To Be Or Not IRB?/2 Captain Kelly The Volunteer Manus O'Riordan Harry Boland Labour Comment page 12 page 7 back page IRISH POLITICAL REVIEW September 2006 Vol.21, No.9 ISSN 0790-7672 and Northern Star incorporating Workers' Weekly Vol.20 No.9 ISSN 954-5891

Protestant Alienation Rogue Democracies

Garret FitzGerald told the John Hewitt Summer School that "the dichotomy between The implied position behind the Gael . and Planter reflects a cultural myth rather than a genetic reality" (Irish News 25 Ameranglian invasion and destruction of Aug). the Iraqi State (and Irish support of it), and That's what we were told back in 1969 when we suggested that the Ulster Protestant the Israeli invasion and attempted community should be negotiated with as a distinct nationality. We recall that Official destruction of the Lebanese State, is that Sinn Fein leader, Tomás Mac Giolla, was particularly eloquent on the subject: there was states which present themselves as no racial difference, therefore the differences which appeared to exist were unreal and democracies have the right to impose their might be conjured away. will on states which they assert are not Is there such a thing as "a genetic reality" in political affairs? We thought the idea democratic. In other words, it is their that there was had died with Hitler—until we came across the fact that, ten years after position that states which are not demo- the death of Hitler, Hubert Butler, a Protestant gentleman of Kilkenny, had contested a cratic have no right to existence. local election on a programme which asserted the social and political superiority of It goes even farther in the case of "Protestant blood". And now Dr. FitzGerald recycles the notion, though in a different Israel: a democratic state has the right to way. He does no assert superiority on the basis of genes, but he denies that a political annex the territory of a neighbouring state difference is actual because it it is not based on genetic difference. Because the difference which is not democratic, if it can capture is not genetic, it can only be a myth, a delusion. it. Israel has annexed part of the national The reasoning is primeval. territory of the Syrian State, and has annexed the whole United Nations He then went on to assert that the "self-identification" of Northern Protestants as territory of Jerusalem and made it its British has been brought about by Provisional Republicanism. He says that the capital. proportion of them describing themselves as British rose from a third to two-thirds as a When Germany annexed the League consequence of the Republican campaign. So, what was all the fuss about in 1912-14? of Nations territory of Danzig in Septem- "Dr Fitzgerald argued that the two biggest threats 'ever posed' to the sovereignty of ber 1939, Britain responded by making it Westminster were by Ulster Unionism—'first in 1914—undertaken with the connivance the occasion for a second World War in of the British Conservative Party which sought to deny Parliament's right to give Home the 20th century. When Israel annexed Rule to Ireland—and the second in 1974 with the Ulster Workers' Strike'." the United Nations territory of Jerusalem, Britain (which had responsibility for But, if it was the Tories who stirred up a cultural myth which had no basis in genetic continued on page 2 continued on page 5

A Stormont that Works. Is it possible? The Langhammer Proposal

The article and proposal below is written as a "kite flying" exercise aimed at provoking responses from readers of the Irish Political Review

For some time, I have taken the view Northern Ireland institutions have only Sunningdale was one, the Rees that Northern Ireland cannot work because provided a focal point for communal Convention is two, the Prior rolling it is disconnected from the governmental antagonism—unable to evolve into work- devolution was three, the York Street politics of the United Kingdom and of the able social and economic political forms. Forum was four, the Good Friday Agree- Republic of Ireland. Only the constant The 24th November attempt will be the ment Assembly was tried and failed four focus and deliberation on 'who governs tenth time since 1972 that the restoration times—that five, six, seven and eight; the and in whose interest' can draw people of a Northern Ireland Assembly and 'Hain Assembly' is nine, and the 24th away from communal affiliations, whereas Government has been tried. Let’s count:— November will be ten. Ten attempts, ten continued on page 4 C O N T E N T S that it should be governed as a place apart. Protestant Alienation. Editorial 1 Craigavon, who had served in a British Government and had a sense of reality, Rogue Democracies. Editorial 1 secured the de facto welfare integration of A Stormont That Works. Is It Possible? The Langhammer Proposals 1 the North into the system of the British In Defence Of Patrick Pearse. Brian P. Murphy (report) 3 state, and then set about minimising Quarter Loaf Of Palestine. David Morrison (report) 6 political activity in the North. That was Iran And Genocide. David Morrison (report) 6 how an essentially undemocratic and Editorial Commentary. (May 1976; Bruce Arnold; Iran; Northern Bank Raid; unstable set-up survived for forty years. Loyalists; The SDLP; Official IRA; Fool's Gold; Haughey; Break Up Of Yugoslavia; No Irish Died!; Smoking 6 'Politics' consisted of the Unionist Remembering The Arms Trial. Harry Boland's Speech 7 community voting itself into office at every Thoughts Occasioned By Harry Boland's Oration. Conor Lynch 7 election in order to remain attached to Processing Peace In Portcullis House. Seán McGouran 9 Britain. The Catholic community played Bush's 'in' Joke? Sartre's Ghost (Reader's letter) 9 no part. There was no part for it to play. Its role was to be kept down. But it was far Shorts from the Long Fellow (The Decline & Fall; The Neo Con Vision; Plan B; too large a minority to be kept down Plan C; The Monarchist Project; Kevin Myers; Kevin Myers Again) 10 without a sense of unease. Loach Understands Our History. Nick Folley (report) 11 Some Issues Of Class And Office (To Be Or IRB?, pt 2). Manus O'Riordan 12 It was a practical assumption that rebel- The Casement 'Black Diaries'. Tim O'Sullivan (part 2) 16 lious tendencies would be generated in Casement: Another View. Jeff Dudgeon (reader's letter) 18 this large, frustrated minority whose Casement Foundation Calls For 'Fake' Diaries' Destruction. Jack Moylett (report) 18 energy had no outlet into the democratic Send Them Home. Pat Walsh 19 life of the state. It was therefore subjected International Affairs—The View From India. David Alvey 21 to close, intimate supervision by the RUC, made to feel the weight of the Protestant Labour Comment, edited by Pat Maloney: militia, the B Specials, and reminded that The Fate Of The Volunteer the UVF, which had brought about their predicament, had not gone away. When the Specials were disbanded in 1969, the UDR (with links to paramilitary forces) reality, who did it in 1974? The And that "unionists remain obsesses with took their place. The respectable Unionist Sunningdale legislation was Tory. And an IRA in peaceful mode, ignoring on- middle class has always understood—in no party outside Protestant Ulster sup- going loyalist violence". the unacknowledged way that such things ported the "Constitutional stoppage" that How can you have an open mind about are understood—that its security depended broke the Sunningdale system, of which yourself if you're satisfied to be what you on some things that were not quite Dr. FitzGerald was one of the main are? respectable. architects. The Prods did it all on their own, as if they were a reality and not just FitzGerald's statistics about Protestant In our experience the attitude was that a myth. "self-identification" have to do with spur- it was unfortunate that there should be of-the-moment answers given in public such a large body of Fenians within the As to the "self-identification", it has opinion surveys. (He says that in 1968 Northern idyll, but Fenians will be Fenians, always seemed to us that the Protestants one-third described itself as 'British', while and must be dealt with. Of course Croppies don't bother their heads about it. They do by 1978 two-thirds were doing so.) Profes- should lie down, but it was no matter for not constitute a problem for themselves. sor Richard Rose made much of this sort great surprise or resentment when they They just carry on regardless, being what of thing back around 1970. As far as we didn't. they are, without existential angst. They recall, the Welsh were all over the place. are satisfied with themselves, and they It was a different thing, however, when The answers seemed to depend on how have little secular concern with anybody the danger that had been warded off in the question was asked and on the mood of 1912-14 was reasserted in active form by else, so what is there for them to think the moment. But the Welsh carried on about at Summer Schools? Dublin—as it was by Jack Lynch in August being British in the only way that counts 1969, by Dr. FitzGerald and Dr. O'Brien in politics—they carried on taking part in in 1974, and by Dr. FitzGerald in 1985. Brian Feeney at least observes this as electing the Government of the State. It a fact (IN 26 July): "unionists don't was never possible for Northern Ireland to Dr. FitzGerald is the greatest alienating organise any summer schools to examine be British in that way. unionism or anything else". And he asks, influence there has been on the Ulster "Is the phrase 'unionist intellectual' an Protestants since John Redmond. And he Dr. FitzGerald finds "much confusion oxymoron?" is in very heavy denial if he denies that his and some instability in the sense of identity 1985 Agreement was a watershed in the of Northern Protestants" and he blames There is, of course the John Hewitt process of alienation. Didn't he see the what he sees as a shift towards Britishness School, formally Unionist, but finding it Protestants packed like sardines around on the Provo campaign. We would lay the the City Hall and up Royal Avenue in a difficult "to include unionists". This year blame somewhere else for this meaningless it had FitzGerald. And of course Professor protest comparable with the Covenant shift in superficial opinion on which affair back in 1912? Bew. But Bew, though advisor to Trimble, nothing political can be based. is "shy of admitting to being a unionist. So Fenians rebelling—that's something far he hasn't 'come out' so to speak". Carson opposed the establishment of that happens as a matter of course within Northern Ireland, as did Craigavon. This Northern Ireland. Tampering with (what Jim Gibney, who does his best to does not mean that they opposed Partition. is seen as) 'the Constitution' by outside engage with Protestants on behalf of the They wanted the 6 Counties to be governed forces—that is something else. Provos, complains that Unionists Still as part of Britain, through the operations Refuse To Have Open Minds (IN 27 July). of British politics. But Britain insisted That is how we have understood the 2 Protestant position for close on 40 years. Events have not yet proved us wrong. · Biteback · Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback

The Unionists "remain obsessed with the IRA in peaceful mode" a year after it Patrick Pearse disarmed, and "are still refusing to open The following letter by Dr. Brian Murphy osb was their minds to the place the peace process published in the Limerick Leader, Saturday 22nd July 2006: can take us". And Jim Gibney is surprised! The IRA has successfully transferred its I am writing in response to the three letters of 8 July which combined to attack the actions dynamic from war to peace, in accordance and the memory of Patrick Pearse. It would be helpful to place their allegations in context. with the project set out by Gerry Adams The original criticism of Pearse, made by Kate Casey on 13 May, was that he had 'summarily 20 years ago. Republicans have joined executed all his prisoners.' I replied to that letter by recounting the evidence of Lt. S. King, Dr. FitzGerald in the business of enacting who had been a prisoner of Pearse and who affirmed to the Court Martial that he had been constitutional change constitutionally, and 'very well treated.' The evidence confirms that no prisoners of Pearse were shot or ill- have therefore become more dangerous treated. than they ever were as rebels. Subsequently, Kate Casey (1 July) suggested that I should have qualified this statement with the comments of William Wylie the prosecutor at the drumhead court martials. In fact, With the rebels having become a Wylie was prosecutor at the Field General Court Martials (not drumhead) and his criticism constitutional force, Protestant alienation of the Attorney-General, for failing to appoint counsel for the defence of the prisoners, only is naturally greater than it has ever been— serves to vindicate the good conduct of Pearse and of others. It reminds us that he was a fact documented by Susan McKay in the praised by a hostile witness and that no one acted on his behalf. Irish News on July 27th (Brutal Attackers The three letters of 8 July ignore this evidence in Pearse's favour. One of them from Have Again Dyed Ulster's Bloody Hand, Stephen Fallon, quoting from Pearse's graveside oration at the funeral of O'Donovan Rossa an article documenting sectarian attacks). in July 1915, writes of Pearse that 'for the English he had a hatred that was tinctured with contempt. He looked upon them as an inferior race.' No such phrases or sentiments are to We should say in connection with 1974, be found in the Collected Works of Pearse! (If Stephen Fallon has another version of the that the Unionist Party under Faulkner oration, he should place it in the public domain) Pearse did write that 'we pledge to Ireland was committed to working a power sharing our love, and we pledge to English rule in Ireland our hate;' but the focus of his enmity was system in a way that it never was under English rule rather than the English people. He added that he held it a Christian thing 'to Trimble, while the Unionist population at hate evil, to hate untruth, to hate oppression, and, hating them, to strive to overthrow them.' large was neither enthusiastic or hostile. It Such sentiments, with their emphasis on freedom from oppression, are far removed from suspended judgment. What tipped it into the image painted by Fallon of Pearse. outright hostility was the revelation made "The other two letters, from Pat Ryan and Noel Flannery, shift the line of attack against in the High Court in Dublin that Drs. Pearse to the charge that he 'was responsible or residually responsible for the death of FitzGerald and O'Brien had played a prisoners.' They then recount the names of three unarmed police constables, Michael confidence trick in the Sunningdale Lahiff, James O'Brien and Charles McGee who were killed. It is significant that in selecting negotiations. Unionist opinion was given the names of Lahiff and O'Brien, who were shot in Dublin on 24 April 1916, the first day to understand that the sovereignty claim of the Easter Rising, they are following the example of General Maxwell. Their names, and in Articles 2 & 3 had been withdrawn. the circumstances of their deaths, were selected by General Maxwell in a despatch of 25 When challenged on the issue by Neil May 1916 to show that 'the responsibility for the loss of life, however it occurred, the Blaney, the Coalition Government stated destruction of property, and other losses, rests entirely with those who engineered this in the clearest possible terms that the revolt.' In the recent past Kevin Myers, late of the Irish Times, has regularly used the same 'claim' remained intact and was not facts with the same purpose as Maxwell: that is to justify the conduct of the British army prejudiced in any way by the Agreement. and to condemn that of Pearse and his colleagues. Its Court pleading was published in Maxwell and Myers (and, indeed, Ryan and Flannery) fail to clarify that these unarmed Loyalist adverts in the Unionist papers. A constables were not acting in a merely civilian capacity: that, after the introduction of the Loyalist demand was formulated, that the Defence of the Realm Act in August 1914, the Irish police forces co-operated with the Army Council of Ireland aspect of the Agreement in court-martial procedures that could lead directly to imprisonment and deportation. They should be deferred until the sovereignty are also remarkably silent about the conduct of Captain Bowen Colthurst who removed claim was withdrawn. But Drs. FitzGerald three prisoners from a cell in Portobello barracks, one of them being the pacifist, Francis and O'Brien (Foreign Minister and Sheehy Skeffington, and shot them dead on 26 April 1916. Following this action Colthurst Northern spokesman of the Coalition was promoted immediately afterwards. Contrast that deed with the surrender order of Government) insisted that the full Pearse, which was made on 30 April 1916, 'in order to prevent the slaughter of unarmed implementation of the Council should go people and in the hope of saving the lives of our followers.' ahead regardless, and Dr. O'Brien in Lives were sadly lost in the course of the Easter Rising but even those who were opposed particular was insistent that a referendum to the Rising praised the behaviour of the rebels. John Dillon, speaking in the House of to amend Articles 2 & 3 should not be Commons on 11 May 1916, declared that 'as regard the main body of the insurgents, their held. Unionist opposition grew in the face conduct was beyond reproach as fighting men… they fought a clean fight.' Dillon could of this intransigent refusal to negotiate a speak with some authority as he had lived in central Dublin throughout the course of the compromise, and the Sunningdale Rising. arrangement—the best chance there has Even more compelling, in regard to the character of Pearse, is the opinion of Brigadier- ever been of making a functional internal General C.G. Blackadder, the President of his court-martial trial. Blackadder related to settlement—fell after five months. friends on the following evening that 'I have just done one of the hardest tasks I have ever had to do. I have had to condemn to death one of the finest characters I have ever come The Provos didn't do it. FitzGerald across. There must be something very wrong in the state of things that makes a man like and his colleagues did. And they did it that a rebel.' because they were in denial about basic One cannot but feel that to-day there must also be 'something very wrong in the state of political realities in the North—as Dr. things,' if, despite judgements like those of Blackadder, Dillon, and many others, the FitzGerald with his "genetic" musings, reputations of Pearse and his colleagues are attacked so viciously. still is. 3 First, there is no element of compulsion, all other institutions of the Agreement allowing local Northern Ireland-ist parties continue to function. A Stormont that Works. to mess around and play games at will. Second, the nature of sectarian politics is THE ADVANTAGES continued unsuited for rational governing politics Building in Compulsion: This and tends to stoke up nuisance in the proposal has the advantages of ‘building failures. Time to wake up and smell the society (as well as in political institutions). in’ ‘compulsion’. In local Government, if coffee! Without some form of external The state funding of communal parties to any party "walks away" the local authority compulsion, Stormont won’t ever work. represent "their side" destabilises the still has to lift the bins and clean the society. streets. When Unionists walked out of However, a Northern governing institu- local Councils after the 1985 Anglo Irish Can these aspects be addressed? Per- tion remains a central 'must do' for both Agreement, the Councils continued to haps. Here is a proposal for consideration. British and Irish Governments, both function—or else commissioners would wedded to an arm's length view of be nominated to take decisions (as in the CORE PROPOSALS FOR A STABLE Northern Ireland. The British arm's length recent case within the South Eastern NORTHERN INSTITUTION instinct dates from 1912-14, the Irish Education and Library Board). In this perhaps more recent, dating from the 1970 * That the British Government’s proposal, if any party 'walked away' the Arms Trial or the 1974 Dublin Monaghan governing party nominates the Northern First and Deputy First Minister would bombings. Ireland First Minister, with the Republic undertake their role. of Ireland governing party nominating the The First and Deputy First Minister, I still take the view that a northern Deputy First Minister. At present, this although responsible for the Budget and Stormont institution, involving the state would see Peter Hain as First Minister and Programme for Government, would be funding of predominantly communal Dermot Ahern as Deputy First Minister. bound to involve and seek collective politics, will tend to stoke up and give agreement from Ministers—or make best * The First and Deputy First Minister focus to sectarian antagonisms in the efforts to do so. society. Nonetheless, there is a strong are charged with three main duties. Firstly, agreeing a Programme for Government. strain within both Protestant and Catholic Developing Governmental Politics: Second, agreeing a Budget. Third, ensur- society that would prefer democratically Having the two sovereign Governments ing that the Assembly nominates, by a elected Northern Ireland politicians to take at the helm is the stabilising element in proportionate mechanism such as d’Hondt, local decisions, resenting Direct Rule by this proposal. The buck stops with the two Ministers to the Executive from amongst arrogant, part-time, English-based "blow- Governing parties. This, in turn, will their number. ins". stimulate interest in developing the We are now approaching a juncture— * Just as there is no justification for governmental parties in Northern Ireland, with a 24th November deadline for 108 MLAs, there seems less justification whether Fianna Fail, Labour, Sinn Fein, restoring an Assembly based on the Good for 11 Ministries. Six or seven Ministries Green Party or British Conservative. This Friday Agreement (or Comprehensive would be ample in any new arrangement— would be unambiguously positive for Agreement) model—where Northern the Office of First and Deputy First Northern Ireland. Ireland-ism has reached the end of its Minister plus 5 or 6 others would suffice. rope. The DUP is ascendant within * The Assembly should be reduced in Reducing sectarianism, promoting Protestant politics. If it doesn’t work this number from 108 to either 36 MLAs (2 'workaday politics': Electing fewer time, will we give it another ten attempts— per Parliamentary Constituency) or MLAs would reduce the charge that state or just move on? preferably 35 MLAs (5 from each of 7 funding of communal politics was stoking up sectarian activity and division in the Although Dr. Paisley appeared to come local Government Districts) in elections society. Electing MLAs from the from the close (within the December 2004 to run with the same term as local council 7 Council areas would enhance the Comprehensive Agreement) to agreeing elections. MLAs would be barred from emphasis on workaday local administra- to Home Rule with Sinn Fein, he has since double jobbing (as MEPs, MPs or tion. Local Councils would have greater backed off, seeking repentance and posing councillors). The Assembly’s main two leverage on the regional tier. And getting an ever growing number of hoops for Sinn roles would be to nominate the Ministers rid of the designations system and 'parallel Fein to jump through. For its part Sinn for the Executive and to scrutinize the consent' would revoke the formal sectarian Fein, distrustful of the commitment of the Government’s work. discrimination from within the current British or Irish Governments, appears * The Executive would be nominated system. wedded to a Northern institution. Sinn from the Assembly to the Executive and Fein sees Stormont as a core means of would take up Ministries as they did when Legislation could be proposed by either driving change—notably in cross border devolution worked under the GFA. Executive Ministers or by the First and activity—in the absence of British / Irish Deputy First Ministers and dealt with by Governments persuasion. Current * The overtly sectarian aspects of the weighted majority, as will be required in prospects for the restoration of Stormont Assembly, such as the 'designations' sys- Local Government. Again, the First and on the current basis appears slim. tem would be removed, and the "parallel Deputy First Ministers would be the default consent" voting mechanisms replaced with legislators in the absence of agreement. So, is there a way of ever making a a form of weighted majority to protect Northern institution work? against communal majoritarianism. DISADVANTAGES Deadlocks would be resolved by the First Unionist reaction: This proposal has, The core problems: The core and Deputy First Ministers' determinations. perhaps, the disadvantage that Unionists problems with Stormont appear twofold. * Finally, this proposal assumes that would reject it. Yes, they would. But just 4 as they rejected Sunningdale in the 70s, They set up in such a way that they the Anglo Irish Agreement in the 80s and themselves would not be subject to its the Frameworks proposals in the 90s, they Rogue Democracies authority. The USA added China, which got used to the concepts in time. Unionist was then its client state, to the Permanent Powers, and Britain added France as a would grow to accept, in time, established continued facts. Look at the Anglo Irish Agreement. European counterweight. Within 3 years of the monster rallies at the When the US client state in China fell governing Palestine until it relinquished it Belfast City Hall, Peter Robinson and to the Communist revolution in 1948, the in the face of Jewish terrorism in 1947-8) Jack Allen were in Duisberg, Germany to USA vetoed recognition of the new regime did nothing, and the United Nations did discuss devolution and John Taylor (now in Peking as the Chinese state. The nothing too. Lord Kilclooney) was an early adopter of defeated Kuomintang Army and Govern- the International Fund for Ireland—once ment retreated to the island of Taiwan, There is nothing new in all of this. It is and for the next thirty years was recognised regarded as Anglo Irish Agreement "blood a return to the generally understood by the US and the UN as the legitimate money". Unionists have no serious position as it existed before the pretence Government of China. If that situation proposals of their own. The evidence is was made of establishing a system of had continued, the UN would probably that, in time, Unionists will get used to, international law by the League of Nations have ceased to exist as a world organisation and grudgingly accept, changed realities. in 1919, and the even greater pretensions —and the world would have lost nothing of the United Nations in 1945. by it. But Nixon ended the Veto on Your reactions: As stated earlier, my Peking. personal preference, post November 24th, The Jewish annexation of Jerusalem led to a Security Council motion of is for a generation of joint stewardship, All the time that Peking was excluded, disapproval. Israel ignored that Resolution combined with bedding-in a strengthened the US insisted that Taiwan was an integral as a mere gesture. It was not a Chapter 7 system of local government with more part of China. But, after Peking was resolution, which is the only kind of admitted, it began to feel its way towards powers based on bigger council areas and resolution that obliges compliance. None recognising Taiwan as a separate state, statutory political fairness. But, for those of the many Security Council Resolutions with Peking continuing to insist that it was committed to restoring Stormont, have which Israel is in breach of is a Chapter 7 an integral part of China. The most likely you a better—or equally stable—way of Resolution, requiring the application of occasion of the next World War is a making use of the big house on the hill. force to make the subject comply. The US Taiwanese declaration of independence, uses its Veto to protect Israel from such supported by the USA, with Peking Resolutions. Your comments are sought! asserting Chinese sovereignty over Mark Langhammer Taiwan. [email protected] A generation ago, Western propaganda gave the world to understand that the This matter is beyond the scope of the Soviet Union was the Power that always Mark Langhammer was a Labour UN, which has no function in the relations said No. The record shows that the USSR between these states, which are recognised Representation candidate in the 1989 used the Veto only a few times, and that as being capable of waging world war, European Election, was an Independent the USA used it more than the other four and being entitled to do so. Labour Councillor in Newtownabbey combined. Borough Council from 1993-2005. He is The Veto system was realistic, and a member of the Labour Party and currently But the US is not abusing the UN—is might have done no great damage if the not contravening its spirit—by doing this. serves on its National Executive US had not constituted a sixth de facto The UN was deliberately set up in this Committee Vetoist state using its Veto in unconditional way by the USA, the USSR and the UK. support of Israel.

When Britain abdicated responsibility BOOK for Palestine in the face of Jewish terrorism, it transferred responsibility to the UN LAUNCH General Assembly, preventing the Security Also available: Council from taking it in hand. The Reprint of the 1918 Classic by General Assembly (consisting mainly of Aubane Historical Society J.J. HORGAN: client states of the USA and USSR, who Aubane, Millstreet, Co. Cork The Grammar Of Anarchy: were in agreement on the measure) voted Force Or Law—Which? in support of the establishment of Jewish Unionism, 1910-1914 State in Palestine, and set out its borders, Friday, 20th October 7.30 pm ISBN 1 874157 15 4. 64pp. Euro 6, £4 and that was the end of its role in the matter. The Zionist movement took the TEACHERS CLUB, 36 PARNELL SQUARE, authorisation to establish a state but Britain's Great War, DUBLIN Pope Benedict's Lost Peace: ignored the territorial allocations. The Jewish State did not live for an hour within Envoi, Taking Leave Of Roy Foster How Britain Blocked The Pope's Peace Efforts Between 1915 And 1918 its allocated borders. It set about conquering further territory beyond those reviews of his made up IRISH STORY by Dr. Pat Walsh ISBN 1 874157 14 6. 60pp. Euro 6, £4 borders and launched a great terrorist by Julianne Herlihy, Brendan ethnic cleansing campaign against the very Clifford David Alvey, Brian P Murphy All Welcome large Arab minority within those borders— osb about 48%. (And it started driving out ISBN 1 903497 28 0. 204pp. Index. Euro 15, £ 11 [email protected] Arabs from the moment the UN resolution was passed, while Britain was still in 5 nominal control.) loyalist paramilitaries" (IN 13.7.06). Another threat was that British forces The territory to the South of Lebanon, would be withdrawn 10 miles inside the bombarded in the recent conflict, is Editorial Commentary NI Border, creating "a non-man's land territory conquered and annexed by Israel in which the terrorists could do what in 1948. The 1967 borders are no more they would". Other possible sanctions legitimate in terms of the 1947 UN considered by the Cabinet Office were: resolution than the post-1967 borders. May 1976: British Government "an embargo on trade, a ban on But Israel is a democracy of the West- Threatens Republic With Loyalist remittances, withdrawal of social ern kind, and it may therefore conquer and Violence . Recently-released official security benefits from Irish citizens, annex. And not one of its major political papers show that within a short time of prohibition or limitation of Irish parties is committed to anything less than unexplained murders, and two years after immigration and the ending of the voting the restoration of the land awarded to the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings of rights of Irish citizens in this country" 1974, eight heavily-armed SAS men (Letter of G.W. Harding of FCO to T.F. Moses by God, which as far as we recall Benchley in Cabinet Office, 18.5.1976). was not bounded by the Jordan river. were arrested on the Irish side of the Milder measures could be a sustained Border. They were in civilian clothes propaganda campaign, "a suspension The Ameranglian war on Iraq was and heavily armed. They were travelling of… contacts with the Irish on Northern conducted in the spirit of Israel’s wars. in three cars and there was a 2-hour gap Ireland matters and a refusal of training The pupil has become the exemplar. between the first and second capture. and other facilities to the Irish security The two groups had different cover services". Behind the scenes contacts A flimsy pretence was made to begin stories. They had machine-guns, a sawn- on Northern Ireland was the only form with that it was a preemptive war of defence off, pump-action shotgun, and a dagger. of involvement granted to the Irish against an Iraqi nuclear threat. Then that Police questioned them about the murder Government in those days. pretence was given up, and it was defended of Seamus Ludlow, an elderly bachelor An official predicted that, if as a war of policy. There was not a vestige with no political affiliations whose body imprisoned, the SAS men could receive of an Iraqi nuclear threat, but it was a was found near Dundalk just 4 days the same sort of violence as "prison ‘good war’ anyway because it got rid of a earlier. They were also quizzed about officers" had meted out to those accused tyrant—was that not what Martin the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings. of the Birmingham pub bombings the Mansergh said on behalf of the They were charged with possessing previous year. Government? firearms with intent to endanger life and Merlyn Rees was the NI Secretary of brought before the Special Criminal State at the time, Garret FitzGerald was And what if the destruction of the Court, where they bailed. The Irish the Irish External Affairs Minister, while tyranny—under which the great majority News, relying on archive research, Paddy Cooney was Minister for Justice. of the people lived secured lives in a revealed the lengths to which the British In the event, the Coalition Government liberal social and comfortable social- Government was willing to go to obtain bowed to British pressure. The men democratic economic framework—gave the exoneration of these men. A number were cleared of the more serious charge rise to a chaos of fundamentalism in which of different forms of pressure, which and fined £100 each on a lesser charge. nothing and nobody is secure? Never could be brought to bear on the Irish, Whether this denouement resulted from mind. People can vote freely for any one were suggested by civil servants. Of fear of British official displeasure or of of a selected group of a hundred parties particular interest, in view of persistent unofficial retaliation via a Loyalist standing for God knows what, and fielding allegations of security force/loyalist onslaught it is not possible to say. who knows who. They may have lost the paramilitary collusion, is the threat that, (Needless to say the Irish Times ignored condition of civilised life, but they’ve if the SAS men were imprisoned, "There these revelations.) been given Democracy! could be a strong and violent reaction by

Quarter Loaf Of Palestine of the native Arab population to make Bruce Arnold warned the Irish way for the colonists, as had been done in Government against sending troops to the Lebanon, when it appeared that the Frank Adam (Letters, August 14) North America in the previous century. French would be leading the UN advises "the Palestine Arabs to stop being A "quarter loaf" (if that) is all that's deployment. He wrote: "can we trust fractious and take up what is now the available to Arabs today. An historical the French? As former colonists in quarter loaf". wrong has been done to the Arab people of Lebanon—fortunately for us, not tarred It is by no means certain that Israel is Palestine. by the British-in-Cork brush—their prepared to grant Palestine Arabs even a David Morrison position has been a difficult one to accept quarter of the land of Palestine. What is Irish Independent of 22nd August 2006 by any potential UN participant" (Irish certain is that, if the quarter is granted, Independent 19.8.06). What does that Israel will retain the right to police the convoluted wording mean? That the quarter from F16s and Apache helicopters Iran And Genocide French did not behave as badly in (as happened in Gaza after the withdrawal Melanie Phillips (The Spectator, Lebanon as the British did in Cork. of Israeli ground forces a year ago) and to August 5) writes that Iran is pledged to Nevertheless, as the former colonial eliminate without charge or trial any “the genocide of the Jews, as a prelude to power, they cannot be trusted. Bruce individual within the quarter it considers destroying the West and infidels Arnold is hardly a convert to anti- to be a terrorist. In other words, the everywhere”. I have difficulty reconciling colonialism! His objections to France "quarter loaf" will not amount to an this with the fact that a seat is reserved in are not spelled out clearly, but he independent Palestinian state. the Iranian Parliament for Iranian Jews. obviously feels that Hezbollah should Frank Adam's reference to the "quarter Does the genocide pledge not apply to be disarmed and fears the French would loaf" points to the root of the problem. not do his. (And, by the way, who is the The project initiated by Britain in 1917 Iranian Jews? "we" this Englishman speaks of?) with the aim of establishing a loyal Jewish David Morrison colony in Palestine meant the displacement Spectator, 12.8.06 More on page 8 6 Remembering The Arms Trial Speech of Harry Boland on 16th July 2006 at Glasnevin Cemetery, during a Thoughts Occasioned by commemoration of Captain James Kelly on A Matter Of Honour the Third Anniversary of his death Harry Boland's Oration

v I was very surprised but greatly into which Jim Kelly was wrongly and Pat Murphy has said that, as any society honoured when Sheila asked me if I would carelessly drawn. needs a political/social framework within give a short talk at this the 3rd Commemor- which it can cohere, he came to the ation of Jim Kelly's death and, knowing I was reared in the environment of that conclusion a good while back that the how Sheila and family and friends have wonderful, if comparatively small group only possible such framework in the South been so loyal and committed to clearing of patriotic people who tackled the of Ireland was Republicanism (in the Irish Jim's name for the honourable and loyal "Greatest Empire" the world had ever sense). In practice I, and I think most of person he so definitely was, I said I would known, who thought and think of them- my colleagues, have been operating do my bit. When I asked what I should say, selves as the Master Race, and they almost politically for some time past within such Sheila said "what is in your heart" so that succeeded in driving them from our small a framework. But this was the first time it is what I'll endeavour to do. country. They were truly "Politicians by had been spelled out for me. Accident" and even in the sad state of I had no knowledge of Jim's existence affairs that they inherited, I was always As communists we had to accept that until he was catapulted into the National satisfied that their objectives and love for communism is not a foreseeable Limelight with the scandalous and most Ireland was sacrosanct. framework for Irish social development. unfair "Arms Trial". I knew some of the In any case, the 1916 Proclamation and others accused—C. J. Haughey was in Then, to have to realise that some of the Programme of the First Dail, should be class with me in Joeys and in UCD and we those who succeeded this group could be enough to keep any left-wing politics going studied for accountancy and set up business so self-centred as to concoct a false for generations. Indeed, I was looking together. I first met Neil Blaney at the charge—I found very hard to believe. back on the 60s with my former IRA OC famous By-Election when he was first Even when our Courts of Justice found and I thought that, had we not been elected to replace his late father in Dáil those wrongly accused people "Not hamstrung by socialist theology, we might Éireann and I accompanied my father to Guilty" we had the unedifying and have noticed that the state we lived in at Dún na nGall and said a few words at an disgraceful accusation by a Senior Politic- the time was already rather socialist— "after Mass Meeting". Albert Luykx was ian that the Jury had been "got at". Forcing though overlain with a Catholic ideology a respected neighbour of mine in Sutton. one unidentified member of that Jury to through which the nation developed and John Kelly I got to know after the Trial, break silence to deny categorically that cohered. when my friend Gerry Jones was trying to any pressure had been put on the Jury— get him started again, and when I was apart of course from the clear evidence Well, the Catholic framework is gone handling a small Fund which Gerry Jones produced to it in Court. and is unlikely to return. But the Republican world view has shown a and Des McGreevy had set up to assist Having got to know Jim I never had surprising resilience in the face of deserving Republican relatives. any doubt regarding the complete honesty academic, media and political assaults— Distribution was made through John and of what he said and did. Indeed I had the all orchestrated from Britain. the late Independent Republican MP, great pleasure last September to attend the Paddy Kennedy. commissioning of my grandson, Aonghus, These assaults were intended to root That left Jim Kelly whose whole in the Irish Navy in Haulbowline when I out a distinctive Irish view of the world performance in the Court I followed— heard for the first time in detail the Oath and of itself. But once exposed in public, what was reported in the newspaper. After sworn on these occasions and this and then by a very few people, these one particular disgraceful episode by the confirmed my strongly held opinion that revisionist assaults have led to large then Minister for Defence, my brother, Jim's behaviour through all that awful meetings around the country, to riots in Kevin, who had been Minister for Defence episode was positively faithful to that Dublin, to an avalanche of letters and when first elected to Dáil Éireann, was same oath that he had sworn when he was articles to newspapers and magazines, leaving the Court, which he had attended commissioned. and a demand for pamphlets and books each day, the former Commander in Chief, I am pleased that, even though it came countering the revisionist view of our General McEoin, turned to him and said after Jim's death, our present Taoiseach history—or more precisely the attempts "wasn't that nauseating". When I read the publicly stated he was satisfied that Jim to make us ashamed of our history and detailed account Jim recorded, the whole had always acted under orders, I feel that reintegrate us into Brritish non-culture. dreadful plot which was clearly designed the full Government apology was not given The project has been to atomise us, as has to shaft Haughey and Blaney—for for political reasons but I sincerely hope largely been done in Britain outside of different reasons, I believe, became clear that the official Government acknowledge- some of its ethnic minorities—now under to me and the career and good name of a ment of this will be issued without further direct assault. mere lowly Captain was completely delay, particularly now that even further disregarded—with tampered evidence in proof that Sheila, her family and supporters This may seem a strange comment on Colonel Hefferon's case, and, as papers have since unearthed. the oration by Harry Boland at the since made public prove, not only graveside of Capt. James Kelly in politicians but also Civil Servants Guím suaimhneas síoraí agus rath Dé Glasnevin on July 16th. But that occasion contributed to the disgraceful performance ar anam dílis Jim. 7 was symptomatic of a resurgence of "Official IRA Said To Be Behind Republicanism, given the content of the Beating". The Irish News states that the Editorial Commentary "Official IRA was last night blamed for oration, the brief speeches of Mrs. Kelly continued and others and, above all, the coming a so-called 'punishment beating in west Belfast which left a teenager with serious together at the graveside of people who, in head injuries… in Albert Street in the another era, would have crossed the road lower Falls area…" (14.8.06). to avoid each other, or worse. Harry's Iran "must prove that it has no military father would have cheerfully shot mine, applications in mind for its enrichment" Fool's Gold. Dr. Constantin Gurdgiev and vice versa. And I don't think that of nuclear fuel, says the Irish Times. has dismissed Irish prosperity, as merely Harry Blaney's family would have gone How do you prove what you have not based on a property boom and Multi on picnics with mine. But here we had got in your mind? But the Irish public National activity (Ireland Is Rich All nothing to differ about. can rest secure: "the regime in Tehran Right—Rich In Fool's Gold, Daily Mail knows well that most western nations 11.7.06). He says quoted shares, and The Chairman spoke on behalf of the are determined to do whatever is assets of financial institutions, depend organisers, the 1916-21 Committee, heirs necessary to prevent it building a nuclear on real estate for up to 70% of their value, while 82% of household savings of the "Old IRA", and talked about relying arsenal… Israel cannot be expected to entertain the fact of a nuclear-armed are linked to property. In 2005 around on the men of no property. All this was Iran…" (Iran's Diplomatic Two-Step. two-thirds of new jobs were linked to given a great reception by a gathering 23.8.06). housing. 75% of export earnings are composed of Fianna Failers, Fine Gaelers, Multi-National-generated, while c17% socialists, communists, modern day Northern Bank Raid. Despite the best of Irish GDP was derived from the republicans, people with roots in Clan na efforts of the security forces of two activities of such companies outside the Poblachta, and soldiers past and present States, no link has been proved between country. Less than 30% of GDP was (official and unofficial!). the IRA and this robbery. The only produced by the indigenous, non- money recovered so far, which can be construction-based private sector. He This was only one of many events of a definitively linked to the raid, has been suggests real wealth is manifested by similar nature that I have attended around found in an RUC social club. Yet public structures of various kinds. Dr. Gurdgiev edits Business & Finance the country recently. Also in my travels I journalist Conor Lally listed authoritatively the particular investments magazine and lectures in Economics at have discovered a renewed interest in the that the money was robbed for in IRA UCD. Irish language, especially among the Bank Money Was For Investment In young. The GAA is, of course, the most Bulgaria (IT 26.6.06). His evidence Haughey . In Carve-Ups Since important national institution. And this is amounts to the statement that "The Irish Foundation Of The State, Irish Times particularly important in cosmopolitan Times has learned" this. It seems that star reporter, Stephen Collins, recently Dublin. the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau is described how constituencies have been investigating 5 individuals, that the PSNI manipulated for party-political The decline of the Church and the Chief Constable "has said he believes advantage down the years. A large inset effects of British non-culture have brought that the IRA carried out the robbery", in the article read, "In 1988 the Haughey that city, though not the other cities, to the and that "His views have been echoed by government attempted to manipulate the [electoral] commission by changing the brink of complete social breakdown. The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell". Such is journalism in the terms of reference". Governments have GAA has been the crucial institution alleged paper of record. Faith in God every right to set the terms of reference preventing that. (Though the European has transmuted itself into unquestioning of Commissions they establish. But, orientation of the Trade Union movement belief in Gospel of Power! more to the point, as Collins himself has also to be mentioned in maintaining admits, it was Jim Tully of Fine Gael social coherence.) More than a week before Loyalists did their best to provoke the who had earlier produced "a cynical Dublin was due to play in the All-Ireland Catholic community with their 11th constituency revision, dubbed the semi-final, there were more flags, banners Night Bonfire Decorations. The 'Tullymander', clearly designed to and bunting in working class estates than Ahoghill Bonfire was decorated with a produce a seat bonus for Labour and I've ever seen in Sandy Row on the 12th Tricolour bearing the words, Fuck Fine Gael" (9.8.06 IT). Jack Lynch then of July. (And never mind that they must Mickey Bo'—alluding to Michael established an Electoral Commission in 1979 to cut out such malpractice. have known that Cork would win anyway McIlveen, the schoolboy beaten to death by a gang in Ballymena. An elaborate Haughey's 'offence' was to try to specify in the final!) bonfire in Belfast, bore the names of 10 that the Commission could only set up 5- IRA men who died on Hunger-Strike 25 seat constituencies in order to avoid It is my view that a cultural regeneration years ago. breaching County boundaries, but he is occurring in Ireland—and is being failed to win sufficient support for his helped to occur by the united efforts of The SDLP is said to have hired consultants move. Now, which of those two events people from every shade of Republican to advise on reversing its electoral deserved the sensationalist inset caption? opinion—most of whom received a rude decline, and to have been told to stress (Incidentally, Frank Dunlop's memoir is awakening by the war in the North. crime issues. Its spokesmen also seem well worth reading on such matters.) to believe they can gain by making an The drive to denigrate Haughey is Conor Lynch equivalence between the DUP and Sinn unremitting, even after death. Fein. Thus Deputy Leader Dr. Alasdair McDonnell demands: "The DUP has Break Up Of Yugoslavia. A Dublin got to stop messing around on power- subscriber writes (11 May 2006): "I'm sharing and Sinn Féin has got to stop reading with interest the May issue. A messing around on its commitment to a small correction—it's not true to say (page lawful society…" (22.7.06 IT). 4) that Serbs were the only people in 8 Yugoslavia who had conducted a state— McGuinness who chaired, asked about Montenegro had (unless you count them guns. She said she had attempted to as Serbs). More substantially, I think you access information about legally-held don't give enough emphasis to the Processing Peace In weapons in Northern Ireland and she contribution of the Serbs to the break up of Portcullis House Yugoslavia, eg. the collapse of the agreed with Doherty's assessment that the total was about 120,000, 80% of them in collective Presidency." On Tuesday 13th June 2006, Sinn Féin Unionist hands. (That is, one legal weapon (or its GB organisation the Wolfe Tone for every ten persons—an astonishing No Irish Died! Close readers of the Irish Society) held a meeting on the Northern Times will wonder how it is that some figure—practically American saturation Ireland Peace Process. The venue was weeks no Irish people died—or so it levels.) I think ‘Moya' was trying to get on Portcullis House, an over-grand building could be thought, if one relied on its to the Loyalist paramilitaries' weaponry where MPs do their business. Sinn Féin, Obituary pages for information. It merits and Doherty was avoiding the issue— I feel, was making a point having the a study of its own. Suffice it for present presumably because of the above ‘straw event there. They were told they ought to to say that no Irish people died in the in the wind'. week ending 12th August. The Irish seek a ‘franchise' (as if they didn't have He also mentioned the assertion of Times obituaries that week were of James one). Having half a dozen people with Reg Empey (the ‘Official' or Ulster Van Allen, US space project pioneer; MP after their names must be soul Unionist Party leader) that all the Unionist Vincent J. Fuller, US trial lawyer; Lt. satisfying. The meeting was addressed by parties have used and abused the Loyalist Col. George Styles, a British bomb Pat Doherty who took an avuncular attitude communities. This might have been ‘dig' disposal expert; and Anthony Cave to his audience, did little speechifying, Brown, a British spy-journalist. There at the DUP who waxed wroth about Empey but took a lot of questions. was another such week on 1st August. allowing the one PUP Assembly member What he did say was that Sinn Féin Featured were: Aaron Spelling, US to take the UUP whip and thereby give wants this structure to work, they are not producer; Lyle Stuart, US far-out them an extra Ministerial seat (and of interested in a ‘talking-shop' and Gerry publisher; and Sir Peter Smithers, a course deprive the DUP of it). The Adams's proposal of Ian Paisley for First British spy. It is also noticeable that Progressive Unionist Party is the political native Irish deceased consistently are Minister was a serious attempt to get the arm of the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force), rated lower and get smaller write-ups DUP to take the Assembly and Peace and at its AGM reasserted its connection than others. Process seriously. He was diverted by a to the UVF. This means that the UVF is question into discussing the DUP and back where it belongs with the Ulster Smoking. That Irish anti-smoking mentioned what he called "secular" Unionists who set it up in 1912 (and regulations were introduced as a piece elements, as opposed to Paisley's Free of social engineering, rather than as a elements of which set it up—again—in Presbyterian element (though he hastened Health & Safety measure for employees, 1966). as claimed by Minister Micheál Martin to say the Paisley is the dominant figure in the Party). For what it's worth, this seems at the time, is shown by a curious court THE (‘OFFICIAL') I. R. A. to me to be a misconception. The DUP is event, which was not strictly a legal HASN'T GONE AWAY, YOU KNOW. case, as no prosecution or civil tort was a purely secular organisation. (A member More to the point, the Ministerial involved. Malone Engineering Products of the Connolly Republican Club in the position garnered by giving David Ervine Ltd. of Dublin sought a High Court late 1960s was a Free Presbyterian.) Sinn the UUP whip can only really go to David declaration that its 'Freshwall' structure, Féin's conception of what they have taken Ervine. This will consolidate the ‘Sticky' designed to be erected beside pubs, was to calling ‘the Unionist community' is compliant with the Public Health hold on the UUP. That may read very somewhat skewed. The DUP may well oddly, but the PUP is in intellectual thrall Tobacco Act 2002. The Health and fall apart when Paisley Senior goes. Safety Executive opposed endorsement. to the remnants of the Workers' Party. Justice Roderick Keane rejected Other questions were about the (Seán Garland would probably be welcome 'Freshwall', not because it breaches the ‘marching season'—a Lord Hilton to sleeping space in many PUP homes fresh air provisions of the legislation, suggested that ‘all parties' could ensure should he need such, now he is ‘on the run' but because it is too comfortable! The that it goes off peacefully, and Pat Doherty from Imperial Amerikkka.) There is also structure has a timber floor, radiators, a agreed. the fact that Professors Bew and Patterson mirror at one end, and two TV sets, Hilton also mentioned loyalist entered the UUP on the outbreak of peace along with: "comfortable seating for 27 decommissioning, and Pat Doherty said in 1994. The Stickies control the Irish people" (IT 22.7.06). In a similar vein, that there was a "straw in the wind" that Labour Party, a lot of the media, and tracts the European Commission recently the UVF may decommission. A lady, refused to outlaw as discrimination a of Irish academia. Diarmuid Feiritéir—a with an old-fashioned ‘upper class accent' ‘revisionist' historian—was ‘outed' as a denial of employment to someone who addressed as "Moya" by Dodie smokes outside working hours. member of the WPI by John Waters on Radio Éireann recently. ‘Stickies' (and Reader's Letter we mean the full gamut: WPI, DL, Bush's 'in' Joke? Now what what is the point of Camus's Althusserian professors, post office Stranger? What did the stranger do? robbing gunmen, newspaper columnists, Comrades, Romans, Orangemen, lend me He shot an Arab and could offer no lapsed Trotskyists, cryptos and the rest) your ears, for this is truly delicious... explanation—even to himself—as to why have been displaced in RTÉ. At least they "White House spokesman Tony Snow he did it . . . no longer have a stranglehold over news said on Friday that President George W. One wonders if a faint light flickered reporting, but they are still about in large Bush , had made quick work of Albert on in Bush's head, as he sat amongst the numbers. As noted above, the have two Camus' “The Stranger” while on his major parties under their sway, if not their Texas ranch enjoying a 10-day vacation Moo cows. from Washington". Sartre's Ghost continued on page 11 9 This seems to be the role of the UN in the No mention was made of the constituencies world. Following the chaos caused by the in Cork that were not contested. Indeed various US invasions, the UN's role is to the way Mitchell constructed his speech Shorts consolidate the facts on the ground. It is a the impression was given that the 1918 neat division of labour. I once met a election was a vote for Griffith's ideas of from Frenchman who served with the UN in the a single monarch for Ireland and Britain the Long Fellow Lebanon for many years. He said that in along the lines of the Austro-Hungarian all the years he spent there he never met a Empire. It was as if 1916 and the First UN soldier who was an American. World War had never happened. The title THE DECLINE AND FALL Normally, the UN's role would be to of the speech was: What Role For A After the last American Presidential neutralise local insurgents, but the Monarch In A 32 County Ireland? (It can election this column suggested: Hezbollah is not a defeated army. Au be read in full on the Fine Gael website, "There must be many in the American contraire! Jacques Chirac has been where it is prominently featured.) He establishment who are wondering if scrambling to ingratiate himself to the indicated that there was no constitutional George W's conservative east coast opponent might have been a safer bet to Americans after the Iraq invasion of 2003, impediment to a monarch for the 32 preserve the long term material interests but it is extremely unlikely that domestic counties and that the Unionist attachment of the Empire." political considerations will allow France to the crown could be accommodated Nearly two years on Bush is looking do America and Israel's dirty work in the without undermining the dignity of our like a complete disaster from the USA's Lebanon. After promising 200 troops, President. He also quoted Griffith to the point of view. American soldiers are Chirac has given a commitment to send effect that Irish independence could have bogged down in Iraq. The Taliban is 2,000 as part of a 15,000 UN force. What been achieved by peaceful means. resurgent in Afghanistan. The divided its exact role will be is unclear at the time Sensing the lukewarm reaction to country of Lebanon is uniting behind the of writing, but it almost certainly will not Mitchell's speech, William Scally (a Hezbollah and meanwhile a number of be involved in disarming the Hezbollah. former Labour Party Economics advisor) countries in South America are forging rather apologetically defended Mitchell alliances with Cuba. PLAN C by saying that it was good to hear It is unlikely that John Kerry would Plan C for the Americans involves provocative and challenging views. This have been a great President; on the other talking to the Syrians. Syria has in the past is an entirely bogus defence. The Collins/ hand, he might have caused less harm. being willing to do political business with Griffith commemoration is not a debating the Americans in order to increase its society. It is an opportunity to pay homage THE NEO CON VISION room for manoeuvre. For instance, it is to two great patriots. If a speech is made at But that's not how the neo conservative unclear what its role in the current war in variance with the legacy of Collins and supporters of George W see things. Iraq is. In the First Gulf War it backed the Griffith, the listener cannot heckle or Following the fall of communism they Americans. But what can America give it interrupt without undermining the thought that there was an opportunity for this time to detach it from its Hezbollah ceremonial dignity of the occasion. The America to dominate the world and and Iranian allies? The Golan Heights: best that the dissenting listener can do is domination comes through control of Israel finishing a war with less territory keep his hands clenched firmly in his resources. Part of the strategy involved than it started? I doubt it. Damascus might pockets. de-stabilising the Lebanon with a view to very well decide that George Junior is a In the light of the fiasco of the Mitchell bringing it within the American-Israel much less reliable bet than his East Coast speech the Collins/Griffith Commemor- sphere of influence. The ultimate aim is to Patrician father. ation Committee needs to decide on criteria isolate Iran by weakening its allies in the for the type of speech to be made. I would region: the Hezbollah and Syria. THE MONARCHIST PROJECT suggest that at a minimum the speaker In the current phase of the strategy it In all of this Britain is irrelevant. And must recognise the legitimacy of the 1916 was probably not envisaged that Israel that will be the legacy of the American pet Rebellion and the War of Independence. would occupy south Lebanon. It appears poodle Tony Blair in the International The famous economist John Maynard that the destruction of the infrastructure sphere: irrelevance. Keynes once said that he changed when was designed to teach the non-Muslim Of course, Ireland has its own pet circumstances changed. What Griffith said population of Lebanon what happens when poodles, but Sean O Leary is definitely before the First World War is of only US-Israel hegemony is challenged. not one of them. He kicked off the annual academic interest: the essential fact Another idea was that a weakened Michael Collins/Arthur Griffith com- remains that on his deathbed he wished Hezbollah might have emboldened pro memoration at Glasnevin cemetery with a his name would always be associated with Israeli elements within the political elite denunciation of Kevin Myers's recent that of Michael Collins. of the Christian community to finish the "scurrilous" articles: If William Scally wants a debating job that the Israelis had started. It was "the most shocking thing about the society he might just as well invite noticeable that many Christian villages in articles was that Myers compared Collins someone like . . . Kevin Myers. South Lebanon were untouched during to that scoundrel Winston Churchill who had the temerity to question our neutrality the recent hostilities. However, not only KEVIN MYERS during the Second World War. I have has a civil war failed to materialise, but In truth the articles by Myers in the always been very critical of DeValera Irish Independent were not quite as bad as Lebanese society seems to have united but he showed his statesmanship in behind the Hezbollah. The US and Israel standing up to Churchill during that I feared. He says some interesting things must therefore revert to "Plan B and C". time." about the imperialist warmonger Winston Churchill and his military disasters such PLAN B Unfortunately, the commemoration as Gallipoli. Regarding the Second World Last year following, the assassination went downhill from there. At the graveside he refers to "the destruction of German of Rafic Hariri this column said it would of Arthur Griffith, Fine Gael MEP and TD cities long after all military and moral keep an eye on Beirut. Now that recent Gay Mitchell trotted out the usual justification for this murderous strategy events have taken their course the focus revisionist rubbish. He repeated the tired had been superseded"; although he places has changed to Paris and Damascus. Plan old line that a majority of the people did the prime responsibility for this on Bomber B is that the UN will 'clean up the mess'. not vote for a republic in the 1918 election. Harris rather than Churchill. Could it be 10 that Myers is writing better articles now as likely to repel the electorate as inspire or at least the politically active among that he has escaped the clutches of The it to vote them into office. them, made it abundantly clear with the Irish Times Politburo (a.k.a. "the Trust")? Which emphasises a point in Sinn destruction of the CEC (Campaign for Regarding Myers's views on Collins, I Féin's favour, the Stickies could not even Equal Citizenship for NI) and of the CLR don't expect much from a writer who keep their own show on the road. Rabbitte (Campaign for Labour Representation in writes in the British interest; although will be given the shove if he does not get NI) that they reject Britishness (except for why such a columnist is writing in a Labour into government, and it is possible flags and emblems). national paper, even one owned by "Sir" Anthony O' Reilly is another question. At that his fellow-Sticks will go with him. The same people, who put a substantial least, Myers is much more straightforward They will have proved to have been a amount of energy into the destruction of than Gay Mitchell. It is hardly a surprise liability. Quite where all their fellow the road into proper Britishness— that he regards the liquidation of the "Cairo travellers will go to, it is difficult to know. membership of the political parties of gang" by Collins's twelve apostles as a They will almost certainly retain their State—did nothing to cultivate an Ulster criminal act rather than an act of war. His mindless hatred of Republicanism, but nationalism. That was the only real defence of the subsequent British military that too may be useful to Sinn Féin—lots alternative to becoming a part of the Irish terror of "Bloody Sunday" as being of people would vote for anybody other State system (suitably re-arranged to provoked by Collins is right up there along than Kevin Myer's recommendation. accommodate them). with the Israeli excuses for the invasion of It should be put to them that the Lebanon. BACK TO PORTCULLIS alternative to becoming citizens of an Pat Doherty said in regard to the Irish State (in which they can join or vote KEVIN MYERS AGAIN The ubiquitous Myers made an Assembly, that power over policing should for or create whatever political formation appearance on Newstalk 106 recently on be transferred to it, and that it should be they choose), is festering in a political the subject of immigration. The other allowed to review public administration. slum. The political parties in contention guests were Eamonn McCann and a "Keith Presumably the last point refers to the for the rulership of the UK State can Best" from some English pressure group. expenditure of money in the Six Counties. ignore them—and will ignore them—to Best made some comment about racism in This is more or less the policy of the UUP the detriment of everyone in their ‘wee the Daily Mail, Express and the Sun from the Molyneaux days. It is strongly Ulster'. concerning the immigration issue. Myers opposed to quangocracy. Pat Doherty then accused him of implying that anyone claimed that a United Ireland is "unfolding who questions immigration is a xenophobe before our eyes", and he pointed out that Wind That Shakes The Barley and racist. Best said that Myers was mis- Sinn Féin is "leaning on" Fianna Fáil in Loach understands our history representing what he actually said. He the Republic. That is difficult to was talking about how it was handled by understand, as SF / FF, at least in terms of Pierce Martin (Village 27 July) writes the tabloid newspapers in Britain. Then their rank and file, appear to be a natural that Ken Loach has no knowledge of our Myers went into a sulk and said that he alliance. history "as his film demonstrates". Pierce, never really wanted to appear in the In Northern Ireland Sinn Féin is in like many of Loach's critics, is wrong. The discussion because he knew "Kevin Myers" ‘dialogue' with Unionists, or ‘the Unionist events portrayed in the film are mainly (he used the third person) would be accused community'—which is all very well, but based on actual incidents that anyone who of xenophobia and racism, which the Unionists are not in ‘dialogue' with has studied the period will be familiar prompted McCann to burst out laughing. them. with. Not for the first time I notice that He mentioned that Sinn Féin (and the Myers can dish it out but is not very good Loach has obviously done his research SDLP) in local government use the at taking it. well. He has changed a few details here d'Hondt system and ‘share power'. He and there. He is allowed to for two reasons: noted that the previous week a DUP one, he is making a film, not a documentary councillor became the Mayor of Strabane, and two, he is trying to give an overall something entirely unlikely in the normal flavour of the times. He does this well. He Processing Peace course of events. Strabane is a Nationalist conveys the atmosphere, main events and continued town. More to the point, this sort of thing arguments of a complex period in history does not happen in places where Unionists collective thumb, and they may be in in a film of little over two hours. He (of any variety) are on top. Even the government in both ends of Ireland shortly. portrays the British Empire as a failed Alliance Party can engage in The Assembly will be something of a social and moral entity. The best it could gamesmanship, the Alliance councillors ‘let's pretend' situation even if it is got up offer its war-heroes (the Tans and Auxies) withheld the mayorship from Sinn Féin and running. The perception that its after their gallant sacrifice was a living, for some years in Belfast. Ministers are doing something worthwhile shooting and harassing the citizens of will be created. The media are not going west Cork. COMMUNITIES to investigate. Sir Anthony O'Reilly got He is also acquainted with the writings Sinn Féin's attitude to the Unionists is of James Connolly. If this concurs with the Belfast Telegraph group of papers defective in the sense that, while they are because his Independent group in Great Loach's socialist perspective, so what? It prepared to treat them as a ‘community', is because Loach is a socialist that he Britain and Ireland supported the Good they clearly put a very narrow Friday Agreement. UTV retained its notices such things in the first place and it interpretation in the term 'community'. is equally natural that Irish history should licence to print money because it is a The Unionists are a national community, mouthpiece of the NIO. The Beeb in NI be of interest to him. Pierce backs up his the other Irish nation. Treating them as grandiloquent assertion that "Loach has always done what it was told. Pat slow-learners, or being smarmy with them Rabbitte has shackled the Irish Labour will be counterproductive. The Unionists, Party to Fine Gael, a combination which is continued on page 12, col. 1 11 ever dream of asking about his 1920s experiences. Unfortunately, that 'Don't To Be Or IRB ? Part Two: mention the war' syndrome extended back before the Civil War years to also preclude discussing his War of Independence experiences—a great pity because, as I Some Issues of Class and Office have recently learned, he had in fact played a significant role as the IRA Quartermaster In 1967 I attended a funeral in Dean's die-hard she, in thrall to the demagogic in Fingal, North County Dublin. Grange cemetery, County Dublin, of the rhetoric of MacStiofáin. Quite the repatriated remains of Reggie Dunne and contrary. I knew Mrs. Brophy as a I had no such reticence in the family Joe O'Sullivan, who had been executed in respectable Fine Gael supporter, while circle of other childhood playmates whose August 1922 for the assassination of Sir her husband Mr. Brophy had been a Free adult members were Fianna Fáil Henry Wilson that June. The funeral was a State army veteran of the Civil War who supporters. I questioned one of them about flamboyantly militaristic affair, conducted proudly sported the military medals of the real terror he had experienced in Croke by the pre-split IRA. The future Provo the state that MacStiofáin refused to Park in November 1920 when the Black- Chief-of-Staff Seán MacStiofáin gave a recognise. and-Tans perpetrated their Blood Sunday blood-curdling graveside oration—roaring massacre. But not only that. From him I They were good neighbours, for such out his defiance of the 'Free State'—while learned that the Irish Civil War had in neighbourliness on our street during the an IRA gun party fired a volley of shots in many ways been what its Irish language 1950s and 1960s was not dependent on salute, before being unsuccessfully pursued name designates, a War of the Brothers. any studied informality of adults by the Garda Special Branch present in the He told me of the Free Stater Seán Hales addressing each other on a first name cemetery. fighting against his Republican brother, basis, or even necessarily knowing what Tom Hales. It was from him that I also The Dunne/O'Sullivan funeral came as those Catholic, Protestant or Jewish first learned for the first time of the horrific somewhat of a shock to my understanding names actually were. Still less was it torture previously endured by that same of Republicanism—but not because of any dependent on any coincidence of political Tom Hales at the hands of the Essex IRA behaviour. What knocked me back in views (otherwise the O'Riordans would Regiment during the War of Independence, great surprise was to see an elderly not have stood a chance with anybody!). an incident on which is based one of the neighbour of mine standing on her own One of the Brophy daughters baby-sat most gruesome scenes in Ken Loach's and quietly crying to herself during the me, but it was with my own contempor- prize-winning film The Wind That Shakes course of the ceremony. What on earth aries, the son and daughter of Mrs. The Barley. was she doing there? No Sinn Féin/IRA Brophy's nephew Mr. Golden, who was living next door to her, that I had the more None of my ease in holding such immediate friendship of childhood Loach film continued childhood discussions with Fianna Fáil playmates. neighbours, while avoiding them with Fine doesn't give a fig" about Irish history by Gaelers, had anything whatsoever to do It would, however, be misleading to implying he doesn't like Loach's "warped" with class. If anything, some of the former suggest that the Fine Gael identity made politics—hardly an argument by any were more inclined to have social 'notions', absolutely no difference to me as to how while the broader Brophy-Golden family standards. I interacted with such neighbours. My embodied one of the most democratic Pierce further asserts that Ireland did mother used to bring me to the annual class compositions on the street—with an not need to fight for its freedom and its commemorative Mass for "Rory, Dick, academic, a civil servant, a clerical worker, Declaration of Independence was Joe and Liam", the Four Courts IRA a factory worker and a horticultural worker "illegitimate". Even by Pierce's standards, leaders—O'Connor, Barrett, McKelvey all combining to defy neat 'Marxist' the 1918 election had been fought on an and Mellows—who had been executed as sociological classification. For me the reprisals by the Free State Government independence platform by Sinn Féin and, dividing line was the Civil War pure-and- on 8th December 1922. (One such Mass far from being illegitimate, Dáil Éireann simple. was the embodiment of the will of the was the only occasion that Dev ever said people. This partly explains why it was so "hello" to me, as he was on a mid-1950s Sometimes, however, it is left to the 'break' in Opposition.) successful and why Britain tried to next generation to ask the hard, previously unasked, question that elicits a more honest suppress it. (My mother was not being entirely response, going beyond any stock partisan The Irish delegation were blocked from consistent in her commitment to such position. At the age of 6 my youngest getting a hearing at the 1919 Peace anti-Treatyite commemorations: She child once asked my father, "What side continued to cherish the memory of Conference by the British. The Irish were would James Connolly have fought on in Michael Collins, with whom as a 12 year thus trying all the "approved" channels at the Civil War?". Knowing my father's old girl she had exchanged neighbourly the same time and Britain was giving a own IRA background down to the 1940s, greetings in their native Clonakilty on firm "no". Had the Irish Volunteers/IRA I expected a quick-fire obvious response— 22nd August 1922, only hours before he been standing idly around, the British that Connolly would, of course, have was to be killed in action while fighting fought shoulder to shoulder alongside would have also used the RIC to roll that against the Republic. It came as a great Social Republicans like Liam Mellows organisation up in short shrift and stymied shock to her to learn 40 years later that a and Peadar O'Donnell in the Republic's our bid for freedom even further. To relative of hers had been one of the Four Courts garrison. But this was not the suggest Ireland would have gained Republican ambush party that killed him.) independence from Home Rule is pure answer that came. As there had been no political agenda behind a child's question, speculation, but there is reason to suggest While respecting Mr. Brophy as a my father said nothing for a moment, that such independence would have come kindly neighbour, I was also aware that he had fought on the opposite side of the while the answer that then followed was very late in the day or not at all. Civil War as Rory, Dick, Joe and Liam, one that was in fact reflective rather than Nick Folley and that it was his army that had killed reflexive: "I think that Connolly would Village, 4.8.06 them. Mr. Brophy was not a man I would have fought to prevent the Civil War". 12 It had, of course, been British Free State Army's Dublin Guard: We'll keep the Red Flag flying here. imperialism and not any internal class "Apart from sporadic attacks either Jasus! How I wished James Connolly dynamics of Irish society itself that insisted by lone snipers or by marauding bands might have been there!" (p88). "On Thursday morning, 6 July—after on such a war being fought out, and it is of Irregulars, large-scale resistance to the National Army had, however, ceased a good night's rest—our small party of this factor that makes the IRB's subversion by mid-August (1922). While General troops, who'd been in the Findlater of the 1919-22 Republic all the more Murphy's troops were advancing on buildings since Sunday 2 July {and from tragic, since the leaders genuinely believed Kilmallock, a contingent of the Dublin where they had fatally wounded Cathal that they were ultimately acting as far Guard under General Paddy Daly had Brugha on 5 July—MO'R}, was sent to more clever Republicans. And that is landed at Fenit (on the Kerry coast) on 2 occupy Independent House in Middle why, despite what I consider to be a August and swept through Tralee and Abbey Street and protect it from being powerful portrayal of the War of Co. Kerry, and on the night of 8 August seized by anti-Treatyites. The staff of Independence in The Wind That Shakes General Emmet Dalton's force had the Irish Independent clearly resented The Barley, it rings so hollow in its landed at Passage West and then pressed our presence and did everything they could to make our stay as uncomfortable supposedly acute 'class analysis' of the through Cork. As the so-called 'Munster Republic' collapsed, our duties were to as possible. They resented us not because Civil War, as summed up by the film critic garrison the principal towns and mop up we were soldiers or because they were of Le Monde Diplomatique on July 1st: the scattered Irregulars and their sympathetic to the anti-Treatyites; they "In its tragic second part, the Irish leaders…" resented us simply because we were freedom fighters are torn apart in "Of all the counties in Ireland Kerry Irish troops. Today {in the 1960s}, most disagreement over acceptance of the was probably the most determined in its readers of the Irish Independent Treaty … In the film, pragmatists are opposition to the Treaty and the authority ('Ireland's most popular newspaper') pitted against idealists who dream of a of the National Army, and it was from probably don't release how reactionary socialist order". Kerry as well as from parts of West Cork and pro-British that newspaper once was. that the Irregulars drew their greatest Under the proprietorship of William History should not be written support. Most of the prisoners we held Murphy it not only tried to break Larkin's backwards. The fascist Blueshirt ideologist were anti-Treatyites who'd either been and Connolly's Transport and General James Hogan, author of Could Ireland captured in the field or arrested in their Workers' Union in 1913, but in 1916 its Become Communist? (1935), had not homes, but the great majority of them editorial called for the execution of the always been so unequivocally anti-Soviet. could better be described as political leaders of Rising!" (p144). As both an ideological and military leader prisoners than as prisoners of war" in the Free State's Civil War against the (pp167-8,192). The Le Monde Diplomatique illusion IRA, Hogan had been particularly inspired that "the Free State versus the Workers' by Bolshevik Russia as ruled by Trotsky. The culture clash during this phase of Republic" had been the issue of the Irish In the Spring of 1924 Hogan appeared the Civil War went deeper than divisions Civil War is for the birds. And no issue of before the Committee of Inquiry into the over the Treaty. Rural Kerry experienced class politics had ever been behind the Free State 'Army Mutiny': its occupation by the Dublin Guard as absence until 1967 of any O'Riordan- "Hogan's testimony to the inquiry something akin to a proletarian Brophy conversation concerning the also reflected his fascination with Russia. dictatorship. Indeed, there was no fighting 1920s. As mentioned before, Mrs. Brophy He had met with Soviet officers in Paris unit of significance on either side of the was the mother of both industrial and and seems to have exchanged views on Civil War that was more self-consciously horticultural workers. The ice was, the conditions of the Free State and Red working class than the Dublin Guard. As however, broken by my mother when I armies. A particular admiration for Pinkman recalled its formation: related my encounter at the Dunne/ Trotsky and the way he dealt with "The first British army barracks in O'Sullivan funeral. She later asked Mrs. factionalism in the Red Army is also Dublin to be handed over to the Brophy (neé Golden) why she had been evident. When asked at the inquiry Provisional Government was Beggar's there. Mrs. Brophy explained that in the whether Trotsky's methods would be Bush barracks, headquarters of the hated early 1920s the Golden family had been tolerated in Irish society, Hogan replied Auxiliaries. Michael Collins decided to that the methods employed were not, in living in London; Reggie Dunne had establish the headquarters of the National actually been staying with her family on fact, that harsh. It would be interesting Army of the Irish Free State in that to know whether he had read Trotsky's the eve of the Wilson assassination; and barracks, and by 31 January 1922, the that the killing had in fact been ordered by defence of 'the Red Terror' and his nucleus of the army was formed there argument that the only way a revolution- when it was occupied by a small force of none other than Michael Collins himself. ary government can defend itself from the Dublin Guard led by Captain Paddy It was only in recent years, when I read counter-revolution is through harsh Daly. Enlistment for the National Army measures proportional to the threat began in February and on 1 March 1922 of the IRA/IRB/Free State army posed. Did Hogan apply this to I entered Beggar's Bush barracks and Intelligence role of Seán Golden in the conditions in the Free State during the joined up" (p85). London of the 1920s, that I came to a full Civil War? It is possible, as he was an "Morale in our two companies was realisation of the significance of the Dunne/ admirer of Kevin O'Higgins whose very high, largely because all of us had O'Sullivan funeral. For 99 percent of those courage and resolve in the face of seen active service in the IRA prior to present on that day in 1967 they were anarchy, he believed, saved the state". the Truce. We were also very proud to be (E.M. Hogan, 'Biographical Sketch', in attending an IRA funeral; but—as far as designated the Dublin Guards Brigade Free State supporter Mrs. Brophy was Donnchadh Ó Corráin, editor, James … Most of us were still without uniforms, Hogan; Revolutionary, Historian And concerned—it was also the final IRB however, when one day both companies funeral. Political Scientist, p11). were ordered to 'Fall in!' with our rifles One of the most belligerent polemics outside the barracks. A military band There can be little doubt that without appeared and our two companies that same IRB there would have been no in support of Free State action against marched behind it through O'Connell what he considered to be the 'counter- Easter Rising lasting all week, well beyond Street … But when we reached the what would otherwise have been a very revolution' of the 'Irregulars' came from General Post Office the band struck up the IRA War of Independence and Free quickly extinguished bloody protest from 'The Red Flag'! Some of us gave a cheer, Connolly's small Irish Citizen Army. It State Civil War veteran John A. Pinkman. and after some laughter in the ranks, we In Pinkman's memoirs, entitled In The all joined in singing the chorus: made all the difference. Notwithstanding Legion Of The Vanguard, he wrote as Through cowards flinch and traitors Seán O'Casey's oft-noted quirky critique follows of the invasion of Muster by the sneer, in both The Plough and the Stars and his 13 Story Of The Irish Citizen Army, he also came from the GPO with messages, and from the GPO during Easter Week itself privately admitted the significance of that gave me a graphic description of what were signed by Pearse as President, hardly Rising (if only to damn the Hungarian was happening there. She said, 'Mr. resulted from Pearse becoming an Uprising by comparison!) in a letter to my Pearse would make you laugh; he was impostor. mother on November 27, 1956: going around the GPO like one in a dream, getting in the way of those trying "In Easter Week, with a hostile people, Charles Townshend has commented: to get things in order, and Mr. Clarke and the might of Britain against them, a "Seven men signed the proclamation said, “For God's sake will someone get few hundred badly-armed lads held back as the Provisional Government. Two of that man an office and a desk, with paper the British power for a week. How much them were not in the GPO during Easter and pens, and set him down to write” '. longer would they have held out if they week; it is not clear whether the other five There he sat writing most of the week, had a well-armed force say of 10,000, took any action in their governmental and brought out the paper called The backed by a united people?" role, or whether any of them were given War News…" (p79). particular administrative roles. The In terms of attributing personal credit "When the release of the sentenced general view (following the announce- where credit is due, it is also necessary to men was announced {June 1917}… ment in the single issue of Irish War News recognise that the Rising would not have Seán McGarry was the first I published on Tuesday) is that Pearse recognised… When his welcome to his happened without the return to Ireland became 'Commanding (sic) in Chief of family was over he turned to me and said the Army of the Republic and President of from the USA in 1907 of Tom Clarke 'Who the hell made Pearse President?'. I "with the declared aim of putting the IRB the Provisional Government'. Tom said, 'I was waiting for you and the Clarke's widow, however, always back on its revolutionary Fenian lines" others to come home and explain that to maintained that Clarke had become (Brian Murphy, Patrick Pearse And The me. I presumed you would know if President, and this certainly would have Lost Republican Ideal, p38). It was anything had happened during the week followed standard IRB thinking. Some therefore, perfectly understandable that— in the GPO to change the order of things others agree with her contention, but the when privately writing her memoirs during they had started with, though Tom had issue is a murky one, and the general lack the years 1939 to 1943—Kathleen Clarke no knowledge of a change when I was of concern with it tells its own story. It is was at particular pains to write of her speaking to him in Kilmainham Jail'. certainly significant that both civil and Seán said, 'Nothing happened to change husband Tom in such a way that his pivotal military supremacy was vested in Pearse— things. Tom was President'. He said no who became a kind of generalissimo— role was underscored. But did she more, as friends were crowding round exaggerate, at least when it came to Easter and that the military function was given him, but he gave me to understand he primacy. Connolly and the other Week itself, concerning her claims for would not leave the matter there" (p144). government members seem to have seen Tom Clarke as President? She wrote as their function as exclusively military … follows: Well he did leave the matter there. The contrast with the later Sinn Féin action "On the Tuesday of Holy Week, 1916, And, as far as the general public was when the republic was re-established in Tom told me the great news, that the concerned, so also did Kathleen Clarke January 1919 is very striking, and it is this Rising had been arranged for the following herself in 1966 during the Easter Rising perhaps more than anything else that marks Sunday, that a Proclamation had been 50th anniversary commemorations, when the 1916 rebellion out as a Fenian rather drawn up to which he was first signatory. she accepted an honorary PhD from than a Sinn Féin manifestation" (Easter I said, 'That means you will be first President de Valera and made no 1916: The Irish Rebellion, pp161-2). President'. 'Yes', he said, 'that is what it The missing ingredient in that means'… When he was proposed as the Presidential claims for her husband. Nor paragraph is, of course, that the "Sinn first signatory he had demurred, saying he did she at any stage do so before her death Féin action" of January 1919—in formally did not think that such an honour should in 1972, for her memoirs were never declaring established the very Republic be conferred upon him…He was very published until her grandniece published that had been initially proclaimed in Easter surprised, when Tomás MacDonagh rose them in 1991. 1916—was the action of a Parliament and said that to his mind no other man was But, even if it is accepted that when the democratically elected in December 1918. entitled to the honour. 'You, sir, by your It had been the total suppression of any example, your courage, your enthusiasm, text of the Proclamation had been finalised possibilities of a recourse to democracy in have led us younger men to where we are on the Tuesday before the Rising there Easter 1916 that necessarily meant that today…No man will precede you with my then existed some common understanding the Rising itself could have been nothing consent'. Being very much touched by that being the first signatory also implied else but a "Fenian manifestation". Yet what McDonagh had said, Tom agreed to becoming President (notwithstanding the Kathleen Clarke played fast and loose sign." (Revolutionary Woman—My fight fact that the actual text of the Proclamation with just how Fenian it had or had not to For Ireland's Freedom, p19). stayed completely silent in respect of such be, depending on one's views as to where "At that meeting Tom, as first signatory, an office), Kathleen Clarke was totally the centre of authority was properly was President, Pearse was made misleading in proclaiming that nothing located. She related that on Good Friday Commander-in-Chief of Ireland and had changed in the interim. What had "Dinny McCullough called for Connolly Commander of Dublin. {This instructions…Before leaving he said, very had been the argument made by Muriel changed was that the Irish Volunteers solemnly, 'Tom, you carried this thing at MacSwiney in her letter to me of April 7, Chief of Staff, who had also agreed to that a meeting at which I was not present. 1966—MO'R.} No other positions were Proclamation on that very same Tuesday, Well, let it pass now, but when this is all created; the other signatories were all had now gone on to countermand the over, I'll have it out with you'" (p73). members of the Provisional Government Rising the following Sunday. Issues of … Seán MacDermott was sent from the Irish Volunteer legitimacy, an organisation She neglected to indicate any reason meeting to see John MacNeill and explain in which Clarke himself had previously why McCullough might have felt the position to him, i.e. the expected declined to accept any office, along with aggrieved. So intent was she on landing of arms and the general plan, and arguments for a unified chain of command, establishing Presidential status for Tom also to ask him to stand in with them and combined to make it logical for Pearse to put his name to the Proclamation, and to Clarke in respect of the 1916 Republic, surrender his position as head of the Irish also assume the Presidency. And if it was that she 'overlooked' the argument that, if Volunteers to PH Pearse. He reported a coup on his part, it was hardly a solo-run strict IRB legitimacy had been adhered to, back that MacNeill had agreed to go in usurpation. Connolly and at least the that office might have been expected to with them, and that he either signed or majority of the Provisional Government reside with quite a different person—the agreed to sign the Proclamation, I can't would have had to agree to it, and maybe President of the Supreme Council of the remember which…"( p70). even Clarke himself, even if only passively IRB itself. So it was that her narrative "Easter Monday … Miss MacMahon so. The fact that the documents emanating 'forgot' to mention the Presidential office 14 already held by McCullough. the South Dublin Union, he was prepared only that the Irish Republican to continue the fight. By December 1916, Brotherhood was used in this way … In her biography of Pearse, Ruth therefore, a start had been made to In other words, the body that was used Dudley Edwards drew attention to the fact revitalise the two organisations most to bring the Republic into existence that, notwithstanding Pearse's mobilisation involved in the Rising—the IRB and the has been prostituted in order to disestablish the Republic.' orders of April 3rd in respect of Easter Irish Volunteers, and a connection had been re-established with the Clan in "Barely seven weeks later Brugha Sunday April 23, McCullough had still was shot dead fighting for the Republic" been kept in the dark by Clarke: America. The unity of purpose was not, however, complete. Brugha, in the words (pp136-7). "Even McCullough, President of the of {IRB Secretary Seán} Ó Muirthile, IRB and theoretical leader of any Over the course of several decades 'seemed to have lost some of his old faith provisional government set up in an IRB in the Brotherhood'. He was not alone in Kathleen Clarke's IRB mind-set had revolution, did not know what was going his doubts. Denis McCullough, the irresponsibly fuelled considerable on. Worried by rumours, he came down President of the IRB, and de Valera felt mischief in the ranks. Although her from Belfast to see Tom Clarke: 'I said to the organisation should be disbanded memoirs were not published until 1991, it Tom, “What in the name of God is going after the Rising. All three felt that the is clear that her denigration of Pearse, to happen?” He said, “I declare to God I secret policy of the Military Committee know nothing more than you do. All I coupled with the Presidential claims for had not produced the best military know is I have orders to report to Ned her own husband, had been verbally effect… This difference of opinion in Daly {Clarke's brother-in-law—MO'R} communicated quite extensively and that regard to the IRB had momentous on Sunday and have my arms and it was this version, received indirectly consequences at the signing of the Treaty. equipment and I have them ready”.' " through correspondence with Joe Clarke Already by December 1916 some (Patrick Pearse —The Triumph Of indication was given of the trouble that (no relation), that had informed the stand Failure, p265). lay ahead. Collins, still 'but little known' take by Muriel MacSwiney in 1966, both according to Ó Muirthile, returned from in public and in her letter to me dated April Brian Murphy has described the imprisonment and dedicated himself to 7th. Alarmed at a possible wrong done to situation succinctly: the restoration of the IRB. In origin, Kathleen's husband and determined to right "The IRB men ... committed to therefore, the renewal of the IRB and the it, Muriel had rushed to the defence of revolution … assumed control of the Irish Volunteers contained within itself Tom Clarke while, however, Kathleen military operations of the organisation the seeds of discord, and the grounds for herself stayed publicly silent. Unknown in 1915. Their power was based on a the personal animosity that developed to Muriel, the thanks she was to receive Military Council and not on the officially between Brugha and Collins" (pp70-1). recognised apex of authority, the from Kathleen in the latter's secret memoirs Supreme Council. In September 1915 This issue would come to a head was the further denigration of her own Denis McCullough from Belfast was concerning the role of the IRB in enforcing husband, Terry. Kathleen related how on elected President of the eleven man Easter Tuesday 1916 two of her sisters, the Treaty. So it was that the machine that Supreme Council. Neither McCullough, Laura and Nora, arrived from Limerick nor the Supreme Council, however, Kathleen Clarke had done so much to recreate turned against the Republican and managed to visit Tom Clarke in the directed the plans for the Rising. These GPO: were drawn up by the Military Council principles that she herself sought to uphold. Again, as Brian Murphy has recounted: "When they arrived at the GPO they which was composed of Clarke, … had a long talk with Sean MacDermott MacDermott, Pearse, Plunkett and Kent. "Throughout the Treaty talks Collins and Tom … One of them was asked to It was these men, together with James kept not only the Cabinet of Dáil Eireann try to get to Cork and get in touch with Connolly who joined them in January informed, but also the Supreme Council Terence MacSwiney. Seán said : 'If you 1916, who led their small band of of the IRB. On 12 December 1921, Seán get to Terry, he will act'. The message to followers—numbering at the most 1,000 Ó Muirthile, secretary of the Council, him was, 'For God's sake go out and do men—into action on Easter Monday. issued the following directive to the IRB something to cause a diversion in the The measured assessment of FX Martin organisation: South, to prevent the British troops 'The Supreme Council, having due concerning the origins of the Rising massing around Dublin'… According cannot be improved on: It was, he stated, regard to the Constitution of the Organisation, has decided that the to Nora later, when she arrived in Cork… 'the revolt of a minority, of a minority, of a Fianna boy went with her to the a minority'. The Irish Volunteers were a present Peace Treaty between Ireland and Great Britain should be ratified. Volunteer headquarters. There she met small minority of the National Terence MacSwiney and Tomás Volunteers, the IRB formed a small Members of the Organisation, however, who have to take public MacCurtain. When she had delivered fragment of the Irish Volunteers, and the the message from Tom and Seán Military Council of the IRB formed only action as representatives are given freedom of action in the matter'. MacDermott, both men told her it was a small unit of the organisation" (p49). "Ordinary members of the IRB, many absolutely impossible to do anything. If such conspirational organisation had of them holding important positions in They were surrounded by British been necessary to bring about an attempted the IRA, were expected to obey the military, and were expecting an attack any moment … Nora was very coup d'etat in the democratic void of 1916, directive of the Supreme Council without question. 'The constitutions of the IRB', disappointed, she had arrived so full of what of its post-Rising revival when the as O'Beirne-Ranelagh noted in his study hope. From what Seán had said about struggle for self-determination both sought of the organisation, 'were careful to deny Terence MacSwiney, she had thought and successfully obtained democratic democratic procedures within the that if she got to him everything would legitimacy? Again, Brian Murphy has organisation'. Brugha was particularly be alright." (pp80-1). related: incensed by the directive issued by the "In August 1916 a meeting was Supreme Council of the IRB. Contrasting Such bad-mouthing was the stick used arranged with the widow of Tom Clarke the honourable mention made to the IRB thereafter within IRB circles in order to and she conveyed to the Supreme in the proclamation of Easter Week with beat MacCurtain and MacSwiney, Council of the IRB the names of those the 'dastards' who made up the present notwithstanding their full exoneration by men most trusted by her husband. While Supreme Council, he declared, on 19 a formal IRB inquiry. In the next article I these developments were taking place May 1922, that, will examine how Peter Hart got it right within the IRB a move was also made to 'This body, the Irish Republican about the IRB in 1920, but then proceeded revive the Irish Volunteers. In September Brotherhood, was used to get a majority to get it so wrong in respect of 1922. 1916 Cathal Brugha was released from in this Dáil, and the majority of seven hospital. Although still suffering from by which this Treaty was approved of Manus O'Riordan the wounds he had received in action at in this Dáil could never have been got To be continued 15 of the Diaries as taken from the then publicly available incomplete and The Casement 'Black Diaries' unreliable transcripts. He formed an opinion that forgery was very likely. His An Overlong Controversy in Outline investigations never resulted in a published Part 2 study.

WORLD WAR 2 conclusion that forgery had been involved. HERBERT MACKEY During the European cataclysm of the This same man forty years before had Herbert O. Mackey was a Dublin 1940s controversy about the 'Black Diaries' toured American cities where he spoke on dermatologist who as part of his was frozen in a state of suspended a number of themes and had used the professional work authored a textbook animation with one exception, an Diaries as a weapon against Casement which went into many editions; A exception which in its way proved the and the Irish rebels. Handbook Of Diseases Of The Skin. He rule. In Germany, in 1940 there appeared In 1959 a book written by Peter had also written a biography of the poet Der Fall Casement: Das Leben Sir Roger Singleton-Gates and Maurice Girodias Thomas Moore, published in 1951. During Casements und der Verleumdungsfeldzug titled The Black Diaries was published in the 1950s the growing interest in Casement des Secret Service (The Casement Case: a limited edition. It contained a biography drew him in. He had Casement articles The Life Of Sir Roger Casement And The of Casement along with unreliable and poetry reprinted. He wrote a Casement Libel Campaign of the Secret Service) by transcripts of some of the Diaries. The biography and a number of works on the maverick writer Francis Stuart. It was a exception was the one which in sexual Diaries question. The most important of brief German language book, translated terms was by far the most graphic; the these Roger Casement: The Truth About from Stuart's original English, which in Diary for 1911. In July that same year, The Forged Diaries appeared in 1966. His turn was largely based on Maloney's 1936 1959, the Diaries were transferred to the most important research was conducted in work. In 1942-1944 Stuart made propa- Public Record Office (PRO), the British 1959 when he spent 6 days at the PRO ganda broadcasts from Berlin to Ireland public archive. For the first time they where he was able to examine the Diaries and was the only English language writer would now be available for inspection by with a magnifying glass. He perused the to witness the fall of the city in 1945. researchers, though on a restricted basis. Diaries again in April 1965. His profes- An examination which, we are told, sional experience as a skin specialist RENEWED INTEREST confirmed the writings as genuinely the enhanced his ability to perceive minute The 1950s saw a new interest in work of Casement and no other was carried differences of colour and texture. He Casement. The Gaelic Athletic Associ- out by a Mr. Harrison, Director of the believed he had discovered multiple ation completed a new stadium in Belfast Forensic Science Laboratory at Bristol. examples of where erasure and inter- in 1953 and called it after him. A campaign The result was announced by Mr. Butler polation had occurred. He also described arose to have his remains transferred from the then Home Secretary in the House of inconsistencies in the narrative which the grounds of Pentonville Prison to be re- Commons. However, whether this went pointed to forgery. interred in Ireland. All this tended to focus any further than a cursory inspection is For example a reference to a walk in attention on the question of the disputed not clear. No report was ever made public, London which originally and logically writings. About this time the Diaries were nor was its methodology explained. A should have referred to 'Albert Gate' beginning to emerge from their long headline, Casement's Black Diaries Are apparently was altered to read 'Albert (10/ sojourn in limbo. Peter Singleton-Gates Genuine, appeared in the Belfast Telegraph -)', indicating a payment of 10 shillings for began showing his transcript to various of 10th August 1959. sex. However, the '(10/-)' is noticeably in people including René MacColl, Harford different ink. A pencilled note states 'Albert Montgomery-Hyde, and Brian Inglis, all That same year Roger McHugh, a aged 15 ∏', so the reader does not miss the of whom would subsequently write books Professor of Literature at University implication. The Cash Ledger for March claiming the Diaries were authentic. College, Dublin, viewed the Diaries at the 1911 lists what appear to be payments for In 1956 René MacColl, an English PRO and read transcripts. He published sex to a certain Ramon in Buenos Aires. journalist, completed a book; Roger his findings in a detailed and closely argued However in March 1911 Casement was Casement: A New Judgement. Claiming article, Casement: The Public Record dividing his time between Dublin and the Diaries were written in full by Office Manuscripts, in the Belfast London. He had been in Buenos Aires in Casement himself, he produced new published periodical Threshold, in 1960. March 1910. material which, on the face of it, looked to To him the 1903 and 1910 Diaries and the be of real significance. Apparently, so 1911 cash ledger were about 97 percent Towards the end of The Truth About McColl contended, Casement had Casement's own work into which sexual The Forged Diaries (page 85) Mackey confessed to one of his defence team during references appeared to have been stated; the trial that he was homosexual and was interpolated. The 1911 Diary appeared to "These crude and inept forgeries are not prepared to contest the authenticity of have been mainly forged. Parts of this incapable of deceiving anybody." the Diaries. However, his source, A.M. Diary suggested the Diarist was deranged. Sullivan, the Defence Counsel at the Trial, He believed the Diaries ought to be In 1965 the remains of Casement were was now of advanced years and in letters subjected to a full technical forensic disinterred from Pentonville Prison to The Irish Times subsequent to the books examination. grounds and reached Ireland on February appearance he made contradictory and In 1960 The Trial Of Sir Roger 23rd. Great crowds attended the state confusing statements. Casement appeared. It was by H. funeral on March 1st. Attempts by Dr, The following year, seemingly in reply Montgomery Hyde, who was connected Mackey, at the time, to bring up the Diaries to McColl, Alfred Noyes as mentioned by British Intelligence. There was a as a matter of interest for the Irish public earlier; a prominent British propagandist description and small excerpts from the as and State were pointedly rebuffed by of World War One once publicly upbraided yet unpublished 1911 Diary. The writer officials, for reasons that still remain by Casement's sister, wrote a book called treated the Diaries as genuine. unexplained. When he attempted to broach The Accusing Ghost, or Justice For About this time the short story writer the matter on a television discussion Casement. He explained why he had Frank O'Connor took an interest in the programme, in the very week of the state changed his mind and come to the question and made a study of the language obsequies, the broadcast sound suddenly 16 went dead. It is hard to imagine this was a His key argument to the effect there that at least he refers to it and goes about matter of mere coincidence. was no forgery relates to the existence of an attempt at refutation. He referred to the He set about doing further research four Diaries containing homosexual 1910 Diary for June 20th and showed how and the next year finished and published material. If British intelligence wanted to Mackey had made a mistake regarding the his most complete book on the matter, the frame someone with a forged Diary then spelling of the name of a man called title just already mentioned. He died a few one Diary would suffice, he argued. The Millar and Mackey's claim this name must months later. more Diaries, the greater was the danger have referred to a fictitious character of a mistake being made which would created by a forger. In this Read is correct. NEW ATMOSPHERE expose the whole operation. Effectively Reid used this mistake as a In 1968 what became known as 'the However, this can be looked at another means to discredit the research and analysis Troubles' broke out in Northern Ireland. way. The more extensive and thus of Mackey. However, what the By 1971 a low level guerrilla war was audacious the forgery the more the human unassuming reader of The Lives Of Roger happening there which was provoked in mind is susceptible to giving it credence. Casement would not know is that Mackey the rest of Ireland an anxious questioning Also the existence of a Diary, with sexual cited more than twenty other examples of of the values and assumptions of the material 'for one year only', would beg the what he claimed were alterations to the nationalism which had been part and parcel question why were there not similar Diaries original Diary texts which Reid failed to of the ideology of the Irish State. With this for other years. One single 'Black Diary' challenge. came a readiness to re-evaluate figures would be considerably less credible than Based on a letter from Casement's from the nationalist past, such as Patrick a number of them. sister Nina to her cousin Gertrude Pearse and Roger Casement. More bizarre than his questionable Bannister, held in the National Library in With the 1960s came new attitudes to argument based upon the number of Dublin, Reid claimed that the Irish sexuality and a new readiness for it to disputed Diaries is his treatment of American leader John Devoy believed the become a matter for open public Mackey's The Truth About The Forged Diaries genuine and told this to Nina. The discussion. Society became decidedly less Diaries. Oddly the book appears in the letter is misquoted and misrepresented in prim. Questions relating to homosexuality bibliography, yet Inglis fails to even refer the book. In reality the letter refers to were being aired more and more in the to it in his discussion of the forgery thesis hearsay concerning a conversation media. Traditional attitudes that let alone deal with its arguments. The only between two other women and Devoy. As homosexuals were either morally or writer who had produced books devoted such it can lay no claim to be taken as firm mentally sick were giving way to tolerance. solely to probing the authenticity question evidence for how Devoy viewed Up to then, Casement had been viewed surrounding the Diaries which had been Casement. [1] in terms of his efforts as a humanitarian published in the previous quarter century, Interestingly he refers to "a very careful and as one who had struggled for Irish was utterly and absolutely ignored in the analysis" of the Diaries having being independence. In Britain the Diaries were, text. allowed by officials, the results of which generally speaking, thought of as genuine The dubious claim is made that Michael had not been made public nor had they but were not seen as something defining Collins, when he had looked through what been revealed to him. This was an expert for Casement as a historical figure. In was presented to him in 1921, had become examination quietly carried out in the nationalist Ireland the Diaries were convinced what he had seen was fully early 1970s. It has been claimed since dismissed as the product of forgery. But genuine. Collins' alleged belief is then Reid's book was published that this the cultural changes just outlined, in suggested as a reason for why successive examination found the material authentic. Ireland particularly, were beginning to Irish Governments had not pressed to be However, no forensic report which might predisposing people to look again at the allowed to inspect the documents i.e. they give substance to the claim has ever possibility the Diaries might be genuine. believed they were genuine. emerged into the public realm. Inglis stated naively that the Prof Reid's style of argumentation in favour of the Diaries being genuine is INGLIS interpolation of material was not possible In 1973 a new biography appeared by because sexual references occurred highly generalised. Adjectives are thrown Brian Inglis, who was, as we saw earlier, embedded within blocks of writing. The around liberally. Mackey's arguments are "incoherent" and "full of errors". formerly associated with Peter Singleton- Diaries could either have been forged in Gates. It was titled simply Roger their entirety or not at all, he claimed. However, he does not exactly overpower Casement. Inglis was Dublin-born and of Ironically, Inglis' Roger Casement has us with examples and reasoning for why this should be so. The conclusive Anglo-Irish Protestant descent. He was become so widely esteemed that Penguin well known in Britain as a journalist, have recently reissued it under their classic argument, he claimed, was the way the author and presenter for Granada imprint. text "stands up to every test from within or without". He did not give a detailed Television. explanation of what exactly these tests PROF. REID This mainly sympathetic un-footnoted were and why he found them of such biography took the contested matter to be In 1976 American literary academic significance. It appears he was impressed authentic. It was the first mainstream Professor B.L. Reid entered the fray with with the way events and persons detailed biography to do so and as such represented a biography called The Lives Of Roger in the Diaries corresponded with those in something of a landmark in the Casement. It was a work which ploughed Casement's letters and papers. But if, as controversy. Inglis saw the position of the the same furrow of psychological analysis 'forgery theorists' have claimed the homosexual outsider moving furtively in opened up by Inglis. In this book the overwhelming amount of the content a disapproving world as a key to 'Black Diaries' are more closely integrated consists of the original Diary notes of understanding the character of his subject. into the biographical narrative. At the end Casement into which matter has been Since almost all of what passes for of the book two chapters of wordy, interpolated, this is easily explained. evidence that Casement was homosexual rambling and unfocused prose adding up comes from the Diaries it is important to to thirty five pages are devoted to the ROGER SAWYER see what arguments Inglis employs to question of possible forgery. In 1984 appeared Casement The argue in favour of authenticity. One chapter To be fair to Reid his treatment of Flawed Hero by Roger Sawyer, an English of the book is devoted to the question of Mackey's research and writing is more writer on matters connected to slavery. It the disputed Diaries. adventurous than his predecessor Inglis in took a similar line on the psychology of 17 Casement to the works of Inglis and Reid. manuscript. There is the additional instructed him to do so. His 'treachery' was seen as related to his question, assuming for arguments sake The first inaccuracy relates to the presumed homosexuality. Similarly there the basic story true, as to whether founding of the Congo Reform Association was a chapter which discussed the Singleton-Gates and the other unnamed with E.D. Morel. This only occurred after authenticity question. Sawyer dealt with individual knew how to operate ultra- Casement's investigation but he certainly Mackey's claim that there was much violet equipment to a standard so as to be helped to bring it into being and he evidence for erasure and interpolation in able to produce scientifically meaningful encouraged it extensively despite his the text of the Diaries in a similar way to results. It is a good story but it is not Reid. He ignored it except for two evidence. continuing diplomatic employment by examples. One was the mistake regarding London. the name of a man named Millar in the THE THREE WISE MEN The second inaccuracy or confusion is Diary entry for 20th June 1910 as related The three biographies just mentioned, in describing Casement's mother as a by Reid and discussed above. In addition by the three 'wise men'—Inglis, Reid and Catholic. She certainly was one but only he mentions an error on Mackey's part, Sawyer—had a profound influence on after adult conversion, as in her son's case. whereby Mackey claimed the Diary text how Casement was viewed by the On the matter of Casement potentially placed the Grand Central Hotel in academic world, and also by the public at jeopardising his humanitarian work by Warrenpoint, Co. Down as opposed to large. This change was particularly acute having sex of a homosexual nature where in Ireland where attitudes to history and Belfast. and when he did, one must say that most nationalism were changing during the Sawyer explained Basil Thomson's 1970s and 1980s. The notion the 'Black men have risked their life, or career and many mutually contradictory versions of Diaries' had been forged became families for sex. And always will do so. the story of his discovery of the Diaries by associated in the public mind with Casement was no saint or celibate, rather reference to Thomson being a prolific backward and prejudiced attitudes towards a normal homosexual man, few if any of author and thus his writings abounding in homosexuality and a negative peevish anti- whom have not crossed a line taking them errors of detail. This can only mean that as Britishness. The refrain was: Why can beyond respectability. Expecting him to he was so busy with his writing he did not they not accept a famous Irish patriot be celibate reveals a romantic and have time to think out what he had to state could have been homosexual? or to edit his copy for inaccuracies after an unworldly mindset. However the diaries Of course, there still was a minority initial draft. But is it really plausible that indicate his sexual activity in those years opinion which, for various reasons, occurred in urban settings and not amongst such a sensational event as the discovery questioned or dismissed the notion the of what were then criminally incriminating the native rubber gatherers. disputed Diaries might be genuine. objects among the possessions of a famous As I revealed in my book on Casement, Now, more and more with the passage public figure would not leave a clear, a third individual who interrogated him in precise and indelible impression upon the of time, Casement was becoming associated with the 'Black Diaries' and London on Easter Sunday was Major Frank memory of an intelligent individual such Hall of MI5 who was formerly Military as Thomson? with homosexuality and less and less he was being remembered as a fighter for Secretary of the UVF and himself a gun Sawyer supports his case for humanitarian and political causes. His runner. Casement was however not asked authenticity with what appears to be an writings were ignored and forgotten. extraordinary revelation. From an about the diaries as considerable Casement 'the gay icon' had come into documentation exists to indicate that his interview with Peter Singleton-Gates, he view. A new orthodoxy had taken hold. learned that "not very long ago" (this was former landlord only handed them over to written in 1984) "the ultra-violet ray Tim O'Sullivan Scotland Yard on Easter Tuesday. August 2006 machine was used". A test for forged Jeff Dudgeon erasure and interpolation had been Note: surreptitiously carried out by Singleton- [1] Page 31, Ch 11, Roger Casement: A Reassessment Of The Diaries Controversies Report Gates in the presence of a "well-known by Mairead Wilson. Roger Casement witness" . It was a secret and highly Foundation/Athol Books 2005 unofficial exercise as such examinations Casement Foundation had no official sanction. It showed that the writing was entirely in Casement's hand. Reader's Letter Calls For 'fake' Casement This revelation is the piece de resistance Diaries To Be Destroyed of Sawyer's case that there was no forgery. Interestingly, here again, the name of Casement: "The 'Black Diaries' of Roger Singleton-Gates, so long associated with Another View Casement should be destroyed when they the case, crops up. What are we to make of are eventually exposed as fakes, it was There are two inaccuracies and one this claim a scientific test had been secretly claimed yesterday. carried out proving the 'Black Diaries' omission in what is otherwise a fair "On the 90th anniversary of the genuine? summation of Roger Casement’s career revolutionary's execution for treason in and politics by Tim O'Sullivan in his article 1916, supporters called for Casement's Ultra-violet light can be used to test for entitled 'The Casement 'Black Diaries'' legacy to focus on his humanitarian work hidden evidence of erasure in documents. (August 2006). in Africa and South America rather than This gives the claim an initial appearance other controversies about his life. of credibility. However, the story has a The omission which is key to contextualising Casement is that his two "The Black Diaries, which claim to very shadowy quality. We have no way of detail Casement's explicit homosexual reports on the exploitation, and in the case verifying it. It is based on what Sawyer urges, are currently kept in the Public tells the reader about what Singleton-Gates of the Amazon, the near extermination of Record Office outside London. told him and, along with that, an the native rubber gatherers, were both "Jack Moylett, chairman of the Roger unpublished manuscript Singleton-Gates commissioned by the British government. Casement Foundation, said: “I think they had written and shown him. There is no Casement was certainly a vigorous are horrible things and should be trail of evidence written or otherwise that defender of the rights of these people but eventually destroyed when it is proven substantiates it except for the unpublished he only wrote his reports because London they are counterfeit. 18 "“If they are to be exhibited, they should of Britain have turned their invective away only be criminal exhibits.” from the detested countryfolk of Armagh "…the foundation… is currently The Casement and Tyrone and devoted their column raising funds to carry out its own linguistic inches to the "mad Muslims". And "rivers study of the documents using a Canadian Foundation of blood" are being predicted by Edwards computer software programme. and Harris, even in Ireland, if the Moslems "“We will be examining the words, will be hosting a fail to accommodate themselves to liberal phrases and style of expression, which we One-Day orthodoxy. believe Casement would never have used…” Symposium "England owes her worldwide power "Mr. Moylett said he would block any at to her supreme talent of attracting and attempts to have the documents housed in assimilating even the most hostile an Irish museum… Buswell's Hotel elements" remarked Canon Sheehan in "The Roger Casement Foundation will the Cork Free Press. That was in 1910. lay a wreath at his grave at Glasnevin on But Britain has a serious problem now Cemetery on Sunday to mark the 21st October 2006 with doing what it did best at the height of anniversary of his death." Empire. Irish Independent 4.8.06 What must be of great concern to John Bull, if he bothers to think at all these days, is that not only is he incapable of Send Them Home turning hostile enemies into friends these days but that even his own children are "A worse menace than communism, seriousness of it all by disrupting that turning against him, turning to the only Islamism is a totalitarian ideology that pleasure most dear to the hearts of Britons, thing that provides them with any self believes the world should live according escaping Britain, the centre of their own respect as a people—radical Islam. And to Islamic law and is prepared to wipe dear democracy, on cheap flights to their when we say his own children we do not out anyone, anywhere, who stands in the new colonies abroad. By launching his mean alone those reared in the Islamic way." pre-emptive strike he pushed his ex- tradition. Communist Foreign Secretary's tirades "Race relations are being poisoned against foreign nationals off the news. A noticeable feature of these new by the fifth column among Muslims Islamists is the high proportion of West who will not rest until they have And, ironically, his security operation destroyed the democracy and culture of probably disrupted the stream of Poles— Indian converts there are to the faith. the country that harbours them." those gallant fellows who Britain started a Now, I remember West Indians as an world war over and delivered into the easygoing people who seemed to be either "As an immigrant, I have a simple hands of Communism for half a century, totally devoted to religion or totally view. I came to England for the freedom as a result—coming over to do the jobs disinterested in it. On Sundays in South and opportunities I lacked in Ireland… I John Bull just can't do anymore for himself. London you could marvel at these finely- always thought that the discontented dressed men and women who would come Irish should shove off home, as I thought The first four comments above are by out of their churches, churches that were communists should emigrate to the almost entirely made up of black people. Soviet Union." Ruth Dudley Edwards and the last three by Eoghan Harris. It was noticeable that, whereas West Indian "If Muslims don't like it here, let them Catholics went to Mass with Irish, Italian, take off for one of those innumerable It is clear, if the Independent is to Maltese, Polish and English Catholics, failed states rendered poor and fractious believed, that we are in a position similar West Indian Protestants seemed to be and oppressive by unreformed Islam… to that of 1914 when Democracy and excluded from the mainstream white The same goes for Muslims in Ireland." Civilisation were under the dire threat Protestant churches. from the Kaiser, the barbarians were at the "I believe that ideological Islamism gate, and the Irish scribes sprang into The original West Indian migrants has no boundaries. As I have said before action to issue fierce propaganda against were, of course, invited in by Britain as it is only a matter of time before Islamic the evil. the original modern economic migrants terrorists use a tactical nuclear device in (The Irish had been migrants before but London or New York. Millions will die. And the mushroom clouds won't spare But the Ameranglian notion of the process was more informal). They this sacred island." Democracy is the sort of democracy that came to fill the jobs the British no longer exists between the gaoler and the prisoner. wanted to do - in nursing and in bus "As soon as the bombs get bigger, The gaoler believes that there is not enough conducting. A chief recruiter of them was and the atrocities more appalling, all this democracy within the prison walls— Enoch Powell, later of the "rivers of blood". political correctness will be pushed aside. within which the inmates do not conflict Irish Muslims should not be misled about with each other enough. But it is another These people were very enamoured of our anger against Islamism." thing entirely when the prisoner questions Britain and had a rather idealised picture the democratic relationship between the of it and the welcome that they would "The majority of Islamic militants, receive from the homeland of Empire But although born in Britain or France, seem gaoler and the prisoner and tries to establish to give their loyalty to an international democracy in that. At a time when the they were treated as foreigners and worse. idea, as if it were their native state." class division is international rather than Nevertheless, they got on with their lives national, that is the main democratic issue and endured the hostility and discrimin- The above are just a selection of of substance in the world and the one that ation that they suffered from their hosts comments from the Sunday Independent the West will never address. with endurance and stoicism. They were of 13th August—the issue following being called by the mother country to do a Blair's a security operation against Over the last while, now that Britain job for it and was not the mother country Muslims, which demonstrated the has switched enemies, the paid Irish scribes was the source of all that was great and 19 good in the world? Unfortunately for Britain's Empire started to unravel an international idea, as if it were their Britain they stayed and had children. when its statesmen stopped thinking about native state". the past. This was around the time Britain My father got a job in Clapham in became democratic. When the aristocracy It strikes me that there is only one thing South London in the mid-sixties with the ran the country they had the self- consistent in the metamorphic political building workers' Union, UCATT—which confidence and time to think about the positions of Eoghan Harris—a desire to was a British/Irish Trade Union. Our street, world, because they had the independent be the scribe of the big battalions in his Trent Road in Brixton Hill, was dominated means to support themselves and the world. In the 1960s his world was the by a large Catholic Church at the bottom, knowledge that they would have continuity Republican circles of Cork city. In that and a Catholic community of Irish, Italians, of service. When, around 1905, democracy world he worshipped at the altar of Tom Maltese and West Indians grew up around raised its head these assumptions began to Barry and harassed the Poppy-selling it. Our neighbours were West Indians and be called into question and panic the menace that threatened it. In the 1970s he my mother and father stood as god parents aristocrats. The conflict over Irish Home moved on to worshipping the big battalions for their son when he was baptised at the Rule—whose irresolution resulted in the of Soviet power that he probably expected Church. There was a party afterwards, in fatal intervention in 1914 and put the to prevail in the world. Now that the the West Indian tradition, and I remember skids on the Empire—had, as a strong Marxist future has collapsed, the Anglo- sitting on the stairs listening to the familiar undercurrent, the conflict between fading American liberal revolutionaries are the sounds of the Rock Steady/Reggae music aristocrats and pushy democrats. When subjects of his adulations. And the Zionists that was so a part of the familiar landscape the War, and particularly the intervention are a powerful people, to be sure. of Brixton at the time. But the party was of the US, resulted in a victory for the abruptly ended by a police raid, for what democrats the decline set in. The effective Harris is keen to tar critics of Zionist reason was never explained. governing of an Empire and the winning lebensraum with the anti-Semitism tag. of elections in a democracy have proved He is not alone. The Pope has been targeted, This was around 1968 or 1969. By to be irreconcilable phenomena. to silence the Vatican's influence, and Mel 1976 the policing of the West Indians, as Gibson to warn anti-Zionists in their children reached adulthood, became "I always thought that the discontented Hollywood. Of course, Gibson's remark a frenzy and it was responded to, as it Irish should shove off home" Ruth Dudley that the Jews were responsible for most of became intolerable for any community Edwards says. Well most of them have the world's wars was no more than the with self-respect to take, by the Notting now that Ireland has managed to slobberings of a drunk. If he had been Hill riots of that year and then a few years disentangle itself from the British sober and historically accurate he would later by the Brixton riots. economic connection and link itself to have presented that honour to Britain. Europe. No such chance for the Arabs Is it any wonder that these children of though. They are being kept down while If Eoghan Harris had been a German in the economic migrants became their oil is bled dry so that when their only the 1930s there is little doubt where he Rastafarians rather than following in the resource is gone they will be wandering would have been worshipping. And footsteps of their parents in the religion their deserts again. judging by his polemics against Moslems and state that used them and rejected them? in the Sindo there is little doubt he would Rastafarianism produced no militants Edwards's view that dissatisfied have found gainful employment with Dr. beyond the 'frontline' in Railton Road. Its Moslems should go back to "those Goebbels. lifestyle was not conducive to serious innumerable failed states rendered poor political activity. But that was in the days and fractious and oppressive by The familial social structure of Arab when John Bull seemed to be moving unreformed Islam" is a remarkably society was suited to the loose Ottoman away from his imperial past. ignorant one. Was it not the country that governmental structures that they lived gave her "freedom and opportunities" that under for centuries. In 1914 the British Now disaffected West Indians, and set up these states through its military Empire, to encourage jihad against the even some white English, are taking to power, against the wishes of their Ottomans, made an agreement with the radical Islam as Britain continues on inhabitants? Were not these states— Arabs that they would get an Arab State another crusade. Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi stretching up from the Arabian peninsular Arabia, and Kuwait etc. established to suit to roughly where Lebanon and Syria are A representative of the Moslem the British and other imperialist interests today—once the defeated Ottoman Empire Council tried on TV to inform the news at the time? They were certainly not the was broken up. Having got Arab help, programme he was being interviewed by result of indigenous nationalisms that Ministers promptly made a secret that the antagonism of Moslems to Britain defined their own governmental relations agreement (Sykes/Picot) with France and was similar to that of the Irish thirty years and borders. Russia to divide the Ottoman Empire earlier. When Britain occupied and killed amongst themselves. The French would in Ireland, the Irish sought to bomb Britain "The majority of Islamic militants, get Syria and the Lebanon, the Russians in retaliation. Now Moslems were feeling although born in Britain or France, seem Constantinople, and the British most of and acting the same. He was thanked and to give their loyalty to an international Iraq Southwards. But Britain then set about cut off by the presenters. Britain does not idea, as if it were their native state." Does undermining this agreement in order to 'do' memory, or thinking about the past, Harris' statement not remind one of another dispossess the French of the oil-rich North even its recent past. group of people that John Bull promised a of Iraq and the South of Syria. Britain state to, facilitated the growth of, at the wanted the Southern part of Syria What is noticeable about the Moslem expense of the indigenous inhabitants?— (Palestine) because it desired to occupy recourse to plotting is that all through the a state, so very dear to the heart of Harris, ports on the Mediterranean. The area conflict in Northern Ireland the Irish that produces mayhem in the Middle East immediately North of Egypt was required community in England did not produce today? for strategic reasons to establish a any substantial militant threat any way Furthermore has Harris forgotten that continuous land empire from India to comparable to what is happening now in he himself, in his 1970s Marxist Egypt. Then in 1917 Britain made a Moslem communities. That is a thought metamorphosis, was an adulator of Soviet promise to the Zionists for a national that might prompt thought. power and a chief exponent of "loyalty to home in Palestine for the Jews. This 20 promise enabled Ministers to detach the menial jobs that the Britons would no From the days of Palmerston Bull has Palestine from the rest of Syria (and from longer do; and Britons have got too lazy or sheltered all sorts of political subversives the French) by making it a special case— stingy to procreate in sufficient numbers— and terrorists—people who might be useful one needing the mothering hand of so migrants were needed. As the migrants in subverting and terrorising other Powers. England. came in, the British left, exhausted after Liberal England gave shelter and provided their long working hours in service to the a base for propaganda work to Mazzini, a All this was a betrayal of the original expanding economy. What they want is physical force nationalist who wrote a agreement to provide all the Arabs with a their 'place in the sun'. And, from their terrorist handbook called Rules For The single State. And, in the aftermath of the places in the sun, in their new colonies in Conduct Of Guerrilla Bands, and who Great War, Britain, infused with a great Spain, France etc. they complain about was useful in the destabilisation of the desire to create nations and nationalities the migrants who take British jobs, can't Hapsburg State. Until quite recently there and justify the division of the Middle East speak English, live in ghettos, and change have been complaints from the French spoils of victory between itself and France, the character of their old country—and that Britain harboured all sorts of divided the morsels of the Ottoman Empire with no sense of irony. dangerous Islamists which the French into states run by puppet governments, suspected, if previous British behaviour without consideration of the inhabitants But that is Progress and Britain is was anything to go by, had a political or their long term good. always on its side. purpose, as in the past.

So one wonders why Harris finds it A few months ago Britain was rather But Bull has no memory. 'Memory' is strange that: "The majority of Islamic self-congratulatory at the race riots in an ongoing and changing thing in Britain. militants, although born in Britain or France. The British media, which is now It is produced by the scribes for the purpose France, seem to give their loyalty to an little more than a government propaganda of bolstering the present policy—amongst international idea, as if it were their native ministry, suggested that the French, instead whom are the new servants of Bull, Harris state." of actively encouraging its Moslems to and Dudley Edwards. embrace the benefits of French citizenship, I see there is a campaign in the Sunday It does not occur to Harris and Edwards should adopt the superior liberal Independent to resurrect Tom Kettle, the that this history has a bearing on the multiculturalism that had been so Home Ruler, as national poet of the lost present. Whilst the social structures of successful in Britain. But the French Irish Imperial past. Kettle was, of course, Moslem society have been based around system has produced no suicide bombers, driven mad, and to drink, by what he was blood ties, and have not been predisposed as has the multiculturalist system of doing in 1915-16. He was put out of his toward obeyance of the state the British, Britain. And now the media is starting to misery by a German bullet on the Western on the other hand, are a very state- blame the multiculturalism for the latest front. orientated people. About the time of the plot. Pat Walsh Reformation England developed into a strong State and British history ever since has been all about the strengthening and expansion of that state. The British way of life was very much conducted historically in service of the British State and International Affairs— subordinated to its interests. Without the The View From India British State the British would amount to nothing. But Arabs and the Moslem world The rise of China, Russia and India as July. My view of this is based not on the can go on, and has gone on, without the important elements in the international Irish Times or indeed on any Western Arab State that Britain promised them for balance of power is a development that newspaper but on a publication called making war on the Ottomans in 1914. the Irish State needs to take account of. Frontline, India’s national magazine, The days of the US being the one great which can be accessed on the Internet. John Bull is no longer capable of super power are now numbered and the The following extract is long but unusually carving out countries and redrawing the only question is for how long can it retain free of Western presumptions and every map of the world. But old habits die hard hegemony. And what is true for the super line of it contains valuable information. for British leaders and Britain's constant power is true also for the sidekick, Britain. Of particular interest is the reference to need is to do something in the world to the Middle East as West Asia. This advance the state for which the nation In this new situation it is reasonable to designation is an established Indian lives. So Blair has jumped on the coat tails question, with renewed urgency, the convention; until recently it might be of Uncle Sam, hoping to give him the State’s policy of moving away from its considered an idiosyncrasy; now, as power benefit of some of the Empire's old traditional anti-colonial orientation as shifts to Asia, it is a more likely harbinger experience at remoulding peoples. But evidenced most recently by its of the future than Condilizza Rice’s hyped that experience, or the knowledge of it, is commemorating of 1916 in conjunction references to a ‘new Middle East’. long gone and Ameranglia is floundering, with the Battle of the Somme. To re- just as Britain floundered. phrase the question: why are we The article is entitled, Resurgent repudiating our national tradition and Russia, by Vladimir Radyuhin and is dated In recent years Bull has boasted of his continuing to ingratiate ourselves with the August 11th, its Internet address is: http:/ big economic growth and railed against Americans and British when the /www.frontlineonnet.com/ and click the the economic conservativism of the international standing of America and link to Signals from G8. Europeans—the ridiculous ways of life Britain is at an all time low and when the they seemed to be content with, which centre of gravity in international affairs is made them want to work shorter hours "No other Group of Eight summit rapidly shifting eastwards? grabbed so much public attention in and have more holidays whilst the British Europe and North America as the St. were working longer and longer to make But first I should substantiate my Petersburg summit held from July 15 to more money and grow their economy. But assertions. A good place to start is the G8 July 17. It was not the agenda that created the growing economy needed workers for summit that took place in St Petersburg in the stir but the fact that it was the first G8 21 meeting hosted by Russia. Party fund-raiser accused of handing tying Europe to Russian energy supplies "For months leading up to the summit, out seats in the House of Lords for cash. will be even more valuable. the media and politicians in the West "As it turned out, the question of "In return Russia has agreed to give debated the question of whether Russia democracy in Russia was tucked away Western energy companies access to its deserved to host the event, or, be a quietly, and did not come up until Putin oil and gas fields, but not to its pipelines. member of the group at all. The answer himself broached the subject at a dinner A day after the G8 summit Putin signed was an emphatic no. Russia, critics said, with the G8 leaders. into law a Bill consolidating Gazprom's was first invited to sit at the G7 table in "Why such an undramatic control over gas export pipelines. Russia 1992 as a reward for President Boris denouement to so high-pitched a is also planning to limit foreign Yeltsin's market-oriented and pro- campaign? The answer is that the West investment in “strategic” oil and gas democracy reforms. (Cynics said it was today needs Russia more than Russia fields, a list of which is still being a condolence prize to Yeltsin for the needs the West. Europe's dependence compiled. Russia's success is all the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty on Russian natural gas supplies is more significant since it came in the face Organisation.) In 2002, President expected to rise from the current 26 per of strong pressure the U.S. had put on Vladimir Putin was awarded the rotating cent to 50 per cent of its total needs by Europe to prevent what U.S. Secretary presidency of the G8 for 2006 in the 2020. The U.S. is keen to go for Russian of State Condoleezza Rice called “a hope that he would carry on with the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in a big monopoly of supply from one source pro-Western policies of his predecessor. way to lessen its dependence on the only, from Russia”. However, U.S. But he has belied those expectations. increasingly volatile West Asian region. efforts to dictate energy strategy to "On a visit to the former Soviet state "For its part, Russia, awash with oil Europe in dealing with Russia does not of Lithuania earlier this year, United money, needs little from the West, apart seem to have worked because Europe States Vice-President Dick Cheney from advanced technologies. Spurred and the U.S. are locked in fierce accused Russia of “unfairly and im- by rising energy prices, the Russian competition for Russian energy properly restricting the rights of her economy has been growing at around 7 resources. European and U.S. companies people” and using its oil and gas as per cent in recent years. Russia has paid are vying for a stake in Russia's biggest "tools of intimidation or blackmail". It off the debt owed by the Soviet Union to gas field, Shtokman, in the Barents Sea, was the harshest attack on Russia by a the West ahead of time, built up the which holds enough gas to meet Europe's Western leader since the Cold War. Less fourth largest foreign currency reserve entire needs for seven years. than a month before the G8 summit, four in the world, and made its ruble fully "Moscow exploited skilfully the leading U.S. lawmakers, including 2008 convertible from July 1. clashing interests of Europe and the U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Senator "Relying on Russia's new economic to get the most from both. Apart from John McCain, in an open letter to world strength as an energy superpower, Putin winning wider access for its companies leaders, called on them to rebuke Russia's set his own terms for relations with the to the retail energy markets of Europe leadership in St. Petersburg for actions West. He placed energy security at the and North America, Putin on the sidelines “inconsistent with G8 democratic norms" forefront of the G8 summit to redefine of the summit reached a breakthrough and for steering Russia "away from this concept to reflect Russia's interests. agreement with Bush to develop civilian democracy and toward authoritarianism”. He demanded that Europe and the U.S. nuclear cooperation between the two "Influential voices in Washington said drop their opposition to Russian energy countries for the first time in the history that gathering for an energy security companies buying into their energy of their relations. The two sides are to summit in St. Petersburg was tantamount distribution systems. Otherwise, he said, draw up an accord similar to the one to holding a nuclear disarmament “we start to look for other markets”. India has signed with the U.S. It will conference in Teheran. They demanded Moscow has already reached an give Russia access to U.S. reactor and that President George W. Bush stay away agreement with Beijing to build two gas fuel-processing technologies. Until now from St. Petersburg in protest against pipelines to China, which will supply the U.S. had rejected nuclear cooperation Moscow “rolling back democracy”. the country with up to 80 billion cubic with Russia because of its construction "When it became clear that none of metres of gas a year, raising fears in of two nuclear reactors in Iran. the G8 leaders would boycott the Russian Europe that the supplies to China may "Whether the agreements reached in summit, the Western press, quoting come at their expense. St. Petersburg will be honoured is an unnamed government sources, predicted "A statement on “Global Energy open question. A new campaign is confidently that a dressing down of Security” adopted by the G8 gave Putin picking up in the West to dismiss the Russia over its human rights record what he wanted. It states explicitly that summit as useless and its agreements as would dominate the summit, sidelining “companies from energy producing and hollow. Contrary to high expectations, a the official agenda. It did not. consuming countries can invest in and Russia-U.S. deal on terms of Russia's "Putin, who held four press acquire upstream and downstream assets entry in the World Trade Organisation conferences during the three-day internationally in a mutually beneficial (WTO) was not reached during the summit, stole the show from the other way and respecting competition rules to summit. Russia accused the U.S., the G8 members. He put down firmly any improve the global efficiency of energy only WTO member still to clear Russia's attempts to lecture him on democracy. production and consumption.” bid, of deliberately stalling on the When Bush spoke of U.S. efforts to "While previously energy security agreement. Speaking at a press promote institutional changes in various was confined to the security of supplies conference in St. Petersburg, Putin countries, including Iraq, "where there for the buyer, now it has been expanded complained that although the Cold War is a free press and free religion, and I told to include the security of demand for the COCOM (Coordinating Committee for him [Putin] that a lot of people in our seller. This means that Russia's Gazprom Multilateral Export Controls) lists of country would hope Russia would do natural gas monopoly will now be able Western technologies banned for export the same thing," the Russian leader to buy European companies that sell and to the Soviet Union had long been retorted: “We certainly would not like to distribute energy to the retail market, as abolished, "we are still meeting rigid have the same kind of democracy as well as pipelines, underground gas curbs on transfers of high technologies they have in Iraq”, eliciting laughter storage facilities and power-generating to Russia". from those present. Asked on another companies. This is something that even "The West's treatment of Russia occasion whether he would discuss oil-producing Arab countries have found smacks heavily of double-speak. On the democracy with British Prime Minister hard to do owing to administrative and one hand, the West claims its goal is to Tony Blair, Putin answered that the two political hurdles. Russia may earn an help Russia integrate into the Western leaders also had other issues to discuss, additional $30 billion to $60 billion a world; on the other it hinders Putin's such as corruption. year from retail energy business in efforts to promote such integration "“It will be interesting for us to hear Europe, which is far more profitable through Russia's accession to the WTO, about your experience with Lord Levy”, than Gazprom's wholesale gas deliveries broader energy cooperation, and freer he said, referring to the British Labour to Europe. The geopolitical effect of access to Western technologies. 22 "Russians think the West has a importance as a world power and as a intention of towing the US line. This has problem coming to terms with a resurgent potential market for Western goods. positive implications for the future of Russia. “Americans have a severe international relations. For the first time disease—worse than AIDS. It's called In the same issue of Frontline from in recent history there is a possibility that the winner's complex”, former Soviet which the above article is taken, the lead the main international institutions,—the President Mikhail Gorbachev said. article is devoted to the Israeli invasion of G8, the UN—may be susceptible to Moscow made it clear that a rising Russia would not tolerate to be treated as the Lebanon. The link to this article has the pressure for real reform. Should such Cold War loser. “The practice of inter- title, Israeli Terror, and the article is titled, reforms become enacted the possibility state relations where Russia incurred Empire comes to Lebanon by Aijaz arises that the creation of genuine substantial economic losses as quid pro Ahmad. For the depth of its analysis and institutions of international law may quo for gaining the friendliness of the the degree of its independence from the become a realisable goal. leaders of certain foreign countries is a general Western view this article must thing of the past”, Russia's Defence rank as one of the best accounts of the Of course this is conjecture. None- Minister Sergei Ivanov declared in a invasion. Its full internet reference is theless the international anti-war move- keynote article published a day before http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/ ment might do well to put such ideas on the summit. 20060811005800600.htm. The article is their agenda or accept them for debate. As "“Russia has fully recovered the status of a superpower that has global a thoroughly objective investigation of an Irish input to debate I would suggest responsibility for the situation in the what has gone on in Lebanon, how the that attention should be directed at world and for the future of the conflict began, what Hizbollah is about, analysing what has gone wrong in civilisation”, Ivanov said. The G8 and what are the strategic aims of the US international relations, and it should start summit in St. Petersburg under Russia's and Israel. On each point Ahmad differs with the 1914-18 World War. Which presidency went a long way towards with the general Western view and he is brings us back to the Battle of the Somme. establishing Russia as a full-fledged and deeply critical of the Western media. If he No matter how innocent the official Irish equal member of the Western club of must be faulted I would say he attributes commemoration of the Somme may seem, industrially developed countries. too much controlling influence to the US, and no matter how distant the Great War Russia's membership in G8 has changed much as an ultra left analysis might do. may seem from current problems in the group's agenda. It is no longer a Western rich man's club concerned with international relations, everything still defending its selfish interests from the But the important point from an Irish hinges on how that infamous slaughter is rest of the world. perspective is that China, Russia and India interpreted. "Putin pressed the point that Russia is are ascendant powers who have no David Alvey a link between the East and the West, the North and the South, by holding a Reader's Letter trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao during the G8 summit. It was The Difficulties Of The Left Movement the first Russia-India-China meeting at the summit level. In A Sectarian Society "“Our approaches to key international A Personal Account problems are very close or, as the diplomats say, they practically coincide”, Part Two Putin said, opening the meeting. Putin The Party [Communist Party/Northern threw his support behind proposals (Blair enclave of Short Strand. has already aired one) to expand the G8 Ireland] had its niche in Northern Ireland. Our mission was to get people to sign by including India, China and other The Party Trade Union leaders certainly the Stalin Five-Point-Peace-Plan. Most of outreach countries whom Russia had had their niche. They had the power to get the doors we knocked on brought out invited to attend the summit. “Without the odd Catholic an apprenticeship in the people who signed the petition. A lot of such countries as India and China it is the Protestant-dominated Short and the people also asked us if we were here to impossible to solve global economic Harland Aircraft Factory. The odd Catholic protect them. I had been used to going and financial problems”, he said. could even be got a job in the Belfast Fire around Protestant areas with petitions but Putin outlined a new political agenda Brigade thanks to the communist secretary in the Catholic areas I expected to be set for the G8—to help mould a new multi- of the Fire Brigade Union. Life seemed upon. But we got a warm welcome and polar world. "Our world has not become pleasant enough. Stormont was possibly safer after the collapse of the bipolar cups of tea. world," he said. “On the contrary, it has satisfied with the situation. Special Branch Later the YWL became the Socialist become less predictable.... We do not (except for a few rogue elements) were Youth League and the lettering was Celtic have the tools and instruments to address bemused by us. After all the Protestants on the notepaper with a slogan in Irish. the challenges of today.” were in charge of possibly the most volatile There were visits to Milltown for the 1916 "An expanded G8 may become such movement in the world. The Branch men Uprising commemorations. Again this was a tool. “What mankind is concerned knew our names and we knew their names the work of the Protestant members. with today, what we are doing in G8 is to because they told us. They were confident Special Branch now took a closer try and work out a new architecture of that the statelet would last forever. And if interest in us. We were continually stopped international relations”, he said. " it didn't and went communist then as in the street, pushed roughly against walls Special Branch District Inspector Sproule So, the US can no longer determine and threatened with one day having to said to us one day: how post Soviet Russia can function in crawl up the road on our hands and knees. "You'll need us even more then." We sort of dismissed these ones as the international affairs, and Manmohan All of this changed when the YWL Singh, Hu Jintao and Putin are calling for rogue elements. One of the more naïve of [Young Workers' League] lurched towards our members even reported them to District a new architecture of international trying to politicalise the Catholic into our relations. It is also worth noting that the Inspector Sproule. He tutted and called way of thinking. It wasn't the Catholics of them pigs and then suggested that the best US was forced to cultivate relations with the YWL who wanted this but the India last year having forged close links thing we could do now was to emigrate to Protestants. Soon we were going into the Australia. with Pakistan following 9/11. This was a Catholic Markets area around Cromac clear recognition of India’s growing During one visit to Milltown we were Square and into the East Belfast Catholic stopped as usual at a street corner up the 23 Falls Road. A Branch man I had never · Biteback · Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback seen before asked my girlfriend in a crude manner: "Is your man there a Roman Catholic or a Protestant?" She, in a panic, lied and said I was a Protestant like herself. Mansergh Outlook Was Thoroughly British We were then allowed to go on our way. This gave me the idea that it wasn't so bad I suppose I am the unnamed "two-nations ideologue" referred to by Senator Mansergh for a Protestant visiting Milltown—they with regard to his father's book on the First World War. could grow out of it—but a Catholic going The views that what occurred in August 1914 was a "British instigated war of there was another matter. aggression" against Germany is not a novel idea that I dreamed up. It was the view of the At Party conferences the Socialist Youth two most influential writers on international affairs in the Irish Republican movement in League were still raising questions about 1914-16, James Connolly and Roger Casement. the history of the Party before 1933 and Connolly asserted it in "The War Upon The German Nation" in September 1914 and were still being told to shut up. As a gave it continuous expression in his comment on the War in "The Workers' Republic" in counter to what we saw as pig-headedness, 1915-16. It was also Casement's view in "The Crime Against Europe", part of which had we began to ask questions about the lack actually been written before the British declaration of war. Casement, who moved in of action over the situation of the Catholic diplomatic circles, saw that war on Germany was the object of British diplomcy in the pre- population. The Protestants of the SYL war years. were mainly raising these question and as Nicholas Mansergh was an Anglo-Irish country gentleman, and a professional servant Catholics we would fill them in on things of the British state. His book, "The Coming Of The First World War", published in London they didn't know about us. If we had in 1949, was based on lectures delivered at a private institution in Dublin in 1944 – so he spoken up as Catholics we would have says in a Foreword. But it is a pretty standard British view of the origins of the war. been looked on as sectarian and anti- Senator Mansergh refers to his father's book as "academic", as if that contradicted the Protestant. The Party Trade Union officials description of it as propagandist. But pretty well every academic in Oxford and Cambridge especially hated us. They didn't want the contributed to the British propaganda of the Great War. And that is what Professor boat rocked because of the huge Protestant Mansergh did at private lectures in Dublin during the 2nd World War. There is no sign that Trade Union membership. he ever considered the matter from an Irish viewpoint. He simply ignores the arguments They thought we should be expelled. of Connolly and Casement. And he does not mention the detailed secret arrangements Sean Murray was strangely quiet so we made by Sir Henry Wilson during the years before 1914 to place a British Army in the line took his silence for support. Loathing and in France when the moment came. hatred was our lot. The Catholic members And, in his big book on "The Government Of Northern Ireland" (London 1936), of the SYL felt it all the more. It was Nicholas Mansergh manages to miss the obvious fact that it was an essentially undemocratic Protestant anger breaking through the skin. set-up made by Britain for its own convenience and/or advantage, and that the inevitable There was certain amount of Catholic result of its functioning was the communal conflict of Protestants and Catholics. protest within the CP on occasions but it Professor Mansergh served the British state in the sensitive overlap between the was made as jovial as possible. But was it academic and administrative spheres, and he helped to massage the transition from Empire jovial? The Party had permanent election to Commonwealth (when the Empire was no longer sustainable) in such a way as to rooms in Protestant East Belfast in which maintain the greatest possible degree of British hegemony over its former Empire. His socials were sometimes held at the week- history of Ireland, which he revised every few years, was part of that work. end. These socials were attended by the His world-outlook was thoroughly British. He would not have been appointed to a CP Trade Union leaders, the CP position at the heart of the British Establishment otherwise. membership and the youth league. Crates Brendan Clifford of beer were dragged in. Sometimes a Irish News, 16.8.06 film from Eastern Europe was shown by she lived. Sometime in the early 1970s splinter group. They burnt the UDA the Party's Lagan Film Society. After this someone tried to gun him down in the member's fishing boat in Ardglass the fun would begin with a sing-song at street. He recognised a former comrade Harbour. the piano. One youth's favourite song was from the old days of the CP/NI social days When the Provo war out broke in the Johnson's Motor Car. He came from the but decided not to report the matter. early Seventies some of the Special Branch Falls Road. One evening he sat down at Eventually he and his wife and children we were familiar with were listed as dead the piano and began to play and sing the were threatened with being burnt out. in a night of the long knives. It was the end entire song to the last verse: They retreated to London as refugees and of an era in which Catholic and Protestant "Well we put the car in motion and filled were re-housed on that basis by a Catholic comrades had tentatively come together. it to the brim housing charity. The Terence O'Neill/Sean Lemass talks With guns and bayonets shining which Declan Mulholland and myself had in Belfast and Dublin during 1965 had made old Johnson grim left Belfast for London in 1954. We were failed. It may seem mild now but it was And Barney hoisted a Sinn Fein flag, and it fluttered like a star followed soon after by Bobbie Heatley, quite an event back then. Ian Paisley, king And we gave three cheers for the IRA the young Protestant joiner, who had of the Deep-North bible-belt was having and Johnson's motor car." changed the YWL into the SYL and led us none of it. Back in 1962, probably sensing The first time he sang this there was into the Catholic areas on petitions. In the change to come, he caused the Lower complete silence. Declan Mulholland then London he learnt Irish and joined the Falls riots by demanding that the RUC intervened quickly to sing the Orange Connolly Association, studied for a degree sledgehammer the Irish Tricolour out of song The Sash My Father Wore in Irish. in economics, returned to Belfast, became the window of a shop being used by Sinn That brought some humour to the a university lecturer in economics, joined Fein during an election. This resulted in proceedings. This became his routine at the Civil Rights Movement and gave dozens of bloodied Catholic prisoners every social and in the end it became evidence at the Bloody Sunday enquiry in being chained together, after their arrest, acceptable though there was a still bit of Derry. by the RUC as if it were the American lip-biting among some of the elderly Things then further deteriorated among Deep South. Paisley also caused riots in Protestant ladies. He of Johnson's Motor the comrades. A former CPNI member the Catholic Cromac Square area, around Car later married a Protestant girl in the joined the UDA while a former YWL the same time, by belligerently marching YWL and moved to East Belfast where member, a Catholic, joined a nationalist through it with his followers and an RUC 24 escort. Protestant militants. Also fortified with local Unionist censorship was beginning to intelligence two men, with pots of red paint VOLUNTEERS continued ease up and book shops in Central Belfast and brushes, began their pilgrimage. They were selling Nationalist literature. This began looked at their lists and painted on the concrete to disappear at Paisley's behest. Next he paths leading up to the houses the letters BW some even, it is an easy touch— defaulters started a campaign against what he called (break windows) or BO (burn out) BW was at a Credit Union branch feel litigation Free State currency being used in Protestant a warning to get ready in the days to come. would be the last resort, unlike the capitalist Ulster. (I remember the Protestant shipyard BO meant to go now. Gangs with stones and institutions. men when playing Pitch and Toss—a petrol bombs then followed up the two men, gambling game—calling out Heads or and carried out the painted instructions. The On a wider scale, you see this in local Harps—instead of Head or Tails as used in screams of women could be heard all over authority housing where huge rental England—they so accepted the currency from the estate. The RUC and the British Army deficits, ESB and Gas bills remain South of the Border.) It wasn't long before didn't intervene. There was also the sound of unpaid—but their SKY TV and the UVF had shot dead a Catholic barman furious scrubbing as some of the women automobile debts are promptly accounted working in the Shankill Road area. Then tried to rub out the painted instruction. Houses for. came the attempted invasion of parts of the vacated then had the word Infested painted Falls Road by the Loyalists, followed by the on the windows, reminiscent of pogroms ****************************************************************** Bogside Riots in Derry. By this time the against the Jews in Nazi Germany or the "The tension between the republican RUC silver band had stopped playing Irish racist slogans of the American Deep South. view of the world and the Anglo-Saxon jigs outside the City Hall on a Saturday. Many Catholics survived those nights in model of globalisation presents a dilemma Post 1939-1945 war, a massive building Rathcoole because they had not been seen for Irish policy makers. The emerging scheme was under way in order to re-house attending the local Catholic Church. They culture of contentment in Ireland is part of sections of the population and take them out had also been sending their children to this dilemma. It expresses itself in a number of the Belfast slums. Huge estates had been Protestant schools as a cover. They practised of ways, from denial that Ireland's completed by the early 1950s. Three of them their religion and dusted-down their politics economic boom will falter, to a lack of in particular had picturesque settings—the in the privacy of their own homes, I have political courage to decisively remedy one at Holywood, north of Belfast had a been told, and probably still do. institutional failure, to the erosion of frontal view of Belfast Lough with the The fact of the matter is that an united fraternity. Irish society has long enjoyed a Castlereagh Hills at the back. Another one Ireland was not on the agenda of most solid civic fabric, with institutions like the twelve miles from Belfast was built near the Catholics from these new estates. They would GAA and the localised nature of political ancient town of Carrickfergus. It also had the happily have integrated within Northern party organisation being some of the Belfast Lough within walking distance. Ireland if there had been major reforms in factors that bred a sense of responsibility Rathcoole, also north of Belfast, had the policing and if the Orange Order had been and involvement. However, fraternity is Belfast Lough, the Carnmoney Hills and put on a leash. Maybe that was to come deteriorating and there is an unmistakable Cavehill within a short distance. This estate eventually. Certainly sections of the Unionist feeling that Ireland has become a more also had the glen Glas-na-Braden nearby. government during this period of social materialistic and consumerist society, two The houses built there were of a high standard engineering were obviously working towards trends that are readily associated with with gardens back and front. Rathcoole had that integration. As Brendan Clifford says in globalisation. The transition of Irish a shopping centre, a cinema, pubs, separate one of his articles: "Britain put the Protestants society from frugal to consumerist has schools for both Protestant and Catholic in charge of the Catholics." Maybe it was a been a sudden and in parts an inelegant children with an integrated one being planned. bit late in the day to undo any of this. Unionist one, with ugly social changes like an There were also various types of youth clubs Stormont was to fall in 1972, after fifty years increase in homicide, violent crime, anti- and community centres. In these three estates, in power. Sinn Fein/SDLP/Unionist social behaviour and alcohol and drug as well as others around the periphery of Stormont, in charge of very little, fell more abuse taking place along the way" Belfast, social engineering was at work. Every times than Jesus. Now Sinn Fein and other (Michael J. O'Sullivan, Ireland And The Protestant had a Catholic neighbour next nationalists would like the Protestants to Global Question, Cork University Press, door and every Catholic had a Protestant integrate with them. The old Unionist 2006). neighbour. Each street had an equal number Stormont with real power in their hands had ****************************************************************** of both persuasions. My own family, a better chance of succeeding with the TO BE CONTINUED rehoused from Carryduff, lived on the three Catholics but the sands of time ran out. estates at one time or another, finally settling The Young Workers' League limped on published by Brandon Books. He gave a in Rathcoole. My father agreed with the as the Socialist Youth League, and as far as speech which startled some of the Catholics social engineering brought about by the then I can gather, reverted back to being the there for its socialist outlook and anti- Unionist government. The early civil rights Young Workers' League. Its membership sectarian message. It could have come from movement and many of those in People's card still had the starry plough of Connolly the CPNI when it had influence in Protestant Democracy castigated this social engineering on it with one of the stars coloured red. Its East Belfast. and went as far as to wrongfully call these secretary was now a young man who was The CP/I is now nearer to what Sean estates sink-estates of despair. Many of the also in the Territorial Army. He had to be Murray would have wanted. It is bi-lingual these critics were from the Catholic middle- persuaded to give up this limb of the British and it has its Celtic lettering but it is now class and and later went on to have grand Army. His mother—an executive member mainly Southern based. It still has its handful jobs with the British Establishment. of the Party—also had to be persuaded, by of Northern Protestant adherents, many of Anyway, the social engineering what was left of the old CP/NI, to tone down whom have been around the Party for over experiment only lasted about fifteen years. her charity work for an East Belfast Orange fifty years. The industrialised Protestant has The religion-mixed Bobby Sands family on women's association. gone in the North so it will struggle to bring the Rathcoole estate received their marching In 2002 I sat alongside David Ervine, in the present-day Protestant. But as they orders after the Belfast and Bogside riots and then a Progressive Unionist Party assembly say: When one door closes another one opens. they along with about a thousand Catholic member, at a book signing in Donegal Street The CP/I now seems to be attracting the families fled Rathcoole. in Belfast. I had had a book published by newcomers to Ireland like Sikhs from India, A register of all Catholics living on the Brandon Books of Dingle, County Kerry and East Europeans and black Africans. Rathcoole estate was in the hands of local he had had a biography of himself also Wilson John Haire 25 VOLUNTEERS continued societies, which have sought to engage creators? with this challenge" (An Taoiseach, Croke Park, 14.4.2005). He then goes on "However, the key was that volunteer organisations like St. individuals participate in, and feel part One of the truly great voluntary Vincent de Paul are allowed a say" (ibid). of, a wider social reality." movements of the 20th century was surely the Trade Unions, yet, the Taoiseach made Pointing out that giving workers a share A couple of points here: surely Trade not a mention of this in his seminal address Unions have at least as great a claim to the in corporate responsibility enhances at Croke Park last year. A little unusual, as company "performance", Ahern volunteer principle as the St. Vincent de he is one of the few politicians who Paul? continued: consistently wears his 'Trade Union heart' "I believe that the quality of life in on his sleeve. Perhaps, he now takes the society, and the ultimate health of our We certainly go back as far, further communities, depends on the willingness Trade Union movement for granted. even! of people to become involved and active. Certainly, a huge contribution to that state- Active on behalf of themselves and their of-mind is the loss of the 'voluntary' aspect One would have thought a former families, their communities and the more of Trade Unionism itself. To many National Director of St. Vincent de Paul vulnerable members of society. Happy workers, it is now just a large bureaucratic might even appreciate the fact that were it the society that has people who act, institution. not for the voluntary Trade Union rather than lament; who organise rather movement, the challenges and tasks facing than complain; who accept a personal People take a similar view of the Credit responsibility rather than walk by on the that organisation would be much more Union movement. Many of the individuals serious and widespread. other side. espousing the great contribution of "We are fortunate to have so many active citizens in our society. volunteerism are themselves highly paid The "Hand-up not the Hand-out" "They are to be found in vibrant executives in these organisations. You philosophy is not too apparent here. national organisations, like the GAA, see a good deal of this in those organisa- whose strength and vitality are reflected tions which are classified as Non O'Dwyer "spent 15 years in the in the marvellous facilities which we are Government Agencies (NGOs). priesthood, first as a student and later as enjoying here today. Active citizens an ordained priest". He left and got are to be found in the political parties, in married. Tidy Towns Committees, in credit CREDIT UNION MOVEMENT unions, in parish and church "Volunteerism brought Irish League When he talks about Trade Unions organisations and guilds, in professional of Credit Union˙s chief executive Liam and scholarly organisations, in local have "undue influence" in the Partnership history and environmental groups, in O˙Dwyer from the priesthood, through process— he surely displays a pathetic residents' associations and in youth the prison service, into Human Resources, ignorance of the role workers themselves groups of all kinds. working with Travellers and directing the played in the founding of the credit union "We should not, however, be St Vincent de Paul" (Irish Examiner, movement worldwide, and still play. complacent. There are pressures, which 15.4.2006). militate against this type of engagement. Also, in these days of surveys and Some of these relate to lifestyle and the "Since December 2002, O'Dwyer has statistics, if one took the percentage of pressures of combining working life with been in charge of day-to-day operations home and family commitments. This is Trade Unionists and their families holding at the Irish League of Credit Unions. Credit Union membership— it would far particularly the case in the context of The movement is a testimony to the more extensive commuting. Some enduring nature of volunteerism in exceed any of the other sectors that make people are put off by the accountability, Ireland. up the community. which can arise from engagement in "The movement employs 3,500 staff organised activities, old and new. Others in five hundred and thirty different credit Mr. O'Dwyer claims he can "call on a still can be discouraged by criticism or unions with three million members, and further nine thousand volunteers" besides by the indifference of those who stand can call on a further nine thousand his 3,500 permanent staff. I doubt it! back and leave the effort to others. volunteers. Indeed, the Credit Union movement is "But we need to consider on a broader "Last year, its total assets grew by blighted by the lack of the voluntary ethic. basis the policies and actions at official 15.4% to Euro 14.26 bn. The Irish League level, which can help or hinder such Like Trade Union AGMs, were it not for of Credit Unions is an all-Ireland the presence of the paid staff, most Credit engagement. We need to identify the organisation that operates under two supports, which could help encourage distinct systems of regulation. Unions couldn't hold an AGM. They go to people to become involved and to stay "It is a grassroots organisation. no end, offering incentives, vouchers, involved. We need to consider the Average savings per member last year holidays, etc. in an attempt to persuade cultural resources, which can be amounted to Euro 4,200, while average members to attend their own AGM— but deployed to support the values of loans amounted to Euro 7,600 in the alas, few ever turn up. solidarity and participation, rather than Republic, and a more modest Euro 4,340 isolation and withdrawal. in the North." (Irish Examiner- When they do, as they did recently in "In short, we need to consider how to 15.4.2006). Gurranabraher in Cork city : it is concern maintain and develop a culture of active citizenship to build a healthy civic over 'dicky' practices and the threat these Liam O'Dwyer makes the following pose to their interest pay-out. society. comment on Social Partnership: "…that "With that in mind, I intend to the unions and business interests have Very few Credit Unions members have establish a Task Force on Active 'undue influence'" (Irish Examiner, Citizenship to advise me and the any intrinsic or voluntary commitment to Government on the steps which can be 15.4.2006). their local branch these days—there was a What an infantile statement! Is he taken to achieve these goals. We have a time when some did—but not any longer. growing body of academic research and seriously suggesting that Barnardos, It is just another money-lending institute, reflection, which can help us. We have Simon and the St. Vincent de Paul be give local and more convenient that's all. For access to the experience of other equal status with the producers and wealth continued on page 25

26 VOLUNTEERS continued the fall in social participation by citizens views by the 29th September, 2006. " in the United States, was among those invited. Regional public meetings are to take place in September to hear the views of seen by some political observers as an It was Professor Puttnam who coined individuals, groups and organisations. attempt to address a growing sense of the term "social capital" to describe Details of these events are on the Active unease over some aspects of the country's community interaction, volunteerism and Citizenship website www.activecitizen.ie rapid economic growth, such as longer commitment to local progress. (24.7.2006). commuting times, rampant consumerism and a growing sense of alienation and The Taoiseach has long been concerned isolation in the community" (19.4.2006). that increasing pressures of work and long AHERN SPEECH Addressing a Conference on The Various elements of the community commutes are causing social clubs, societies and sports and leisure groups to Future Of The Communist And Voluntary are represented in the Task Force, which suffer a withering of membership. Sector in Croke Park in April 2005, the includes individuals involved in the Taoiseach described the \voluntary' sector community, voluntary sector, employers, Mr. Ahern admires the work of Robert as being part of the "economy", rather as and unions, along with two very senior seeing it as part of society. This shows civil servants: Puttnam, who identified the problem in his book, Bowling Alone, summing up how deeply the commercial mindset has bitten. He said: Ms Mary Davis, Chief Executive, increasing loneliness in society. Special Olympics Ireland (Chairperson) "Recent research has traced the scale Mr. David Begg, General Secretary, Puttnam's big idea is that community of the voluntary sector in Ireland, in Irish Congress of Trade Unions is suffering because we don't "reconnect" terms of the number of people involved Mr. John Bennett, Disability Officer, enough with each other. He points out on a regular basis, the number of University College, Dublin that, while in the 1950s people in the US employees working for voluntary Fr. Harry Bohan, Diocese of Killaloe organisations and the scale of the would have gone bowling in groups of financial resources which they control. and Céifin Centre for Values-led Change five or six, they were now too busy making Ms Elaine Bradshaw, Chair, Keep By any standard, this is a significant money. If Americans go bowling these sector of the economy. It is appropriate Kilkenny Beautiful Committee days, it is more likely to be on their own. MsCaroline Casey, Chief Executive, that it should attract its due share of The Aisling Foundation Mr. Ahern had told a conference last attention from researchers, from those Ms Mary Cunningham, Director, yea supporting good management practice, National Youth Council of Ireland r on the future of the community and from specialists in finance and, indeed, Mr. Arthur Duignan, Assistant voluntary sector in Croke Park: from the public authorities as hopefully Director, CREATE "In his important work on social appropriate and sensitive regulators of Cllr. John Gallahue, Governing Body, capital, Robert Puttnam has traced the different aspects of this activity." Limerick Institute of Technology processes by which the health of societies Mr. Gerry Kearney, Secretary can be enhanced or diminished, He also seemed to assume that General, Department of Community, depending on the extent to which 'voluntary' means 'not for profit'. Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs individuals participate in, and feel part Traditionally it has been understood to Mr. Sean Kelly, Outgoing President, of, a wider social reality." indicate that an effort was being 'not for GAA pay': Ms Maighréad Uí Mháirtín, "The important role of the non-profit Cathaoirleach, Foras na Gaeilge PUBLIC CONSULTATION sector in our economy and society has Mr. Seamus McAleavey, Northern On 24th July 2006, the Chairperson of been reflected in the development of Ireland Council for Voluntary Action the Taskforce on Active Citizenship, Ms relations between the Government, the Mr. Dermot McCarthy, Secretary Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics public authorities in general and the General, Department of the Taoiseach community and voluntary sector." Sr. Bernadette McMahon, Vincentian Ireland, announced the beginning of a public consultation process on Active Partnership for Social Justice Ahern stressed the value of Social Ms Sylvia Meehan, Irish Senior Citizenship. Launching a consultation document Partnership in allowing a voice to "those Citizens Parliament who might, otherwise, be almost voiceless Mr. Bobby Molloy, former TD and which is to be widely distributed around Minister the country and is also available on the in Irish society". The Venerable David Pierpoint, website www.activecitzen.ie, Ms Davis He then went on to speak of the high Archdeacon of Dublin said that the Taskforce was interested in Dr. Mary Redmond, Arthur Cox, and hearing a wide spectrum of views on what "quality of relationships" in Irish social Co-founder, The Wheel it means to be an active citizen in today's life, concluding that: Mr. John Trethowan, Business in the Ireland. "Given that experience, it is not Community Ireland surprising that Irish people were ranked Ms Davis said she was keenly aware so highly in the international that in today's society the most difficult measurement of happiness reported some BERTIE'S PROFESSOR thing for people to give is their time: months ago in The Economist In September, 2005, Fianna Fáil invited "Pressures of time, changing values magazine. This results from the a number of high-profile speakers on social and modern lifestyles have contributed to combination of high living standards, cohesion, childcare and the economy to a sense that is it harder to be an active made possible by economic growth, and address its annual two-day parliamentary citizen in Ireland today…" mutual support and solidarity, based on party meeting in Co. Cavan. "The main focus of our work will be shared values, which makes for a happy and contented society. These meetings traditionally flag the to promote discussion and debate on what active citizenship means and what "In his important work on social issues the party see as important for the capital, Robert Puttnam has traced the coming Dáil session. can be done to assist people to become more involved. We on the Taskforce processes by which the health of societies Author and Harvard Professor Robert encourage as many as possible to take can be enhanced or diminished, Puttnam, who has written extensively on part and look forward to receiving their depending on the extent to which continued on page 26 27 VOLUME 24 No. 9 CORK ISSN 0790-1712 The Fate Of The Volunteer "I scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine." "People live in each other's shadows." "Whenever I wanted to know does anything to-day but for material gain! services, community leadership as well what the Irish people wanted, I had If there's no gain, why should you do it? as a sporting and cultural life for our only to examine my own heart and 'He must be getting something out of it, he people. it told me straight off what the Irish must be, he would be mad to do it for "Today, when the scarcest resource of all is time, this role of active people wanted." nothing', is a constant refrain in the land of the Celtic Tiger. participation is being devolved to fewer (Eamon de Valera, Dail Eireann, and fewer people. In the process, we all 6.1.1922, in reply to a jibe at his risk being impoverished, especially those 'foreignness' in the Freeman's Journal). TASK FORCE who opt out and leave the responsibilities Announcing the membership of the of citizenship to others. De Valera witnessed a revolution; a Task Force on Active Citizenship, the "We need to identify and understand 'civil war'; the most radical land reform Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, TD, said: how public policy helps and hinders programme ever legislated and a massive "Last week, in the context of active engagement. We need to identify cultural movement, all of them, initially discussing the legacy of the 1916 Rising, practical steps to encourage more of our people to become involved and to stay based on volunteerism. I pointed out that Ireland has a deep tradition of active engagement by its involved in the life of their own citizens in every aspect of our national community. A volunteer can certainly look into his life and culture. During decades when "I am entrusting that task to the Task heart— all the British Empire could do the capacity of the State was limited by Force on Active citizenship, which will was dip into its pockets. a lack of resources, it was the commit- be chaired by Mary Davis. In her role as ment of the Irish people that so often, Director of Special Olympics Ireland, Of course, that now, is the direction we formally and informally, provided social she succeeded in generating such a ourselves are heading: 'money can buy tremendous response from ordinary anything'. citizens to an extraordinary experience that was Special Olympics 2003. This is Subscribers to the magazine are regularly one example of the type of voluntary offered special rates on other publications One thing is for sure, de Valera would effort and community participation, never have needed to to seek out a Harvard Irish Political Review is published by which sustains a healthy and vibrant professor to find the answer as to why the society" (18.4.2006). Irish people have deserted their once the IPR Group: write to— beautiful sense of civic and voluntary 14 New Comen Court, North Strand, The Irish Times commented duty. Dublin 3, or PO Box 339, Belfast BT12 4GQ or editorially: "The Task Force on Active To be honest, once that happens— PO Box 6589, London, N7 6SG, or Citizenship has been given nine months there is no way back. The road we're now Labour Comment, to produce a report aimed at helping going down has no U-turn—boom, C/O Shandon St. P.O., Cork City. shape public policy in a way which expansion and growth just have to facilitates and encourages greater Subscription by Post: engagement by people in all aspects of continue, even for the sake of a minority 12 issues: £17.50, UK; of the population, indeed, primarily for life, as well as promoting a strong civic Euro 25, Ireland; Euro 30, Europe. culture. The Taoiseach's decision to the sake of a minority. Electronic Subscription: establish the group has been prompted by concern over reports of falling levels Euro 15 / £12 for 12 issues Setting up a task force to ponder on the of civic engagement and volunteerism (or Euro 1.30 / £1.10 per issue) decline of 'volunteerism' is a contradiction. across the country. In a sense, it is an affirmation that the You can also order both postal and "The establishment of a task force is volunteer is a thing of the past. Nobody electronic subscriptions from: www.atholbooks.org continued on page 27