Gerry Lawless Republicanism Guilds And The Town Brendan Clifford Pat Walsh Labour Comment

page 7 page 13 back page IRISH POLITICAL REVIEW April 2012 Vol.27, No.4 ISSN 0790-7672 and Northern Star incorporating Workers' Weekly Vol.26 No.4 ISSN 954-5891

Britain and the EU Fianna Fáil: on the road to nowhere? A Tale Of Micheál Martin decided to accept the findings of The Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Two Taoiseachs Planning Matters & Payments—the Mahon Tribunal, established October 1997— John Bruton is probably about the most within hours of its publication. A report of more than 3,000 pages which took almost 15 Anglophile person in Irish politics. The years and cost—according to some estimates—300 million euros must be true and 'happiest day' of his life was when he met exempt from criticism. That is the position that Micheál Martin has taken and therefore Prince Charles in Dublin Castle some he has disabled himself from defending the party he leads. years ago. He would at that point have Martin is entitled to his opinion, but it is a view that is not shared by the Supreme Court. been horrified at any unkind words about It found that the Tribunal suppressed evidence that would have undermined the Britain and its political motives. He was credibility of one of the Tribunal's star witnesses, James Gogarty. This only came to light once nicknamed John Britain. But that because the person against whom the allegations had been made had the financial could all be in the past. All such people resources to challenge the Tribunal. The Supreme Court Judge Adrian Hardiman get a rude awakening at some point in commented as follows: their lives. His hero, John Redmond, is the great historical monument to that fact. "It is chilling to reflect that a poorer person, treated in the same fashion by the tribunal, John had his awakening when it dawned could not have afforded to seek this vindication." on him that it was Britain which is the The final report has not found Bertie Ahern guilty of corruption. But we gather from cause of the current problems over the media reports that Ahern was "untruthful" regarding his finances. Referendum on the Fiscal Compact. "Bruton blames UK over referendum. When the Tribunal was chaired by Feargus Flood it relied on a witness who had a British opposition to the EU's original grudge against his employer (Gogarty) and who claimed to have participated in a corrupt fiscal treaty proposal is partly responsible act. When the tax defaulter Alan Mahon succeeded Flood as Chairman, reliance was for forcing a referendum on the issue in the Republic, former taoiseach John placed on a corrupt property developer called Tom Gilmartin, who has been granted Bruton argued yesterday. The Republic immunity from prosecution. Mahon failed to substantiate the allegations Gilmartin made has to hold a constitutional referendum against Ahern. It could find no payment to corroborate the allegation that Ahern had to ratify the fiscal treaty, which imposes received £80,000 from the Cork developer Owen O'Callaghan despite an exhaustive budgetary rules on EU members limiting search. the amount of money they can borrow and the deficits they can run. Addressing There are other allegations. Gilmartin claims Liam Lawlor introduced him to Charles the Ireland Canada Business Association yesterday, John Bruton, a former taois- Haughey, Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern, Padraig Flynn and Mary O'Rourke in Leinster each and EU ambassador to the US, said House. After the introductions, Gilmartin was called aside and asked for 5 million pounds the British government's refusal to agree by a person that he did not know and who somehow disappeared into the night never to to amend existing European treaties to be seen again. Even Fintan O'Toole finds the story "far fetched" (The Irish Times, accommodate the new fiscal rules had 23.3.12). But Mahon believes on the basis of no evidence. And since Mahon believes, 'forced everybody else' to go outside therefore Gilmartin must be telling the truth! That is the 'truth' which the Fianna Fáil existing agreements. 'The fact that a leader has committed himself to. member state would do such a thing, to my mind, suggests something not far from malice', he added." (Irish Times, 9 Probably the most extraordinary finding was that the 'dig-outs' for Ahern never March.) happened. When they were revealed during the 2007 General Election, the impression given was that this was something disreputable. At the Tribunal the participants swore This is all quite true, except that it is not under oath that the 'dig-outs' happened but their evidence has been rejected. It appears partially true that Britain scuppered an that Ahern received the money from some other mysterious source, which is not known. EU deal—it is totally true. Also, it is not Mahon has entered the metaphysical world of Donald Rumsfeld's "known unknowns" malice—it is the UK's policy and in its and "unknown unknowns". interest to disrupt the European project It is not really conceivable that all those 'dig-outers' could have been mistaken in their and it has succeeded. Britain does so evidence and therefore the only conclusion that can be drawn is that there was a without even thinking about it: it comes conspiracy to mislead—under oath—the Tribunal. And yet the publican Charlie Chawke, so naturally. Bruton and anyone else need one of Ahern's supporters, knows he gave 2,500 pounds to Ahern via Des Richardson and only watch any debate in Westminster to continued on page 2 continued on page 2, column 3 C O N T E N T S Page Europe continued Fianna Fáil: on the road to nowhere? Editorial 1 realise that malice is a pretty mild way of A Tale Of Two Taoiseachs. Jack Lane 1 describing the view that now dominates Readers' Letters: Federalism The Way Forward For The UK. James Annett 3 there as regards Europe. The place oozes Keynesianism—cause or cure? Jack Lane 3 with hatred and contempt for all things More Translation Needed. Chris Winch 4 European. The Government has to reflect Promissory Note Architecture. John Martin 5 this, but tries to tame it so that it does not 'Save The Tele' Rally. Mark Langhammer (Speech) 5 disrupt its more sophisticated policy of Septic Thoughts. Jack Lane 6 engaging with Europe in order to disrupt Gerry Lawless. Brendan Clifford (Obituary) 7 it. Shorts from the Long Fellow (Happy Paddies; RTE; The Sunday Independent; But the British Government's policy on Trade Surplus; Fiscal Pact) 10 9th December last year merged with that Elizabeth Bowen And Her Admirers. Julianne Herlihy 11 of their more strident supporters and now Republicanism—some thoughts for Stephen Richards. Pat Walsh 13 all are happy as they have divided Europe. Comments On Desmond Fennell's Picture Of Ireland. John Minahane 18 Curiously enough, the new technique to A West Cork Protestant Testament. Manus O'Riordan 22 develop the division is to support the EU! Heroes. Wilson John Haire (Poem) 26 This is code for opposition to the Fiscal Biteback: Corporation Tax. Philip O'Connor (Unpublished Letter) Compact—which is the only thing that Irish Merchant Navy? Report of letter by Dermot C. Clarke 26 matters at the moment. It's just like the Items From The Irish Bulletin. March 1920 (No. 9) 27 traditional opposition to the Commission Euro In The Ring. Philip O'Connor 27 —which was always code for opposition Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Is Oil Well In Cork?; Fracking For Oil And Gas; to the whole Europe project. Being simple The Sunday Independent; Household Charge; Titanic; The Mahon Tribunal; souls, the British sceptics can't really play NAMA; The Economy; Defence Forces) 28 this game of support for the EU to ruin the bigger project. But their strident voices Labour Comment, edited by Pat Maloney: are of considerable use to the British Guilds And The Town Government, the approach of which is Mondragon, Part 6 more subtle but quite clear. (back page) The British Government has now got another simple soul on board, Enda Kenny, Next Issue: as was made clear during his visit to The North And Dunmanway, Wilson John Haire replies to Jeffrey Dudgeon London: The Dunmanway Killings, Curiouser and Curiouser, Jack Lane (Part Three) "Ireland and Britain are to co-operate Naval Warfare, Pat Walsh (Part 19) more closely to push for reforms of the European Union single market to boost growth and jobs, Taoiseach Enda Kenny proclaimed this alternative 'truth' on RTE ally said: but Enda Kenny was seen and Prime Minister David Cameron have radio. Since Chawke knows that he gave standing with Denis O'Brien at the New agreed. Following talks in London, the 2,500, he has made the reasonable conclu- York Stock Exchange. Pat Rabbitte two leaders signed off on a declaration to sion that Mahon is calling him a liar. explained to him in the manner of a parent deepen and improve relations between But it appears that nowhere in the report talking to a distressed child that, given the two countries over the next decade, is Chawke—or for that matter Ahern — where he was, the Taoiseach would have promising greater prosperity if the gains called a liar. They are just "untruthful". been very lonely if he could only stand continued on page 3 The word is just left hanging there for with the virtuous. others to draw the appropriate conclusion. knows all about a political party trying to Fianna Fáil missed a golden opportunity escape from its past and the disastrous Bertie Ahern has made the point that to defend its legacy when Alan Shatter consequences of such a policy. Mahon routinely rejected evidence that denounced de Valera's policy of neutrality supported his version of events, but did as "morally bankrupt". The Fine Gael Since its foundation in 1926 Fianna not present any evidence to prove the Minister then suggested that those who Fáil has always faced a hostile media. contrary. But that is not good enough for had deserted the Irish Army should be There is no doubt that a job has been done Martin, who has tabled a motion for granted a pardon. A defence of de Valera's on it in recent years. The attacks on it have Ahern's expulsion from Fianna Fáil. policy would have had the added bonus of been relentless. But in the past the party wrong-footing Sinn Féin. But Fianna Fáil knew its own mind and could withstand On the evening of the Report's public- spurned that opportunity. So what is left the onslaught. Fianna Fáil has now buckled ation Darragh Calleary appeared on RTE's for Martin's Fianna Fáil? It can't defend under the pressure and Martin has decided Prime Time to proclaim the new line. He Ahern, Reynolds (also denounced by to submit to the media agenda. He will was suitably contrite and wondered why Mahon), Haughey, or de Valera. Who is find the media an insatiable mistress. No Fine Gael had not behaved similarly left? Jack Lynch, the worst leader of Fianna apology will be contrite enough and no following the Moriarty Report. It was Fáil ever? obeisance will be sufficiently humiliating. pointed out to him that Michael Lowry If Fianna Fáil cannot begin to defend its had been expelled from Fine Gael long There was a strange irony in Calleary legacy, it will be consigned to well- before. To which Calleary rather pathetic- facing Rabbitte on Prime Time. Rabbitte deserved oblivion. 2 possible are achieved. The detailed refer- ence to the areas of agreement on EU LETTERS TO THE EDITOR · LETTERS TO THE EDITOR· LETTERS TO THE EDITOR· matters between the two countries may be noted in other EU capitals, with both men emphasising the common attitudes James Annett has forwarded the following letter, which appeared in the Public taken to the single market and the need Platform section of the Orange Standard of March 2012 for an 'outward-looking' EU. 'I think the common view on EU policy is quite a new departure for the British and Irish Federalism The Way Forward For The UK governments', said Mr Cameron, follow- ing an hour of talks in No 10 with Mr The Scottish National Party government seems determined to hold a referendum on Kenny, who later launched the British Scottish independence within the next few years. Irish Chamber of Commerce" (Irish If the people of Scotland were to vote in favour of independence then this would Times, 13 March). change the whole political set up of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern If the EU Single Market was such an Ireland. important issue, then Britain should join May I suggest another way forward for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom the single currency and make it a real rather than full independence for Scotland and as a way to counter the 'West Lothian single market. But all this palaver about Question'. the Single Market is for the birds. I would suggest that England be given its own parliament (let us say based in York for Promoting the single market in the current the sake of argument). context is another code for counterposing The Westminster Parliament would then become the federal parliament of the United it and the EU to the Fiscal Compact. Kingdom. Countries with federal governments like Canada, Germany, and the United Cameron is quite right to note "the new States of America work well. departure for the British and Irish govern- I would also suggest that the City of London and the City of Westminster be separated ments". This could indeed be a new from the rest of London and become known as the Federal District of Jamestown in departure for Ireland—it could be the honour of King James VI and I, who became the first king to consider himself King of beginning of serious opposition to the real Great Britain in 1603 with the Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England. European project for the first time. James Annett Of course, this assumes Kenny really This is typical of the wordmongering success. These were World War II in knows what he is doing which is doubtful. we can always expect from O’Toole. The creating mass demand by mass destruction Ireland could be joining with Britain's Keynesianism case is argued constantly (a rather extreme form of austerity) and anti-Europe agenda and a Fine Gael all over the place but it is no longer con- the emergence of the Soviet Union as a Taoiseach is doing it just when a former vincing as an alternative solution to the real alternative and thereby a threat to the Fine Gael Taoiseach has realised what capitalist order. Anything and everything current problems. There is no need British policy really is. This says some- was done to counter this danger and whatever to outlaw it. thing about the state of the Irish political Keynesianism was one tool. It was not its class. economic theorising that made it a success. Does it ever occur to Fintan that perhaps But there is a silver lining to every It was political necessity. There was do- something as powerful as this Keynesian- cloud—if the scales can fall from John or-die political competition as to which ism has any connection with causing the Bruton's eyes and make him change the system was the best and that meant which problems we have? Surely if Keynesian- could be more productive, provide more mental habits of a lifetime about British ism was so wonderful and powerful for so employment, provide a better society, etc. intentions —when the facts are clearly long—which it was—how did it allow the As a result, we never had it so good. But presented—then there is hope for the current problems to arise in the first place that was the dreadful Cold War era, was it blindest of the blind. Perfidious Albion if these problems are the very opposite of not! will always assert itself. Keynesianism? Why did the obvious cure It is patently obvious that these two Jack Lane allow the illness to emerge and take over factors—these two warring systems—no the patient? Could it be a horrible fact that longer exist and are not likely to return in Europe Keynesianism contributed to the current any shape or form. So we have capitalism in a new form in which Finance Capital crisis? Keynesianism— dominates because of all the money created This begs the question as to what this by Keynesianism. Capitalism is, after all, cause or cure? Keynesianism actually was/is. Originally a very adaptable system depending and Fintan O’Toole claims that the refer- it was to encourage Governments to utilise accommodating itself to the political endum on the Fiscal Compact is about a spare capacity, spare money, i.e. savings, environment of the time. And now, as "Treaty (that) seeks to outlaw one side of to deal with the Depression of the 30s. It there is no political alternative to the the debate". And that the whole thing is was not a 'Government creating money' Anglo-Saxon model apart from variations nothing short of a crime! concept. That is what it became in the on what Fintan promotes, it feels very safe "What it is about, however, is the minds of people like O’Toole. It became to operate in a way more natural to its creation of a thoughtcrime. A certain a sort of magic wand to determine econ- basic instincts. way of thinking is to be outlawed. It is not There is one other Western alternative omic policy in a benign direction. But in to Keynesianism, to any kind of Soviet Nazism or racism or some other hateful the present crisis the money in question ideology. It is, in fact, a way of thinking model and to the Anglo-Saxon version of that was, for three decades after the was actually created by banks—and the free market that has got us where we Second World War, the dominant econ- thereby hangs a tale. are. Fintan in his little cocoon of hyperbole omic 'common sense' of much of the may not have noticed it. It has survived developed world: the philosophy of John Two rather obvious political facts made the Keynesian experiment, it happens to Maynard Keynes" (Irish Times, 6 March). the Keynesianism that O’Toole admires a be the most successful economy in Europe; 3 it is the economy that first created and has proposals in the forthcoming referendum. Thatcherite housekeeping economy that maintained a fine welfare state. It has Will Fintan support the Compact? Yes, we will all be forced to adopt? Scally provided European countries and Ireland he will, but you may not hear him say so again: with billions, sums that helped create the unless you listen very carefully. But he "Ordoliberals shout back that more debt will only make the problem worse. Celtic Tiger. It now seeks to ensure that will not make any case for doing so. He the Irish and other Governments in Europe Balancing the budget will steady the must keep his radical rhetoric intact and apply a bit of common sense to their economy: lower deficits require lower economies, behave a bit like their own up front, though it gets more hollow by the taxes to service the loans, something that Government. It will thereby, inter alia, day. Otherwise he loses his raison d’être will unleash economic growth. If every- ensure that the Euro is secure. I assume for those members of the chattering class one adopted ordoliberal ideas and kept Fintan will guess who it is. We are totally who like the luxury of that sort of thing. their economic house in order, economic free to reject or accept the German Jack Lane disturbances would not be triggered, requiring Keynesian-style interventions." Yes, but the Germans don't add: 'And Scally on Germany leave a manufacturing-free casino capital- More Translation Needed ism economy that nearly brought you to ruin in place'. German domestic banking It is beginning to be understood that market very quickly because it had retained is oriented towards long-term relationships Germany has a social system that is differ- its skilled workforce. So much for the with large and small firms and aims to ent to the Anglo-Saxon model. "Ordo- unfettered market and Berlin's "…deeply provide them with investment and to share Liberalism" is a term that has been coined held belief that the state should stay out of the rewards with them over the medium to to describe it. However, there is much economies as far as possible"! long term. They are not driven by an more to the social market system, con- obsession with short-term shareholder structed by Christian Democracy after the On this latter point, if 'ordo-liberalism' value—and the big ones have banking Second World War, than is understood by is as he says it is, how is it that the State, workers on their boards. In other words, those who use the term. through organisations like the Bundes- they are saying: 'We would like you to act Derek Scally, the German correspond- institut für Berufsbilding (BIBB, which responsibly if you want us to help you, but ent of the Irish Times, tells us that Germany promotes vocational training) has, in it is your responsibility to sort out your is not going to change much from its conjunction with the Trade Unions and banking, your industry and your society 'ordo-liberal' ways (Ist March). This is Employers, a decisive say in the construct- so that everyone understands the need for probably right. However, he treats the ion, regulation and review of vocational and is involved in economic reform.' German way of doing economic business qualifications in Germany and sits at the as an abstract model, not as a living society. apex of highly regulated occupational It is impossible to understand why This leaves a very misleading impression. labour markets? How is it that vocational Germany is successful and why it has had The operation of the market is the working education is largely financed through a to take responsibility for the Eurozone by of a part of the society. The State and the levy-grant system? Ordo-liberalism is focusing on a set of abstract economic rest of society affect the way in which the looking curiouser and curiouser. doctrines while ignoring the society in market works. Scally treats Germany as if which the German economy and market exists. It is not some free market paradise it were an abstract market circumscribed What about the Germans imposing circumscribed by a few rules. It is a differ- by a few State rules. The reality is that it is ordoliberalism on everyone else? Scally ent way of looking at society, based on a society with distinctive kinds of market writes: social responsibility and solidarity and relations. This is best brought out by "Drawing on their own economic with the long-term view constantly in looking at what Scally omits: tradition, Germans argue that boosting mind. The Germans are too modest to tell He writes: German wages would only harm its own everyone that they should be like them. competitiveness. The solution, they argue, However, it is perverse to think that all "The starting point of ordoliberalism is lies with those who have the problem: that they want from the rest of Europe is the focus on an economy's supply side as welfare reforms, wage restraint and pay the key to output, growth and employ- cuts to boost exports while reducing some kind of slash and burn of the society ment. Markets always work smoothly domestic demand, imports and deficits." along neo-liberal lines. but if shocks come, and demand falls Most of what Germany does is consider- below supply, wages and prices will But the Germans don't say, and have ed anathema by Anglo liberal economists automatically adapt to correct this— never said, 'Do this without the involve- and is regarded as unwarranted interfer- unless barriers such as a minimum wage ment of your people'. Germans can act in ence in a market which exists largely get in the way." this way themselves because their workers independently of the society that supports Unfortunately, this leaves out an essen- and Unions have a decisive say in the it. For many economists, this is the tial point—social solidarity and responsibility running of their own industries, both at unpalatable truth that they are reluctant to admit. underpinned by State action. When there plant level and, in larger firms, on the is a recession in Germany, there are 'bar- Supervisory Board. Workers can see what Ireland's salvation lies with itself, in riers' in place to the operation of the market. is required and act accordingly. Angela looking to its own strengths and weakness- There is an employment levy on German Merkel has already suggested that other es and taking the necessary steps to address them. The Trade Unions have a crucial countries adopt Mitbestimmung (Co- firms to ensure that, when there is a reces- role to play in this. Self-pity about what sion, employees are not sacked and, if determination), albeit adapted to their own the dreadful Germans are doing and mis- they have to go part-time because of national conditions. Surely something interpretation of their motives are self- cyclical economic events, their wages are worth mentioning when people start defeating. It's better to see what they are topped up to near full time levels. Thus, in bleating about the imposition of a German doing right and to see if there are lessons 2008-9 Germany avoided large scale model? for Ireland that are worth learning. layoffs and was able to re-enter the global What then about a Teutonic-style Chris Winch 4 Promissory Note Architecture In the diagram the European Central Bank (ECB) is represented at the top. There is a dotted line going from the ECB to the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). This indicates that no money changes hands, but that the ECB has authorised the Central Bank of Ireland to 'print' money called Exceptional Liquidity Assistance (ELA). This money is now within the boundary of the State to be used by the CBI. The Central Bank of Ireland lends this money to the Irish Bank Resolution Corp- oration (IBRC). The IRBC was created to consolidate the remaining assets and liabilities of Anglo-Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide after their toxic loans were taken into NAMA (National Assets Management Agency). The Central Bank The external cost (i.e. payment outside lends IRBC money so that it can pay back the State) occurs when the Exceptional Press Release its Senior Debt (bondholders and depositors. Liquidity Assistance is 'repaid' to the Effectively the IBRC's liabilities in the European Central Bank by the Central 'Save The Tele' Rally form of bondholders have been replaced Bank of Ireland. There has been very little with cheap Exceptional Liquidity Assist- media attention on this crucial issue. According to UCD economist Karl On Saturday March 3rd, Unite, the Union ance. But the ELA has to be 'paid back'. It organised a rally outside the Belfast premises is estimated that the IBRC owes 42 billion Whelan in his submission to the Oireachtas of the Belfast Telegraph. Print workers threat- in ELA. Of this 42 billion it can repay 11 Finance Committee, the Central Bank of ened with redundancy at the Belfast Telegraph billion out of its own resources. So, it Ireland is obliged to "burn" it plus an have started a campaign to save their jobs and needs another 31 billion to be paid by the accrued interest of 1%. keep the print run of the newspaper in the city. If Whelan is right, 1% is the effective This follows the company's announcement State. that, due to 'economic reasons', the day shift financing cost to the State of the borrowing printing of the newspaper was moving to its The State doesn't hand over the 31 to wind down the IBRC (Anglo-Irish Bank Newry plant from March and that 24 employees billion all at once. Under the terms of the and Irish Nationwide). working in the Belfast department would lose Promissory Note, which it issued to the their jobs. When examining the diagram it is Moving production from Belfast to a new IBRC, it pays 3 billion a year over ten purpose-built plant at Newry was facilitated years. In subsequent years the amount important to emphasize that the key by a grant of £3.5m from the Stormont tapers off. But the total amount envisaged payments are those between the State and Executive. Unite the Union attacked the —including a notional interest rate—is outside the State boundary. Payments company’s decision: about 47 billion. (It is unlikely to reach within the State boundary are a case of "Independent News and Media oper- this amount). "one hand washing the other". They do ations in Northern Ireland is a very It appears (judging from media report- not represent a real cost to the State. profitable company. We understand that ing of government statements) that, once However, they may have accounting the company makes £10m profit a year implications which determine how the alone from its Belfast operation. To make the Promissory Note payments have been the defence that is for economic reasons national debt is presented. received by the IBRC, it starts repaying resulting in the loss of 24 Belfast jobs and the Exceptional Liquidity Assistance. It the printing of the paper moved to Newry can't hold on to these payments. It could be said that the State has to is nonsense. Since 2008 the company It is important to understand that the borrow to repay the Exceptional Liquidity ripped up local agreements and our CBI and the IBRC are State institutions Assistance and it has to pay interest on this members have had no pay rises since." (see boundary of the State line in diagram). borrowing. But all that is happening is that So the Promissory Note payments to the there is a gradual replacement of the very Mark Langhammer, a representative from the NIC of the Irish Congress of IBRC are one State institution paying cheap ELA loan with a more expensive Trade Unions, spoke at the rally. His another. The interest costs on the Promis- IMF/EU loan. But this replacement of the speech is set out below. sory Notes provide revenue for the IBRC. ELA takes place over a period of up to 20 Also the interest that the IBRC pays the years. "Colleagues, I'm honoured to be here Central Bank of Ireland is a cost to the today, to join your protest. IBRC and a revenue to the CBI: both State ELA was not designed to be repaid I'm proud to convey to you the fraternal greetings of the Northern Irish Committee institutions. For transactions between State over such a long period. Before the crisis it was paid back within a week. of the Irish Congress of Trade unions institutions the effective cost to the State And I'm glad to see such a good turn out John Martin is zero. today. 5 The Belfast Telegraph, for more than a company in law. century, has been one of this city's great Companies benefit greatly from Limit- institutions. So it's a great regret that ed Liability status—which—let's not Septic Thoughts International News Media have planned, forget—is a privilege granted by the state, I agree very much with the comments and consciously chosen, to move product- granted by our democracy. by Fergus O'Rahilly in the Irish Political ion of the Belfast Telegraph from Belfast. The privilege of Limited Liability status Review last month about an article by It’s a disgrace, too, that News Media allows company risks and losses to be Frank McDonald, Environment Editor of have acted as asset strippers in relation to socialised. But the privilege of Limited the Irish Times, who wrote a diatribe property acquired by the Telegraph over Liability company status shouldn’t be a against people living in the country on the course of generations. one-way street. It must, in return, bring 25th February. Fergus commented: And it’s with great anger that we see reciprocal obligations to society. "“At least 450,000 tanks discharging News Media—a highly profitable unit in 250 million litres of effluent daily is simply Belfast—plotting to move jobs from the Traditionally, companies were invented not sustainable”, wrote Frank McDonald. city, for the sole reason to depress wages by "companions", who banded together to This conjures up visions of hundreds of and to worsen the conditions of service of share risk to perform a vital economic or millions of sewage flowing anywhere its real asset, its workforce. other function from which they would but into a public waste system: over fields, profit. They would petition the state for a into back gardens, into rivers and streams. News Media is not alone, but it's the licence to practice and accept reciprocal Sewage, sewage everywhere. Actually sort of company which demonstrates the societal obligations in return. This classic nothing could be further from the truth sort of short-term, reckless, "race to the conception of company has been debased and I would hazard that the nightmare bottom" mentality that has brought our by the narrow notion of short-term share- imagery is intentionally provoked by the economy to its knees. Its Anglo-American holder return, a notion which will consider writer." way—the short-term, slash-and-burn, quicker routes to shareholder return than The article was indeed a diatribe, relying speculative, casino-capitalism—is part investing in people to develop a great on images of tons of sewage being created and parcel of the system that is pressing organisation. Likewise, merger and in the countryside by septic tanks—despite down on working people from Ireland to acquisition to extend market share, tying their existence and purpose being the Italy, from Athens to Lisbon. senior management to stock market very opposite. It seems necessary to point performance through share options, out that there is a difference between But today isn't just about News Media. increased managerial opportunism and the human and animal excrement, and sewage They are what they are, and we can expect use of performance -related pay for middle —which rural communities everywhere no better. Footloose, global corporations and junior managers to effect cost- have been coping with successfully since like News Media act as if they are beyond minimisation, all serve to reinforce the time immemorial. They were recycling, control. And Governments, too often, act short-term view of the company, rather composting and going green before these as if they believe it. But let's be clear— than the need to invest in skills concepts ever entered the language. They they are not! Not beyond the control of development. were like the man who never realized he public pressure and Government action. We, as a Union movement, need to had been speaking prose all his life until And our movement needs to impose develop a narrative around what a broadly someone told him. our will on the public realm and impose defined and progressive company, with Excrement of all sorts is the ideal fertil- our will on the democratic realm to bring environmental and societal obligations, izer and we need a lot more of it, and that reckless companies of this sort to heel. should look like. it how it was traditionally dealt with in the In truth, the asset stripping of jobs and countryside. We cannot have enough of property at the Belfast Telegraph has, in The current conception of company it! Sewage is a different issue and is essen- fact, been facilitated by our own local legal status has been debased by the News tially an urban issue as there cannot be the devolved Assembly and Executive. Media style and the narrow dash for profit, same utilization of it in urban areas as Our Government awarded a £3.5m grant the narrow dash for short-term shareholder there is in the countryside. That is the to News Media to build a plant at Newry return. starting for any rational disunion of the which facilitated moving jobs from Colleagues, the "short term company" issue. Belfast. needs to be within our sights; it’s within Our Government facilitated the carnage the democratic sphere; it’s within the McDonald should read Smollet's 18th that you face today. realms of public pressure. century Tour of Europe. One of the things Asset-stripping companies will always that fascinated him was the trade in What were our politicians thinking consider quicker routes to profit; they will excrement, with a tasting of it to test the about? always cut corners, always take "Route quality. A bit like a wine-tasting event. He And—more to the point—what is One" direct to shareholder return. also noted that the excrement from Company law should instead oblige Arlene Foster going to do about it? monasteries was highly prized as the pro- companies to take slower, steadier, long- ducers were so well-fed that in turn it term routes to growth; to oblige companies Our taxes, our money, public money produced better food. It attracted a to invest in real productivity, invest in should support productive investment. But premium on the market. Would McDonald people, invest in jobs, invest in developing in return, we must see a return in terms of have survived this experience? Within great ‘long-term’ organisations. jobs, in terms of increased employment— living memory every farm and cottage in and we must see a return in terms of this country had its dung pit with hot So let us raise our sights today, and start civilised industrial Relations practices. steaming excrement—in front of people's Public money should not, should never, to bring wreckers like News Media to doors in many cases. I never recall a be used to facilitate asset-stripping. heel! problem with that. This has evolved to I wish your campaign every strength, septic tanks and slurry pits. It is just another And colleagues, looking forward, our and every success." development in farming methods. No more movement needs to get interested in the and no less. radical reform of company law. We need Further information from http://www.unite to legislate for a more broadly based, a theunion.org/regions/ireland/news_from The issue at the moment is how best to more civilised, conception of the limited _ireland/save_the_belfast_telegraph-1.aspx cope with the costs of the consequences of 6 this human biological activity and how it the loo when asking you questions. I would gossip of London Trotskyists, it might be is to be paid for? If there is one aspect of recommend it. It puts these situations into said that this publication, and BICO, would human life in which we approach uniform- a nice intimate perspective. not have existed but for him. ity (or equality which it is often equated So what should be the principle of with—or confused with—these days), it revenue-raising to meet the costs? What- In the early 1960s a large number of is in the bodily function concerned with ever our circumstances, the amount of Irishmen found their way to the Working this topic. We are all as near equal as we activity and the consequences of the ever are likely to be in this respect. When activity in question are as near equal as Men's College in Camden Town. The I was looking for a job decades ago after anything can be among humans and it is WMC was a philanthropic institution, leaving school, there was no such thing as therefore ideal for the capitation, or poll founded and run by City millionaires of a 'career guidance' or 'human resources' tax, principle. Obviously it should be Christian Socialist disposition for the pur- available and I asked around for advice named after the relevant body organ, rather pose of taming politically-inclined workers about dealing with interviews. One piece than the poll/head. Perhaps readers can by means of Liberal Imperialist culture, of advice I got that proved valuable was to suggest a more appropriate title for such a and therefore not much frequented by imagine the interviewing panel sitting on tax? workers for that reason. The ones who Jack Lane were already tame had no need of it, and it did not know how to cope with those who weren't. Obituary Camden Town, which is now one of the Gerry Lawless trendiest places in London, was then work- ing class and Irish, and had a unique hotel Gerry Lawless, who died in January, case against the Dublin Government over for workers at its core—the Rowton House. was given an appreciative obituary in the Internment in the European Court of It happened that a lot of Irish workers Irish Times. And so he should, seeing the Human Rights with Sean MacBride around 1960 went to see what the WMC formative influence that he exerted, as a (former Chief of Staff of the IRA and was like, and they were purged by a mass revolutionary socialist, in the development former Foreign Minister of the Fine Gael- expulsion in 1963. of so many of our bourgeois intellectuals. led Coalition of 1948) acting for him, I met Pat Murphy there, and in discus- (I suppose our journalists are our bourgeois which he won. He formed the Irish sion with him I got to know something of intellectuals. If they aren't, then we haven't Workers' Group in London, which split what our present-day academics produced any.) when some of its members became Two- in Cambridge call the "high politics" of The Irish Times obituary was carped at, Nationists and Loyalists. We were not Irish affairs. Pat struck up an acquaintance as being insufficiently appreciative, or given any clear idea of what Lawless was with Liam Daltun there. even essentially dismissive, by Paddy after that. Daltun had done something in 1956. Prendiville, Editor of the satirical maga- It was surprising, in the light of what I'm not sure if he had acted jointly with zine, Phoenix, who delivered the funeral had been said, to find that the funeral Lawless then, but when I met them they oration. The carping was merited to some ceremony ended with the Soldiers' Song. were a pair, with Daltun very much the extent. Lawless actually was a lubricant I had expected The Internationale as well, dominant figure. And he was an impres- facilitating the development of many or at least The Red Flag. sive figure, both physically and intellectual- people who went on to become much too ly, and very strong-willed. important—not to mention self-important Would Gerry have approved? Or Géry. —to remember him. He altered the spelling of his name to Daltun asked Pat to go to a meeting at indicate his internationalism. It was from which an Irish political group was to be set Having listened to Prendiville's marvel- him that I first heard the term "rootless up. Pat asked me to go with him, and lous eulogy, I expected that Phoenix would cosmopolitanism". Apparently there was though I had little interest in politics I publish an obituary detailing the extent of a campaign against rootless cosmopolitans went. Lawless's influence, and naming the names in Russia around 1950. That was one of I had been involved to some extent in of those who want their association with his complaints about Stalin. We (that is, the long London Transport Strike of 1958, Lawless to be lost in oblivion. But Phoenix Pat Murphy and myself) tried to get to the and on the basis of that experience realised carried no obituary a all. bottom of this, but we never did. All I can that there was no socialist revolution in say is that at certain moments he seemed the offing in England. The obstacle was In the funeral oration Prendiville said to relish the role of rootless cosmopolitan- that England seemed to be too socialist for that Lawless, who came from an ordinary ism, at home everywhere, but nowhere in the workers already. That was evident in Dublin working class family, was a revolu- particular. I took it to be a bit of harmless London Transport—a nationalised opera- tionary Socialist Republican—I don't fantasy. But, then, I have never had a feel tion which the workforce might have been recall if he used the word 'Marxist—who for 'identity' problems. I was from Slieve running if it had the will to run it. I would had a practical sense of reality, and was Luacra, and that was that. And Pat was have found the work much more congenial almost uniquely well informed about world from Dublin City and County Limerick if the culture had been to keep the bases affairs. (For example, he put Robert Fisk and was at ease with both. And I have no running to time and completing their journ- right about Lebanon.) In a summary of his idea whether Gerry actually met Ben Bella eys. It was far from that. The Trade Union, political history, Prendiville said that he during the Algerian Revolution, or whether instead of taking on a syndicalist role, felt engaged in some action as a dissident that was part of a Géry fantasy. He was obliged to act as if it was operating under Republican in 1956 (though I'm not sure certainly a bit of a fantasist—but his fantasy a capitalist owner whose object was the he used the term 'dissident') and was life was interesting and not unrealistic. extraction of surplus value for private interned. He signed out of Internment I knew him well for a couple of years, advantage. The rationale of that approach (though I'm not sure the actual words and while I cannot say that I got much was that the nationalised transport system, "signed out" were used) and brought a from him beyond Dublin gossip and the though itself without a capitalist owner, 7 was a service to capitalism. That was the their paraphernalia in a trunk in the corner. On going to England after the 1956 position put by the Communist Party (there Members built up quickly to about 50. Campaign Daltun had first approached were hardly any Trotskyists then), and the Public meetings were held at Hyde Park the Communist Party and was directed to Labour Party Left, which was pretty inert, Corner, attracting large crowds. Daltun its Irish front organisation, the Connolly did not dispute it. was the main speaker at those meetings. Association, led by Desmond Greaves. It So much of the British economy was He was able to attract a crowd and hold it. seems that Greaves took him into his nationalised then that it seemed to remain confidence and was preparing him to be capitalist only because of a profound One day I noticed a familiar face on the his successor. But in the end Daltun found reluctance on the part of the workforce to outskirts of the crowd. It was a very Greaves's ban on criticising the Dublin exert itself beyond the wage relationship. distinctive face. I recognised him though Government in the hearing of the English I had also been involved in a strike in he did not know me. He was Tadg Feehan unrealistic and they came to a bitter parting Ireland, in a Creamery in which I was a of Boherbue village. I knew that he had a of the ways. Daltun then looked at the labourer, and I did not see the makings of job in the diplomatic service. And here he Trotskyist organisations, before undertaking a revolution there. But that was in a region was spying on us for the Embassy. to set up an independent Irish organisation where private property owners, co-operatively We picketed the Embassy on some which would work out its own politics and organised, were as numerous as wage- issue. I forget what. Any worthwhile general orientation, without ideological workers either. But, since I knew nothing picket causes some bit of disturbance. instruction from anybody else. of Irish city life, except that I didn't like Liam Daltun was captured and whisked One of the first matters to be decided what I had seen of it, I had to allow that away in a police van. He was up in the was the kind of publication there should there might be possibilities there. Magistrates' Court the following morning, be. Earlier groups had begun with a a bit bruised. The officer giving evidence commercially-printed newspaper— Anyway, it was in a pretty sceptical against him was battered. His name, as I printing being much more difficult and frame of mind that I went to the meeting. recall, was Newman. Anyway he was expensive then that it is now—which gave That meeting led to a further series of made Chief Constable ten or fifteen years the impression that there was a flourishing meetings, from which the Irish Workers' later. So the IWG was a success. organisation behind it. The group would Group was formed. It lasted about two years. Given the exhaust itself with that effort. Meetings were held at first at the office, people of such very different descriptions Pat and myself urged that the IWG in King's Cross, of a Trotskyist organis- who joined it, that was a very considerable should not present itself as more than it ation which did not admit that it existed— achievement. It was made possibly by an was, and that it should do its own printing the Militant Tendency. As the size of the agreement between Pat and myself with even though it looked amateurish, and that group increased, it moved its meetings to Daltun and Lawless about how it should it should commit itself to regular publishing the conference room above the Lucas Arms be conducted, and disagreements should to find out if it had something to say that pub in Grays Inn Road, where the Free- be handled. We constituted ourselves a was worth saying. They saw this as a great masons met on another evening, and kept kind of informal Politburo. novelty but agreed to give it a go.

FRONT ROW Rosari Kingston, Kevin O’Byrne, Gus Healy, Gery Lawless, Jack Lane BACK ROW Oscar Gregan, ? , Aidan Fox. 8 Regular publishing of original material — nevertheless that achievement was a betrayal socialist revolution would become inter- not received from any authoritative source of the revolution. I put it to him that, from national, or at least European, and was —required regular discussion of what should that viewpoint, what should have been done doomed if it didn't. The socialist revolution be said. And that, too, was a novelty. around 1923 was call off the revolution and did not become European, therefore . . . ? A magazine called An Solas (The Light) relinquish power to capitalist forces as the The revolution in Russia inevitably degenerated? was established. I wrote an article about the forces appropriate to the economic condi- And what sense was there in describing the IRA for it. I have not looked at it since, and tion of isolated Russia. He saw that this was inevitable as a betrayal? I doubt that it said much, but Lawless and implication of his general view, but it was We agreed to try to follow developments Daltun felt that it was a very daring thing to not a conclusion he was willing to draw. So in Russia in the 1920s step by step, making do. However they agreed that it should be he existed in a kind of stalemate with himself. what sense we could of them without the published. And when there were no dire intrusion of doctrine. The Trotskyist acquain- repercussions ideological independence was The main Trotskyist organisation at the tances of Lawless and Daltun observed this time was Gerry Healy's Socialist Labour established on that side of things as well as on and began taunting them about becoming the Marxist side. League. Healy was hated and feared by Stalinists. And then Lawless and Daltun Trotskyists of the IS and the Militant Tend- began taunting each other on the issue, ency. He did not indulge in idle discussions. Gerry Golden was the first substantial driving each other to a break. Meetings He had a body of doctrines and concentrated figure who joined the group. He was active in became doctrinal disputes. on forming a tightly-disciplined revolutionary At the time there was a member who was the Electrical Trade Union. He had been a cadre around it. He was a very effective a deserter from the Royal Navy. (I suppose member of the CP and had tried to force the orator for this purpose. There was a con- ballot-rigging on the attention of the Party it would still be prudent not to name him.) siderable turnover of personnel in the SLL He went along with the approach of Pat and leaders and oblige them to stop it, and was from year to year, but a substantial cadre myself, as did most members. He was beaten up for his pains. In the mid-sixties he force was accumulated from year to year, staying with Pat. One evening the Naval was doing his best to maintain a socialist and Healy's oratory was always attracting Police turned up to arrest him. Pat delayed enthusiastic new recruits. If 'The Day' had position in the ETU against the Chappel them while he escaped out the back window. leadership that had taken over when the ballot- arrived, Healy would have had a force to act In the circumstances, there could be no doubt rigging was exposed. He was a thoughtful with. The condemnation of him by other that information was given from within the Trotskyists seemed to me to be of a kind person, intent on maintaining a Marxist under- IWG. In my memory of it, that was the end. with Trotsky's condemnation of Lenin until standing of the world independently of CP or 1917. Joe Quinn saw this, but still did not I do not recall the "stages theory" being Trotskyist doctrines, and had a solid re- approve. an issue, as asserted by Prendiville. The assuring presence. He had been in the Free Dennis Dennehy was the greatest pos- "stages theory" had to do with 'Permanent State Army during the War and did a stint sible contrast with Joe Quinn. He came to Revolution' theory. It was perhaps applied guarding internees. For Lawless therefore the IWG by way of Christian Anarchism, in an extreme and unrealistic way by Des- he was a Concentration Camp guard. And he with a free understanding that enabled him mond Greaves, but I cannot recall it ever regarded Lawless as a kind of midge. to conduct an outstandingly successful being an antagonistic issue in the IWG. reformist rebellion on the Housing issue in A couple of years ago Phoenix carried an Another member was Andy O'Neill who, as Dublin in 1968-9, in the course of which he expose of a Stalinist line which BICO tried far as I recall, had been in the CP and the ETU became the Communist folk-hero of the to impose on a pro-Palestine group in Dublin. with Golden, and had left the Party because Dublin housing estates. The issue there was whether an agitation of its requirement that members should join And there was also Tom Skelly from should be developed which would maximise the Connolly Association and enable Greaves Longford who had led a kind of peasants' public opposition to Israeli conduct, to maintain the Party line against people revolt against the ranchers in the Midlands particularly in Gaza, or whether the agitation fresh from Ireland who looked up the CA a few years after the Second World War. should also attack the PLO as a collaborator because it was denounced by priests and who with Israel against the elected Hamas wanted to be socialists. All of these tendencies pulled together Government, and the Egyptian Government Joe Quinn (who was from Kerry, I think) for a couple of years. When the IWG split, for not keeping an open border with Gaza, was known as the father of Irish Trotskyism. it had nothing whatever to do with the Two thus minimising the influence of the agitation I'm not sure that he was formally a member Nations or Ulster Loyalism, as asserted by on Irish opinion. I suppose that was a kind of the IWG, but he was always around. He Paddy Prendiville. It had to do with Russia. of 'stages theory' issue, and something like it had, over many years, mulled over the whole might have happened in the IWG, but I do issue of the Russian Revolution and was At the start I had no preconceptions about not recall it. always interesting to talk to. But he had Russia. I had read Trotsky's dispute with developed an understanding of things which Kautsky and his Autobiography, but had The first inklings of the People's Demo- made him politically inert. I don't recall if he not read a word of Lenin and Stalin. Neither cracy were beginning in the North when the had ever been associated with Tony Cliff had Pat Murphy. But he insisted that the IWG split. I recall that Eamon McCann (International Socialism magazine, which I remarkable things achieved in Russia during attended its last meetings. Lawless then think became the SWP) but his view of the the Stalin period should be taken account played some part as an individual in the PD course of events in Russia had very much in of. All we required was that whatever agitation. After that he became a supplier of common with Cliff's. It was economic policy positions we adopted should take pointed paragraphs to many commercial determinist to an extreme degree. account of the gross facts of the matter and publications. I believe he became a Labour As a Trotskyist he had to be anti-Stalinist should be internally coherent. Lawless and Councillor in East London (Hackney) and and had to see the marginalising of Trotsky Daltun retained a general Trotskyist was preparing to take over the Parliamentary on the issue of 'Socialism in One Country' orientation. The problem for them was how seat with Trade Unionist Ernie Roberts as after the death of Lenin as the revolution to reconcile Permanent Revolution and MP. But then Diane Abbott came along and, betrayed, while at the same time holding that Revolution Betrayed with historical events. as a black and a woman, swept them aside. economic circumstances in Russia— Permanent Revolution meant in the first combined with the survival of capitalism in instance that the bourgeois revolution It was a pity that Lawless and Daltun Europe—made the realisation of Trotsky's against Tsarism could not consolidate itself started something ambitious but found programme impossible. What Stalin achieved and would give way to socialist revolution— themselves unable to see through. Still, they was what it was possible to achieve, but which happened. But then it meant that started it. Brendan Clifford 9 Press was subordinate to a political party surplus of 44.7 billion euros last year. This and lost its way when it tried to be independent. cannot be explained by multi-national trans- RTE never fulfilled the role which Sean fer pricing since both exports and imports Shorts Lemass envisaged: that it would be an were up (4% and 5% respectively). organ of the State in the same way as the This shows that the productive capacity from BBC. But in the past it was not actively of the economy has not been impaired. The hostile to the State or social institutions like anaemic GDP growth has been caused by a the Long Fellow the Catholic Church. decline in consumption as private debt is All of that has changed. Journalists in being repaid. Once this adjustment process RTE see themselves as prosecuting coun- has been completed there is every reason to HAPPY PADDIES sels whose job is to accumulate evidence be optimistic about our prospects. In the 2002 General Election the Labour for the purpose of a conviction. 'Due process' Party's slogan was: "but are you happy?". is not observed. The only constraint is the FISCAL PACT Ireland joined the EEC along with the The economy was racing ahead and the Party law of libel. It is not surprising that such felt that the only way of appealing to voters power without responsibility breeds UK and for many years our interests were was on quality of life issues. Those were the arrogance. closely aligned with our former colonial masters. However, membership reduced days! There have been some spectacular recent The 2010 Gallup World Poll attempted to examples of RTE hubris. Its High Society our dependence on the UK market; it answer the Labour Party's elusive question programme, based on a book on cocaine enhanced rather than undermined our sovereignty. After membership the first by comparing happiness among different abuse by Justine Delaney-Wilson, exposed countries. The survey shows that Ireland is lawyers, accountants, airline pilots—among major break with the UK occurred in 1979 the 10th happiest of 40 countries. In an EU others—but not apparently media types. when Haughey severed the link with sterling to join the European Monetary System survey in the same year (2010) we came 7th The documentary's piece de résistance was out of the 27 with only the Scandinavian an allegation that an unnamed Cabinet (EMS), the precursor to the Euro. countries, Luxembourg and the Netherlands Minister was a regular user. But doubts In the subsequent decade there followed a series of independent foreign policy in a more blissful state (cited by Brendan about the credibility of the programme initiatives, the most significant of which Walsh, Irish Times, 23.12.11). emerged when the evidence of the Cabinet Our suicide rate has dropped by a third Minister's abuse was transformed from was on German unification during the Irish Presidency. Ireland had become a player since the late 1990s in the highest risk group being hand-written notes (per the book) to (males between 25 to 34). Violent deaths a digital recording. But none of this evidence and was richly rewarded by our EU partners. from road accidents and homicides have fallen could be produced for public scrutiny. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the EU has taken on a free market orient- significantly since the recession, as has serious And then, of course there was the Father crime. Reynolds libel. The Catholic journalist ation. The escalation of capital flows across Incredibly, we don't appear to need alcohol Breda O'Brien has said that Reynolds's the region has exposed the contradiction of a single currency across independent states. as much. Per capita consumption has fallen good name was only vindicated because At the beginning of the crisis Greece felt no by 20% from its peak in 2001. the broadcaster had been caught telling a Admission rates to psychiatric hospital provable lie (he had fathered a child). If the need to make any fiscal adjustment. The have fallen by more than a half from 1973 to allegations had been confined to sexual calculation must have been that Germany and the rest of the Euro zone would pick up 2005. Walsh in his Irish Times article claims abuse, it would have been very difficult for there is no evidence that this has increased Reynolds to defend himself. the tab. This has indeed happened. Although since the recession as figures for prescription The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland there was a severe haircut on bank loans, the banks were in part compensated by drugs have not increased. found in favour of Seán Gallagher regard- The recession does not seem to have ing the unattributed tweet on the Frontline cheap loans from the ECB. affected birth rates. We continue to have the programme. But rather generously found Germany has been trying to ensure that this never happens again. The problem highest rate in the EU (2.1). This contrasts with that there was no intentional bias. This is other recession-hit countries such as Latvia, stretching credulity. Apart from what act- posed by the Euro is the only impetus Hungary and Portugal whose fertility rates ually happened the advance publicity towards greater political union. Just as in 1979 (and on numerous other have fallen to historic lows. advertised the programme as a 'game Although unemployment has soared, the changer'. There is no doubt that it delivered historical occasions) Ireland is being asked proportion of the adult population employed on its promise. to choose between Britain and our gallant allies in Europe. But there is nobody with is at 60%. This compares with less than 50% in the late 1980s. Real GDP per person has THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT the vision of Charles Haughey. And Enda doubled since the 1980s and social welfare It was quite amusing to see the news- Kenny's first instinct is to visit Downing paper that reported on the death of Liam Street to make a joint declaration with David rates have kept pace with the general rise in living standards. Lawlor mount its high horse on the subject Cameron. Even the most ardent of Irish of RTE bias. Eoghan Harris's Sindo column europhiles don't appear to have the stomach continued its long-running whinge about for the fight. RTE being excluded, along with Kevin Myers The political establishment is praying The Long Fellow thinks that our happi- and Bruce Arnold, from the national air- for a socialist victory in France so that it might ness rate would surge ahead of even the waves (Sunday Independent, 18.3.12). But be released from the obligation of supporting Scandinavians if we spent a little less time where is it written that unelected scribblers the fiscal pact. The passivity is contemptible. looking at current affairs programmes on should have regular access to RTE? Harris But as each day passes the victory of Fran- RTE. The recent controversy over RTE's has done more than anyone to advance the cois Hollande appears less certain. And handling of the Presidential Election did not idea that journalism is about attitude rather even if he does succeed there is no guarantee come out of the blue. It is part of a pattern that than facts. The 'star' of the Coolacrease that he will make good his promise to has been evident for at least ten years. documentary is not concerned about media renegotiate the pact. Perhaps it was never the case that journ- bias; only that the bias is not to his liking. Ireland must rediscover her best political alists merely reported the facts. The Irish instincts and reposition herself at the heart Times has been a 'player' going back at least TRADE SURPLUS of European political development. It must to the Jinks affair of 1927. But other media The Central Statistics Office has record- not revert to being a political backwater of outlets had a more modest role. The Irish ed that the country achieved a record trade the UK. 10 could ever be "mawkish" is one so at variance with reality that it just beggars believe. He finds that her grasp of Elizabeth Bowen and her Admirers "neutrality is accurate". He then startlingly states that Bowen didn't fear the natives "because she is MARY KENNY AND JAMES DILLON that democracy itself could be in jeopardy. one". Yet a few lines down we are told: "In Mary Kenny now advocates the notion Little did I know that when researching her complex identity, Bowen is Yeatsian", that religion and not politics animated material for these articles that the whole and that the "contribution the Anglo-Irish Dillon's beliefs, calling him "an admirable issue of our war-time neutrality would have made to Ireland is now recognised". Irishman", "a man of conscience" and "a flare up anew? Fine Gael, as a political Kiely also strangely asserts that "Prejudice thoughtful and committed Catholic". She party, it now appears, has never lost that may reside upon her as Anglo-Irish" and couldn't be more wrong. which seems certain is the "rooted nature" makes comments such as "democratic President Eamon de Valera over-ruled of their foundation. When Churchill Ireland no longer denounces the big house, Frank Aiken in not censoring the speeches praised Kevin O'Higgins as a "hard-man" but seems to marvel at it". I find that last of James Dillon which he had printed in of politics, and W.B.Yeats exulted when statement to be very true to the point: pamphlet form. So let me put this idea he saw that same hard quality too, we can where there is no house—where it has forward—would it not be a good thing if see more clearly what it is that became been demolished—its indent on the field these pamphlets were republished by embedded in Fine Gael through all its is held sacred. How Bowen would have someone and then let the debate begin. various manifestations from Cumann na satirised these same people now fawning Some people remarked to me about nGaedheal onwards. When Roy Foster with such fervour over emptiness and not Fine Fáil's silence about Neutrality. Can was writing his multi-volume biography an existentialist in sight! Kiely finishes people still not see that New Fine Fáil is a on Yeats, he revealed a quite interesting his review by saying: "She subconsciously construct of the all-powerful media and story. On first conversing with the now or otherwise endured financial hardship" those of us who still meet in cumanns do deceased philosopher Sir Stuart Hamp- along with the demolition of Bowen's so to reminisce about the old days. It says shire about Yeats and the "Eugenics Court, an idyllic "place to write in: such it everything that our Leader, Micheál Martín Movement in the 1930's", Hampshire told is happily ideal". Foster when they met in Oxford of a TD, at our Ard Fheis—when the state of the party's misfortunes parallels the state "In this respect, Bowen's complexity is meeting he had with the great poet: Irish, and her dispossession solidifies the of the country—amid the crisis about the "I suffered a shock when I met Yeats matter." for a very long evening in All Souls with Euro etc—that the two motions that were Edith Shackleton and John Sparrow at passed as revealed by the media were that My own sense of what Kiely has written the height of his ultra fascist phase writing gay "marriage" should be legalised and is that he just doesn't know that much “On the Boiler”. As we talked in a very adoption by the former said unions should about Elizabeth Bowen or else he is still small room I suddenly saw (as I think) also be legalised! traumatised from being set upon by that Yeats has that strange Irish coldness Dublin's elite. which often lies beneath the magnificence BOOKS IRELAND of language and of gesture and which permits great cruelty." (W.B. Yeats. A The March 2012 issue of Books Ireland, MARY LELAND AND THE BOOK-LAUNCH Life. Vol.11, 'The Arch Poet', Oxford Uni. No.337, had a review of Elizabeth Bowen's On the 1st October, 2011 launch at Fota Press. 2003. p.762 Endnotes.) Selected Irish Writings, ed. by Eibhear House of Elizabeth Bowen's Selected Irish Walshe by Kevin Kiely. I found out that But Fine Gael had a certain penchant Writings (ed. by Eibhear Walshe, Cork this critic was born in Co. Down and had for hard-men because there was General Uni. Press. 2011). Leland began by asking recently been in the wars over what he Eoin O'Duffy and also James Dillon— us for our sympathy because of some wrote in the previous Books Ireland about and they were both fascists if we are not to mishap about misplacing her glasses, but President Higgins's latest book of poems. beat about the bush. Robert Fisk is now she goes on to inform us of the treasure Professor Kiely had lambasted the Presi- being used as a source by Mary Kenny in trove of Bowen letters from Ireland and dent as having written a book of "lame, her article on James Dillon in the Irish she immediately goes on to quote from stale and stilted" poetry that is "bland, Catholic, 2nd February 2012, and by Mary one—Letter, 28th October 1937: imprecise and ultimately incomprehensible" Leland in her Irish Examiner, 1st October "Cork city has been very gay of late. and indeed was so bad that Higgins "can 2011, review of Eibhear Walshe's edited Summer weather persisted, just lightly be accused of crimes against literature". book of Bowen's Selected Writings. While chilled, and on long gay glassy evenings I agreed with this and thought everyone the Lee estuary looked like the scene set Maurice Manning in his biography of did too only we were always too nice to for a regatta. Galway oysters reappeared 'James Dillon' played down many of his say otherwise. Well the literati went after at the Oyster Tavern, off Patrick Street: subject's more serious lapses, Fisk used poor Kiely with spleen aplenty. Of course this is a long cavern of dusky mirrors Elizabeth Bowen's assessments with more with a grill fire (which grills really there are those of us who suspect that a lot accuracy, especially seeing that he was superbly) glittering at the end. The Opera of the brooha was because of who the not useful to the British cause because he House on the quayside reopened, and author was rather than what he had written. was just too much of the "fanatic" and Jimmy O'Dea packed it for two weeks." Unfortunately Professor Kiely seemed above all he had not the people behind to have little idea about Elizabeth Bowen And then she goes on to hurling which him. and it really showed. He calls her spying she said— Manning counters this with images of "ww2 reportage" and only sees in it "good "was the fastest game short of ice Dillon as being "monastic" and "not a social history". hockey, that I have ever watched. It is a people pleaser"—which Bowen saw as He denounces Bowen for having sort of high-speed overhead hockey, his "contempt for society". And, if one is "respect for de Valera", finding it "mawk- played with sticks with flat wooden imbued with the latter, it does demonstrate ish". The idea that Bowen was ever or blades, and it looks even more dangerous 11 than it apparently is. Though a game that hospitality was splendid and was bred in Leland thinks— would melt you in the Antarctic, it is, for the bone, and who could blame her. You "to Bowen's Court but Eibhear presents some reason, played only in summer. I do only at to look at her guest list to realise a very entertaining account of what I not think so much of Gaelic football. But how the money went. She writes in this suppose you would call a relationship I have only seen this game played in a sea between women but Eibhear states that essay which is for Holiday magazine in mist, which, milkily shrouding goals and Bowen was ever only close to women of players, added to the effect of aimless that year of 1958 and Leland goes on to her own caste and had particularly no mystery: there seemed to be effort but no quote from it, honing in on the library. empathy with other Irish women writers fun…". "…It is in the library that I remember of a different class". Eudora Welty (an American Southern Leland goes on to say that this is the writer) in the first hour of her first visit, Leland then goes on to say she has just type of delight that is brought out in chapter turning her head remarking, “I have just been reading the short stories of Mary after chapter of this book. realised, I don't think I've ever been so far Lavin, thinking of what Irish women "It is not terribly scholarly but I will go north before”. (We checked on an atlas writers were doing in a really intensely on about that now. Eibhear has many later: she was right.) Eudora, gracing the important period of the 40s and the 50s . drawing-room both in her own way and academic achievements—and indeed She tells us that O'Brien certainly goes on to emphasize how many they as a Southerner can, played the plaintive, really are but Eibhear Walshe is particul- long-neglected piano…" respected Bowen and much of her work arly good on Elizabeth Bowen because "…one June midnight too, she emerged and said so in several reviews. That the he is able to raise Bowen's work above from the kitchen having conjured into most telling of these are set in the 40s and the academic standards as seen here today existence an onion pie. In the library I she even did a review of Bowen's Court recollect Evelyn Waugh, scooping testified by his friends. And why readers which, she said, was set in a certain path of of this latest book will be able to relax desultorily, a little crossly, at a bat which had shattered the evening for me by flying inherited prejudices and emotions. Coming into this particular book is because from a shared history of a different stand- Eibhear is also a great writer himself". in—I cannot stay in a room with a bat; I cannot endure them! David Cecil, having point, sharing also the geography of their retired for the night, was heard by his young lives, Kate O'Brien wrote that she Leland speaks about Bowen's "felicity floor neighbours in a spooky monologue. of style" and accepts that "she is not a responded with a certain ease, not only It transpired next morning" {what must because they seemed to have certain tradi- professional scholar about Bowen", but they have talked about at breakfast— commends "the way Eibhear and other Leland asked to a laughing room?} "that tions and customs in common. And she writers contained in this book respond to a white owl had stood unblinking at the articulated that view by a statement that Elizabeth Bowen's own writing and in fact end of his bed; in vain had he reasoned Leland cited, but which was hard to catch. with the intruder. Nor are bats and owls the way she responds to the good writing Leland went on to state that, because the only nocturnals. Oxford talkers take the story of Bowen's life has been written of others". Leland states that Eibhear goes little count of the clock: David, again, on to give a very crisp account of Bowen's and rewritten, there was no need for and his colleague Isaiah Berlin are known Eibhear to go into too much detail. love affair with Séan O'Faoláin—an affair to have started a conversation at the foot However, the details he did provide are which only ended when she met the of the stairs, around midnight, and to fascinating and the way he wrote them in Canadian diplomat Charles Ritchie in have finished it close on two hours later, a narrative of the introductory essay was 1942. She adds that the book gives the not more than six steps up". "Cyril Connolly's visit, one sunny worthy, not just of Walshe, but of Bowen impression of concentrated thoughtfulness April, coincided with that of Virginia herself in a more objective mode. It was in making the selection and appraising the Woolf. By mischance nothing was important to say that this book was not just text and understanding above all the recorded, for Cyril's diary, otherwise ever an accumulation, the material was linked, intention—even when he is dealing with ready, was of a kind which had a lock: at the essays and review from and about other writers than Bowen. She remarked Bowen's Court locked it had to remain, Bowen were revelatory and not just a that something else to be read about this for no sooner had he arrived than he lost catalogue. They were listed, dated, book is the way Eibhear has brought a the key… Virginia, serenely standing out on the steps, watched her spaniel racing attributed and they included her reports to world literary invention and personality. over the grass in front. Dynamic, speedy the British Ministry of Information for the It was almost hurtful to remember that and graceful country walker, she out- Second World War. These were enriched Elizabeth Bowen was a working writer distanced the rest of us on our pilgrimage and researched extensively and tried to other than a famous and very popular one. across the fields to the Bowen's Court represent her views and they were of more She could be described often—and I think wishing well… What she wished, as she than controversial significance. They often that Samuel Johnson used the phrase, and cupped the spring water in her hands, I revealed what it was like to live in Ireland I use —as "a hireling scribe". shall never know… Frank O'Connor chanting in the library, dropping his head during the years of the Second World She wrote for her income and she had to back as did Yeats, recalled the magni- War. As Leland described it: make huge amounts of money. In 1958 ficence of the Midnight Court, poetry "Neutral Ireland in wartime is far from (six years after the death of her husband and bawdry of an Ireland before the potato being the home of comfort and ease. Alan Cameron), she wrote to Charles had struck root. New Ireland tore to my Shortage and insecurity are everywhere Ritchie from the GPO in Cork—imagine doors in the form of my cousin Dudley and she might have added the kind of her leaning on the counter writing a Colley, a racing ace: his glorious Frazer- paranoia that moved deeper as the war Nash enraptured Carson McCullers. In a desperate note—saying that she had come progressed. And what we have also flash, long-legged Carson was in the managed to forget about Bowen— into the city with the rather depressing driver's seat. “I'm of” she cried. So strong purpose of selling a good deal of silver actually I don't think anyone has ever is the visionary force, the stationary car emphasised it is her sense of humour. and a few pieces of good jewellery. She seemed to roar and devour space: Carson's You saw that when she was writing about was, she said, in an unspeakably dreary face grew tense with the thought of speed, Cork and Dublin and she talks here again financial crisis and asked him to send her veritably her hair streamed back from her in 1937 about Dublin and the Horse Show a $100 which he did—yet what income forehead." and she tells the story about a “party of she had, she enjoyed spending and her "Kate O'Brien was never a visitor", peacocks that escaped from the Zoo and 12 in the gloam of a very early evening, filed Eibhear for this lovely book and I want to inferiority complex was being manipul- slowly across the racing track”. This is thank the publishers the Cork University ated for the purpose of suppressing all said to have happened twice. But by the Press for understanding the need to Irish literature that could not also function crucial Saturday, the surviving peacocks produce it and for doing it so very well. as British literature. were under lock and key. Ireland becomes Thank you." (Loud clapping). "Selections from Elizabeth Bowen safer though never obvious…" were included in the North Cork Antho- "But this is a serious book packed with The publisher then thanked Mary logy to humour the inferiority complex. material, facts and collections for cross- Leland and handed us over to the man of We included it in the Derridian form of references—the New Statesmen, Life, the moment—Eibhear Walshe who said deletion, which seemed to meet the American publishers and The Bell which what he had to say very well and to general circumstances of the case. I did not believe includes her essay which is a fascinating room applause. that the Dublin intelligentsia would notice piece of work on James Joyce written in this little local publication. But they did. what she calls the state of uneasy CENSORSHIP They are as alert as witchfinders in the politeness caused by his death." Now I will have to say that the two English Republic in their search for words that went unsaid for the whole day heresies to stamp on. But, when they In short: were "spying" and "Aubane". I have been found us out, they could not recognise a "the contradictions of Joyce's nature hearing and writing about people who Derridian device when they saw it." ought not to perplex his own country- think it is time to teach us a lesson. Margaret (Elizabeth Bowen 'Notes on Eire' Espionage people: we have them all in ourselves… Callaghan, Roy Foster et al are not the Reports to Winston Churchill 1940-2. With A theme of disturbing pleasure should be a review of Irish Neutrality in World War 2. what one gets from reading Bowen's work only ones out for blood. But if academia/ 4th Edition. Aubane Historical Society. and she got it also from reading others. media think that we will just fall by the Millstreet, Co. Cork. 2009. PS To Appendix. Now I knew little or nothing or cared wayside, ah me how terribly wrong will p.282.) even less I suspect {says Leland} and I they be proved. Brendan Clifford—in his have felt desperate retrospective guilt analysis of why Bowen, Spenser and even And at the launch that day these "inferior about this when I interviewed Bowen— Raleigh are now feted so much, the latter attitudes" were really displayed by with a small "i" in Doneraile in 1970 and for his poems too which could do with a I didn't grasp the significance of the fact Professor Patricia Coughlan who, in a that this was the very day—we were look from Kevin Kiely—states: very nervous voice, was the 'warm-up' for meeting on the evening of the very day in "I cannot explain the phenomenal Mary Leland and after her, Dr. Eibhear which she had first returned to the site of growth of this inferiority complex during Walshe. I now think that I will write about Bowen's Court—the house had been the past forty years in Dublin literary them as well in next month's issue of the totally demolished. And she said to me circles. {And it goes without saying all Irish Political Review, where I will write “it was a nice way to go”. With a party of over the Irish universities JH} I know about Mary Leland and her Farrahy 100 school children we trooped down to little about Dublin. Slieve Luacra and the avenue. Belfast are what I know. But it became Lecture. "As with any good book, Elizabeth evident to me some years ago that this Julianne Herlihy © Bowen Selected Irish Writings raises some questions about its subject. In noting her long-standing friendship with Séan O'Faoláin, I wondered if there hadn't been some kind of alchemy in that relationship, something to explain an Republicanism— affinity beyond the physical. I wondered some thoughts for Stephen Richards because what seems to me to be the echoes of one another and beyond one Stephen Richards, in his dissatisfaction Subsequently, I remember reading (and another echoing from paragraphs such as at the replies he received in this publication, writing) many articles in the Irish Political this, for example here is Séan O'Faoláin in Bowen's Court in Elizabeth's words: says he senses within the pages of the Irish Review explaining the actions of the "“Sean O'Faoláin helping me to lock Political Review, "the absence of any Republican Movement and the general up—a nightly ritual involving heaving an appetite to analyse the very strange political situation around the time of the iron bar into place, then fastening the hall development of Sinn Fein from the early Good Friday Agreement and up to the door on the inside with massive chains. 1990s on" (Feb. Irish Political Review). collapse of the first Executive in 2002. O'Faoláin remarked 'that here was a Big Perhaps Stephen's dissatisfaction I remember the Irish Political Review House ready for a siege'. Complex race memories, conflicts, the raids and burning provides the motivation necessary to put comparing this situation with that confront- of the Troubles of his young days and some thoughts down on these matters. ing Germany in late 1918/early 1919— mine simultaneously stirred in us two I cannot speak for other writers, or for when an armistice, or peace treaty, was Irish—I whose first Irish ancestor had that matter for the Republican Movement turned by Britain into a German surrender. come from Wales, he descended from the (which I last had contact with at the Ard The IPR suggested that this was unlikely ancient inhabitants of the land.” Fheis of 1986), but Stephen should be to happen in relation to the Provos, and its "And here is Séan O'Faoláin recalling aware, having "for the last 33 years… prediction of subsequent British behaviour, a visit to Bowen's Court and how he been devouring everything that has come based upon an understanding of historical remembered that long before he even saw Bowen's Court he recognised its out of Athol Street", that a thesis of mine experience, proved sound. It was demon- genealogy was “as old as Spenser”" on Irish Republicanism was published by strated in numerous British attempts Athol Books at the time of the IRA (Castlereagh 'break-in' etc.) to subvert the And really this type of fawning just ceasefire. peace project in order to turn it into a rout went on and on and I felt I just had enough. That thesis was written in the early-mid of the Provos. I think all my readers get the picture and 1980s and for reasons explained within As we have seen, the German exper- decency bids me leave it at that . . . Leland the book it did not appear in print until ience was not repeated here. The Provos concluded: 1994 when the Peace Process was getting managed to conduct an orderly retreat "Thank you all for listening and to underway in earnest. from the battlefield, conducting an effect- 13 ive military rearguard action in 1996 ed them to their community and produced campaign its leaders, who had sent many (where Britain was most vulnerable, in a great lifting of confidence generally. idealistic young volunteers to their deaths, the City of London), and successfully and had raised communal tensions to an unprecedented pitch, decided to embark completed the transition from war to polit- The Northern Catholics had been con- on a process that would end up with them ics. And, as we have seen, in relation to the demned to a perpetual position of being becoming ministers of the Crown in a Boston College Tapes, England still chips policed by their traditional enemies by the partitionist assembly." away, waging its war at the political/ settlement and dysfunctional form of nefarious level. government that England imposed in 1920/ For Ulster Unionism to argue its case British attempts to subvert the Provo 1. That was not a situation that was pre- on the basis of Second Dail Republicanism peace project foundered on the inability of disposed to creating any kind of respect in is surely a measure of its decline. the media to break the will of the Northern a community. They had waited for half a Of course, Anthony McIntyre is no Catholics. They had stuck by the Provos century for deliverance from the South Second Dail or Anti-Treaty Republican through thick and thin, realised what the from this state of affairs and when the (the two are not the same thing and Provos were doing for them was the 'only moment of truth came, in the Autumn/ separated Sinn Fein from Fianna Fail in game in town', and refused to be taken in Winter of 1969/70 they had been badly let the 1920s). He is of the Northern Catholics, by all the talk of 'frightfulness' in their down. whose participation in the struggle was midst. Election after election they returned Then they produced something from more than likely to have been a result of to the ballot box to put it up to the Brits and themselves and of themselves that began experience of life under the statelet rather make sure their bargaining power was to call the shots – and not only in relation than devotion to Commandant Tom maintained. to those who had locally policed them but Maguire (if I remember his name correctly) Part of the reason why the Northern also in relation to those who had let them and those who walked away in 1986. But Catholics have been impermeable to Brit- down and indeed in relation to the powerful for all that he is a rather doctrinaire believer ish ideas has been the fact that during the British State to boot. When the British in the purity of ideas. war they were subject to so much black State had thrown all its vast political exper- The basis of his criticism of the Provos propaganda and untruths at the hands of ience and military resources, including its is that they were defeated, refused to admit the media. They developed a healthy elite special forces and dirty tricks, at the it and have conned the rank and file into disregard for what was told them either by Provos and they had remained standing believing that they are still Republicans, the agencies of state propaganda (The and the volunteers kept coming for more, pursuing the dream. And Stephen agrees BBC) or by the gullible within their midst in each new generation, the Northern with McIntyre that on this basis all the (The Irish News). It has been a situation Catholics knew that they had produced "deaths were needless deaths". reminiscent of how Redmondite war- something very special indeed. So they One thing that can be said immediately recruiting propaganda, relatively success- stuck by it, through thick and thin, and about this position is that Britain did not ful in the towns and cities, fell on deaf ears helped it to deliver. And all the consider- get where it was in the world by taking this in the countryside of Munster, which had able efforts of the British (and Irish) States naïve view of politics and war. witnessed so much lying about the land have proved incapable of separating the England did not go into the Great War war. It was presumed thereafter that community from its remarkable military/ with any formal demands. As in other anything coming from Britain and its political development. wars, it tends to simply engage in conflict native friends was invalid. on some excuse or another when advantage It is obvious by the tone of Stephen's is sensed. It then decides what can and It is an unpalatable fact to the Ulster letter that he is an Ulster Unionist by pre- what cannot be gained in the fluctuating Unionist or to other ‘right-thinking’ people disposition. He says he has "contempt for course of the war and formulates demands that the Provisional IRA campaign gave both the DUP and Sinn Fein". It is probable on this basis. Then, victory or otherwise is the mass of Northern Catholics a measure that his contempt has been raised by the proclaimed. It is usually victory, despite of respect that changed everything in the fact that, having set up a political system the non-achievement of objectives, which North. That is one of those truths that dare designed to put the nice SDLP and UUP in hardly seem to matter in some cases, like, not speak its name. It is a truth that truly power, it is now sorely disappointing to for instance in its conflict with the Ottoman sickens the assorted anti-nationalist journ- see Sinn Fein and the DUP there and Turks. Or otherwise, the thing is altogether alists and revisionists of the South produc- doing what the SDLP and UUP could not forgotten about in the interests of the ing the bile that spits from their pens on all manage to do. State. things northern. (I remember one typical It is amazing how some Ulster Unionists example of this in the Sunday Independent (Trimble, Steven King etc.) have taken on There are some grounds for understand- during the early 1990s when one commentator the ideas of Anthony McIntyre as a stick ing the Great War as a superficial victory – it could have been any of the usual crew to beat the Provos. Amazing but not in- for Britain over Germany, but also as a – referred to the "slurry-heads of Tyrone explicable! Because the very people who substantial defeat from the United States. and Armagh who vote Sinn Fein"). try to propagandise the death of Irish If it is seen as a siege of Europe, as many Republicanism, in association with former Imperialist thinkers did see it, to repress The Provos did not raise the respect and Provos who they would formerly not have the commercial development of the Con- confidence of the Northern Catholic com- the time of day for, have not noticed that tinent under German hegemony, it has so munity by killing people, and least of all the Unionist Party has presided over the far failed—despite a second round to finish by killing Ulster Protestants. It was entirely loss of most of Ireland and the effective the job a couple of decades later. But 'so through the Provos' continued ability to end of the Union in 1920. far' is the operative phrase here, because outsmart and outmanoeuvre the British The following passage from Stephen's this conflict is far from over from Britain's State, and the preparedness of ordinary letter is pure Anthony McIntyre: standpoint, in any case. Important battles young men and women to sacrifice their are ongoing nearly a century after 'the war lives for the Republican cause, that endear- "At the end of this 25 year long bloody to end all wars'. 14 Britain waged its Great War to remain Liberal Government in Britain which had vigorous political force in the North by top-dog in the world. It did not care that begun its war on Germany in August preventing it completing an orderly retreat second-dog happened to be Germany. If 1914. from the battlefield to the political sphere, France had been second-dog, as it had If there is a standard British war aim at translating the things it had achieved been until comparatively recently, it would all, it is to disorganise and weaken the militarily into political gains for its have dealt with it, perhaps in alliance with selected enemy to such an extent that community. Germany, in a similar fashion. The object- England gains a position of political or ive was simply to remain top-dog and economic advantage from which it can England knows all about the importance control the seas. advance to greater things. As a result of remaining intact in the field of battle for To remain top-dog England felt it had British wars have tended to be both very as long as possible. It did this in 1940 to do to Germany what Rome did to numerous (with numerous enemies) and when it only had the hope that something Carthage. But in the course of doing down continuous – that is continuing in political would turn up that would get it out of the Germany it found itself reliant militarily form long after military engagements have mess it had created and got itself into. It and financially on the United States. And ceased. had facilitated Hitler’s dominance across the US bided its time, realising that Brit- a large part of Europe through its disastrous ain's attempt at maintaining its top-dog If the German Army had conducted an behaviour in the 1930s and only got out of status had misfired and now the turn of orderly withdrawal in late 1918 and Ger- this situation by helping Stalin and America had come. many had not suffered a collapse behind Bolshevism into a similar position (more So, in objective matters of power the lines, which was produced by the than Hitler in the East but less in the West, politics, whilst the Great War on Germany Royal Navy starvation blockade, the his- due to the US intervention). resulted in its defeat it also defeated Britain tory of the Great War would have been And that war was called a victory! in its waging of it. written in a very different way and the I remember the Unionist commentator, It is almost universally believed in subsequent history of Europe would have Eric Waugh, writing in the liberal Belfast Britain, at least, that the Second World been entirely different. The formal military Telegraph, that he had it on good account War on Germany was also a victory for position in late 1918 represented a stale- that the senior military elite who planned England. But, in any objective reading of mate with the Entente, despite great and carried out the Ambush at Loughgall its results it also represented a defeat, superiority in blood and treasure, it having had plans to use helicopter gun-ships despite all the dressing of it in Churchillian never set foot on German soil in four years Israeli-style along the border against the oration. of war. It was what happened after the resurgent IRA. But these people, who ran 'end' of the war (which we are encouraged the war in its closing stages, were wiped War is, therefore, a complicated busi- to believe happened on November 11 and out in a mysterious helicopter crash ness in what is victory or defeat. to commemorate with Poppy-frenzy) that enroute to an important military planning Liddell Hart once pointed out that really determined its result and outcome. exercise in Scotland. And Britain decided "Victory in the true sense… surely implies to go with the negotiated settlement It was never a British aim to put Michael that one is better off after the war than if strategy instead. Collins and Sinn Fein in Dominion power one had not made war" (The British Way in 1921 when the Irish democracy asserted In Warfare, p41). Tommy McKearney in his recent book its will in 1918. A majority in Britain The Republican Movement is in an The Provisional IRA—From Insurrection could not even countenance the thought immensely more powerful position today to Parliament wrote the following: of John Redmond as Prime Minister under than when it was the small rump that a system of meagre Home Rule governance "The most basic problem facing IRA existed in 1969 before war was embarked strategists was how to devise an opera- in 1914. But when the assertion of Irish upon. And as for the people they fought tional policy for dealing with an enemy democratic will was backed up with a for and who comprised their membership, that was too powerful to be defeated in a resolution not seen before, and not anti- the Northern Catholics, well that is a no- conventional military sense. Britain was cipated at the time, England had to alter its never going to suffer a rout similar to that brainer. aims in Ireland. inflicted on them at Singapore in February Can the same be said of the State that It was not in itself the signing of the 1942… the IRA could only hope for total squandered its Empire in trying twice to Treaty and the administering of Crown success by inflicting such pain on the cut Germany down to size? Or can it be British that London would lose its will to authority by Collins that had the desired said of the Ulster/Unionist Party and how stay… in the light of IRA resources, that effect from the British standpoint in 1921. it lost the Union? was a huge undertaking. In spite of this, It was the subsequent disorganisation of many IRA volunteers at ground level in The standard Republican criticism (that the Irish democracy as a result of this that the early 1970s were carried along on a some Ulster Unionists parrot) of Sinn impressed the British agenda on Ireland. wave of optimism believing that they Fein is that it has ended up ‘administering And it was not the partition of the country could indeed inflict a military defeat on British rule’ in the Six Counties, or as that produced a continuation of Imperial their enemy. This misconception grew largely from the spontaneous nature of Stephen puts it, they have ended up: hegemony in Ireland but the establishment the organisation's founding and initial "becoming ministers of the Crown in a of a semi-detached pseudo-state in the development. The IRA did not create the partitionist assembly." North that acted as a lever on the whole circumstances in which the organisation It was neither a Republican or British island for the future. found itself. Nor could it anticipate the war aim that that would end up being the In the mid-1990s it would not have series of momentous and traumatic case. But war is the sort of catastrophic been Britain's intention to see Sinn Fein occurrences, such as internment without activity that results in such unpredictable call the shots in the Peace Process and trial in August 1971 and Bloody Sunday shortly afterwards in January 1972, that events. And it was surely the case that emerge as a power in the devolved admin- caused its ranks to swell so rapidly. In what the British Empire and the world had istration. It would have been the intention practice, the Provisional IRA and its Army become in 1919 was unimaginable to the to disable and disorganise the most Council was often responding to events 15 that were happening with mesmerising unattainable. In some ways this realisation thing changed in the Autumn/Winter of rapidity. manifested itself in the ditching of the 1969-70 when hundreds of new volunteers "As a consequence, the leadership Southern Second Dail leadership (O'Brad- were taken into the movement in the wake frequently reflected and often tried to aigh and O'Connell etc.) and the reins of of the events of August 1969. reflect the rank and file mood as much as moulding that outlook. Under such power being taken by the pragmatic In the course of becoming a mass move- circumstances, it was nearly impossible Northerners (Adams, McGuinness etc.). ment of activist Northern Catholics, and to curb ambitious demands or make a From then on there was a scaling down of in being left high and dry by the Lynch pitch for pragmatism and… it was difficult the war and a refinement of it into 'armed Government in the South, the Provisionals to explain the difference between a prud- propaganda'. The logic of 'Armed propa- took on both a new composition and a new ent compromise and unprincipled ganda' and talk of the impossibility of a orientation that was not immediately capitul ation. This in turn, coupled with military solution signalled that the conflict apparent. The Second Dail character of momentous circumstances, led the IRA to commit itself by 1972 to a stark could only end at the negotiating table. the Republican movement was swamped objective of British withdrawal and an all by a more pragmatic Northern element Ireland Republic. This was a political The problem that then confronted the which was largely infused by the desire to stance, which made it difficult if not Provos was to continue the war until Britain make themselves first-class citizens in impossible to discuss or to contemplate was prepared to make a functional settle- their own land. And for the first time the an alternative, in the event that the organ- ment that would represent a transitional traditional relationship between North and isation found itself unable to impose its stage toward the formal objectives of the South in which Northerners passively own preferred solution. It was, moreover, a position that tended to flounder on the war. But Britain had other ideas and it waited for Southern deliverance was ir- question of Unionist opposition to a engaged in a trial of strength with Repub- revocably changed as the North created United Ireland on Provisional IRA licans over the issue of criminal status in something for itself and designed to terms… How to win over or accommodate the prisons. operate in its own interests. These facts a significant section of the Unionist That trial of strength was claimed by had important implications as the war community was a dilemma that continued Mrs Thatcher as a victory. But it was a continued, the Southern establishment to confront the Provisional IRA through- very illusory victory since it greatly enhan- further distanced itself from Northern out its existence" (pp103-4). ced the credibility of the Republican Republicanism and the formal aims of the McKearney is not an enthusiast for movement, destroyed the notion that the campaign began to appear unachievable Sinn Fein and has been an associate of Republican struggle was merely an out- by military effort alone. Anthony McIntyre for many years. His break of criminal activity and provided So when Britain began to signal that it brother, Padraig, who was killed at the springboard to electoral success in the was prepared to impose an internal Loughgall, was also an opponent of the following years. And it also had a funda- Northern Ireland arrangement in which Republican leadership by all accounts. mental effect on British understandings the minority status of Northern Catholics However, this passage says something because it showed that, not only had the was to be formally set aside in politics and very important: that the Republican Republican Movement a solid bedrock of government, and to treat the Republican Movement that emerged in the North post- support that would not be easily whittled prisoners as political prisoners by releasing 1969 was not simply an ideological cause, away, but given the circumstances, the them, the transitional settlement of the it was a product of the conditions it mass of Catholics would go over to it Good Friday Agreement was possible. emerged from and within, the experiences when faced with the alternative of support- of existence of its rank and file and the ing the Provos or the existing arrangements Another factor in this was the develop- actions they were subjected to by the State of governing Northern Ireland. ing revisionist movement in the South and those who wished to see Croppies There is a notion being perpetrated by which was overtly hostile to traditional lying down once again. These facts always some that to describe the transition that nationalism and the withdrawal of support made its motivation and momentum the Provos achieved from war to politics to Republicans in the North as a consequence. problematic in relation to objectives and is somehow a 'revisionist' imposition by In such circumstances the Republican how it might settle. those who wish to paint the Republican movement realised that a strong power The Provos went into their war with the movement with the most enlightened base constructed around devolved govern- formal aim of an independent United shade. ment in one region of the island would Ireland based on a federal structure (Eire The Two Nations theory was given the prove a significant obstacle to any attempts Nua ). That war proved surprisingly same treatment by the same people in the to erode the national struggle further and irresistible for a couple of years and British early 70s. would provide a springboard for further attempts to stem it were brushed aside. The Two Nations theory was simply advances in the South. recognition of empirical facts that made However, ultimately the Provo campaign The realisation that the military cam- the situation in Ireland in 1969 under- came up against a strong will within the paign was being run down caused tensions standable. The same recognition of empir- Protestant community to resist incorpora- to rise in some areas. Belfast and Derry ical facts needs to be employed in dealing tion within an all-Ireland state. This was were tightly controlled by the Republican with what Stephen calls "the very strange particularly demonstrated when the SDLP leadership and it was apparent that armed development of Sinn Fein from the early attempted to jump on the back of Provo activity was being minimised and electoral 1990s on". military success to make good their Coun- requirements made predominant. Opposi- cil of Ireland and continue the progress In 1969 the Republican movement was tion was therefore confined to individuals. toward Irish unity through political made up of a very small core of Northerners South Armagh was geared toward fighting manoeuvring and deception. with a Southern leadership motivated by a long war of attrition against the British It was probably around 1977 or 1978 Second Dail Republicanism. During the and it was capable of great tactical flex- that the Provos realised that the formal 1956-62 campaign the impetus had been ibility. The area adapted well to the require- aims of their campaign were probably almost entirely from the South. But every- ments of the latter stages of the war 16 extending its operational capability to the Could it have been any other way? The ing it and claiming that the war was against island off the Irish coast—Britain. Catholic community realised the only the British State and no one else. This purpose of elections was to register one's posed a problem in many areas where the It was in East Tyrone that most concern vote against the other side. The electoral war against Republicans was largely was expressed about the direction that the business in the province was totally dis- undertaken by the Protestant militias in struggle was taking. The area had seen a connected from its meaningful function in conjunction with local civilians: great infusion of young volunteers around every other state in the world—voting for the time of the Hunger Strike and it was "The British used its locally recruited or against the Government of the state. part-time Regiment, the UDR, supported here, in the heartland of Republicanism in It is rather pointless to suggest that by an RUC Reserve to gather intelligence the North, that an alternative course was because Catholics were a minority in and act as a lightly armed counter- attempted. It seems that units of the East Northern Ireland they should have accept- insurgency militia. Strenuous efforts have Tyrone Brigade believed that they could been made over the years to portray the ed the democratic will. Nationalists of all extend the area in which British forces two forces as well-meaning, part-timers varieties always considered the Northern could not operate wider than South Arm- doing their best to protect society, State to be an artificial construction design- agh. From 1985 on, something on the lines insinuating that any attack on their ed to subvert the national democratic unit. members was motivated purely by of the War of Independence was attempt- One might as well ask why Unionists did sectarianism. ed in Tyrone. Military installations were not accept the democratic will in 1918 "Lost amid this tendentious propaganda attacked, destroyed and even captured, within the unit they considered operable is the reality. Both the UDR and the RUC and construction firms used by the Army Reserve were recruited locally and had, for centuries. targeted to prevent rebuilding. Dozens of therefore, a comprehensive and detailed volunteers were involved in attacks on knowledge of the areas of operation. As Stephen suggests that the Provisional Border Posts and the British even resorted local men, they were able to distinguish IRA "engaged in sectarian murder… like between various accents that are so to hiding their casualties after an SAS unit its loyalist counterparts." distinctive to a Northern Irish ear, but was wiped out in Cappagh. The Provos declared war on the British would not resonate with regular soldiers However, the upsurge in East Tyrone State and made particular efforts to direct reared in Britain. A County Derry accent showed the limitation of military activity, would go unnoticed, for example, if their war against the forces of the British even with the provision of new weaponry questioned in South Tyrone by State. Unfortunately for the Provos, the from abroad. The East Tyrone Brigade Londoners, but would immediately draw Six Counties were not held directly by the suffered heavy casualties as the British the suspicion of a Dungannon UDR patrol. British State. In return for being a semi- As local men with roots for many began to employ new surveillance techno- detached annex of the British State the generations in an area, some UDR mem- logy, that had not been available in years Ulster Unionists were given the state secur- bers were even able to recognise young gone by, to track movements and target ity apparatus which interposed itself Republicans by family resemblance to operations. Whilst conventional British older relatives. They had, too, the ability between Britain and the Northern Cathol- Army and RUC found it increasingly im- to differentiate between families sharing ics. First there were the B Specials and possible to operate in the area, undercover similar names, an invaluable asset to the then the Ulster Defence Regiment, which soldiers were employed against IRA units authorities in parts of the pre-postcode represented a substantial continuation of Six Counties where locals used ancient and Loyalist hit squads were provided the Specials. The conduct of the Provo patronymics to identify each other. In with Intelligence to target the wider Repub- war was complicated by this factor and closely mixed rural areas, members of lican support base. the repeated attempts of Britain to keep the UDR or RUC Reserve were intimately familiar with the rhythm and pattern of the conflict at arm's length and Ulsterise Stephen argues that the Provo campaign life in their districts and could recognise it, in order to let 'Ulstermen carry to can' in was "conducted on behalf of a minority of instantly if something was out of place. the words of Jim Callaghan. a minority". But what does he mean by "Whether on or off duty, these men McKearney is very accurate and honest acted not only as the eyes and ears of the 'minority'? The Northern Catholics slipped in what he says about the consequences of regular army but actively supported it easily between Nationalists and Repub- the British policy of Ulsterisation: logistically and militarily. That they had licans throughout the existence of Northern dual military and civilian roles added to Ireland as if there was very little at issue "It is difficult to accept that Britain was the danger they posed to the IRA. unaware of the consequences arising from between them. All it took was an event or Employed as school bus drivers, postmen, placing locally recruited militias (Protest- refuse collectors and every other position a chance of one or other to defeat a unionist ant Unionists for the most part) in direct for the Catholic vote to jump from one in the workforce, they had a perfect cover conflict with the IRA. Unless the IRA for travelling covertly in the Republican persuasion to another. Who could say abandoned its campaign, it was inevitable districts, not only to observe but also to who held the majority in Catholic politics that as the two sides came into conflict, monitor. A dust man may appear a during the seventies when the Provos were the struggle would assume sectarian harmless worker until he sifts through boycotting elections and not taking elect- dimensions. As history records, this the bins for information—a routine happened and many RUC and UDR oral politics to be anything meaningful? practice by every intelligence agency" members died, often while off duty. (McKearney, pp117-8). For many, the SDLP represented them at Whatever rationality the IRA offered for the ballot box whilst the Provos represent- the imperative of acting as it did, many McKearney recounts how the IRA had, ed them in other ways. Nationalists were Protestant people viewed this campaign during the 1956-62 Campaign, attempted the political wing of the Provos before as a sectarian assault on their community. to avoid attacks on the RUC and Specials Sinn Fein was developed as an electoral This anger in turn lent a semblance of because they saw them as "deluded Irish- machine. They had learned the lesson of justification from a Unionist point of men" who would someday come to their view to a largely indiscriminate killing Bonar Law well: "There are stronger campaign waged on Catholics" (p140). senses. But the post-1969 Northern rural things than parliamentary majorities"— IRA units found it impossible to ignore particularly in relation to Britain's attitude The Provos attempted to deal with the the role they played in repressing the to Ireland. Protestant complication largely by ignor- Catholic community and keeping the 17 Croppies down. Increasingly, therefore, armed Hibernians could have emerged on the part of the Provos. The force of argu- they were targeted by the IRA. the Catholic side as a mirror image of ment and the understanding of the Catholic When these militias began supplying what developed on the Protestant side. community of the necessities of the politic- Intelligence, weapons and personnel to However, the achievement of Republican- al process have produced ever increasing Loyalist assassination squads, things ism was in marshalling the material prod- votes for Sinn Fein. became even more difficult for the Provos. uced by the conditions of life in the sectar- The Sinn Fein view is pretty straight- And it is common knowledge that IRA ian slum that might have been predisposed forward and clear: force brought us this units had to be restrained from taking the to this kind of thing to a nobler cause. The far but it is counter-productive once a war directly to them, since such actions disciplined military structures perfected settlement has been made. Under such were a diversion from the real target of the by the Provos provided the means by circumstances the taking and giving up of war and could be portrayed as 'sectarian'. which those with a vigorous political (or life is pointless for all concerned. Stephen will find that the dilemma that purely military) disposition could channel faced the Provos is still a live issue among their efforts into a strict targeting of the I, for one, have neglected to write about Republicans today in East Tyrone. . There British State interest and meanwhile deter affairs in Northern Ireland in recent years are mutterings that the IRA leadership other organisations that might emerge and because the situation has been 'parked' by restrained the volunteers from taking on consider departing from the main political the Peace Process and there is an awful lot the loyalists in the interests of winding concern of Republicanism. of more significance elsewhere in the down the war and securing a peace settle- So what might have become a sordid world to write about. ment. And in doing so they created the sectarian morass was prevented by direct- The only party to the conflict that gains impression that the IRA was incapable of ing energies into purposeful military by the intrusion of Northern Ireland events responding to the increased targeting of activities and political objectives. into the affairs of another state is Britain— Republicans and their families by security- which set up that pseudo-state with its force/UVF collusion. This had the effect Stephen argues that "the present Sinn perverse form of government for such a of encouraging demands for peace within Fein critique of the dissidents is therefore purpose. It is one of the chief achievements the wider community. incoherent". But it is entirely logical and of the Provo Peace Process that the effects Repeated attempts were made by the coherent to the average Catholic—and of that political aberration may be Provos to encourage Protestants to return that is where it counts. In the past decade minimised over time—if it is not too late to the spirit of their predecessors in the dissident activity has been minimised with- already. United Irishmen. Of course, this was futile out the necessity of employing force on Pat Walsh but it was sincerely meant. And it acted as a restraining influence on communal pas- sions which were the natural manifestation of life in the Northern statelet. Comments On Desmond Fennell's As a result the Provo war was substan- tially directed against the British State and picture Of Ireland its forces. On occasion there were incidents which descended into the sectarian morass. Desmond Fennell's picture of Ireland destruction. And in the first place there However, these were largely exceptions (Irish Political Review, January 2012) is was a will to defend the Irish religious or mistakes (termed 'collateral damage' boldly drawn. He names things clearly tradition and to reject Queen Elizabeth's when they are perpetrated by the big battal- and draws conclusions firmly, and the innovations. ions of the West). And when the IRA challenge is fairly put to others whether In his recently-published book Ó returned to war in 1996 to secure a func- they can make more sense. I would like to Chéitinn go Raiftearaí (about how Irish tional settlement killing became almost try from a different perspective. history was written from the 17th to the incidental. If we take up the story from the late 19th century), Vincent Morley says that nineteenth century, maybe we will see Ireland was the only country in Christen- The Loyalist campaign against Repub- what is "normal" and "abnormal" about dom where the majority of the people licans was wholly different. It was summed Ireland. But we might miss what is unique. refused to accept the principle laid down up in the Loyalist phrase 'any Taig will do' Whatever our current condition, our at the Peace of Augsburg in 1555: cuius and largely consisted of random attacks history gives us the right to think ourselves regio, eius religio, "whose realm, his (or against vulnerable Catholics. In the last something special. It would be best to her) religion". There might be some decade of the war, when Britain took keep the focus on that, rather than on argument about that, but Ireland was the control of the Loyalist paramilitary groups whether we're fully "normal". most clear-cut case. A people made the through its agents, an attempt was made to To my mind, the shaping moment came extraordinary decision to be "half- refine their targeting. Montages were not in the late nineteenth century but a full subjects", as a furious King James the provided of 'known Republicans' who three centuries earlier. About 1590 the First expressed it. This obstinacy was might be considered useful dead. Sinn picture was already very complicated: sustained through the worst disasters and Fein representatives were assassinated and Gaelic Ireland was not Catholic only (if despite all the various rulers of England Republican families were targeted to create only because of the O'Briens of Thomond) could do. And it went together with another a reign of terror in many rural areas. The and Catholic Ireland was not Gaelic only, firm conviction (which is crystal-clear in Loyalist groups became a useful adjunct nor indeed rural only. Nevertheless, in the Irish-language writings of the 17th to the British war effort against Republic- Gaelic and "Gaelicised", rural, tradition- and 18th centuries): that Ireland's tradi- ans, which at this stage seemed to be ally Christian Ireland, something crystal- tional lordships and culture should be mainly directed against the Sinn Fein lised at that time. It was a will to defend maintained or restored, and that the electoral rise. Irish tradition and not to accept any structures intruded by England should be It was perfectly possible that a gang of arrangements which involved its destroyed. 18 The Irish ended up with strange allies. cultural revolution remained secondary. Historical opinion was being formed in But it was either have strange allies or First of all, one can see clear continuity English and Irish simultaneously. In the none. The long alliance with the Stuarts in the major political campaigns. Take early 19th century there was still a could be justified purely on the grounds O'Connell's campaigns: a campaign for flourishing manuscript literature in Irish- that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". full rights for Catholics, followed by a speaking areas. Keating's History was In fact, it became much warmer than that. campaign for Repeal of the Union with being copied and circulated; so were The Stuarts were praised, loved, and hopes England and political autonomy for historical poems from the 17th and 18th were fixed in them, in dissociation from Ireland. That is in total conformity with centuries which gave an authoritative the known record of their reigning kings. the policy of the Kilkenny Confederation summary view of Irish history. From an Irish point of view, apart from in the 1640s and with the main aims of By the time Young Ireland came on the their genealogy, it was hard to find many Irish Jacobitism thereafter. (The third scene, the population at large had received merits in those kings except negative ones. element of the Kilkenny Confederation's its notion of Irish history. All the Young That is to say, at a certain point in his reign oath involved loyalty to the English King Irelanders could do was restate and re- James the First stopped persecuting Cath- and acceptance of his legitimate pre- elaborate. Morley quotes the statement olics; Charles the First didn't persecute rogatives. While there was no question of attributed to one of France's 1848 men, much at all (though his agents kept on feeling any warmth for the 19th century Ledru-Rollin ("There go the people, I am trying to dissolve Ireland socially and Georges and Edwards, such as one might their leader, I must follow them!") and reconstruct it). And Charles the Second? have felt for a Charles or a James, the remarks that this was the policy followed Well, he was not Oliver Cromwell! question was whether they should have by Ledru-Rollin's colleagues in Ireland. Only James the Second behaved well pragmatic acceptance as ultimate sove- In an essay on Irish history Thomas Davis towards Ireland, before he was over- reigns of an autonomous Ireland. In O' wrote: thrown. The Irish Jacobites kept hoping Connell's time that seemed to be broadly "This island has been for centuries that the latest Stuart pretender would prove agreed, though there were republican either in part or altogether a province. to have courage, ability and luck, and that dissenters such as Walter Cox. We know Now and then above the mist we see the wheel of Sarsfield's sword, the red battle- as King he would permit Ireland to resume that the issue was to cause difficulties hand of O'Neill, and the points of its own evolving course which it had of later.) O'Connor's spears; but 'tis a view through old. By taking sides with the Stuarts, the eight hundred years to recognise the Gaelic Catholic Irish got some purchase However, there was also a deeper sunburst on a field of liberating victory. in the real effective politics of the 18th continuity in terms of historical and nation- Reckoning back from Clontarf, our century. al consciousness. Vincent Morley's great history grows ennobled (like that of a However, there's no doubt that the merit (in Ó Chéitinn go Raiftearaí) is that decayed house), and we see Lismore and Armagh centres of European learning; French Revolution blew away a great part he has shown this more clearly than anyone we see our missionaries seizing and of the world that the main line of Gaelic had shown it before. In the early nineteenth century a view of Irish history was brought taming the conquerors of Europe, and Irish thinking used to relate to. France's farther still, rises the wizard pomp of 1789-93 plus Ireland's 1798-1800 made over from the Irish language and re- Eman and Tara—the palace of the Irish huge breaches. One can see people like launched in English. It was expounded in pentarchy." Micheál Ó Longáin, the Cork United Irish books such as Denis Taaffe's Vindication leader and poet, doing audacious bridging of the Irish Nation, and Particularly Its Davis re-elaborated Irish history with jobs. But, as it turned out, not everything Catholic Inhabitants, from the Calumnies great flair and charm. He gave it a breath could be bridged. Particularly after the of Libellers (1802) and An Impartial of romance, and he made it something that Famine, over a few generations the un- History of Ireland, from the Period of the not only Catholics but generous-minded compromising Gaelic Irish made one of English Invasion to the Present Time Protestants could relate to. But his per- the most drastic concessions that is possible (1810), and it was forcefully propagated spective was not original (which was one for any people. They gave up their own in Walter Cox's Irish Magazine, the most of its merits). He took his point of view language and adopted the conqueror's widely-circulating journal of the time. from a pre-existing consensus. language. They also produced an English- The key figures were members of Dublin's speaking political culture and took part in Gaelic Society and former 1798 men; The main Irish population, commonly regular English politics, or liberal some people belonged to both categories, called Gaelic, had assimilated many others democracy. e.g. Taaffe. over time. The Fenian John O'Mahony Writers producing a tamer Irish history, reflected on this, introducing his translation The question is, was there are any which made little of Ireland before the of Keating's Foras Feasa in 1857. He continuity at all? Should we think in terms Normans, received a public trouncing in observed that the Tuatha Dé Danaan and of a new Irish politics and a new Irish the Irish Magazine. One such was John the Fir Bolg had been injured long ago by people? Between Eoghan Ruadh Mac an Lawless, author of A Compendium of the the Milesians, the Gaelic invaders who Bhaird and Eoghan Ruadh Ó Súilleabháin History of Ireland, from the Earliest Period arrived from Spain, but one couldn't do there's no problem tracing the linking to the Reign of George I (1814). Geoffrey much about that now, nor could one now thread; but where's the link between Keating's principle, stated more than a redress the wrongs that the Gaels had Eoghan Ruadh Ó Súilleabháin and Thomas century and a half previously, was re- suffered from the Normans: Davis? What happened to the Gaelic-and- affirmed: Irish history must be written associated Catholic Irish was so drastic from Irish sources. The Irish Magazine "In Ireland, more especially, the foreign element has become so absorbed in the that it makes it tempting to see them in poured scorn upon writers who found aboriginal, that it would be as just to their 19th century selves as "new men", fault with historical sources "which per- think of avenging the wrongs of the "blank pages", and so on. In reality there haps they have never seen, and even if Danaan or the Belgian upon their Spanish was very considerable continuity, in fact they had, they would not be able to conquerors, as it would be those of the continuity was the primary thing and understand them". latter upon the followers of Earl 19 Strongbow. These have long since merged overturning neighbour. wouldn't, and he continuing standing by, into the Gael—so have some of the The second unfulfilled and immensely in the sense of letting others have a go at descendants of the more recent conquer- difficult national aim was political unific- solving the problem. ors of them all, the Cromwellians and ation of the entire island. It was demanded There was a broad popular consensus Williamites of later days. The oppressed natives of Ireland, of whatever name, by the Irish national population of the that Stormont was rotten and had to be creed or blood, represent the ancient rights North, who had kept in touch with the brought down. After the fall of Stormont of its aboriginal inhabitants. Their village national development elsewhere (though there was still very considerable pro-IRA tyrants, though some of them be of Gaelic they'd never been able to drum up much feeling in the South, but there was not the name and blood, and a few of them even enthusiasm for the Stuarts, for example, same extent of agreement with their of the national faith, are now the only and in their case the scope for reconquest continuing military campaign, especially foreign enemy. They represent William of the land was limited by the fact that as time went on. In late 1972 Jack Lynch of Orange, Cromwell, Elizabeth, and Strongbow—they represent also the pirate confiscated lands had been settled by a began confronting the alternative Óglaigh sons of Miledh, and even now they “grind democracy of working farmers). However, na hÉireann. The next Government, the faces of the poor and beat the people unification would have to involve assimil- headed by Liam Cosgrave, replaced State to pieces” as mercilessly as ever did ation of a local majority population who, passivity with militant negativity. All this tyrant plunderer of old. They still walk in with high community morale and Imperial absence of policy was destructive, but one the blood-stained track of the robbers British pride, had shown no desire for should acknowledge that Irish Govern- who preceded them." that. ments in the 1980s began to get back in touch with Northern nationalists and to With qualifications of that kind, one When the North exploded in the late grope towards an adequate policy, and in can say that over about a century the 1960s and early '70s, it is clear that the the 1990s they worked well to produce the English-speaking Irish nation, or the Irish Irish State was at sixes and sevens in terms best available settlement. They took on nation led by English-speakers, won of policy. The times were disorientating, this duty and saw it through, in defiance of victory in three great struggles that had and a good illustration of that is the several senior propagandists (or members gone on for between two-and-a-half and extraordinary article published in the last of the "Correctorate", to use Desmond's three-and-a-half centuries. There was issue of Irish Political Review, written for word), who, with Conor Cruise O'Brien as Catholic Emancipation in 1829; re- the Times of London in July 1972 by ensemble leader, were daily spitting fire conquest of the land at the end of the 19th Raymond Crotty, Professor of the dismal and brimstone. century; autonomy/independence in 1922. science of economics. (I think many parts The picture Desmond paints is con- Irish statehood continued the story. The of this article are just plain daft, or else nected with his feeling that a promising people, and their state, sought to exercise they result from an over-thorough applica- path of Irish national progress was wanton- those liberties fully or to round off their tion by Crotty of a sound enough principle: ly abandoned, or cut off. However, one achievements (e.g. by ceasing to pay that if one hopes to induce the British must keep in mind the state of the world. annuities). There were two more national establishment to condescend to do one a Considering the position in the first half of aims which had not been achieved and favour, it is advisable to flatter them the 20th century from the perspective I remained the most difficult of all. Firstly, remorselessly. On no account whatever have drawn, one can say that the state of there was the aim of reviving the Irish should they be criticised, either directly or Europe and the world was on the whole language and somehow reconnecting the by implication (for example, by saying very favourable to continued Irish national broken thread of Irish tradition. something bad about Northern Ireland); at progress. Appalling things may have been It's remarkable even that a serious effort most one may chide them for sometimes happening in Europe; our neighbour may was made. It is not the least surprising being over-indulgent and giving us un- have been causing or exacerbating famines thing in a story full of surprises. Consider deserved praise. In fact, as has been pointed in other people's lands (Iran), and bombing the state of things in the late 19th century: out, there was not the slightest reason to villages from the air (Iraq) in preparation floods of English being spread by all kinds suppose that the British would have been for incinerating cities. But Ireland was of agencies, including Land League willing to do what Crotty wanted: to begin enabled to stay out of all that and to chart agitators; the Catholic Church cultivating treating the Irish Republic as a foreign a course of its own. De Valera provided an English-speaking respectability; an country and restricting the free movement bold leadership, and fortune favoured the immensely powerful Imperial culture of labour. Only Enoch Powell, on strict brave. (Cormac Ó Gráda, dismal scientist, radiating from the neighbouring super- British nationalist principle, was in favour in his Whitaker lecture at the Central power; tens of thousands of families of that.—But Crotty may simply have Bank last July, reviewing the Economic changing their language. been disorientated. The late 1960s and War, pronounced that "de Valera's vision However, in the early 1900s, just at the early '70s were horrible times of dis- would have proved disastrous in the long time of the conclusive land settlement, orientation. I was there, I could testify.) run". However, the Economic War ended the Gaelic League began to take off. before the long run, and de Valera Astonishingly, it attracted the young and As I recall it, there was extensive happened to win it. And Ireland gained, as able. It proved to be a school of revolution. sympathy or support for the IRA in the even the dismal science must still to this And from the foundation of the Free State Irish Republic in the early '70s, and this day acknowledge.) its aim became a State objective, and one feeling was well represented in the Fianna to which no little energy was devoted Fail parliamentary party. Charles Haughey Ó Gráda did not forget to sneer at de (especially considering the divided or probably organised backbench opinion Valera's "bucolic values"—it was a gibe double mind that the people had on this behind the scenes and deterred Jack Lynch that the older practitioners of the dismal issue). But the work was not successful, from measures of repression. Anyhow, in science would have expected. But in the and this remains the most abnormal thing effect the IRA had the free run of the 1930s such values had been widely held. about us. The language that we speak is South until late 1972. Lynch had "stood In France and Germany large bodies of not our own, it's the language of our world- by" in August 1969 after swearing he opinion wanted rural society preserved. 20 (One of the many aspects of the German The most far-reaching change that has be permanent, from the pursuit of self- tragedy is how this strand of thinking occurred is the destruction of rural com- sufficiency. I think a more dour and became tangled up with Nazism. That was munities. The world has seemingly decid- industrious people would have been why Martin Heidegger became a Nazi. In ed that it doesn't want country people, it needed for that. Besides, the Norse and fact, the technological demons and world- wants to be all urban. Between cities and Icelanders, who sternly kept themselves transforming spirits had a grip on the Nazi towns there will still be food supply zones, free of dependence on others, had many Party, and their grip became tighter with but the people who live in them will be advantages. For one thing, Britain and the the passage of time.) urban-focused and urban-minded, and they United States didn't have such a pull on Even in Russia there was one Bolshevik will re-deploy their resources according their populations. Party leader, Nikolai Bukharin, who did as their invisible sovereign, the market, Anyhow, in the late 1950s T.K. Whit- not agree with the policy of smashing dictates—to produce wheat and rape for aker famously went to the Fianna Fail traditional rural society and went so far as biofuels, or whatever. Minister for Finance and told him that if to foment rural rebellions to try to stop it. something wasn't done we would soon Strangest of all was what happened in What remained of the rural communities have to ask England to take us back. We Britain, the pioneering urban society. in Ireland died about 1960. I personally know what was done as an alternative to Ramsay MacDonald, leader of the British saw that happen. There was no brutal that option: foreign manufacturers were Labour Party, looking for ways of coping violence as in Russia, but a combination given enticements to set themselves up in with the great crisis of the 1930s, came up of peaceful processes. First of all, rural Ireland. And that's basically the story of with a policy of "Back to the Land"! In depopulation came to a critical point. In the last 60-odd years. books such as The Need For Roots, which south-west Cork it was hard not to feel All Government policy since then has Simone Weil wrote during wartime for that the community was being bled white: followed the same path. Ireland has gone the Free French, one can feel rural society of my mother's two brothers and two from being one of the most protected as a real force making its impact even on sisters, one brother and both sisters emig- economies in the world to one of the most very unlikely people. rated, and this was nothing unusual. open. Joining the European Community/ That is the European context in which Secondly, the introduction of certain Union/Monetary Union was all about Article 45, Section 2, sub-section 5 of the machines, especially the hay-baler and "opening up". The policy measures that 1937 Constitution was drafted: "The State above all the combined harvester, put an made possible the Celtic Tiger opened us shall, in particular, direct its policy end to forms of collective work which up still more. (Recently some academics towards securing: ... that there may be rural community life was bound up with. have been talking about a possible further established on the land in economic secur- Mere numbers give no idea of the step along this road: that Ireland should ity as many families as in the circumstances impact. (Though even the numbers are facilitate the market penetration of Chinese shall be practicable." True, the provision striking. Slightly more than half of the firms to the EU, offering them the same is so phrased that a Government could gainfully employed males in the Irish Free service that we have already provided for hardly breach it. Behind the drafting is an State were working in agriculture at the American electro-technical firms. The idea awareness of the 1936 Census result for end of World War II. In 1961, after a is not obviously absurd, but the measures the number of people working on the land, heavy wave of emigration, there were still required to give Ireland a competitive which showed a drop of 6% over 10 years. 43%. Then the decline accelerated. At advantage for this purpose would probably However, this provision was not humbug. present the figure is about 4%, but the age be vetoed by the EU.) It represented the widespread conviction profile of farmers is high and this percent- that the rural communities were a priceless age will shrink further.) The positive side of all this is that we part of the nation and that the extreme have not asked England to take us back: urbanism of Great Britain was not wanted In my opinion, because of what Ireland the state has kept going. And like all here. had been, the disappearance of the rural modern states, the longer it keeps going communities had a deeply disorientating If the world had somehow emerged the stronger it gets and, without ethnic effect.—I am aware that the typical socio- from World War II sick of urbanism and forces to undermine it, or without the US logist would see this problem from the industrialism, and all it had led to, and Air Force doing its best, dissolving it is a opposite end. The sociological case might resolved to pursue a slower, autarkic life very difficult task indeed. (Some of our be put as follows: in Ireland's towns there within national boundaries, concentrating senior media propagandists would like to are too many people with country values; above all on preserving traditional country reverse independence, dissolve the state in fact, these towns are full of ex-country life and restoring it where it had faded and restore the old United Kingdom, but folk who have brought the country with ("Back to the Land"), this would have they dare not campaign in favour of them, refuse to cut their ties, and go on given Ireland a favourable situation for something that would be generally seen as indefinitely being only partially urban and continued national development. But life lunacy.) defectively modern. (See, for example, has taken a different course. Over the past The State's response to the economic Maura Adshead and Michelle Millar, 60-odd years the tremendous alliance of crisis has increased our dependence on the Ireland as Catholic Corporatist State: a capitalism, science and enlightenment will of others. Ireland has accepted fuller Historical Institutional Analysis of Health- ideology has produced a fury of urbanism public responsibility than any other State care in Ireland, University of Limerick and anti-traditional change such as the for the debts of its private banks. (At the 2003, online, pp6-7.) world had never yet seen. (As regards the other extreme was Iceland, where the State part played by Marxism, I think Heideg- Desmond Fennell suggests that with refused to take any such responsibility, ger's point has been proved: what divided more resolve the Irish nation and state and where the people resoundingly vetoed the USA and the Soviet Union/China was might have weathered the storm of the two proposals to pay some consolation of much less consequence than what they 1950s without doing an about-turn and money to British and Dutch banks so as to had in common.) beginning a retreat, which would prove to make the financial world feel better.) The 21 resulting Irish public indebtedness means it's a point of honour that it shouldn't we can build a Dutch dike to prevent our that, under the new EU financial super- signify anything which is obvious at first humanness being swamped. (See Fuku- visory arrangements, we will be one of the sight. Very probably, like most of these jama, Our Post-human Future, 2002; most supervised. The EU has a feeling things, it's being ironic. As a spire it must Habermas, Die Zukunft der menschlichen that it ought to be a State, the better to be saying something sly to the spires of St. Natur, 2002.) What remains of Ireland manage its money. Over time a kind of Patrick's and other churches of the town. still resists this movement and this kind of ghost State has evolved, and now this As in: "I'm taller than you!" At the very prospect. That pre-Enlightened Ireland is ghost proposes to set the parameters of least it does signify tallness. It is still, I a mighty and fascinating historic fact; national budgets and veto what it doesn't believe, the tallest sculpture in the world. Ireland drifting in the Baconian world can like. However, as Desmond points out, we As such it may be seen as a hymn to never amount to so much. In my view, the retain the right to remove ourselves by a technology, our mighty ruling power.) most important thing is to preserve foras sovereign act from this ghost State's feasa ar Éirinn, the basic knowledge of domain, and if we were to do so no one The world is now moving so fast that Ireland. If the world should ever change would send troops to burn our cities. even the greatest enthusiasts for movement from its present course, Ireland will matter. In one of Marx's letters to Engels, can end up wanting to hold it back. Take, John Minahane expressing irritation at the Irish nationalist for example, Francis Fukujama, champion press, he remarked that Ireland is the of universal liberal democracy, and Jürgen An Argument Defending The Right Of The sacred island which must always keep Habermas, champion of universal Enlight- Kingdom Of Ireland (1645) by Conor itself apart from the profane struggles of enment. In the past decade both of them O'Mahony. First translation from Latin. the rest of the world. He would not say that have published books warning that the Introduction, John Minahane: Conor now. Mary Harney, leader of the Progres- new science of genetic engineering could O'Mahony, the 1641 Rebellion and the sive Democrats (defunct, but not long ago take humanity past the point of being Independence of Ireland. highly influential), asked what vision she humans, and since they would rather that 232pp. 2010. €25, £20. had of Ireland in the future, answered didn't happen, offering their ideas on how honestly: "A good place to do business". That's a modest little vision, and unlike de Valera's it might be immediately realisable. In the coming years Ireland may be better or worse placed to seek comparative A West Cork Protestant Testament advantage within the capitalist world market-cum-civilisation that is evolving. 2010 saw the publication of a wonderful humour. Yet it is notable that in the first But Ireland has ceased to stand for a memoir by A.J.S. Brady entitled The Briar two parishes, where there were very com- different, non-Baconian civilisation, as it Of Life, described on its cover as "a compel- pact Church of Ireland congregations, the had done for centuries. ling and exquisitely written account of author did not write of any interaction on Protestant family life in early 20th century his own part with local Catholics beyond One would not want to draw premature Cork". Indeed it is. Brady died in 1986 at his family's immediate domestic servants, conclusions. People have been saying for the age of 86, so the memoir was post- drivers and gardeners. The situation was four hundred years that Ireland is or may humously and privately published by his different in Macroom, where his father's be finished, that perhaps all that lies ahead family. The pity is that it did not appear in congregation was more scattered and is Saxa nua darb ainm Éire, a new England either the 1980s or 1990s, for no honest where he, in turn, forged a friendship with called Ireland. During those four centuries publisher could have published without Dean Higgins, his Catholic counterpart. the country sprang some surprises. Even shame The IRA & Its Enemies by Peter The author described his father thus: "My now, while official Irish culture may be Hart (1998), a book so "riddled with lies father, though he had the inhibitions of a what Vincent Buckley called it, a no- and evasions", to apply Hart's own classifi- Lutheran, was a good natured man. He thing, much of unofficial Ireland still seems cation to himself. Nor, if the Brady memoir not only was sociable with Roman to be something. In some ways the people had been freshly published at the time, Catholics, but also with their priests" have been slow and reluctant to be could an academic Supervisor or External (p86). The son, arriving at adulthood in normalised, as indeed sociologists are Examiner with any self-respecting regard Macroom, interacted even more deeply, complaining. for their responsibilities have got away marrying a local Catholic. The last 100 with sanctioning the Trinity College PhD pages of this 240 page memoir therefore (Normalisation is the positive mission thesis upon which Hart's book was based, become more sombre at many intervals, of those ideologues whom Desmond calls without an even more grotesque exhibition not only because of the personal heartache "the Correctorate". For the most part they of the brass necks they have hitherto dis- and heartbreak caused for the couple by are uncreative, reactive and imitative. But played as Hart's sponsors. Brady's memoir both Protestant and Catholic hostility to in so far as they go beyond the negative has been briefly cited by Niall Meehan this mixed marriage, but because of the mode—anti-Gaelic, anti-rural, anti- (Irish Political Review, February 2012), Macroom experience of the British Black- Catholic, anti-Republican—their mission but it is worthy of closer attention in its and-Tan attempt to crush Ireland's War of is to make Ireland a "normal" Enlighten- own right. Independence. ment nation. The principal model of Brady was the son of a Fermanagh- enlightened normality in this context is born Church of Ireland clergyman and his Rev Brady was a moderately-disposed naturally Britain. Cork City-born wife. The Rev. Mr. Albert Unionist who behaved honourably during Incidentally, Dublin's Millennium Spire Brady served as Rector of several West that War, notwithstanding the fact that he is the first major monument of the normal- Cork parishes in succession—Ballydehob, was to act as a Chaplain to the British ised Ireland. Desmond complains that it Brinny and Macroom. His son's memoir is Army, Auxiliaries and Black-and-Tans signifies nothing, but for postmodern art a warm-hearted one, with much dry occupying Macroom. His son A.J.S.— 22 more commonly known as Stephen— aide-de-camp Emmet Dalton was in politics. The other side is always wrong. could be described as displaying a mildly standing beside him." It has to be" (p198). Free State bias in his narrative, although he mistakenly credited Griffith, rather than Brady heard Collins say: "For once in The most interesting part of Brady's Collins, with the "Stepping Stone" my life I'll let the old country down. A drop memoir is signalled as follows in the book's argument for the Treaty. But he was of the Scotch for me." Brady continued: introduction: distinctly unimpressed by the first motley "Writing now almost fifty-two years "In the early 1920s as the son of the crew of Free State mercenaries—men who later I see Collins as he was that afternoon; local Church of Ireland rector, he was in had not at all fought in the War of an impressive, stalwart figure restless a unique position to freely visit Macroom with dynamic energy … He had taken his Castle, where the Black & Tans were Independence—as they made their Civil military cap off. His expression in repose stationed, take photographs {a fascinating War entrance into Macroom in August had a set look of determination and a collection, reproduced throughout the 1922: shadow of underlying ruthlessness. From book—MO'R}, get to know some of these "Early in August a Free State contin- the way he glanced constantly around I men and ascertain their views on the gent, having come by sea from Dublin for gathered that he had not yet rid himself of occupation of Ireland." the good reason that it dared not make the the alertness inherent in a fugitive. Though journey overland, disembarked at Pass- he certainly cut a dash as a brass hat, the Of the Black-and-Tans Brady himself age, County Cork. Pro-Treaty Macrom- uniform seemed, in some way, to be out wrote: pians were elated when it was rumoured of character with his rebel past. Dick "When I had got to know these men, I that the troops were on their way to Williams's barmaid Aileen Baker was a found that they were a mixed lot. Many Macroom. The Republicans reacted by merry, comely girl with up-swung, pout- appeared to be amiable, but time was to burning the Police Barracks and the ing breasts. In the bar that afternoon prove that most of them were ruthless Courthouse. Having done so, they Collins took her in his arms, carried her killers" (p170). evacuated the Castle next day, and to the hall of the hotel, ran upstairs with drenched its ground-floor rooms with her, as though she were weightless, and petrol… The building was soon an set her standing on the landing. We all Brady provided an insightful descrip- inferno" (p199). clapped and cheered. Collins was laugh- tion and analysis of the Kilmichael "When the Free State contingent arrived ing as he ran down. He had sensitively Ambush from three key sources (pp177- in Macroom, the Castle was a shell mobile features that would momentarily 184). The first two were the Brady family's smouldering with the redolence of dying light up in a smile, or cloud in a frown… doctor, the Catholic Loyalist Jeremiah fire. The spearhead of the advancing As I watched Collins leave the hotel that forces was a horse drawn crib manned by afternoon, I heard the cheering, and saw Kelleher who examined the bodies of the four men armed with rifles. And the force the faces of the milling crowd, but I did dead Auxiliaries, and his own father who itself was in character with its vanguard. not see the shadowy, grinning spectre in was to conduct their funeral service. They In dress, deportment, equipment and tran- his wake" (pp203-4). were to observe horrific wounds as a result sport, it showed that it was an impromptu of such close combat, but they made no detachment that had been recruited in It was on the following day that Collins suggestion of gratuitous mutilation. There haste and committed to active service met his death. Not that Collins had needed untrained. The spruce, trained, and was also all-round acceptance by Macroom comparatively well equipped Irish Army to 'liberate' Macroom from anything that Loyalists of the fact that there had indeed of today bears no resemblance to its the Brady family might have deemed been a "false surrender"—no doubt progenitor of 1922, which was but a intolerable. It is not unlikely that part of gleaned from the mouth of the one military baby in a green napkin. In the what Stephen Brady had previously found surviving Auxiliary—though without any quasi-military, footsore contingent that so tolerable about the anti-Treaty IRA in white flag, as introduced by Brady in came to Macroom that evening many of Macroom was that its political commissar figuratively embellishing the retelling of the men wore ill fitting uniforms, and was a Protestant and its military command- many, in civilian attire, looked like that Ambush. But it was Brady's freebooters. It was not in general easy to er of Protestant ancestry: employment in the mid-1920s in the office tell an officer from a private, for an "The Republicans were now in control of Tom Grainger—the Church of Ireland officers' caste takes time to evolve. A at Macroom. Erskine Childers was with solicitor who had persuaded Rev Brady to small, hard core of British soldiers, who them, and was editing a paper they were become the Macroom Rector—that was had temporarily discarded khaki for green, printing on a mobile press… As I was to provide him with a particularly unique was conspicuous despite its disguise" making my way up the rectory avenue perspective: (pp201-2). one afternoon, a limping man, who was on his way down, saluted me perfunctorily "On the 28th of November 1920, a Brady was more impressed by the as we passed each other. This was as near patrol of two Crossley tenders, each entourage that accompanied Michael as I got to know Erskine Childers, who manned by nine Auxiliaries, left Mac- Collins into Macroom on 21st August. had been paying a courtesy call on my room and did not return. Other Auxiliaries The Bradys' gardener excitedly informed father, with whom he had taken tea. H e from the Castle set out in search of them. them: "The Big Fellow is at Williams's had given my father the impression that On the road running from Macroom to he was a cultured, frustrated idealist in a Dunmanway they found them next morn- Hotel, drinking where the Black-and-Tans cul-de-sac. Subsequent events were to ing at a place called Shanacashel in the used to drink." Brady managed to squeeze show that my father was right. Childers parish of Kilmichael. Seventeen bodies his way into the premises: when he was captured three months later were lying on the ground… Doctor "The bar at the rear of the shop was at Glendalough, not only had a pen, but Kelleher, when summoned from packed with military men standing at also a revolver in his pocket. Michael Macroom, certified that sixteen of the ease in groups, taking drinks at the long Collins had made him a present of it. And men were dead… My father saw the counter. As I looked at them, all clad that gift resulted in his being sentenced sixteen corpses when they had been sprucely in well tailored uniforms with and executed. Griffith in a rare flash of brought to the Castle, where they were shining brass buttons and polished belts, temper earlier denounced Childers, had lying naked in a shed adjoining the Keep. I saw the nucleus of an officers' caste was called him a damned Englishman, and He forbade me to look at them… The in being. General Michael Collins was had insinuated that he was deviously undertaking firm of John Martin Fitz- standing at the head of the counter. His meddling in murder. There is no charity gerald had to work overtime in getting 23 sixteen coffins ready. They discreetly capitulation. {In Tom Barry, her 2003 with an Auxiliary to relate from the War got in touch with several IRA carpenters, biography, Meda Ryan established that of Independence. On one occasion, when who took a risk, came in, gave a hand O'Sullivan had been instantly killed and talking to an Auxiliary in Macroom Castle, with the work, and so had the satisfaction Deasy fatally wounded as a consequence the latter drew Stephen's attention to a of driving nails into coffins for dead of that false surrender, but McCarthy Black-and-Tans… At least two of the probably fell in action beforehand— poster offering a reward of £10,000 for dead men were Roman Catholics." MO'R.} And so, with the exception of Michael Collins "wanted dead or alive". one who was thought to be dead, those Brady observed: There had been one survivor found on few surviving Auxiliaries died, in an "A smile ran through my mind, for I the battlefield, while the eighteenth aftermath of IRA fury…" knew that Collins had recently been in Auxiliary, a man named Guthrie, "I remember that an Auxiliary and I the district, and that an IRA leader named were talking about the condition of the Richard Mulcahy slept in a house at New "had contrived to creep away from the country a few days before the ambush. 'I Street occasionally, within a few hundred battlefield, but was intercepted, and shot, and my companions are King's men', he yards of the Castle. We had some furniture by IRA men as he was making his way declared. 'We're ready to die for the Crown stored in a loft at the rectory for the back to Macroom on foot. My father was and the Empire.' Having paused, he owner of that house, for he was aware present when his remains were being added: 'The Irish must of course get their that that his premises would be burned exhumed from a bog hole a few years freedom, for this is their country, not down, if the Auxiliaries discovered that later. A gold signet ring was still on the ours.' 'You shouldn't be fighting them so', he was harbouring rebels" (p189; my fore-finger of the corpse." I said. 'We've an imperial image to emphasis—MO'R). preserve' , he explained. 'We must beat As for the survivor: them first. We can't afford to give them The Rev. Mr. Albert Brady was no "Doctor Kelleher … found a flicker in freedom, till we've proved that we're better the pulse of an Auxiliary named Forde… fighters than they are.' The ambush at Loyalist informer! Neither as a moderate He recovered, but was partly paralysed Shanacashel put a bloody smudge on an Unionist, nor—still less—as an Anglican for the rest of his life. He made a claim for imperial image" (pp181-2). Rector, had he ever any occasion to fear compensation, and was awarded £10,000. the IRA. Indeed, by virtue of his kindly Tom Grainger acted for him … (and) I A fortnight later, Brady's brother and assistance to a neighbour, Sunday Inde- had an opportunity of inspecting the Forde aunts were to experience another Imperial pendent columnists would probably brand file in Grainger's office some years later image: him as an accessory to IRA "terrorism"! … I found a letter from Forde to Grainger, "In Advent 1920 Cork city got a picture in which he acknowledged receipt of a He might even be denounced as a "Lundy"! of the religious conception of hell. On the His son summed up the War of Independ- cheque for £9,900 … To cover Solicitor night of the 11th of December, in retalia- ence thus: and Client Costs, Grainger had deducted tion for an IRA ambush at Dillon's Cross, £100 from the full sum awarded. Forde Crown Forces were ordered to burn. "The IRA was now active again. The called him a robber for having done so… Soldiers and Black-and-Tans set fire to Irish blood shed imprudently by the Forde was to pocket his nett compensation the City Hall, the Carnegie Library, and British Government after the abortive of £9,900, live till November 1970, and many buildings in Patrick Street… Rising of 1916 proved to be a fine fertiliser so survive both the Battle of Kilmichael Drunken men in uniform, singing, for the seedlings of sedition. With its and the British Empire." shouting, and blaspheming, reeled about roots established in soil drenched with the streets. They smashed windows, the blood of its martyrs, Sinn Fein flour- The most unique feature of Brady's splashed petrol in, and threw grenades in ished. A proud, individualistic people Kilmichael chapter, however, is the photo- then. Shop after shop went ablaze. A pall were welding themselves into a unity of graphic reproduction on page 179 of— of incandescent smoke hung like a red purpose that had never been hitherto shroud above the city. In Patrick Street achieved… When Sinn Fein took to arms "the original map of the Kilmichael and challenged the might of an Empire Ambush prepared by the British Military the rat-a-tat-tat of machine-gun fire was sporadically punctuated by the cracking then at the zenith of privilege and power, and used by T.P. Grainger, Solicitor in many pictured the Movement as a stripling the Forde compensation case … (and) of bursting grenades that sent shrapnel flying at random. My brother Noel was David going out with a sling against the later given to A.J.S. Brady by the Grainger Goliath of Gath. But, as David slew the family". staying with my aunts at No. 7, Patrick Street. There in the apartments above the giant, the IRA killed British rule in twenty- chemist's shop they spent a night of six counties of Ireland. In those elusive Brady provided a detailed accompany- terror… Noel opened a window and Flying Columns there were hard, ing narrative to the map: looked out. A bullet whistled past his dedicated men who not only were ready "It is in colour, and was prepared by a head and pocked the wall above the to endure discomfort, but also to forfeit military engineer. It shows the positions sideboard beyond the table behind him. their lives, for a cause they believed to be of the seventeen bodies on the ground, When Sir Hammar Greenwood, Chief just. Many lost their lives, many their and the positions that were occupied by Secretary, was questioned in Parliament health, and some endured more than the men of the West Cork Flying Column. about the burning of Cork, he blandly physical discomfort, for they incurred These men were led by Tom Barry, who told the House of Commons that the fire the interdict of excommunication from was a British ex-serviceman. An appraisal had started accidentally in the City Hall, the Roman Catholic Church, a few of of Barry's achievements in the Anglo- and had spread from there to the other whose bishops were rather less than Irish War shows that he neither lacked buildings that were destroyed. And so Sir patriotic" (pp142 & 188). courage nor military skill… When most Hammar Greenwood became notorious of the Auxiliaries had fallen at for being the man who set fire to the river July 1921 saw the Anglo-Irish Truce, Shanacashel, the few still in action hoisted Lee. Had he studied a map of the locality, and December 1921 the 'Treaty', which a white flag in surrender, and promptly he would not have made that statement. was followed by the Black-and-Tans dishonoured it by shooting three young The south channel of the Lee flowed evacuation of Macroom Castle and its then, as it does now, between the City men of the Column—Michael McCarthy takeover by the IRA. Brady went on to of Dunmanway, James O'Sullivan of Hall and the other parts of Cork where the recall April 1922 as follows: Kilmeen, and Patrick Deasy of Kilmac- flames raged that night" (pp185-6). simon, Bandon—who had emerged "In the Cork Constitution one morning, impulsively from cover, to accept their Brady had a more amusing exchange we read that several Protestants had been 24 murdered in Dunmanway nearby. My had said to me. My father was frank with Hendy was kidnapped by the IRA ten father had intended to travel to Dublin the man… Seeing that the officer was miles away in the town of Macroom. {My that day. He decided that he had better inclined to be sour, my father reminded emphasis—MO'R.} Hendy travelled to stay at home now. We were still discussing him that since the IRA were now in control Macroom that day with two other British the matter when there was a ring at the in Macroom prudence dictated that intelligence officers, temporary captains front-door. I answered it, and found people should not fall foul of them. He George Alexander Dove and Kenneth myself confronted by a military looking added that he personally had nothing to Henderson, along with their driver, man in civilian attire. He had a revolver complain of as regards the way they were Private JR Brooks. Dove was attached to in his holster on his thigh… The man treating him. {My emphasis—MO'R} divisional headquarters at Cork as an saluted my father. 'Have you read the … Having fruitlessly questioned a number intelligence officer with the Yorkshire paper this morning?', he said. 'I have', of residents, the British withdrew to Regiment (Green Howards)… The replied my father. 'There's news in it Ballincollig. They were not long gone officers and Brooks were 'arrested' by the that's not pleasant reading for a man in when an IRA man called to ascertain IRA soon after they arrived, and their my position.' The man nodded. 'That's what we had told the officer. When I gave murder two days later marks an un- why I've come to see you', he said. 'Don't him an account of the interview, he went precedented truce-time event. be alarmed. Nobody here would hurt you away without having to ask to see my Recognition of any of this invites special or anyone belonging to you. In case father" (pp194-5). consideration of the wider context, strangers may trouble you though, I'm alongside other unprecedented happen- going to put a guard on the rectory.' My Brady described Bernard Mont- ings in West Cork" (History, Journal of father thanked the man, and shook hands gomery's back-down in the face of fierce the Historical Association, 2012). with him. When Irish country people Irish Republican determination and wish to speak well of a man's breeding resolve exactly as he had seen it. But he If Brady was ignorant of the officers' and bearing they say: 'He has a good Intelligence activities in April 1922, he drop in him.' That may be said of Charlie himself was not a historian. He had not was well aware of the record of one such Brown, the Brigade Adjutant of the IRA studied the archives. He was not to know who called to the rectory that morning; a that all three British officers were, in fact, officer in another respect. His narrative Roman Catholic whose ancestry goes senior Intelligence officers. As John M. continued: back to the late Rev Mr Richard Brown" Regan has pointed out: "The three officers, private, and, dog, (p194). were taken that night to a place called "One of the officers, Robert Hendy, Kilgobnet, a few miles west of the town was Major (later Field Marshal) Bernard Brady's narrative immediately continued: … shot there and buried… When news of Montgomery's battalion intelligence the affair reached Westminster, Churchill "British troops were still stationed at officer and amongst the most senior urged that the Treaty be abrogated… Ballincollig, County Cork. Shortly before ranking intelligence officers killed in the Hendy's father wrote a long letter to The the impending split in Sinn Fein had period… IRA Commandant Frank Times. I have a cutting of it. He denounced become a splenetic cleavage, three offic- Busteed—an atheist and the son of a the British Government and held them ers came to Macroom one afternoon. A Protestant father—came into contact with responsible for the untimely death of his private was driving their car… They were Hendy and the two other intelligence son, whose life he described as having not long there when IRA men arrested officers near Macroom. According to been ineffably beautiful. He called the them, took them to the Castle and held Peter Hart, Busteed was involved in their IRA the 'Reds of Macroom Castle'. He them there. Having mobilised a force, the murder. But nowhere in his massacre maintained that the British should not IRA were active that night; they occupied chapter (thesis or book) does Hart discuss have surrendered their authority in the Castle in strength, laid a land-mine in the possibility that events along the Ireland, till the new Free State Provisional the Square, and ran an underground cable Bandon valley were connected by Bus- Government had consolidated its position, from it, so that it could be detonated from teed to those around Macroom. Did the and was firmly in control. When the four the Castle. The town was in tension next intelligence officers' capture inform the men's remains were being exhumed years day. An armed IRA man, who was a violence against the Protestants? later, Dove's father was present. He was friend of mine, approached me in the Confronted with the evidence, it is an elderly man. With his hands clasped Main Street. 'I just want to give you a tip', ahistorical to assume that it did not, but behind his back, he walked to and fro he said. 'Be discreet; whatever you know, that was what Hart did in his book" while the digging was in progress. I have keep your mouth shut. If you're wise, you (History Ireland, January/February a footnote that throws light on a dark know nothing.' 2012). night's work. Mr Henry, when writing to "A British contingent arrived in the Brady was never privy to such evidence the Times, was probably not aware that town that afternoon, and parked an the life of at least one British officer was armoured car in the Square, with the gun and he had no reason to assume that the not ineffably beautiful. By order of that in its turret trained on the gate-house two events were in any way related. But Hector, an IRA Patroclus was trussed archway of the Castle. Two 18-pounder his memory had also got the chronological like a fowl for the oven, had a rope tied to field guns were hauled up Sleaveen Hill, sequence wrong. For the officers had not his ankles, was thrown on the road, and and trained on the Castle. A detachment been apprehended "shortly before" the dragged behind an army vehicle at high went to the Castle, interviewed men of speed to his death. And so the so-called the IRA, and demanded that the officers, outbreak of Civil War in June 1922. Regan has further written: Reds at Macroom Castle that night were private, and dog, be handed over at once. red with the wrath of Achilles" (pp195- The IRA men denied that they had them "The brigade officer responsible for 6). in custody. An officer came to the West Cork was temporary captain Robert rectory… I pretended to be surprised at Alexander Hendy of the Royal Warwick- seeing him. 'It's a change to see khaki shire Regiment. Hendy became the 17th A "truce-time" British intelligence again', I said. 'It could be a change for the Infantry Brigade's Intelligence Officer operation that Brady had personally worse', he said grimly. 'We're looking for under Montgomery on 28 January 1922… witnessed, however, found him more than four of our men; three officers and a Captain Hendy was known as a forthcoming in relating in all its horrific private. They were here yesterday on a particularly energetic and efficient officer. detail—a blueprint to turn the country into pleasure trip… Do you know anything He was first posted as an intelligence one massive concentration camp: about them?' I shook my head, and officer to Cork, in December 1920. About brought him to my father, whom I had twelve or so hours before the killing "“A British officer, bringing a map, already alerted about what the IRA man began at Dunmanway on 26-27 April, called to the rectory one day. He wanted 25 the names and addresses of all parishion- ers who were known to be loyal to the · Biteback · Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback Crown, and also wanted particulars of any other people for whose loyalty my father could vouch. He told my father that plans were in hand for the reconquest of Ireland, if negotiations for a Treaty This letter was sent to The Irish Times on 2nd March, but was not published should break down. Loyalists were to be moved to specified areas; the rest of the country would be treated as hostile and Corporation Tax subjugated indiscriminately. Block houses were to be established ten miles The Irish Government seems intent on hanging itself out to dry over the indefensibe apart. Their positions were marked red Irish corporation tax rate. (‘German envoy at odds with TD over tax’, Irish Times, 2nd on the map. Lloyd George was apparently not making an empty threat when he March). announced that the alternative to peace Government spokespersons have endorsed the very dubious findings of the recent was immediate and terrible war" (pp191- Pricewaterhousecoopers report that the effective rate of corporation tax in France and 2). Germany is actually lower than in Ireland. If this were so, surely the multinationals would have noticed and—if the Irish defence of the 12.5% rate as essential for FDI had We are indebted to this Protestant patriot any substance—have upped shop and moved to those tax paradises? for bearing witness with such integrity. The more this issue is examined, the less it seems to have anything much to do with Manus O'Riordan US multinationals and the more it seems to have to do with Irish companies, who benefit every bit as much as multinationals from the low company tax rate. In other countries there are higher rates, but with substantial write-offs against productive investment such HEROES as in plant, marketing and employee training. Surely this would be a much better system here too, and favour productive companies (e.g. manufacturing) over purely service ones The bronze plaques rattle loose in the (e.g. property conveyancing)? wind, We must ask is not Ireland’s negotiating position in Europe being compromised by the statues with bird-shit hair corrodes, persistent adherence to the absurd “principle” of a low nominal corporation tax for all the graves patronised by other than kith- companies regardless of productiveness? Has it finally become a millstone around the and-kin, neck of this country? the wreaths long withered, Philip O’Connor headstones upon stone the rain erodes.

But listen to the traffic bawl, watch the buildings grow more tall, from super to hyper the shopping This letter appeared in the Irish Independent on 12th March mall. Irish Merchant Navy? Since they were revolutionaries you preach it, not practise it, I qualified as a merchant sea officer at 19 years of age. The trouble was, few Irish ships be a visionary were available and I had to join the British fleet during World War Two. as an illocutionary. It was the aforesaid British who left us without ships. Vast amounts of Irish money was The dead don’t issue writs. invested in UK shipping lines, but the British never allowed Irish money to have a controlling interest in any one company. Just listen to the traffic bawl, The war came and Ireland nearly starved. We were without oil, coal, wheat, tea and watch the buildings grow more tall, every other import. The Irish government searched the scrapyards of the world to find from super to hyper the shopping the rusting hulks that helped us survive. mall. The Dun Laoghaire mail boat had been left in Irish registration. But when merchant seamen received danger money, the crew opted for transfer to Britain. They say to die such a death must be For them, it became a big mistake. Merchant navy men no longer belonged to private sublime, companies but to the wartime shipping federation. You went where you were posted. (a lot of that you take inside) This meant the battle of the Atlantic, the Russian and Malta convoys, North Africa the though to die a second time must be a invasion of Italy and D-Day, and full involvement throughout the war. Some 25pc of crime merchant sailors lost their lives, the highest casualties of all services. when ideological grave-robbers decide We did learn a lesson and, after the war, tried to develop a fleet of our own. There was that all is benign. great pride as well as employment in our superb new ships. Through lack of government interest and appalling management, we lost the lot. I know: Today we give billions to foreign shipping companies to carry our ever-growing export trade. This is madness. Listen to the traffic bawl, We can save vast amounts and give huge employment by rebuilding a merchant navy. watch the buildings grow more tall, There are thousands of Irish seamen available to man such ships. Investment in Irish from super to hyper the shopping shipping must be one of the safest and most lucrative ventures in sight. mall. As an island nation, we should have our own fleet. Dermot C. Clarke Wilson John Haire 10th July, 2011 26 ITEMS FROM ‘THE IRISH BULLETIN’ – 9 March 1920

The “Irish Bulletin” (12 th July 1919 – 11th Dec.1921) was the official organ of Dáil Eireann during the 1919 – 1921 period. Lawrence Ginnell, then Director of Publicity for the Dáil, first started it in mid 1919 as a “summary of acts of aggression” committed by the forces of the Crown. This newssheet came out fortnightly, later, weekly. We reprint below the summaries published for March 1920.

Date: March:- 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Total.

Raids:- 156 105 71 153 32 401 918. Arrests:- 71 36 25 319 20 8 479. Sentences:- - - 1 - 3 1 5. Proclamations & - 1 - - - - 1. Suppressions:- Courtmartials:- - - 1 - - - 1. Armed Assaults:- 2 2 - 1 2 1 8. Deportations:- - - - - 2 - 2. Sabotage:- 4 - - - 2 1 7. Murder:- - - - - 1 - 1.

Daily Total:- 233 144 98 473 62 412 1,422

Date March:- 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th Total.

Raids:- 21 504 371 4 318 21 1239. Arrests:- 31 7 4 11 12 4 69. Sentences:- 2 - 3 - - 19 24. Courtmartials: - - - - 1 - 1. Suppressions & Proclamations 1 1 - - - - 2. Armed Assaults:- - - - - 1 1 2. Deportations:- - 27 - - - - 27.

Daily Total:- 55 539 378 15 332 45 1364.

THE WEEKLY SUMMARIES FOR THE WEEKS ENDING 20 AND 27 MARCH 1920 ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

officials were spinning to the press for an was incorrect—Germany had a large deficit Euro In The Ring ejection of Greece. and was in fact the first country to have There was a good spat on RTE's Prime- Brock laughed all of this off, referring to breached Euro discipline. time on 17th February between Elmar Brock these sources as coming from the press The gloves are beginning to come off— (a Christian Democrat MP, "close to Angela of "a country which is not part of the Euro, and it was certainly Brock : Lucey 10:0 at the Merkel") and Cormac Lucey (economist with from a country which does not like the end. The British-founded/licensed Spiegel 'Irish' Daily Mail) about an alleged German Euro". He demolished David Marsh"from ( should be regarded with caution. SPIEGEL plot to eject Greece from the Eurozone. Lucey the Financial Times", he added) as an last year announced the end of the Euro and cited a Spiegel cover story (Obituary For inveterate opponent of the Euro from the a few months ago predicted Merkel's fall to Common Currency)—along with the Financial start, and another representative of the an inside coup (a line taken up by the press in Times, and the maverick David Marsh (who Anglo press. Brock stressed that Merkel Ireland), but it was all baseless sensationalism. wrote a history of the Bundesbank and who and Schäuble—as well as the Finance Ministry An Opinion Poll in early February has 7 out had a doom-laden story in the Frankfurter and the main Opposition parties (Social of 8 Germans expressing confidence in her as Allgemeine Zeitung ( FAZ) last July calling Democrats and Greens)—all supported the Chancellor, and the Christian Democrat party for the Euro to be reduced to 11 core countries) resolute Government strategy of doing —which supports retaining Greece in the —to make his case of a plot by senior everything possible to save the Eurozone, Euro—again leading in the polls. As regards German Finance Ministry and European keep it intact, and keep Greece within it. He Marsh in the FAZ, his article unleashed a wave Central Bank officials to have Greece expel- said that the idea that there was a line-up of of rejection, including in the editorial line of led. Lucey claimed all kinds of nameless surplus countries against deficit countries the FAZ itself. Philip O'Connor 27 that the water coming out of domestic taps productivity and our economy. It is Gov- could be set alight by the very process of ernment's job to put in place every possible Does coming out of the kitchen taps. legal framework to enable recovery, and It Iceland is not so badly in need of energy to reinforce national self-respect by Stack that the country should be broken up for it enforcing Article 9.3 is just one of the vital Up by Fracking. To permit Fracking would things the Government can do for the Irish ? really be "selling our souls to the devil". people just now. Fracking might make ten or twenty people IS OIL WELL IN CORK? into millionaires but the other four million HOUSEHOLD CHARGE During February 2012, the Stock or so of us would be destitute indeed. It The Minister says "Charge"! and how Market Value of Providence Resources does not stack up! the public service will charge. started to rise dramatically because of a The proposed Charge is in reality a tax strong rumour that the company had struck THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT on households. The British put a tax on oil fifty kilometres south of Barryroe on Article 9.3 of the Constitution of Ireland our windows, one time, and windows dis- the Seven Heads in County Cork. It has is: appeared. Poor people could only afford "Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to maybe one window or none at all. The now been confirmed by Tony O'Reilly the the State are fundamental political duties British put a tax on hearths, the Hearth Chief Executive of Providence that flow of all citizens." Tax, and hearths disappeared. Poor people rates of 3,514 barrels of oil a day have could afford only one hearth for cooking been found. In a burst of enthusiasm, the This seems to be obvious and self- explanatory. Any self-respecting Irish food. Rich people could afford as many Providence Technical Director John O'Sul- citizen would approve of this Article and windows and hearths as they wished for. livan has predicted that flows could get to would abide by it. Is our national memory so short that we 20,000 barrels a day! The company says Except the Editor, the journalists, and forget these awful unjust taxes? If house- holds are to be taxed they will start to the oil is of very high quality. However, the printers, who wrote "1916 The Easter all the resources used in the drilling are disappear. They have started to disappear. Rising was an abject failure" in Sunday They are going abroad. Who wants to stay from Aberdeen and not from Ireland. So Independen t/Life magazine on 18th March far. Which leads us to think "what use is in a misfortunate country which taxes the 2012. The writer says the Easter Rising household—the very basis of our society? this oil for Ireland?" It has been said "taught us the habit of celebrating embar- It just doesn't stack up. already that the oil may be pumped on to rassing defeats" and "The Irish gained The previous Government, when its tankers at the oilwell and may be shipped valuable experience in celebrating humili- back was against the wall, accepted the away to a refinery. It is Ireland's oil and ating defeats as if they were triumphs …" IMF/ECB/EC demand that Ireland must will Ireland benefit from it? Will the State Eilish O'Hanlon in her article mocks introduce a property tax by 2014. But we be paid royalties? No mention is made yet and endeavours to insult the 1916 leaders already have enormous property taxes. of what benefit Ireland's oil will be to by name. She mocks the wording in the All of our City Councils, County Councils Ireland and until that is made clear there is Proclamation which is the Irish Declar- and Urban District Councils are mostly no point in getting exited about it. We ation of Independence. She maligns Roger funded by Rates on Commercial proper- need to know what are the licensing agree- Casement for his support for Germany in ties. These Rates are enormous and are, of course, passed on to the consumer in the ments in place. Hopefully the terms will 1916 and she repeats the British lie that Roger Casement was "an enthusiastic prices of its products. In addition to the not be like the terms in Mayo where the Commercial Rates, every building created gas is apparently being given away free. homosexual" who "may have misunder- stood when he heard crowds in Berlin since 1973, which means a majority of The Providence Oilwell is in 100-metre shouting 'Up the Kaiser!' And took the buildings including homes, has had Value deep water and most of our Celtic Sea exclamation as an invitation." A whole Added Tax 13.5% plus Stamp Duty up to territorial waters are within the 100 metre page is devoted to this sort of mocking 6% paid on its cost and what are these but depth and therefore technically accessible abuse in the course of which she implies taxes on property? It is invidious to com- for drilling. Oil is going to become much that infants and children were given rifles pare taxes between one country and ano- more valuable as it gets more scarce and to join in the Rising. Some gratuitous ther because each separate Government so this means it should yield a very high blasphemy was thrown in also. The final will have its own mixture of income royalty now or else be left underground, sentence is "on second thoughts, the Brits sources, no matter what they are called in practice e.g. income tax, corporation tax, for years if necessary, until it pays to should have used bigger shells". The Constitution of Ireland is flouted value added tax, customs duties, excise pump it out so that the State and people of duties, stamp duties and so on and on ….. Ireland can benefit form it. Otherwise and lampooned by the Sunday Independ- ent . Men and women were fighting and The "Household Charge" is a tax on what is the point of having oil off our dying for Irish freedom. They were up homes. Everybody has a right to live coast? against the most savage and brutal Empire somewhere and taxing a home is like FRACKING FOR OIL AND GAS the World has ever known and the War of taxing the air we breathe. Fracking sounds indecent somehow and Independence that started with the TITANIC in reality it is indecent. Fracking is literally Declaration of Independence on the 24th Why do we have all the hoo-ha about breaking up the country. The strata of the April 1916 ended only with the Truce on the ship Titanic which was in fact a disast- underground rocks are broken by hydraulic 11th July 1921 and the Treaty of 6th rous failure due to the British Admiralty pressure and the oil or gas comes up. But December 1921. It is necessary that the secretly insisting during the building of it, doesn't necessarily come up only where it Government should introduce legislation on alterations to the watertight bulkheads? can be extracted—it can and does come which would enforce and give teeth to It was apparently the Admiralty's insist- up elsewhere to poison the earth and the Article 9.3 of the Constitution for the sake ence on altering the height of the bulkheads atmosphere. And water can go down. of the self-respect of the nation. In the which enabled the water to fill each Down into the fractured rocks deep under- present economic climate in USUK coun- successive compartment so that the Titanic ground and come out somewhere else as tries, it is vitally necessary for Ireland to sank bow first. It sank exactly because the polluted water. In the USA where Fracking have pride in itself, to stand upright and British Admiralty secretly changed the was done, the water became so polluted get on with the job of improving our original plans and they could do so because 28 they grant-aided the construction of any ship they could then requisition in time of GUILDS continued have been fairly satisfactory, the medieval war. There is nothing to celebrate about slum population lived in depths of filth the Titanic which sank because of the contributing regularly to a common purse and poverty that can hardly be imagined. for sick benefits, burial and other pur- direct interference of the ship's design. One later development must be noted But the British do this. Like they celebrate poses, and maintaining at altar at which which accentuated the class differenti- Dunkirk as if it was a victory when it was they met on the Festival of their Patron a massive defeat—a cowardly running Saint. The Mason, on the other hand, ations in the towns. This was the growth away on a tremendous scale. Like they went where the work was available, of merchants and dealers who dominated celebrate the battle of Agincourt 1415 sometimes under compulsion when royal the productive crafts. Thus, by the end of when in fact they lost the 100 Years War castles were under construction on the the Fourteenth Century, the London and England lost all her traditional territory Welsh Marches or elsewhere. Drapers control the fullers, shearmen and "In Tudor and Stuart times we find the in France by 10th October 1453. Masons formed into actual gilds in weavers, and of the twelve great guilds conjunction with other building trades, from which alone the Mayors could be THE MAHON TRIBUNAL but their medieval organisation was of a chosen, only two, the weavers and the It is costing about €300 million. Will it regional or national character. Exactly goldsmiths, were productive. The same be worth it? Did we not all know that how this functioned we do not know, but thing took place more slowly and to a less corruption was endemic in the planning there are references to a periodical assembly system? The way the planning system extent in the other towns, and serves to of Masons of the Old Charges, which will remind us that it was in the form of works actually causes corruption and so be considered later. Another trade which why is the system not changed? It is not was not confined to the towns was that of merchant capital that the first great changed precisely because it is still, now, the Minstrels and they have left definite accumulation of bourgeois property took yielding money for the politicians and let traces of periodical regional assemblies. place. us be honest—the whole pubic service in "Though the Mason-organisation was CIVIC RIGHTS AND DUTIES this area especially in planning offices. It distinct from that of the general run of the By the fifteenth century the conduct of is hypocritical of the politicians and the Gilds, much of the gild machinery was members of the craft guilds had become national media to be now having an orgy known to and adopted by the Craft, as less a matter of custom guided by general of righteous–sounding comment when will be seen by the Old Charges. It has they themselves have and had at all times also been suggested that our ritual may principles than the fruit of minute regula- the power to change the planning regul- have been inspired by the annual tions and ordinances. The great expansion ations and to make the whole "planning" productions of Miracle Plays, the various of English capitalism had occurred in the system more transparent and simpler so as sections or interludes of which were taken early phases of the Hundred Years War, to greatly reduce opportunities for bribery. over by various Crafts with more or less {1337-1453} but this period of fortunes, They are guilty of dereliction of duty for suitability" (The Pocket History of easily won and quickly lost, had passed not doing it. Will they do it now that the Freemasonry, Pick & Knight, Frederick Muller Limited, 1963). and the merchants themselves advocated Mahon Report is out in all its lurid detail? a policy of elaborate regulation and Will they what? restriction, putting obstacles in the way of As to the Mahon Report itself I haven't UNSKILLED WORKERS newcomers and trying to share all available read it yet. There are 3,270 pages in it. Beside the skilled craftsmen, covered Maybe life is too short . . . And maybe by the gild organisation, the larger towns trade among themselves. Judge Sue Denham of the Supreme Court soon attracted a floating population of • See also: Freemasonry And The said something very relevant when she escaped serfs and others who formed a United Irishmen, Reprints From The said the Oireachtas has given "the Tribunal submerged class of unskilled and irregul- Northern Star, 1792-93. With a job to "to do to investigate urgent plan- arly employed labourers. In London this Introduction on Freemasonry In ning matters and she said what was section was especially large, and, while Ireland by Brendan Clifford, Athol happening 10 years later was the antithesis the conditions of skilled workers may Books, 1992. of an investigation into urgent planning matters." It is now fifteen years since the Mahon Tribunal was set up and the Report UK does not thank us for, as witnessed by Irish soldiers being presented with sprigs is just issued as we to press. "Urgent" the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, the of shamrock. According to The Irish Daily means 15 years!! And is it relevant to its Tory Minister George Osborne who on Mail, 23rd March 2012, the shamrock was intended purpose? Budget Day 21st March 2012 said: presented to our soldiers by the British Deputy Commander Lt. General Adrian NAMA "We sold more to Ireland than to Brazil, Russia, India and China, put together. Bradshaw in Kabul. Why couldn't we No one is naïve enough to think that That was the road to Britain's economic present it to ourselves? After all, it was our corruption has stopped. NAMA is quite irrelevance". shamrock. Or was it? The answer to these clearly and brazenly looking after the little questions are the real news. Maybe interests of bankers and developers instead When you mediate on that statement Alan Shatter is not a Minister to approve of the tax-payers of Ireland for whose does it seem to you there is "parity of of sending out Irish shamrock to the Irish protection NAMA was allegedly set up. esteem" between the Irish and the British soldiers in Afghanistan at taxpayer's No corruption in NAMA? Yeah—pull the in the UK's political elite? Well George— expense. Or maybe the shamrock was other one! maybe we can take the hint finally and picked in Afghanistan? And who picked it THE ECONOMY then we'll see what's what—eh? actually? We could reflect on these little Every night the trucks full of consumer matters for hours. But why were Irish goods trundle down the UK's M4 towards DEFENCE FORCES soldiers put in the humiliating position of the Irish ferries. Tesco, M&S and all the What are members of our Defence receiving their St. Patrick's Day shamrocks other UK retailers in Ireland are all stocking Forces doing in Afghanistan with USUK from a Lieutenant-General of the British up. It would be far better for the Irish armies oppressing and killing the Afghanis? Army? It doesn't stack up. It stinks of self- economy if we bought our own home- For sure it a long way from peacekeeping abnegation and also of something far more produced products. Ireland is the UK's duties with the UN. For St. Patrick's Day, sinister. biggest customer which apparently the all the Irish media carried reports of the Michael Stack © 29 market there was nothing to buy, because to pay the king two gold marks a year, that GUILDS continued the Droitwich men were holding it all to is, 1,440 silver pennies, a large sum which sell at a higher price. even the weavers occasionally found it their fells in the waters within the town In order to eliminate competition from hard to meet. The weavers' gild of London jurisdiction, and only for them might the outsiders as far as possible the gild limited became so important that the city was Leicester wool packers and washers work. the hours at which goods could be exposed jealous of it and tried to bribe the King to Strangers who brought wool to Leicester for sale in the market. "Forestalling" goes dissolve the guild. The city, however, did for sale could sell only to guildsmen. with "regrating". The Droitwich men not pay the bribe they had offered the Certain properties essential to the manu- complained that the Worcester men injured King and the weavers increased their facture of wool were maintained for the them by refusing to let them buy food in annual payment. Instead of paying two use of gild members, who also seem to Worcester market before the third hour. gold, 18 silver marks, they agreed to pay have had their wool weighed free on the 20 silver marks in future; 1,600 silver guild wool-beam. Against these advant- Guildsmen feasted in common and they pennies instead of 1,440. ages a prospective guildsman had to set supplemented the feasts by the barrels of the many obligations which he must under- ale which, in Leicester at least, were a LONDON take when he swore the guildsman's oath. common fine laid on offenders. The "The London list is particularly interest- He had to pay an entrance fee and subject accounts show frequent payments for a ing. Each of the gilds had an alderman as himself to the judgement of the gild. It was bull, required it may be assumed in early its chief officer and his name is given. Occasionally the gild is distinguished days for bull baiting. When men who were the guild that fixed wages. In 1281, the merely by his name—the gild of which whole community of the Leicester guild not natives of Leicester joined the guild Goscelin is alderman. There was a merchants determined that wool wrappers they paid an entrance fee of 20 shillings butchers' gild and pepperers' gild. The should be paid both Winter and Summer a and a bull. In the latter part of this period goldsmiths' company makes its first penny a day with food, and flock pullers newcomers no longer supplied the bull appearance as a unit on this occasion, three halfpenny without food and a half- itself, but paid a sum of money varying although it is highly probable that the penny with food. If any employer was from six shillings and eight pence to 12 London goldsmiths had some form of association in Henry I's reign. More shillings and six pence instead of the actual found to have paid more, he was to give interesting, because unconnected with six shillings and eight pence to the "com- animal. trade and therefore suggesting a survival munity of Leicester". The guild forbade of the Anglo-Saxon conception of a gild, the use of false weights and measures and CRAFT GUILDS are the gild of St. Lazarus and the Pilgrims' the production of shoddy goods. The guild The guild merchant generally came to gild. The former was probably some sort enforced its rules against its own members be associated with the governing body of of leper charity and the latter a club to in the guild court. It could impose a fine or the town. Its jurisdiction was general and help its members who wished to go on pilgrimage. There were four bridge gilds, its members followed many trades. At an forbid men to follow their trade for a year. each with its own alderman. Presumably early date, the men following individual their purpose was to keep London Bridge PROFIT crafts began to form associations with the in repair. In discussions of medieval The advantages of membership of the object of furthering the interests of the merchant and craft gilds there is always guild extended further than profit in the suppliers and consumers of their own so much to say about the organisation of wool trade. Members were free altogether particular commodity. There was no point medieval trade that the 'burial and benefit' or in part from the tolls that strangers paid, in members of a trade organising them- aspect of the medieval gild is sometimes overlooked and always under-stressed. selves in a guild if there were not enough and the guild made every effort to see that The gilds are the direct ancestors in spirit strangers paid their tolls in full. Guildsmen of them in the town to make their guild of the working men's clubs, and the alone were free to sell certain goods retail. effective. They must, in fact, be well Freemasons" (English Society in the Early Guildsmen, too, had the right to share in enough off to secure from entrance fees Middle Ages, ibid, p.177-1951). any bargain made in the presence of a and other sources enough money to gildsman, whether the transaction took purchase the right to association and all FREEMASONS place in Leicester or in a distant market. that association entailed. Common feasts, Yes, Freemasons proudly claim their The mayor had the special privilege that a regular meeting at which rules could be inheritance from the gilds! his bargains alone were free of this tax. In made and breaches of them dealt with, and the general interest, the guild forbade ultimately a place to meet, both on social "Before passing on to consider the middlemen to profit at the expense of the and business occasions, were necessary. 'background' of the medieval Mason we must consider the Gild system. Many The trades associated with wool were public. The practice of "regrating", as it Crafts had their trade secrets; many, was called, was constantly attacked by possibly the first to organise themselves perhaps most, from the tenth century those who suffered from it, and the gilds in this way. Guilds of weavers and fullers onwards tended to form Gilds for the always tried to check it. At Leicester, appeared during the twelfth century in better governing of their members and butchers' wives were forbidden to buy most important centres. Early in his reign, for securing a high standards of technical meat to sell again in the same market Henry II confirmed to the weavers of skill. The Masons, too, had their trade unless they cooked it. In 1221, the London their guild as they had had it in his secrets of a technical character, but they were in a different position from other grandfather's day and forbade that anyone Worcester citizens complained that the Crafts, the members of which generally men of Droitwich used to come to Worces- not of their company should practise their followed their trade throughout life in the ter market early while the Worcester craft in London, Southwark, and the places same locality. people were all at church and buy up the dependent on London, except in accord- "The Craft Gilds were essentially food, so that when the knights of the shire ance with the custom of Henry I's day. In products of the larger communities, their and the other Worcester people got to the return for this charter the weavers agreed members well-known to each other, continued page 29 30 These guilds, like the first Trade Unions, In all probability London did not acquire GUILDS continued were discouraged and often forced to work a guild merchant because it did not need secretly. Consequently we only hear of one to foster its sense of civic unity. In who arrived late, who went to sleep during them casually, when their members appear other towns the growth of the town as a speeches, wore too festive clothes, swore, in court or in such cases as that when the community which could act as a corporate "for extraordinary laughter", for making London Guild of Cordwainers (leather unit would have been far slower had it not rude jokes, for "hitting the Clerk in the workers) declared in 1303 that "it is been for the guild merchant. The ancient teeth"; and for calling another member forbidden that the servant workmen in borough court, the portmoot, was presided "the bass string of a Welsh Harp". cordwaining or other shall hold any over by the reeve who was a royal officer, These offences were committed at the meeting to make provisions that may be to though he was also a member of the burgess meetings not of the guild merchants, which the prejudice of the trade". body. The reeve saw that the King's comprised all the traders within the commands were carried out and his dues borough, but of the craft guild of bakers. In 1387, again "John Clerk, Henry collected, although it was the sheriff of the Offences, particularly those against the Duntone and John Hychene, serving men shire in which the town lay who was Assizes of Bread and Ale, were punished of the said trade of cordwinders… brought responsible for taking the money to the by public penance, the offender being together a great congregation of men like Exchequer and accounting for it. The made to stand in the pillory or being unto themselves, and did conspire and portmoot was an ancient court of justice, drawn through the street, on a hurdle, confederate to hold together", and were but it could not easily adapt itself, even perhaps with the faulty loaf hung round committed by the Mayor and Aldermen to with the King's approval, to the business his neck or a description of his crime Newgate prison "until they should have of organising the common life of the town. written in large characters for all to see. been better advised what further ought to It had no means of raising money for Other guild ordinances concerned the be done with them". Similar records of necessary works. It was bound by the maintenance of order, transport of goods, strikes or combinations exist for other traditions of its origin. street cleaning, the imposition of curfew, trades and towns, as in the case of the and so on. At Beverley, an assembly of the London saddlers, 1396, weavers, 1362, But the guild merchant was allowed to whole community decided that no carts and the Coventry bakers in 1494. charge an entrance fee, so that it had a shod with iron should be allowed to enter common purse. The two bodies, the the town; this was intended to preserve the ******************************************************************************** burgesses of the town and the brethren of road surface and also to diminish the noise "The town corporation and local guild the guild merchant, who were after all of iron wheels clattering over cobbled could not command so wide a field of very largely the same people, came to be streets. national vision as the State… The great days of medieval corporate life in guild identified in thought in most towns. Under and borough were on the downgrade their chief officers, known as aldermen, CRAFT GUILDS throughout Tudor times, {1485-1603} the merchant guilds in English towns dur- As the towns grew in size Craft Guilds so far as economic regulation was ing the twelfth century helped the towns came into being, in addition to, and concerned" (A Shortened History of to draw nearer the conception of a corpor- sometimes in opposition to, the Merchant England, G.M. Trevelyan, Pelican Book, ation. During the last twenty years of the Guilds. These included only the men of p.208-1959). twelfth century many of the more import- some particular craft; smiths, saddlers, ******************************************************************************** ant towns had won a degree of inde- bakers or tailors. They aimed at regulating pendence assured to them by royal charter the whole of industry, laying down rules A few remarks about London— and had acquired a common seal for the as to price, quality, conditions of work, common business of the town. and so on. They were composed of master- "London never possessed an important institution which appears in most other craftsmen, each working in his own home, WOOL TRADE usually with one or more apprentices and towns of note in the generations after the Every medieval town was intensely sometimes with journeymen or wage Conquest {Norman 1066}, the Gild Merchant. The idea behind all gilds was individualistic and the guild system labourers. The latter were men who had simply association for mutual profit, both increased this tendency. The primary aim served their period of apprenticeship but spiritual and secular, in a difficult world. of the merchant guild was to further the had not yet been able to become master- In Anglo-Saxon days there had appeared mercantile interests of its members and to craftsmen. in Canterbury, Winchester and London, exclude strangers from a share in the At first the journeymen do not appear if not in other centres, an institution known benefits that guild association gave. The to have constituted a separate class, but as a cnihtena gild. In origin these gilds records of the Leicester guild merchant were men who might expect to become were most probably associations of the cniths, or servants of great men settled by are more complete than those of any other masters themselves. Towards the end of their lords in a town to look after their town and they show how tight a hold this the Thirteenth Century, however, clearer interest and provide them with goods. If association had over the trade of the town. class divisions begin to appear. The this is the origin of the cnihtena gild of The wool trade in Leicester as in most number of journeymen increased, and London it must soon have had a far wider other centres in this age was the dominant many of them remained wage earners all membership than this. By the time of the trading force. It was impossible to prosper their lives. By imposing high entrance Conquest this gild was very wealthy and in this trade in Leicester and to remain fees and by other devices the guilds became leading citizens belonged to it. But there is no evidence that the gild, as a gild, had outside the guild. Only guildsmen could more exclusive and harder to enter. As a any responsibility for the affairs of the buy and sell wool wholesale to whom they result, separate guilds of the journeymen, city" (English Society in the Early Middle pleased and guildsmen must not sell it the so-called Yeomen Guilds, began to Ages, Doris Mary Stenton, A Pelican retail to strangers. Only they might wash arise. Book, p.177, 1951). continued page 30 31 VOLUME 30 No. 4 CORK ISSN 0790-1712

MONDRAGON, Part Six Guilds and the Town "The first extant charter of a gild is that the hands of its own burgesses, on the right to form a merchant guild intended to by which, in the reign of Canute, {King principle that only those who paid their control all the trade within the borough, to Canute, a Dane, King of Denmark and share towards the freedom of the town had ensure that sellers received a fair price for England-1016-1035} Orcy gives the guild the right to share in its privileges. This their goods, that customers were protected -hall (gegyld-healle) at Abbotsbury in Dorset, 'for God's love and St. Peter's', to object was attained through the organis- against fraud, and to promote the good of the gyldscipe of the place. ation of the burgesses in the Merchant the community in all social as well as Guild. These guilds, which included all economic matters. "Every gildsman (gegylda) was to pay the traders in any given town (at first no annually, three days before St. Peter's clear division existed between the trader Mass, one penny, or a pennyworth of PRIVATE ENTERPRISE wax. On the eve of the feast every two who bought and sold and the craftsman Private enterprise was regarded as gildsmen were to bring one large loaf, who made the goods, both functions being selfish and was discouraged by such well sifted and raised, for the common normally performed by the same person) regulation as that of scot and lot which almsgiving. Five weeks before the same were rigidly exclusive and their regulations decreed that any trader making a fortunate festival each member had to bring a were enforced by fines and, in extreme purchase at a bargain price was bound to measure of clean wheat, and within three cases, by expulsion. share it with his fellows, allowing them to days afterwards a load of wood. On the The origin of the English town is buy from him at the price he had given and death of any member, each of his fellows was to pay 'one penny at the corpse for obscure. The first signs of urbanisation retaining only his own allotted portion. It the soul'. These were the 'Mass-pence', of begin when the vill {village} aspiring to was the aim of the guild, too, to fix a price which we hear so much in later times. become a borough when the inhabitants that would be equally fair to both buyer have begun their struggle to secure a and seller, the 'just price' or ideal price of "Other rules provided for an annual charter of liberties from their feudal goods, and to prevent any trader from feast, for almsgiving, the nursing of sick members, the decent burial of the dead, overlord, or in cases of Crown property buying large stocks at a low rate and etc. The ends of the gild appears here to from the King himself. keeping them until the price had risen. be purely religious and social; yet, in the The towns rapidly developed into inde- Buying in advance was known as somewhat later charter of a Cambridge pendent units, clinging tenaciously to their "forestalling", holding up supplies was gild, the old principle of mutual assurance hardly-won privileges and prepared to "regrating", and both were punishable against crime and its penalties received offences. marked illustration. Gradually this feature defend them against every menace. disappears, and the gild assumes the Foremost among these privileges was the aspect of 'a voluntary association of Membership of the guild was compul- those living near together, who joined for Subscribers to the magazine are regularly sory, and every member had to make a a common purpose, paying contributions, offered special rates on other publications small annual contribution to the guild worshipping together, feasting together Irish Political Review is published by funds; at Hull and at many other places periodically, helping one another in the IPR Group: write to— one payment was enough for both man sickness and poverty, and frequently and wife. Women it seems could become 1 Sutton Villas, Lower Dargle Road united for the pursuit of a special object', full gild members; in many cases no doubt usually a religious one. These objects the Bray, Co. Wicklow or gilds continued to promote down to the 33 Athol Street, Belfast BT12 4GX or they were widows or daughters of deceased Reformation, when they were destroyed 2 Newington Green Mansions, London N16 9BT traders, but they appear to have traded independently as well. Discussion of guild and plundered." (A Catholic Dictionary, or Labour Comment, TEL: 021-4676029 William E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, C/O Shandon St. P.O., Cork business in public places and particularly Virtue & Co., Ltd. London, p.365-1952). before strangers was a serious offence, Subscription by Post: 12 issues: £20, UK; punishable by expulsion from the guild. By the end of the Thirteenth Century € 30, Ireland; € 35, Europe. Brawling and insubordinate behaviour at almost, all towns of any size, except a few Electronic Subscription: guild meetings were also punished under monastic rule, had won a certain severely; fines for breaches of etiquette in measure of self-government. After gaining € 15 / £12 for 12 issues (or € 1.30 / £1.10 per issue) attendance at the halimote of the Bakers freedom from feudal exactions, the main You can also order from: of London were imposed on members object of any town was to keep its trade in https://www.atholbooks-sales.org continued on page 31