-tracked the movement whose donations have enabled year, and in between times has been constant political aim—the unity of the Irish and British democracy We particularly congratulate those who other meetings, and then and led to the failure to •A pointing at the Associa- commenting on everything education. achieve all that could have towards the common aim of social and national have disseminated its views by giving up going. tion, he remarked to his under the sun in the news- been got. Nevertheless, paper. independence for all the people, Irish, English, their free time to sell the "Irish Democrat" friend: "Well, at least you there is no going back to Scottish and Welsh and should we not welcome to- and distribute the Association's publica- A special word of appreciat know what this lot stands IN a history of forty the .bad old days of the day the signs of perhaps great new developments in for!" It was a backhanded The Connolly Association years, can one pick out Tory-Unionist domination due to the many trade unionist has never been a "press these aims from the gains to be made in the future tions. compliment, but a compli- a greatest or most signifi- of the six counties, and the bers of working class politico ment nonetheless. Know- statement organisation". It cant achievement ? If I Association started the in Wales and Scotland, and, who knows, in Ireland We thank the many friends and well- only needs one man with tions who have backed up thi ing what it stands for has could presume to try, I ball rolling. also. perhaps been the major a typewriter to issue' a would suggest the launch- wishers who have bought the paper and press statement, but a As one of the founders of the Club with Tommy shown that therg are Englishml factor in the survival of ing of the campaign to dozen men and women focus attention on the I was privileged to have Ahearn, Chris O'Farrell, Sean Mulgrew and one of rise superior to imperial prejj the Association for forty holding a poster parade in been the Association's gen- years. abuses in the six counties, the very first editors of Irish Freedom may I wish support the freedom struggle Oxford Street, while more which commenced with eral secretary for nine you all success for the next 40 years and may the difficult to organise, in the the Malion and Talbot years, eight of them in a same basic aims of united work between all workers nations. Forty years is a remark- long run is more valuable trial in 1958, or was it full-time capacity. The ex- perience was invaluable, in Britain, and all the workers of whatever land able achievement. We Irish as it represents action. 1959? Other campaigns have a few faults (we'd and the friendships made continue. The widespread support can at la grips 1939: Sean Mulgrew were waged, interest and better admit it) and one support came from trade long lasting. So my greet- In trade union work, in working class political that exists is shown by the with the in a just back from Spain. The Association's policy ings to the Association on of them is starting organi- of continuous political unions in Britain and parties, in all community work for the people, the messages on this page. sound poty r. Labour M.P.s and people its 40th birthday are very education has also been personal. To all the mem- Irish can carry on the great traditions of men like But the past forty years an important aspect of its in the North, seeing'this has no more than laid the This is { JOIN new movement across the bers I send my congratu- Davitt (whose centenary with the Land League work. The weekly branch tions. takes place this year), of O'Connor, of Bronterre basis for a movement. We the Conn ation. O'Brien and the thousands of Irish who heloed to ask our friends will they This is th ild it build the British working class movement. That is not now start a network up. There I way Greetings from Greetings from one thing that has never been permanently broken of Connolly Association forward, g of Greetings from Irish —the unity between the Union Congress North and branches throughout the British I Camden Trades EALING 15 EE TOTTENHAM jeountay s$ that somebody cause. South and the unitv of both with the British Trade _ Council A.U.E.W. Union Congress. The Jinks are weak but the* are A ; v.' •V. - ill there to be strengthened and who better to be the iSuBk < instruments of new strength than the Irish workers who live and work in Britain. Might I be permitted GUJOHt^pLl. MocAMHLAJGH to say that 1 think the prime task today is peace and REDMOND unity between^ the Northern workers. Accord in FAD SAOIL AR AM 1962 ON THf SUMMIT OF CAVE HILL. social action is the way forward. POLITICAL COI (London Region) "DAONLATHAC H" MICHAEL MclNERNEY 313 CALEDONIAN ROAD 'SENDS GREETINC The London Region of the National LIBERATION LONDON, N1 Graphical Association extends its to the These sent their Personal Gre (Formerly the M&-P.) Congratulations to the Connolly GDEETS THE C A. on it* 40th ANNIVERSARY "THE following members Peter J. Woplin, Kate Woplin, 1 A.5.T.M.S. No. 15 Divisional WE ARE WITH YOU FOR. IRELAND. CONNOLLY .ASS0CI> Association on the, completion of and friends feye John Robinson (Hew York Council . Vf -yiffi, "1 ••{ -i; i.j... on its 40 years7 service to tffe I rish workers that lhair name City), Leona Robinson (New las TUty, published as set York City), J. P. O'Connor, Rossiter, congratulates the CONNOLLY ASSOCIATION in Britain and to the Labour move- personal greeting! to the Joseph Farrell, Bernard Mur- ACTON UCAfT FORTIETH ANNIVEF Stephens? Greetings from Connolly Association on the phy, Margaret Byrne (Glas- Gw«i its FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY congratulates the Connolly ment in general. occasion of iti : emerald Association on its fortieth JIM LAYZElj n) gow), Charles By^ne (Glas- Douglas jubilee J— A.U.E.W. anniversary. ALF LOMASI gow), David MacLdughlin, Brenda Your untiring work to bring John Hoatettler, George D. We also congratulate the "Irish Mr Liarh O'Neiil. Mrs Sio- T.I. Gas Spares Shop jkbont an tni to the subjection Kelleher flnniscarra, C. Cork, , Greetings from Greetings from of N. Ireland is a credit to the bhan O'Neill, A. L. Morton, Democrat" for sustaining 40 years formerly London),James Cos- Stewards Trade Union and Working- U VivienL Morton, John G. MANCHfSTER class Movement. grave, Philip Rendle, Noel SUNDERLAND GREETINGS fron of publication and express our hope Breese (Plead Cymru), Sean Neasden, NW10. Moynihan, Jane Tate, Andy CONNOLLY TRADES Mac Crwth (PortmMth), Mr and confidence for its future suc- Barr -Hl&ty, ^Wil- ASSOCIATION Convener: H. TALMAN A^fcfW. ; . T.A.! Chris O'Sitllivan,: Mra Pegeen COUNCIL cess. liam. Mclnally, Johanna Mc- Greetings from O'Sullivan, Mrs Maple Dono- Executive Commit van, S. F. Htiggett, Tadg Inally, Jim Doyle, David Mac- 75.^oaiLajti** • Loughlin, John McLaughlin, U.&AXT. i • if' i f • vr< Egan, R. MtdhMland fNcilrn), Greetings from M Mi <:•• * Mr Left Fotmby, tiff* Wendy Peter McLough tin, Michael IRISH SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT HARROW Murphy, Kay' Murphy, Hea- DUBLIN Greetings from —*> i - 'Formjby,Brian WUkinson, NEWCASTLE • John - Hoffman (Leicester), ther Robson, Billy Lenehati, CONNOMiY Sends Best Wishes for Connolly U.C.A.T.T. •)- Colm Power-(Limerick), Des- May Malone, John Attfleld, NHh Jerry O'Neill, Bernard O'Con- ASSOCIATION Association's Vital Work / u, ^ mond Starrs, Hebn im Wil- liams, Patrick lBbhd, Stella nor, Josie O'Connor; Sean Greetings from Breen, John , Bud* Kathleen •'.'wiltei' si ..«•• • ' Bond, Michael Taylc mmmmmmm RatrnfiBir ' ^ Collins, Geraldine Collins, Padgham, ( Gloria Findley;'Charlie Find- EMERALD JUBILEE CAMPAIGN ' •• . . ... 4) V. : James McGttt Greetings from Meet old and 1 Lena tXdy •y-"T6hi Leor .' ! T'fnends'df the ; DEMOCRACY (Jarrow), Colleen Qrav./Ji FRIDAY, 29th SEPT. LAMBETH TOWN HALL, BRIXTON, SW2 "if-'!'; ' In , " - T. del Sdiillion (,* mis' ConnotOr^ jftMftlliTMp-- 1' port fund laSwwih'lMii' • Michael O'Duffy The Reel Union Sullivan Family (Kill ) Scuttton (Jarrow), E< Co*man;Elltabm fiCByftte J month, but ttilt tg because to Oliver Mulligan ! Tommy McCarthy and Family (NevMisttit);? LktM- ' MfuttdHy * many of our frlenda have con- rsary tributed to the Greetings column for the | (Austrian'Mrs €<*>& (South plus Bobby Casey, Celia Breen, Mary White at £1 -ki'^ft o fvr Wales)f Michael ^PEkMhoe So special thanks to Michael B&irier School o£$ttp Dancers, Compere: Sean V " Con"1 ion (Great Yarmouthf, -J& fivGm- i "•'-ViJ . ningham, John Gallivan, Delia Green £1:80, P. O'Shea (Roch- .•'•fin mith MT • |/IU/n lylM OTM I BmPBIIi 17/0 Giddens, .£> dale) £1, T. BSK«n £1,50, D. Licensed Bar Maclauchlin tit, A. tfsterson £6, • ii hi in 11 1 : it . •' '. -II. JI,, 1 mmmrrr* • V. to M. GeiflSn £6; total £1440. I %. i F 'i, Jl ' THE fRtSH DEMOCRAT September 1978 September 1978 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT •coumty t*emw IN THE per cent, female 39.6 per cent) of HERE is an illusion spread in time ago. Efforts to prevent fac- the corresponding unemployment by the ultra Unionists who are doing r tory closures 'of local and foreign the "Democrat" was War ; the puritan moral code which help run the local show and at the is the growth of ecumenism in re- introduction of direct rule from totals. all they can to prevent factories or founded the Catholic Church reflected itself in the activities of same time want a share In what is lation to the Protestant Churches— firms, spearheaded by the trade dwellings being built in anti- London (March 1972), that the Reading the figures put out by Elizabeth Sinclair union movement and their mem- was a power in Ireland almost on a the Censorship Board and controls going themselves. The Irish bureau- but is the latter a sign of weakness Westminster Government, through the N.I; Development of Manpower Unionist areas. A US firm which on popular entertainment. Though by cracy, which has always been espe- or of strength? bers, are most often met with re- proposes to set up a new industry jmu' with the State. Today it is still the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Services and the optimistic state- the North, never "as green as they sistance on the part of the NIO, even the puritanism was rooted in cially influential because of the have been doing, and are doing, all ments issued in the "Ulster Com- in the Dunmurry (Belfast) area is lwwerful, but is more like one of the The people of the Twenty-wx are cabbage-looking", wonder just Ministers and civil servants. The the values of a largely small-farm, small size and individual weakness that is possible to end the blighted mentary", published by the North- meeting with strong resistance from treat pressure groups such as the Counties are still' very- obviously where" these millions are going, how NI Finance Corporation is stated small-middle class society and was of Irish business, sees itself as the conditions that affect the li million ern Ireland Information Service these backwoodsmen. An NIO pro- tsade unions, the farmers or the as much related to the economic ANTHONY local administration of the Com- Catholic. The Protestant population they are being used and what bene- to have some £40 million at its posal to build 2,000 dwellings in the of the population here. (NIIS) for July-August 1978 (No. is now four per cent of the total fits, for the people, are supposed disposal to "assist" industry and to business interest. This is. fine mea- situation of these classes as to .he mon Market Superstate. Irish adver- 380) one gets the impression that same area to overcome the unbear- and it has fallen consistently over Another contention is that if the to be accruing from them. have spent, in the last financial sure of the great changes of the official teaching of the Church. tising . and the media flaunt the we are two different worlds. Mr able overcrowding in West Belfast values of the consumer society. the decades, the. main reason being -peace keeping" forces of the Bri- Added to all the above'. the people year, only some £6i million. (the original target was 4,000 homes past forty years, changes which will Don Concannon, Minister respon- of the North are not permitted to | NDEED the decline in public in- intermarriage with Oatttolies and tish Army were not present in our Some people assert that if there and whittled down because of oppo- sible for industry, tells us that "a escape the diktat of Chancellor *• ftuence of the Church hi Ire- the effect of the rule that the child- midst, the Irish would just continue were "jobs" for all, peace would sition) is meeting with fierce and ' ; i Liberal criticism of the Church great victory for all the people of Healy. in relation to wage restraint land today is in large part the re- ones For capitalism uproots rural ren of mixed marriages shonld all to keep on killing and maiming reign and the NIO Ministers state unprincipled resistance. In this and the clergy has been enfran- Northern Ireland [exists] for all or cuts in the social services. The strength of Irish Gathahcism sult of the decline of rural Ireland communities, destroys family life, be brought up Catholic. each other. that if there was peace there would area, some 35.7 per cent of males, chised. Scepticism and cynicism the people ... who want to live Average male earnings to the North hue always been that it was nation- and of the small-middle class where turns human beings into labour be surely "jobs for all". Perhaps including 45 per cent of young about religion and- the ethics and Ah sample survey of the adult pop- Needless to say, neither conten- together in peace." are, for adults, some £6 to £8 per al* close to the people in the dark having a priest or nun in the fam- units and measures the value of if we had a Sherlock Holmes at the people, are unemployed. The Cipm- moral values religion traditionally ulation, of the Twenty-sia-Countu s tion is, or ever was, correct. The headline in the "U.C." shouts week less than in Britain and the ily was regarded as both a moral everything by cash. For capitalism, head of the NIO, instead of a Roy wells of the world, as far as Ireland days of alien oppression. The upheld are quite congenial to inter- cammisioned! to* tins IHerarehv in The latest unemployment figure out: "A great place"! Of course, position is even worse for female achievement and a badge of social consume and accumulate is the Law Mason, Concannon, etc, we might is concerned, are: nbt all dead. M": * Ctetweh never accumulated great national big business today. And the itaidiA iffiW^ foiin^ttat 91 per for July 1978 shows that the total Concannon was speaking to US in- workers. status. In the 1950s, for example, and the Prophets, as Marx said. be able to solve the problem? r landed property which tied it to an the Church finds the reins of social oentt ofi CBtttaftBr s*»—>)il Ma.vs at unemployed, including 11,616 school dustrialists where he outlined the There are few sijgns that the BftO three-Quarters of Maynootb semin- After tang hesitation the Encycli- All, sections of the workers, "Scoops" made by the Ministers influence slipping from nerveless least once weekly. Bttoet in God leavers, had reached the astrono- "advantages" which are to be had (or British Government) is willing * aristocratic easte, Is it did in arists were either from the country- cals of John 23 and Paul € are now manual and professional, are at- promise jobs in the 1980s and, in fingers as a consequence. was stated by » per eent of the mical figure of 73,324 (13.4 per for the "giants" of the capitalist to come to grips with the Bhiope's Latin countries. After Ire- side or from villages and small turning the Church towards a social- tempting to stem this "daylight the meantime, the figures of those population and ksss than one half cent) and of that total some 14.8 world willing to take all the "risks" needs of the area or to "grasp ffefc land Communist Poland is pro- towns of less. than. 1.000 population. ist form, of society as being more robbery" and also prevent the without jobs go up months by There is no doubt that the Church at aom per eent fully rejected such of males were out of work and 11.4 and the unheard-of handouts of nettle" of the. sectarian .forces^ The hierarchy shared a similar likely than capitalism to sustain the closure of factories which has be- without jobs go up month by bably the most Catholic nation in is disquiet at these trends in Irish a feelief. M> least 40 per cent of per cent of females. .The number public cash if they were only usually referred to as the majority background. Those two vogue oon- traditional human values which the come more or less "normal" in the British Government to give the Bttrepe—and for very much the society, but ft has lost its old hold Irislt people go to eeitfession of unemployed had increased, since willing to come across. Mr Sam (sic)—that continue to hold back ft < cepts of the sociologists—industrial Church has championed over the North. Two of the world's biggest military brasshai® permission to re- gmae historical reasons- and is powerless to regain it Like monthly axtd 96 per eent «o at least June, by 8,666 and 4,642 since July Fox, head of the Synthetic Indus- the work of the trade unions and isation and urbanisation — have centuries. tankers are "tied up" at the Bel- cruit another 4,000 British Army all deohnes there has been no sud- twice yearly. AC the same time one- 1977. The number of school leavers tries of St Louis, is reported as the natural desire of the peojflf * since then affertied both public atti- fast .shipyard because the "owners" units (6,000' in' all this year) may den break, except that something sixth at those fninpUd said; that had increased over the previous declaring that Northern Ireland is work, homes, peace and progress. It is quite false t«- eagsest, as tudes and recruitment to the L>UT Ireland has been exposed to will neither claim the^i nor pay any help to bring .down the li million r which once seemed all-powerflil has they had difficulty wittrthe Church's month by 5,244 and there was a a great place to be in business. We do not need an additional 2.00* the two-nations" peopiR that Church. The Irish Church has also ^ the domination of international form of compenaatib^ Jor the cost total of unemployment in Britain become almost politically irrelevant. moral teaching, especially on birth small decrease of 211 over the pre- (But not for the over 73,000 job- British Army units. We requiretha t .. tftr Catholic Church deane* the been affected by changes in the capitalism in a very thorough way of production and materials used. but will do »ttle, other thss create The Church is powerless to counter control, and one-^«th expressed vious year. less). the Better pfe Jor Alt proferaume Bartitionof Ireland so as to- be able Church internationally, as Catho- over the past two decades. The The^'Betfast..to more unrest in tl& tfortii. Some of the trade unions-will be adopted, men who run the Multinational what happening.. Only a power- doubts about doctrine, especially the The figures did not include the The "U.C." give$. information alleged to have wott"a."v«t" order - t* dominate public opinion in The licism sought to adapt to the late ful. Labour movement, republican 2,000 units are destined for use ii) along with a Bill of Rights for the Companies, the big businessmen truth of immortality and eternity. 6.930 adult students who were regis- about the millions of pounds ster- through an EESC-US* consortium but Northern Ireland and 2,000 for the awrwhelmingly CftthtfUft- Sbath. 20th century world through the in outlook, oriented; towards social- North which, .f* so adopted JM- Second Vatican Council and its who rush about the Common Mar- tered during the vacation, the -397 ling said to being poured into the the workers concerned, have still to Rhineland (NATO forces). implemented, would go far totfards "She Catholic Church was adamant- ket, oould not give a fig for the ism and able and' willing to seek But the survey showed clear dan- workers temporarily stopped, nor North to "assist" industrial and win justified wage' demands sub- aftermath. support in the socialist world* could ger signs for the Church. At least The incidence of unemployment is realising those natural and heli^' if-opposed to Partition in tfar B2fis, values of a traditional small capi- the thousands of married women other development. The people of mitted to the; management a long further increased by the efforts of &ry desires. talist and: rurally oriented society reverse what is objectionable in five per cent of Irish Catholics have not entitled to unemployment bene- though it must have been aware Inste seminarians numbered suoh m the Twenty«ic County these trends. Which is perhaps why stopped practising religion alto- fit or those who would take up that m a united Iretend, with -one- 3,40ft- in WC, when Vatican 2 State' very largely was until the the old clerical animus against com- gether and another 10 per cent may employment if it was available. fparter of. its population Protestant, opened. Today they number only 19C0s. indeed they tend to regard munism and the Left has now all be regarded as marginal believers. Of the above total 73,324 are INTERNMENT WORLD PEACE the. Church could never ,wi»ld- the 1,500." There has also been a fall in such values with hostility, for they but disappeared in Ireland. The main worry is that these are under 20 years of age. These figures from Page Three m the intellectual standard of such fttfbience on Irish, social .hfe.wfajch interfere with the sacred business concentrated among the young. represent 29.2 per cent (males 23.9 NecT students. The brightest children of STILL GOES ON when those women. of the Falls ia- fact it did wield from, the 1920s. of mailing money, of moving capital rpHE Church adapts of course, as shook hands, we were told, "with the Irish middle-classes and small- Father Austin Flannery estimates and ShankiU Roads met with fear t» the 1950s. and labour to where it will give the * it has always adapted. Changes NTEftNMENT has been abolished tears in their eyes." Then they came m id die class no longer tend to be that one-quarter of men and one- in their eyes—and embraced; That biggest return, of knocking down are made. There is the vernacular home and sent their rival • Volun- attracted to the Church. There are eightti #J#omen between ISfand 30 the six counties. So at any Peace -movfement: unttr.bOft^^to1. as JAMES Without Partition both liberalwn national frontiers and suborning Mass, a more permissive attitude to, Zi rateare told. ;' ..;i teers; who had been confr^Stihg • too many other careers to send the 4 do not practise. He thinks that, un- deep-seatedenM>tttmBsafr«a^ state sovereignty with the aim of Questions of sexual morality, the from Page OfcT ^ 'A' With its roots in the Prdtestaat tra- bright ones for. like in tihe past, these young people it about the case Of 19- in the humwi heaj^sNow it seems getting 4v««yei»fto ?>k tl - 12 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT September 1978 SHORT MTOR1T h •I • § i THE XTTITH the possible exception of feet feeling for the air. Some- possible my mother called him) or course, in Padjoe O Keefe's and MacAMHLAICH * * the Tinker Counihans who times they harmonised, coming in maybe to Blessed Martin de Par- Lar arrived homfe paralytic. There had somehow managed to get the with firsts, seconds and thirds as res who was all the rage among was no provision for either cars or house opposite them the Butlers they had been taught to do at the women at the time. Our own horses in Plunkett Street but there were the poorest family in our school and it was beautiful in a Irish saints held no appeal at all was a small strip of garden at the W street. All through the Emergency sad kind of way to listen to their for my mother and she could back of each house and every even- the father was away in the army little concerts. The Butlers sang never feel at home with them in ing to the delight of all the neigh- roistering and business go ill to- but his private soldier's allowance most nights, especially when Lar the way that she did with the Little bours Lar unyoked the horse and gether Lar's venture won began to never met their needs and it was was home on leave, and they sang Flower, Saint Philomena or St led it through the house to the run out of steam; Scratch Finne- common knowledge that they were nights when they hadn't a crust Francis of Assisi. "They're cold sparse grazing behind. This quickly gan and Lar fSSiior ilarting work and distant, somehow," she'd com- assumed the nature of a ritual later ih the mornings and from that }• * often hungry. There must have of bread in the house. £ N been about eight of the Butlers in plain in an aggrieved tone of voice with all the neighbours coming to they progressed to taking a day or all ranging downwards from Cissie, Y mother, a widow woman who as though she blamed them for their doors to look on and the two oM at a time, coming home in a skinny sixteen-year old with a M had long ceased to expect lacking the warm familiarity of young Butlers swarming about Lar the afternoon gloriously drunk. face that held the promise of much out of life suffered a great their French and Italian counter- and the horse, basking ih the pride "God forgive me hut that's an beauty to a grubby little toddler deal on the Butler's account. She parts. of ownership. awful eejlt of a.mad entirely, my helped them out all she could whom they all doted on, fussing But Mag Butler was light years mother would observe at each new though God knows that was little "God knows but wouldn't you over him constantly and carrying away from all this and far from example of Lar Butter's folly. him about with a proprietary air enough — a pair of shoes beyond think the street is bad enough and "Look at the chance he got, a undertaking the Nine Fridays not to go turning it into a right ••> as if to proclaim that whatever mending) the loan of a shilling hundred pounds Into his hand — he No-vena or whichever devotion it circus?" my mother remarked, else they lacked, here in the per- now and again, a pinch of tea or was that my mother had urged on could be "sitting in comfort if he son of their runny-nosed Shamie sugar or a half-loaf of bread affronted at the sight of the horse's had e'er a bit of Wisdom at all her she sometimes missed Mass on rump d|nppearing into the house they had riches indeed. being about all she could manage. Sundays — a sin of omission But i&f-it away below in She had all four of us at school next door. In later. times and in O Keefe's! God help us, the poor Mrs Butler was a mousy little which gravely worried my mother. at the time and it was a struggle posher council estates there would will never have anything." woman with a bemused and help- It troubled my mother to think to keep us fed and dressed in even have been outraged complaints and less air. She left most of the that God might take Mrs Butler My mother never had much time a middling fashion. To help out letter to the Corporation but the housework (such as it was!) and in a state of mortal sin and that for Lar Butler nor could she bring my mother took in a bit of sewing people of Plunkett Street had the the running of all the messages to .the poor woman could be in hell toleration of true charity and Lar herself to try to advise him but she and knitting and in the morninfls Cissie, believing perhaps that in for all eternity; she was too diplo- was allowed to pursue his business did make an effort to get Mag to she went cleaning for the wives of presenting Lar Butler With a new matic to say this outright, of unhindered. see where all the wild spending was eon or daughter every twelve doctors and business people up on course, but she tried to convey the leading them. She might have months or so she more than justi- the Ormonde Avenue. danger to Mag by means of some Lar bought some fallen trees saved her sweet breath, though, for fied her existence. Lar, a fond if The only bit of outing she had — hair-raising stories the origins of from a fanner a mile or two be- Mag didht " seem to think they improvident husband, came home if you could describe it as such — which I could never determine. yond the town and soon he became could ever see a poor day again and on a weekend pass as often as he was the women's confraternity and What Mag Butter thought of this a familiar sight hawking chopped she Just let my mother talk on, could and if Mag Butler knew he the evening devotions. All through concern for her spiritual welfare blocks round, the streets. At first puffing .-away at her Was coming she would send Cissie the long winter ptghts she'd" sit at WW beyond my imagining. And he worked on his own — and wor- Woodbine her con- or one of the bigger boys to meet the ugly kitchen range sewing or then With the demobilisation of ked hard, too, to give him credit cUiating smili him off the Klldare bus. This was knitting in the bleak glare of the thfe army at the end # the Emer- — but then someone put it to him * "you mar not as any mark of filial respect electric bulb, - stopping only to gency Period Lar Bu®fer( like a that he should have a helper and be hack good many more, came hack home hat for fear that Lar would be listen now and then for a sound the next thfag(Vwe kngw Scratch- win*" joy waylaid bythe •croungers who held from the bedroom upstairs where with a nice fat gratuity, something Finnegan was werywhere with La^ to get oi ))p the corner of . the town square Nuala and'.'Berate slept, or to com- in the region til a hundred pounds leading'' the^ljfcgpr All day and get dragged into some- ment op the Butlers' singing. We Which was a place like Padjoe O Keefe's or tg* had .no wireless then and for lays or so it" V ab«wonk - B«. l*r am Have v Jjfce sJtence of the the money •--tfi? ttv, been leffr to mZmmNV&r pen no proof of the culm balls casional and hewpgjjl every .ting behind the bars of ¥ goat penny, of pay on the The singing next door over- him le my mother feel even me tarn him f orthe _ Sot the Butlers and she house with man he was. Lar was quite wmjld i^iip to the Sacred Heart books Lar; ffllterate but in spite of thishandi- picture ahove the range and mur- deference cap hehad enormous respect for mur, O mfrha. God help the poor peojfc dol his own Judgement and Jf anyone mfefortunaila of this world, in a think haa -had troubled,to offer Mm good ad- kind of controlled anguish. It •>•. vice it would only have been met. But on Wednesdays when the Pat!**- .with that slow, maddening smile army cheque came through ,the studyfav Of his, a compound of chJWteh oun- post the Butlers-had a respite from a woeful ning and ilfcceewallignorance. _., want.'; Cissie wouW be dispatched there, so Andso unless he was chaperoned to the shop to return panting much by Oissie dr one of the lads Lar with exertion and excitement, " her button-] tag roe* was sure to fall a prey to the frayed straw bag bulging with kind of cerperboys and arrive homota a groceries, and the t younger ones he condition to share his would be ia.^od.outfOt the house -gUBMWBg thick cuts of bread and as soon privation untJUw" went J J kis- jam or sucking glassy lollipops "I w»gm- in the on Mo»d& **ning. wouldn't,' "tefwfc&ld come into my mother t If the Butlers financier, with the grain of tea or the shil- they wpfe also to work ling she'd borrowed, puffing hap- the happtest. I don't think there money. pily on a Woodbine from the can ^ W^doubt at all about What's' 1 packet Of five she kept dawn the HjWt Theirs War the one • house money neok of her greasy Jumper, her *jfdn never heard an angrt voice when I rather wizened features .wreathed raised ta.orthe wall of'» child me? in A vacuous smile. ' And perhaps toeing punished. '.! kn6» they were And it wouldn't have made much differ- shre ence If the army allowance had been bigger or her husband less ingly.s # of a tool, for Mag Butler was a so bad manager, and wasteful, as my mower n orten remarked. tJT there was something which trcptfcd mjr, mother about 90Htr much moi« than her " m ««»gem«nt about her K'Tyrr;; %» twrnm-iun mm** L&j in '? 1' WQ M 1 foi in w ot a f gravel. Again- hrutenl 41 -raiee. HwArh if sh< w SSfS so«SStai tedu ; Wasn't riiti•sr- <*v:?. ii ayet. •• .. v-: . . , , v' yjtAi flfc-W Jmm
LET THEM GO to IRELAND ^SS^Tii^SS^^Fiknttto^ Ssstiss^SSE
