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I I I I I I I I I I I fx> I I • I • I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I pp4-5 How Britain can prepare to leave Ireland: the dangers and the opportunities of the Brooke talks I I I I I, • I I I I I I I I I I • I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I • • • • I *
Founded 1939 t No 574 Connolly Association: campaigning for a united and independent Ireland June 1991 Price 40p
occur again and have since. The case of Judith Ward, wrongfully convicted for the M62 coach bombing of 1974, probably demands the most urgent attention but there are many more such injustices and they are by no means restricted to Irish cases. Many will view the gov- ernment's establishment of a Royal Commission, to in- vestigate reform of the legal system, with some cynicism. Its recommenda- tions will not be announced for another two years. Nevertheless, it provides gome opportunities to draw attention to the sys- AGAIN: Root and branchreform o f the Judicial system Is required to ensure I I are no mora Birmingham Sixes, barrister Mike Mansfield (second fromright) tol d s Camden Trades Council meeting attended by some
1 NEWS
NEWS Spanish EDITORIAL veterans How to avoid the hung parliament nightmare scenario remembered Irish unity and
THIRTEEN International Brigaders from the Spanish Civil War joined the big lie Irish trade unionists in a May Day event to commemorate their 60 Irish colleagues who died fighting H • M SP FJ fascism in the 1930s. The veterans, some wearing the black berets worn in Spain, came from Ireland, Britain, the US, HE NAZIS believed that if a lie is told often enough it ABOUR must put Irish unity unity into a radically different con- tain to ensure it was not passed. And Spain, Cyprus and France for the becomes accepted as the truth, a principle adopted by the on the agenda of the talks text. things were likely to change in con- occasion, organised by the Dublin Trevisionists in the debate about Irish re-unification. Put- about a future British-Irish The Unionists were clearly struction, union UCATT with the Trades Council. ting aside the question about how re-unification can be agreement-iftheinitiativeis playing for time, David Granvillear- successful election of left candidates Dublin's Lord Mayor unveiled a achieved, they simply argue that it should not be because, ap- I still alive by the time the gued: they were intent on stringing to the union's executive. bronze memorial plaque at the en- parently, the Irish people do not want it. Partition has been ac- party gains office. out the process as long as possible in Activity in the branches con- trance to Liberty Hall after veteran cepted as permanent by majorities north and south of the That is the only basis on which it the hope of having a casting vote in tinues to develop. Sheffield Maurice Levitas read out the roll of border. The cause of the conflict is die refusal of a nationalist can hope to secure a strong vote a hung parliament. combined its social for the 75th an- honour of the dead. minority to accept this view. By extension, anyone who ar- from the Irish community, and help The EC agreed to encourage the niversary of Connolly's execution Left to right: Dave Goodman (Bri- gues for re-unification is legitimising violence. avoid the nightmare of a hung par- Irish in Britain to vote for the cam& with the local Birmingham Six cam- tain, captured with Frank Ryan), Evidence to support this theory is non-existent The Irish liament, the Connolly, Association date with the best Irish policy - paign's celebration of the men's Maurice Levitas (bom in Dublin), people overwhelmingly rejected partition the last time they executive council agreed last month. which in the majority of cases, but freedom in a politically-successful Bill van Felix (US), Michael O'RIor- were allowed to vote about it and opinion polls have consist- Casting a sceptical eye on the pro- not all, would probably mean the event at which Billy Ptower spoke, dan (Dublin), Eilis Ryan (sister of ently shown majorities for re-unification. gress made by Northern Secretary Labour candidate. Anthony Coughlan's lecture aweek Frank), Bob Doyle (London, cap- But the revisionists argue that the people were misled in the Peter Brooke in his attempt to build Progress was reported on the later was well attended, and plan- tured with Frank Ryan), Joe Don- past by the likes of Connolly, Pearse and Tone. Partition was the Unionists into Hillsborough trade union front, and following cir- ning for an autumn series already nelly (brother of Charlie), John underway. Glasgow sold £20 worth inevitable. The Catholic community's opposition to it kept Mark II, the executive agreed there culation of the CA's Taylor (at back: Czech, living in ground-breaking trade union infor- of literature on Mayday, despite Britain), Julius Margolin (New York them out of politics in the first two decades of the Northern were dangers as well as oppor- tunities inherent in the process. mation pack, the executive agreed to being refused a stall by the organi- Spanish War Support Committee), Ireland state. If they had not been nationalist the Unionists There was the opportunity to get the affiliations of the following trade sers. After the success of its recent unnamed woman. would not have discriminated against them, disenfranchised Irish unity on the agenda, but na- councils: Aberdeen, Cannock, Winter lectures* Liverpool is orga- them and coerced them. tional organiser Conor Foley Hyndburn, Leeds, Midlothian, nising another series already and Historically this is rubbish: it was Unionist misgovernment pointed out there was the danger Southend, York. will be sending a party to the De- which republicanised the northern minority not vice-versa, that Dublin might seek to abandon .Reviewing the trade union con- smond Greaves Memorial School in but the revisionists go on to argue that the best thing the Irish Articles II and III of the Irish con- ferences, Conor Foley reported that August. Nottingham sold £50 worth government can now do for northern nationalists is to aban- stitution in return for Stormont journalists NUJ had passed a resolu- of literature at Chesterfield's May- don them. Not only should Articles Two and Three of the con- government. tion, amended and somewhat day celebrations, and Northampton stitution go, one recently argued, the aspiration to Irish unity New life had been breathed into weakened as a result by the Irish sold £100 worth of books at a twor should also be ditched. the revisionist campaign against the Council of the union, in support of day community event. The Four Opinion polls show this would be electoral suicide. In the constitutional claim to a unitary Irish unity. Manufacturing union Provinces stall at the Greenwich Irish festival sold £600 worth of lit- last one 82 per cent of people in the 26 counties supported a state, Foley said: an article in the MSF had a number of motions on the Belfast magazine Fortnight had ahis- agenda, but the best was unlikely to erature. united Ireland. torically argued that if Northern be passed because of its call for affil- • The CA is to bring Protestant re- Which . ... vvrtikiSs- THE BROOKE TALKS THE BROOKE TALKS BEHIND THE HYPE A new agenda for Britiih Constitution • i. • • ,-w.i i m§ • . if* T IS "perfidious Albion" that is behind the Unionist clamour over the Republic's constitutional claim to a There are dangers United Ireland, informed people now believe. This means that what Britain really is after in the Brooke and there are talks is to tie the Twenty-Six Counties closer to the IUK. "Integration within integration" is Britain's policy. In "The whole thrust of the guarantee is that it Is a sectarian guarantee, a unilateral guarantee and an opportunities unconditional guarantee, it is a guarantee of perpetualsectarianlsm. When the state came into being it return for any shift on the North they want a special Brit- was setup on the basis of a sectarian headcount. That havingbeen done, the British Government then ish say in running the South inside the EEC. said, We guarantee you can stay with us as long as the majoritywant to.' By doing that they trapped British policy-makers are saying that if Dublin can inherent in the the unlonlstpopulation Into perpetual sectarianism, beoauae in effect what they were saying is, 'In order make representations to Britain about what is going on in to maiittalnyour power and your privilege you must behave as asectarlan bloc.' And that's exactly how the Six Counties - through the Maryfield secretariat under process of talks unionism ttasbehaved. No other people In the same circumstances wouldbehave any differently. the Hillsborough Agreement - London should be enabled to interfere similarly in the Twenty-Six Counties, so get- If one Is to break down sectarianism, one has toremove that guarantee. British policy should be: ting back something of what she had to give up when the about a new Thenars no guarantees for any section of this community anymore. Our policy, thereasons w e are South won its own State in 1921. here, la to promote the coming together of the people of this islandin a manner and form they can agree to.'The Brltiahshould Join the ranks of the persuaders." The British Government is co-operating with the British-Irish Unionists in orchestrating the political and media cam- • John Hume, paign that has been whipped up to pretend that the root SDLP Leader of the Northern problem is the South's claim in its Con- agreement. stitution to rightful jurisdiction over the Six Counties. "The particular structura unity which theForum would wish to see established is a unitary The idea is to put maximum pressure on Fianna Fail Taoi- ANTHONY state,achieved by , embracing the wholeisland of Ireland and providing irrevoc- seach Haughey to get him to abandon the Republic's ableguaranteesfor n of both the Unionistand Nationalist identities." claim to national and territorial unity. Unionist leaders COUGHLAN • Statement by the parties in the Republic, New Ireland Forum Report, 1984 Ken Maginnis and Chris McGimpsey have visited Dublin to discuss this with Fine Gael leader John Bruton, who re- ceived them sympathetically. The Irish Times reports that a argues democrats "There Is also the theory ofsome British politicians that the onus is on the peopleof Northern Ireland to close associate of Progressive Democrat leader and Irish work out their own solutlon.Wbat this theory ignores, however, is thst Unionists, solong as they enjoy Government Minister Des O'Malley - Trinity College law- must make the casf the Unconditional British mHitary,politlcal and economic guarantee have no incentive ordesire to reach yer Gerard Hogan - has been professionally retained by any accord with anybody or participated any solution." the Unionists to advise them. Dublin has indicated that • C.J.Haughey, Taoiseach,1986 "everything will be on the table", including Ireland's for a unitary state claim to sovereignty, if only the Unionists will sit down at it face-to-face with Taoiseach Haughey. • The key question is how they go But there is no corresponding indication from London that the assertion by the British Parliament of its "su- HE ROOT of the Anglo-Irish Since 1918, Britain's claim to siat Eireann and the like extra- policy so that henceforth it is based one word "consent" what in political preme authority over every matter, person and thing" in should seek to hold Brooke to the ish public, which desires disengage- years, as part of the political ma- problem is a conflict be- sovereignty over the North has been territorial effect." on recognition of Irish majority as,, reajity can be separated, namely, Northern Ireland and every part thereof, will be on the above policy position and urge him ment from Ireland, or in face of inter- jority in the whole of Ireland. For the tween two States over who asserted against the wishes of the well as minority rights. consent to a united Ireland as a desir- same table. There is no hint from there that Britain's claim and his Government to act upon its national opinion? If Britain accepted adoption of such a goal would be the should make the laws and great majority of the Irish people. If Article 3 of the Constitution Such a change would be entailed able goal of British Government pol- jurisdiction over part of Ireland in the Government of Ire- logic namely, to move on from a an invitation to4join in such a process fundamental policy change by Bri- eve rase sovereignty over Opinion polls in the Republic show were to be changed so to abandon if Britain were to adopt a policy of icy, and consent to the necessary land Act 1920 and the Northern Ireland Constitution Act declaration of indifference regard- aimed at getting Northern majority tain which Irish people have hoped Tthe Six Counties of North-East Ire- consistent majorities for a United the assertion of the right of the Irish working towards disengagement means of achieving that goal These 1973 is open to alteration. ing the maintenance of the Union to consent, it would mean that for the for for generations and which repub- land Should the North be ruled by Ireland. Partition is also against the Parliament and Government to exer- from Ireland and Irish reunification, means are the financial, political and ( Unionism, Belfast-based and London-based, is setting adopting a policy of working active- first time since 1920 the British Gov- licans in Ireland have long sought. the British Crown in Parliament or wishes of the Nationalist people of cise jurisdiction over the whole of in consultation with the repre- constitutional measures which a the agenda. The signs are that London is hoping that the ly for its dissolution. Britain's formal ernment was throwing the weight of by the Irish people through their ma- the North, some 40 percent of the the national territory, then the Brit- sentatives of that majority over the Northern majority would have to setting-up of a network of Anglo-Irish councils, commit- relation to the North, if Peter its influence on the side of the recon- jority representatives, the Irish Dail population of the area. It is also ish claim to both rightful and actual details and timing of the disengage- agree to at the end of the day if it were tees and parliamentary tiers will confuse the Southern Brooke's statement is genuine, is as ciliation rather than the division of and Government? against the wishes of the majority of sovereignty over the North would ment process, as well as with the to give its willing consent to the en- public into accepting that a big breakthrough has been if one partner in a marriage-union the two communities in Ireland. That The claim of the British Crown to the people of Britain, where polls be constitutionally unchallenged be- representatives of the Unionist mi- ding of the Union. They would in- made on partition. They might then be persuaded to agree were t declare indifference to its would open the way as nothing else rule in Ireland is contained in two show that most people wish the Brit- fore the eyes of world opinion. That nority. clude such measures as the to abandon their constitutional claim to rightful jurisdic- continuance, while the other party could to an era of qualitatively new tion over the North - which is also implicitly made on be- Acts of the British Parliament, the ish Government to disengage from would be a tremendous victory for It is desirable and expedient that continuance of British subsidies for a might wish strongly to maintain it. It friendshipand co-operation between half of Northern Nationalists - leaving Britain's exclusive Government of Ireland Act 1920, the Ireland. Ulster Unionism - and for British partition should be ended with the period to ensure people's living is still logical and permissible, how- the two countries. law-making power and claim to sovereignty unchallenged relevant section of which is still in policy in seeking to maintain the consent of the majority of the popu- standards did not suffer, and satis- Democratic case ever, % the first party to move on to As for Northern Unionists, could before the world. What a victory that would be for Union- force under Schedule 6 of the North- Union. It would be to abandon the lation of the North. Even the factory constitutional guarantees for say that he or she is intent on a di- they reasonably deny Britain's right THERE IS a danger that the Brooke ism, Irish and British. ern Ireland Constitution Act 1973, Northern Nationalist community, strongest Republicans will accept minority, ex-Unionist, rights in a vorce, so long as the other can be to explore the terms for getting ma- talks, instead of leading to an ad- and Ejection 1 of the latter Act. Section whose democratic and national that obtaining the consent of a United Ireland. The adoption of such It looks as if the failure of the Dublin Government and satisfied about the terms - alimony, jority consent to dissolving the vance by Irish nationalism, will in- 75 of the Government of Ireland Act rights to form part of the political Northern majority is desirable as a a policy by Britain would be an im- the leaders of constitutional nationalism over the years to child custody rights and so on - Union? They could only appeal to a stead see a retreat, as the Irish 1920 reads as follows: Articles 2 and 3 majority on this island would be ut- matter of pragmatism, if not prin- plicit acceptance of the desirability of alert British and international public opinion to the unrea- terly betrayed by formal acceptance ciple. A Northern majority would a united Ireland. which have to be agreed before the non-existent principle of a unilateral Government and the SDLP, despite sonableness and injustice of the British Government's divorce is finalised. Any third party right to union. But there is logically past promises, seek a new "internal "Notwithstanding ... any- THE IRISH PEOPLE assert their by Dublin of Britain's right to rule consist of the Nationalist com- Can Britain be won to a policy of claUn to rule indefinitely in Ireland, has got them into the aspiring to a new "marriage" with and politically no such thing. There settlement" in the North, strengthen- thing contained in this Act the claim to rightful jurisdiction over the them. munity plus a proportion of the working towards obtaining a North- position now of being put on the defensive by Unionism one of them (in this case the Irish can only be rights of separation. ing further that "failed political en- in this way. supreme authority of the Parlia- North in Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Unionists. Obtaining unity by con- ern majority to support the ending of Republic) will also have an interest There is no practical way one party tity", as Irish Taoiseach Haughey has ment of United Kingdom shall Constitution, drawn up by Eamon de sent would obviously make for the the Union? British politicians speak Attention needs to be shifted from Articles 2 and 3 of in mutual consent being obtained to can enforce an illusory right to union called it, through recognising Bri- remain unaffected and undim- Valera and adopted by popular ref- most harmonious relations between with diverse voices. The last North- the South's Constitution to the sheer effrontery and arrog- the "divorce" terms. Dublin and the if the other party is bent on a divorce. tain's claim to continued sovereignty inished over all persons, matters erendum in 1937. Article 2 of the ex-Unionists and Nationalists in the ern Ireland Secretary, Tom King, ance of Britain's claim to sovereignty over the North - a SDLP should therefore use the No-one can reasonably deny that there by agreeing to alter Article 3 of and things in Ireland and every Constitution states that the national subsequent All-Ireland State. More-, toldj the House of Commons in 1985: claim on the territory of another country. People should Brooke talks to invite the British Britain and the British people have the Irish Constitution. part thereof." territory is "the whole island of Ire- over, Northern majority consent to "May I make it absolutely clear that not delude -.emselves that there can be any meaningful Ending partition Government first, to join in a process the right to seek to separate from the land, its islands and the territorial reunification - including the consent of the Government wish Northern Ire- In Ireland therefore democrats breakthrough until the British Government changes its of exploration on what steps might Unionists if they want to, as long as seas." THE MAJORITY of the Irish people the majority of Unionists - could un- i Janfl to be part of the United should say: Defend Articles 2 and 3 policy in the way suggested by the late Cardinal Tomas O This claim by Britain to absolute be needed to get majority consent all legitimate Unionist rights - those Article 3 asserts the right (de jure) want their country reunited. They doubtedly be obtained if the British Kingdom". He went on to say that of the Constitution. No recognition Fiaich. His wise words, spoken in 1985,are still wholly sovereignty over the whole of Ire- within the North for the dissolution attaching to a minority within Ire- of Britain's claim to sovereignty, as of the Irish Parliament and Govern- understandably want a united Ire- Government were to adopt that as its . Jjie jHUlsborough Agreement guar- relevant: "The present policy of the British Government - land in 1920 is now confined to the of the Onion, and second, to take the land - are guaranteed in the final would be entailed by abandoning ment to exercise jurisdiction over the land to come peacefully, for why policy goal and if it were to work at anteed that "for ail practical that there will be no change in the status of Northern Ire- Six Counties, in relation to which first steps in that direction. settlement at the end of the process Ireland's counter-claim. The right land while the majority want British rule to remain - is no North, but says that until they do so should they have to fight for what is achieving it over time, in'conjunction purposes and into perpetuity, there Section I ot the Northern Ireland of securing consent of a Northern thing for Dublin and the SDLP to do policy at alL It means you do nothing and it means that in reality (.de facto) their actual juris- theirs by right? The British have no with the Irish Government and all con- will not be a united Ireland." Constitution Act, 1973 reads: majority to reunification. If Britain is to urge Britain to base its Irish the Loyalists in the North are given no encouragement to diction is confined to the Twenty-Six moral or political right whatsoever to structive political forces North and , His successor, Peter Brooke, said and Ireland should agree to base policy henceforth on working posi- make any move of any kind. It is an encouragement to sit Counties. The Article reads: be in Ireland, when the majority of South. /. last year: "The British Government "It is hereby declared that their policy henceforth on working tively to obtain Northern majority tight. I would like to see that British policy changed into a Irish people do not want them there. has no selfish strategic or economic Northern Ireland remains part jointly to securing the consent of a consent for Irish reunification, in positive form. I would like them to say, "Juft as we "Pending the re-integration British policy since the last All-Ire- interest in Northern Ireland." He of Her Majesty's dominions and Northern majority for reunification, consultation with.,the Irish Govern- brought British colonialism to an end in other parts of the of the national territory, and land election in 1918, and since parti- thereby implied that the British were Unionist delusion of the United Kingdom, and it is over however long a necessary time- ment. world, we are not going to be in Northern Ireland ad in- without prejudice to the right of tion was instituted in 1920, has there for unselfish reasons - presum- hereby affirmed that in no event span, it would also open the way to While in Britain democrats and finitum Ultimately We would like to see all Ireland the Parliament and Government consistently been to back the Irish ably because the Unionists want COULD Britain reasonably refuse will Northern Ireland or any such an invitation from Dublin and bringing IRA violence in the North friends of Ireland should urge the ruled by Irishmen and Irishwomen. While we are waiting established by this Constitution Unionist minority against the Irish them to stay - but that apart from part of it cease to be part of Her Unity by consent? the $)LP? If it did, would it not be to an end.For Republicans too have British Government to follow- to move out we would like to use our good offices to try to exercise jurisdiction over the Nationalist majority. This has been a that Britain has no interest in Majesty's dominions and of the indicptin^ that, contrary to what a pragmatic interest in getting such through the lpgic of Brooke's and bring Catholics and Protestants together." whole of that territory, the laws profoundly undemocratic policy, THE FORMULA "unity by majority staying. Which of them, King Of United Kingdom without the , it does have ah in- Northern Nation- statement of disinterest regarding against the real interests of the Irish consent" refers to the notion of con- Brooke, is telling the truth? Clearly consent. While the consent of the majority of the enacted by that Parliament shall the continuance of the Union - by Irish constitutional nationalists - the WM- J in Btayingin Ireland after all? alist community would at last have people of Northern Ireland vot- have the like area and extent of and the British peoples. What is sent in two senses - consent to the end adopting a policy of workingactive- Ujh Government and the S0LP - Couidit justify suchiposition in face a clear prtfipect of vindicating their ing in a poll". application as the laws of Saor- needed now is a change in British and consent to the means. It links in of the predominant view of the Brit- democratic rights, denied tor 70 ly for its dissolution. WV: IRISH DEMOCRAT June 1991 page 4 wmmmmmmrn0*m III 4 REVIEWS OBITUARY An exposure indecent r iJ- •' ! . ' ' i , i I •-''•!• Ten years before! saw the light of morning, a comradeship of Brendan Behan wrote this song for Michael "Oh thente&aneJSean CXFerral l Sean O'Faolain heroes was laid Collins, whom his mother had called as the Doris Daly Women's Day. Jack Mitchell mon mawkishness, and raises demanding fo "be let loose to Tell mewhyypuhurry so?" Laughing Boy after meeting him during the Tan EAN O'FAOLAIN died at the age of 91 on the GiB: A modest exposure, knew M&read Farrell person- the consciousness to an intel- flow' Off fte icW^tie }n fc^itfer From every corner of the world came sailing, the fifteenth "Huritmaf war. Michael Collins lost his life in an IRA 21st April at his home in Dun Laoghaire. A Jack Mitchell, Fulcrum ally: her brother Niall is mar- lectual level of contemplation sweet torierits to' arioihf the International Brigade novelist of international acclaim he will be re- Press £3 .95 ried to Jack's daughter. Yet his of a solemn lament, primarily ears Of the conveniently deaf ambush at Bal na mBlath (the mouth of the Smembered mainly for Irish works of literature. work is not a de proftindis nor a il ,'J!.. They came to standbeside the Spanish people, to try and stem the for the slaughtered, but alsoa unbelievers. c :>.- > flowers) in his native west Cork during the Irish In the civil war he was on the republican side and of- Broil or nn mBns either. It lament for the death of justice » n This poetry mtist be heard, •rising fascist tide For the pikes miist be together civil war which began in June 1922. fered himself for active duty but was given the job, screams of 'Magwitch', and on the gibbet of an inhuman .^ibyrtt writtttt forJhe, human Franco's allies were the powerful and wealthy, Frank Ryan's men AM DELUGED by books draws upon the cause and ef- At therising o f the moon." with a number of college dons, of making Mills and imperialist state. YQice, to be.shar^, and the came from the other side bombs at the IRA's Cork factory. On a number of occa- The organised rhythm of lyrics to be sung. It was not 'Twas on an August all in the dawning hours Even theolives were bleeding, as the battle forMadri d it thundered sions he came under enemy fire. Later he acted as an rhymed verse fires the imagjn- written to be left in a dusty Oh! then tell me Sean OTerrall I went to take the warming air all In the Mouth intelligence officer for the IRA before taking over ation to "see" the language in,' jBooic. , , Where the gath'ring isto be? ' on of Flowers from Erskine Childers as Director of Publicity. He glorious technicolour. Its ' ' , | ! In the okl spot by theriver, fascist clan * ' • "the was a guard of honour at the funeral of Terance Mac- Iof poetry for reviews but feet 6/ her regime and upon rhythm matches the learnt I directed a rehearsed read- And there I saw a maiden and mournful was Right well known to you and me. Swiney Mayor of Cork who died after 74 days of I cannot work up an en- the reality of life or death beat, the ebb and flow of the ing Of this work'on March 6 Vive4e quince Brigada. NO Passaran the pledge that made them her ay hunger strike in Brixton prison. thusiasm for modern under her reign, One word more -for signa l token fULfc , tides, the certainty of the ;thjs year at the John Bueale Whistle up the marching tune, Ah what will mend my broken heart, I've lost O'Faolain was part of a generation of republican in- poetry that does not scan, In his foreword, Seamus moon's phases, and therefore = Bookshop Basement. Theatre does not rhyme and does not Deane, head of the English De- ; Adelante is the cry around the hillside, let us all remember them my Laughing Boy tellectuals who believed in a principle that motivated merges with the life force that Lambeth. The' readers, sea- With your pike upon your shoulder have anything worthwhile to partment at UCD and a distin- men and women to achieve a physical freedom for is never far from reality. Jack soned actors, Eve Bland and By the rising of the moon." impart. But from time to time guished poet and critic in his So strong, so wild so brave he was, I'll mourn their country while at the same time nourishing an in- Mitchell's poem is all that and Peter Hugo D^ly did the work a little poetic treasure surfaces own right, describes Mit- his loss too sore tellectual freedom. As he pointed out in his autobio- more, the reality of the kill- , justice. Elenor"Harris and Pa- Out from many a mud wall cabin; Tommy Woods aged 17 died in Cordoba, with na Fianna he learnt that scans, rhymes, and above chell's work as "an angry at- When thinking that I'll hear the laugh or graphy this was the best part of his life when he was ings, the reality of the inquest, tricia Sweeney sang in close Eyes were' " " * " ' tohold his gun with "men and women who loved Ireland and loved all has something to say. My tack on the hypocrisies of a springing step no more the reality of the persecution harmony and Sean Nos ac- Many a i life with equal fervour, loved poetry and song, were latest find is GiB by Jack Mit- system that kills without com- From Dublin to the Villa del Grieo where he fought and died Ah'curse the times and sad the loss, my heart chell, a Scot by birth who punction in its own defence, of the witnesses. The realit^ of companied with flute and gui- gay, not gloomy all through those troubled years." the verdict scars the memory tar. All branches of the CA beneath the blazing sun to crucify {Vive Moi) teaches at Berlin's Humboldt and then assumes before the University. world the mantle of morality". with rhyming couplets en- could mount a public reading Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland Pastor, from Killarney across That an Irish son with a rebel gun shot down His later life was devoted to biographical novels and A Modest Exposure tells the The angry attack is there, stopped or run-on that ham- at little cost but with great the Pyrenees he came the short story. He enriched the post colonial Irish lite- And a thousand blades were flashing my Laughing Boy saga of the killing by the state but it does mot spill over into a mer away inside the skull gains. rati by giving them an anchor hold to their revolution- From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother, side by side of MSiread Farrell, Daniel rant, it bubbles up like effer- At the rising of the moon. Oh had he died by Pearse's side or in the GPO ary past. A prolific writer on a variety of subjects, his they fought and died in Spain McCann and Sean Savage on vescent purge the regulates Killed by an English bullet from the rifle of political memoirs and his torical biographies remain There beside the singing river March 6 1988 - International the emotive theme from com- Many Irishmen heard the call of Franco, joined Hitler and the foe source material for those who came after him. He was For fans of the thriller, a credible Irish example of the genre That dark mass of men was seen, a foundation supporter of the Connolly Association Mussolini too Or forcibly fed with Ashe lay dead in the Far above the shining weapons and a contributor to the early issues of the Irish Demo- Propaganda from the pulpit and newspapers helped O'Duffy to dungeons of Mountjoy Hung their own beloved Green. crat. I'd have cried with pride for the way he died, "Death to every foe and traitor! enlist his crew my own dear Laughing Boy Conor Foley tral figure in the campaign for strangely familiar, like the in. However, since unlike Forward! Strike the marching tune, The word came from Maynooth, "support the Nazis", the men of The Second Prison, Ronan the Guildford Four. wonderful English female sol- other books of a similar genre And hurrah, my boys, for Freedom! cloth failed us again My princely love, can ageless love do more Bennet, Hamish Hamilton The Second Prison is his first icitor, Harriet Cockburn, who the author actually knows 'Tis the rising of the moon. And the Bishops blessed the Blueshirts out in Gal way as they sailed £13.99 hbk novel. Its central theme is the champions the case of the what he is talking about. The than tell to you beneath the swastika to Spain Go raibh mile maith agat for all you tried to do 25 YEARS AGO dehumanising effect of the downtrodden, or the para- Second Prison much more "Well they fought for poor old Ireland conflict in the north of Ireland military, Sean Smith, who credible than most modern And full bitter was their fate This song is a tribute to Frank Ryan, Kit Conway and Dinny Coady For all you did and would have done my Is Britain a democracy? on its population. The story killed a well-known republi- "Irish thrillers". enemies to destroy HE world divides (Oh! what glorious pride and sorrow too centres on a republican, Kane, can in a feud while he was still I'll mourn your name and praise your fame, into those who like a man steeped in violence, a teenager and grew into a Bennet's characters remain Fill the name of Ninety-Eight!) Peter Daly, Charlie Regan and Hugh Bonner, though many died I gangster movies struggling to escape from his hardened fanatical gunman. slightly under-developed but Yet, thank God, e'en still are beating can but name a few forever my Laughing Boy • Brendan Behan and crime novels past yet held in a "second Indeed some of the motivation the pace is fast and hard- hit- Hearts in manhoods burning noc^i ~ . Danny Boyle, Blazer Brown and Charlie Donnelly, Liam Tumilson Last month we asked this question, apropos rumours and those who prison" by vengeance, pride of the book's main characters ting. Attention to detail is im- Who would follow in their footsteps that [Prime Minister] Wilson is anxious to turn himself i Tloathe them. For the former, and circumstance. Bennet could be based on the bloody pressive although the and Jim Straney from the Falls At the rising of the moon! Into a 'president' or dictator, to whose decisions a this is a great book. draws on his knowledge of logic which eventually con- existence of the FFA, under • JOHN KEEGAN CASEY Jack Nalty, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy, Jim Foley, Tony Fox 'reformed' Parliament would act as a rubber stamp. Ronan Bennet comes from prisons, courtrooms and the sumed the INLA. which Kane would have been and Dick O'Neill Since then a state of emergency has been declared Belfast and has been the victim struggle between the forces of There is very little politics excluded from Britain, is over- Vive le quince brigada, Vive le quince brigada by the Queen of England, on the Prime Minlsters's of two serious miscarriages of the state and an urban guerilla in the book and the plot twists looked. The Second Prison >« • CHRISTY MOORE advice, and Parliament told of it afterwards. justice. He was an active cam- army but this novel is self-con- and turns around familiar probably won't enlighten But how Parliament is elected is not a good example paigner against the "super- sciously not autobiographical. themes: violence, betrayal, anyone about why there is a of democracy in practice In the Six Counties it took grass" trials in the early 1980s Or at least it is not meant to revenge and manipulation, conflict in-Ireland* but it is a only 35,511 votes to return a Tory-Unionist, and and more recently was a cen- be. A few characters are with a little bit of sex thrown difficult book to put down. PETER MULLIGAN'S PEEPSHOW 99,594 for anybody else. An estimate of what... Proportional Representation ... would have [achieved] - 311 Labour, 275 Tories, 19 Liberals, two Irish or Northern Irish Labour, and two LETTERS Scottish Nationalists. Also people would have been able to choose between right and left-wing Labour candidates without splitting the vote. • Irish Democrat, June 1966 '•mli&F MARTIN Moriarty's con- ment". Some confusion be- Brooke has succeeded (sic) in thus only reinforcing it- For your bookshelf tributions to the May issue of tween head and article, sure- getting six county political rather than reassuring Prot- Irish Democrat appear tohav e ly? parties, with the exception of estants, is .quite Tjght. The "Providing A glance at some of the newest titles, some illusions in Britain, in He also emphatically as- Sinn Fein (sic) to discuss 1 former is done by dedingAr- all available from Four Provinces Peter Brooke, and in the sures us that "the Dublin amongst themselves and tides Two and Three. The Brooke talks. government has set its face with Dublin and London, a latter could bedoneby dises- Bookshop, 246 Gray's Inn Road, v Starting off with the head against a return to Stor- potential successor to the London WC1X 8JR tablishing the Catholic that "London, Dublin, the mont." Well, we hope so, but Anglo-Irish Agreement, the Church from education in payments and SDLP and the Unionists have wonder why they seem pre- possibilities for a solution the South, liberalising con- In at last: NUchae! Collins by Tim Pat Coogan, now in got very different ideas pared to discuss Devolution (sic> to the Irish crisis are traception and divorce laws m paperback at £6.99 - and very good vaiue, too about the talks" without and, furthermore, with the going to be examined in etc...But we have to recog- A Revolutionary Woman: the memoirs of Katharine asking have they really and memory of some Dublin greater detail, and perhaps nise tharthe politically con- Clarke, widow ot Tom, a fascinating account of her failing to distinguish be- government actions during by greater numbers of servative establishment in long life £16.95 the (so-called) Civil War and people than has recently tween the base of these par- 1 Dublin would fight this too, My Cousin Jimmy, by Margaret Gralton. The atory of ties and their leaderships, all since, it would be a brave been die case." Are they re- "going too far" as it would the Iriah republican and socialist deported by Do of whom seem to have at man who would categori- ally? A solution? Or will they see it. Valera although bom In Ireland £2.50 cally exclude even this possi- realty only be discussing the least one idea in common Get rid of your-illusions. H! DWNER Irish Rebels In English Prisons Reprinted alter many namely to squeeze out Sinn bility as a response by a possibilities for containing History, even recent history years: the terrible story of O'Donovan Rossa £7.99 Fein and the IRA. Martin Dublin government to an en- the crisis? Also, I hope Mar- Voire? David Rice's story ot the priest* who with the Kurds, shows us Shattered Moriarty's front page article during republican revolt? tin doesn't mean to imply that we can rely ultimately are leaving the priesthood, many ot them to get mar- here-that Sinn Fetnhave ex- ried goes on to assert that "Peter These illusions, are also on nonebut ourselves alone Brooke has secured agree- evidenced in his boSk review cluded themselves? * to achieve oufl'beration! . Encyclopedia of Irish Uyth, Legend and Romance by ment on a common basis (sic) of "breaking the Deadlock" Although, incidentally, - •'•£ • r- V.. y. • • * i*. .l/itjlljfai ms Distinction Between con- rm thay haw bif jrow Dalthi OhOgain, a great Illustrated- account of for talks cm a successor to the where he writes: *Now that JoeMurphy everyone concerned in the legends £22.15 1985 Anglo-Irish Agree- Northern Secretary Peter ceding to the Unionism • Bha* baan - 2J5|S2£i£ 2k i •ii TheQuwttm .. .•..• ® iiM*: »i.ir'.'-> • .. '".I BMP ANONN IS ANALL: THE PETER BERRESFORD ELLIS COLUMN June marks the 125th anniversary of the IRB's invasion of the provinces of British North America An Irish -TToor^ mw -o.' tsf HIS JUNE marks the 125th This anniversary is an opportune Rouge, which still sought the separ- veteran soldiers had been deployed the Victoria Bridge, holding the anniversary of the at- time to remind ourselves why the ation of French Canadians and the along the border, arms depots, in- bridge until Spear's infantry arrived. tempted invasion of invasion took place rather than what establishment of a radical republjg. cluding batteries of field guns, were It wasconfidently expected that Canada - what was then happened. Those who have read my The Atlantic Colonies of New Brun- established. On the night of May the Montreal Irish and French Cana- the provinces of British novel The Rising of the Moon (Methu- swick, Prince Edward Island, Nova 31 / June 1,1866, a three pronged at- dians would be in control of the city TNorth America - by an army of Irish- en, 1987) will know the background. Scotia and Newfoundland were to- tack would be launched. Two of the and in a position to join the invasion American veterans of the war I also published two factual ac- tally unenthusiastic about proposals crossings would be feints to distract force. Fresh cavalryhorses would be between the States. They were mem- counts of the event in The Irish Sword for a Confederation of the provinces the enemy while the third invasion supplied here for horses were hard «»bers of the Irish Republican (Vol. XVI, No 65, Winter, 1986) and into one Canadian Dominion. (New- would strike into Lower Canada to obtain after the mass slaughter of Brotherhood. In the early hours of in The Irish in Canada, edited by Pro- foundland refused to enter Canada where the Irish Reublic-in-Exile the Civil War. Muiphy's cavalry, June 1, 1866, some 25,000 began to fessor Robert ODriscoll. Later this until 1948.) At the same time the ter- would be established. would then strike along the line of muster along the border of the year, The Irish Sword will be publish- ritories beyond Lake Superior to the The left wing of the IRB army the' Grand Trunk Railroad and United States and Canada com- ing a definitive Fenian casualty list west were an unclaimed wilderness would gather in Chicago and Mil- eventually seize Pointe Levis oppo- manded by Major General 'Fighting from the invasion which I and Dr Joe governed by the Hudson's Bay waukee consisting of 3,000 men site Quebec City. Pointe Levis was Tom' Sweeny, from Co. Cork, Union King of California have been work- Company of London. under Brigadier Charles Tevis. He designated the mam port on the At- hero of Shiloh and Corinth. They ing on over recent years. These provinces were vulnerable would advance across Lakes Michi- lantic for the Irish Republic-inrExile. were backed with artillery and three At the end of the American Civil and some sections of Canadian opi- gan and Huron into Upper Canada Once the port, a salt water port op- warships. War (1861-65) many thousands of nion welcomed the proposal of the some 24 hours in advance of the rest ened all the year round (further up The idea was to establish an 'Irish Irish soldiers had seen service in the IRB. Indeed, the IRB, according to of the invasion force. His objectives river the St Lawrence freezes in Republic in Exile' on the soil of Irish Brigade and Irish Legion of the Murphy in Philad- would be Stratford winter) the Fenian warships would Lower Canada (Quebec) and use it Union Army, as well as in Irish units elphia, claimed a and London, sail m to seal off the St Lawrence. either as a bargaining counter to se- of the Confederate Army, such as membership of threatening Toron- SWeeny had also devised a con- cure Irish independence or as a base Finnegan's Brigade and O'Brien's 125,000 in Upper 'The IRB must to from the tingency plan, that if Montreal and to strike against England in a war of Louisiana Irish. The vast majority of and Lower Canada south-west. Quebec could not be secured, then liberty. If it achieved anything, the these veterans were members of the alone. Negotiations strike where The centre army Spear was to concentrate his forces invasion became the catalyst which IRB. The idea was that they should were opened with would gather between Richelieu and the St Francis created the Dominion of Canada by be shipped to Ireland to use their the Parti Rouge. The England was along the shores of Rivers, making Sherbrooke, in the the confederation of the provinces in military expertise in an insurrection, French Canadians Lake Erie, from eastern townships of Quebec, the 1867. to form the nucleus of the revol- agreed to supply weakest; they Toledo, Sandusky capital of the Irish Republic-',"in- The Canadians, who acknow- utionary army. horses for the Fe- City, Cleveland, Exile. i ] . ledge the important part which the With information gained from nian cavalry. must secure Erie, Dunkirk and It was a sound military plan, invasion played in the creation of the their secret service, England pre- Most important Buffalo. Their com- completely workable. ' modern Canadian state, are not so empted matters by striking against for the subsequent themselves a mander would be So what went wrong? reticent about commemorating the the IRB in Ireland during the sum- planning of the in- Brigadier William The IRB relied for their success event as the Irish Government ap- mer of 1865. This was a severe blow vasion was the fact homeland on F. Lynch, and |hey on the honest intentions of! the peared to have been about to the American IRB who thought that the IRB could would cross in fWo •American Administration in fjeir commemorating the 75th anniver- that any hopes of an early successful not recruit, train the American units, one moving dealings with the IRB leadership. sary of the uprising which insurrection had been crushed. and equip an army- from Cleveland What they did not realise Was that ultimately led to the birth of the Meeting in Philadelphia, Oc- capable of invading continent, an across the lake to President Johnson was using the IRB modern Irish state tober, 18(i5, some 600 delegates set British North Port Stanley, join- merely as a catspaw to threaten Bri- This year the Canadians will be up a 'provisional government in America from independent ing Tevis at tain with in order to secure holding a special celebration on June exile' and appointed Major General United States terri- London, while the reparation payments for their Sup- 15 - June 16 at the Ridgeway Battle- Sweeny (1820-1892), a hero of both tory without the territory on second unit would port of the Confederacy during the field Museum and Park, the site of the US-Mexican War as well as the support, passive or move out from Civil War. the historic engagement, where, on Civil War, to organise a plan and active, of the US ad- which to raise Buffalo, across" the Once O'Neill and the first regi- ' June 2,1866, Colonel John O'Neill, a clarify the purpose of the IRB in ministration. This Niagara River, to ments of the centre army crossed 32 year old former Union officer America. At this Philadelphia Con- was forthcoming. th^rishflag^ secure Paris, from Buffalo against Toronto, the from Drumgallon, Clontibret, Co. gress, among the 600 delegates, was There were strong Guelph and Ha- British quickly came to an accommo- Monaghan, defeated Colonel Alfred Michael Murphy of Toronto and 44 anti-British feelings milton to form dation with the USA ($15 million Booker's British troop. Fifteen com- Irish-Canadian delegates repre- in the northern states after the Civil another threat to Toronto. was later paid). It was not until June mittees have been set up to plan a senting Canada. War. In violation of the Neutrality These were to be feints, forcing 6 that Johnson formerly invoked the re-enactment of the Fenian's victori- The IRB, it was argued, if unable Act of 1818 Britain had moved to the English to concentrate their Neutrality Act of 1818. The border ous engagement under the control of to strike for independence in Ireland recognise the Confederacy and gone forces to protect Toronto. It was esti- was closed, IRB leaders were seized, Jane Davies, curator of the Fort Erie and ship their army across, must further, arming and supplying the mated that 8,000 regulars and 20,000 US troops commanded by General Museum, and $158,000 has been strike where England was weakest; Confederacy and providing war- militia were stationed in Upper and U.S. Grant interned the Fenian sol- raised to pay for the event. they must secure themselves a ships, like the famous Alabama and Lower Canada. As soon as these diers, cut off their supply lines and Between 300 - 400 members of homeland on the American conti- Florida. A blind eye was turned f orces were committed to protect To- reinforcements, forcing the withdra- Canada re-enactment groups will be nent, an independent territory on when the territory of British North ronto, the Irish in Montreal, working wal of those trows who had crossed. in attendance, dressed and armed in which to raise the Irish flag; a terri- America was used as Confederate with the French Canadians, would The IRB was shocked by this Mte Ihe uniforms and weapons of the tory from which they could either bases to attack US targets. When destroy St Anne's Bridge at the junc- face. Indeed many American politi- British troops which took part. The strike at England, or use it as a bar- Richmond fell, the Union soldiers tion of the Ottawa and St Lawrence cians were Horrified at the organisers are striving for such auth- gaining counter in a negotiated sung: 'Johnny Bull, we'll settle next Rivers on the Grand Trunk Railroad use of the enticity that a memo has been independence for Ireland. What bet- with you!' and the Beauharnois Canal/-This 1 bargaining circulated banning contact-lens but ter than to establish an Irish Indeed, the US administration would effectively cut off all com- counter. On June 13 a motion was allowing glasses such as were worn Republic-in-Exile on the territory allowed the arming and supplying munication between Upper and debated in Congress which, if in the 1860s. England claimed in North America. of the Fenian army, not just with Lower Canada. passed, would have allowed the IRB The Canadians have invited the Now some, from today's perspec- small arms and muskets and rifles The main attack would, come to continue the invasion. When that Irish Brigades Association of New tive, think the enterprise was but with artillery, Gatling guns and from the right wing, commanded failed another resolution Was "pro- York, led by Commander Llam foolish. It was not. Such enterprises the sale, at reasonable rates, of three Brigadier Samuel P. Spear, posed in Gomgresa which called on Murphy USNR, to send a contingent had already successfully taken place US Navy- surplus warships. Once a was to have command of the administration to recognise the »o play the part of the Fenians. Some on the American continent during base was established around the troops comprising 17 irtfanl IRB as belligerents in the sopne way 500 'living history re-enacters' will the 19th Century. mouth of the St Lawrence, these ments and five as Britain had recognised Hie Con- be arriving in an assortment o?Te- Moreover, the provinces of Brit- warships were to sail there and be The Cavalry was nian uniforms and uniforms from ish North America were disunited. used to attack the English sea lanes Brigadier Michael C We know the outcome. The IRB — the. Confederate and Union armies The two major provinces - Upper across the Atlantic. veteran of the 69th New Y< plan to invade Canada wa§ hu half- of the Civil War. They will be ad- Canada (Ontario) and Lower Cana- On April 16,1866, the IRB (which The cavalry was to cross first.Bri - baked scheme aseidttequefit history vised by Lt Col Kenneth Power, da (Quebec) • had been united in had survived a split, with ten per- gadier Murphy was to move to would have its believe. • • ' historian of the famous 69th New 1840 but remained bitterly antagon- cent of its membership following threaten Cornwall and Prescott and f >' York. istic to each other on the grounds of former president John OMahony then, all going well, to advance What appears ironic today is that The R igeway Museum has re- their respective English and French who disliked the new democratic along both sides of the Richelieu Canada celebrates the event asthe ceived government grants towards origins. In 1837 both territories had River to seize the garrisons of Isle catalyst which created the modem the preparation of a video and teach- attempted to establish independent several IRB leaders were i aux Nols, St John's and Port Cham- Canadian state; while the current ing pack to ensure that Canadian republics by insurrection. Papineau, of Marx's First International) ap- bley, or at least render them Irish Government would have 'lis children are taught about the inva- leader of the Patriote insurrectionists proved an invasion plan. harmless. He was to occupy La forget the historical event which sion and what it meant. in 1837, was now leader of the Parti Sweeny reported that 25,000 Prairie and threaten Montreal across helped to create modern Ireland. v W—mLTM IRISH DEMOCRAT June 1»t1 P» 9* j;- it,1 , SB ^^J^WWffStj^ ,