P4 the Orange Order and Morality — in Its Own

Home , Connolly Association, Seamus Twomey

23 DEC. m

111111111111111111111111111111 • P3 p4 New hope for framed Irish Swashbuckling view of Ireland's The Orange Order and morality — prisoner Danny McNamee independence struggle — in its own words Michael Collins review

December 1996/January 1997 • Price 50p Connolly Association: campaigning for a united and independent Ireland

land, is the most likely, Democrat reporter Sod probably the most attainable, outcome of any future peace process involving all parties. ESPITE ALL M the frenzied

^^^M lation over the a new IRA ceasefire, the British government's 'studied' rejection of the latest Hume-Adams initiative, and the strengthened position of the unionists in West- minster, continue to suggest that little real progress will be made this side of the forthcoming British general election. By reinstating the IRA ceasefire, republicans have within their grasp the .capacity to wrongfoot the British government once again, and further cement the all-important alliance with mainstream nationalists, the Irish government and Irish- Americans. All the available evidence points to the fact that this/is possible, though far from probable without/a British commitment to allow Sinn Fein a definite and swift 1

HEADLINES HEADLINES' Demagogues and peace process, Opinion discrimination New hope for Danny McNamee CA conference nued- % • ii Bobbie Heatley from the Smoke gets Democrat reporters Belfast-based Campaign for evidence used to prove that Secretary, Michael Howard, in Irish prisoners Democracy outlined the Danny was a 'master bomb 1994, he has so far refused to OR THOSE who question whether anti-Irish possible basis of an achievable maker' is riddled with incon- send die case back to the Court discrimination remains a significant factor in Democrat reporter accommodation between na- sistencies and absurdities," re- of Appeal. British society, the government's an- UNITED and inde- tionalists and unionists. This iterated campaign nouncement in June of a ban on the right of The campaign now hopes pendent Ireland offers, would require a legal guaran- in your eyes spokesperson Paul May. Irish and Commonwealth citizens to apply for that evidence from a full inves- Adie best prospect for last- tee of equal treatment for Fone in four UK Civil Service posts, should have pro- HICH REPRESSIVE It has also emerged that the tigation into die government's ing peace, progress and social unionists and nationalists, a Crown knew the real identity Defence Evaluation and Re- vided something of an eye opener. regime would sentence justice throughout Ireland, the just resolution of the prisoners KEN KEABLE argues the British left should base of the bomb maker as long ago search Agency, where con- To their credit, British Civil Service trade unions Wan innocent man to 25 Connolly Association reaf- issue, a thorough reform of the its position on Ireland on the interests of British as 1987 but deliberately con- taminated explosives-testing have been at the forefront of the campaign to chal- years, deprive him of daylight, firmed at its annual conference RUC, and the establishment of people and on democratic and socialist progress in cealed this evidence from the equipment had gone unde- lenge this overtly discriminatory and racist policy, causing the adult form of in Nov ember. new non-sectarian institutions Britain. launching a national petition opposing and organising rickets,-confine him 21 hours a defence. tected for years, force the Delegates also endorsed a which would enable nationa- a successful national rally and lobby of parliament. day in a ten-foot-by-six-foot Forensic evidence Home Secretary to act. wide-ranging programme of lists and unionists to act inde- The Council of Civil Service Trade Unions stresses cell, deny treatment for a pain- presented at the trial by Alan The case of Danny McNa- activity, highlighting the im- pendently in pursuit of agreed ful hernia and have him woken Ferady, a man once described mee is to be the subject a Chan- that the nationality bar legislates against groups of portance of rebuilding the interests. ORTHERN IRELAND is a colonial remnant and every hour throughout the by Lord Justice Taylor as being nel 4 Trial and Error workers who have historically enjoyed the right to wrongly convicted Irishman peace process and raising the Delegates heard Paul May a political monstrosity. Since its inception it has night on 'security grounds'? unfit to describe himself as an programme to be shown in the apply for any job in the Civil Service on exactly the freed and exonerated. profile of the association. Par- of the recently revived Danny never been ruled democratically or been with- expert, has also cast doubts on new year. same basis as UK citizens. These questions, putting Doubts have always existed ticular emphasis was placed McNamee Campaign speak out 'emergency' legislation. As a political pro- McNamee's conviction. Around a third of all Civil Service jobs are classi- t.ie spotlight on another about the evidence used to on the period in the lead up to about the latest developments ject it is a failure. Its inclusion in the British fied as 'Public Service Posts' and as such subject to the massive miscarriage of justice, convict Crossmaglen man Yet, although substantial o The Danny McNamec Cam- the forthcoming British in the campaign to free Mr. Nstate poisons both our parliamentary democracy and jus- new nationality rules. These include all jobs in the are being posed by the Danny Danny McNamee of conspir- new evidence supporting paign can be contacted at: BM general election. McNamee — see page 3. gan, Pat O'Donohoe, Jim Red- David Granville reminded tice systems, threatens the civil rights of every British law courts and the Foreign and Commonwealth Of- McNamee Campaign as it acy to cause explosions back in McNamee's claim of innocence Box Innocent, London WC1N Speaking at a public meet- Conference also agreed to: mond, Michael Crowley, delegates that Jane had joined citizen and obstructs any progress towards a more open fice, and over two thirds of all jobs in the Ministry of steps up its fight to have the the early 1980s. "Fingerprint was presented to the Home 3XX. ing at the start of the con- continue to publicise miscar- Helen Bennett, Enda Finlay, Jo- the Association in the late society. Defence, Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue. ference, the Irish Democrat's riages of justice; campaign on nathan Hardy, Eamonn Quaill, 1940s after befriending the late It also obstructs the reduction of military spending, en- The introduction of the nationality ban along with Dublin correspondent, An- the issue of political prisoners; Willie Wallis and Gerard Cur- Sean Dowling, whom she met hances the power of the military establishment and the recent legislation such as the Asylum and Immigration thony Coughlan, argued that expose anti-Irish racism in Bri- ran whilst working as a volunteer secret services, is extremely expensive, and costs lives. It Act, expose the Tories' penchant for promoting bi- Orange distortions exposed an international chain backing tain and discrimination o DELEGATES PAID tribute on the Friendship Railway in gives governments the perfect excuse for more repressive gotry and racial discrimination. When the thin veneer Irish independence had been against Roman Catholics in the to Jane Tate, pictured above, Bosnia. laws and practices and preserves, within our state, a of false decency and concern is stripped away they dis- US state approves constructed. North, and work to increase an outstanding Englishwo- A dose friend of the late De- hotbed of religious fundamentalism, sectarian hatred, dis- the circulation and influence of play a similar level of commitment to equality of op- It was at this point that , Unfortunately, the absence man who continues to smond Greaves, for decades crimination, and political reaction. TTiese are the reasons Greaves lecture the Irish Democrat. portunity as they do towards the needs and concerns working-class people were ad- of a more widespread soli- campaign for Irish unity and she served as the Association's we should demand decolonisation. of the low paid, the unemployed, single parent famine curriculum John Boyd mitted to membership of the darity movement in Britain re- The following were elected independence in her 80s. treasurer and a member of its The partition of Ireland blocks the road to a more families, and of ordinary working people in general. Order and the mass bands and mained a weak link—and was to the Association's executive Presenting her with a national executive. To this day democratic Britain. It is bad for Britain and bad for Ire- We must hope that the British electorate is not fool- marching originated, he said, likely to remain so while the council: Alex Reid, Stella Bond, framed print of a painting by Jane remains an indefatigable land, regardless of what the IRA does or doesn't do. hardy enough to elect them again. Time will tell. Education throughout history. IRA's military campaign conti- David Granville, Peter Mulli- Jack Yeats, CA president seller of the Irish Democrat. National studies show that i The IRA's military campaign is not a good reason for Whatever reservations we may have about Irish less than 25 per cent of US stu- RANGE-ORDER ideo- o IRELAND FACES its most demanding British withdrawal, but neither is it a good people choosing to work in civil service jobs deemed Democrat reporter dents have any understanding logy is based on myth troublesome and vexatious reason for supporting tiie government in folding on to to necessitate 'allegiance to the Crown', we unequivo- of organised attempts throug- Oand distortions, histo- period since the Ulster the territory, or for supporting the unionist veto on Bri- cally defend their right to do so. We also applaud Brit- hout history to eliminate rian and Irish Democrat colum- Workers Council strike of tain's right to withdraw. ish trade unionists for their stand and add our voice to 1973, former Labour Northern We must not allow the IRA campaign to distract us HE US state of New Jersey various ethnic groups through nist Peter Berresford Ellis told those calling for the rights of Irish and Common- Ireland spokesperson Kevin from the issues. It is the smoke, not the fire: smoke warns has become the fjfsj; in systematic programs of mass an audience at Liverpool wealth citizens to be restored. McNamara told a rtieeting in us that there is a fire, but it also obstructs vision. The fire America to develop and killing or genocide. University's frish'Studies In- Is it any wonder that that other great upholder of T Sheffield in November. is die injustice of partition and the forcible inclusion of a approve a special curriculum Welcoming the decision of stitute in November. equality of opportunity and advocate of parity of es- part of Ireland in the British state. This is an injustice to for teaching school students the New Jersey Commission More than 50 people at- Condemning the resump- teem, David Trimble, is looking so smug these days? both British and Irish people. about the Irish famine. on Holocaust Education, Rut- tended the Desmond Greaves tion of die IRA's military cam- One might have assumed that unionist influence gers University professor Jack memorial lecture, organised paign, McNamara said it had Some Labour politicians, such as Harry Barnes, say over the government would have receded as the The development of cur- Worrali, who helped develop by the Connolly Association's "set back die cause of Irish that Northern Ireland must determine its own future. general election approached.The exact contrary has riculum material about the the Famine curriculum, said: Liverpool branch, to hear Ber- unity by 30 years", by moving Why? It is neither a nation nor even a province — the proved to be the case. This has been due,primarily, to famine follows state legislation "Now the students in New Jer- resford Ellis's talk on the his- the focus away from intransi- province of Ulster has nine, not six counties. Northern Ire- a virulent attack of spineless political bankruptcy over passed in 1994 which in- sey will be able to see how tory of the Orange Order. gent unionism. land was designed purely to ensure permanent unionist the outcome of the Cullen Report, the government's structed education boards to politics, racism and colonial- He pointed out that Wil- Connolly Association presi- domination. failing credibility with just about every interest group, teach all elementary and sec- MARTIN MORIARTY ism fed die mass starvation in liam of Orange, the victor at dent and Irish Democrat editor and more than a whiff of turmoil and rebellion within ondary pupils about the Holo- reviews Michael Collins, caust and genocides Ireland 150 years ago." the Battle of die Boyne, had David Granville told the 50- the ranks of the Tory party itself ruled heavily against dissent- strong audience thait while the US, dlr: Neil Jordan, 132 Just as well then that John Major keeps Mr ing protestant sects, such as the end of the IRA ceasefire repre- minutes, cert: 15, on nd what of Britain's right to determine its own Trimble's metaphorical slippers warm, and his pipe Presbyterians, who suffered sented a considerable setback general release. future? Britain can withdraw if it wants to, and filled at No 10 Downing Street. The unionist troops severe religious persecution to the peace process, blame for the majority of people in Britain do want to. have been needed on a number of recent occasions to alongside Catholics. the breakdown lay firmly at l While not suggesting a hurried or irresponsible avert the possibility of an election. Many Presbyterians emi- the door of the British govern- L withdrawal, the government could change the at- Deal or no deal, the political reality is that the Turn on and tune in grated to America to play a ment. mosphere of the negotiations by stating its intention to unionists have Mr Major and his fag-end government leading role in die War of Inde- The peace process must be withdraw. by the short and curlies. The effect that this will have pendence against English rule. painstakingly rebuilt, he said, EIL JORDAN must think Unionists could be given reassurances:th e promise of on any resumption of the peace process is already ob- The current Orange Order and it was incumbent on all his Sligo childhood ter- full British citizenship after British withdrawal; financial vious and we should expect very little in terms of a na was not founded until the those in the British labour ribly blighted by Eamon help; and appropriate guarantees of religious freedom bold and imaginative approach from the British gov- J 1830s, said Berresford Ellis, movement to play a part, De Valera, the man who had and fair treatment prior to the handing over of power in ernment this side of the general election. If any real Media avoid becoming television when it had been common o The text of Peter Berresford installed himself patriarch of an orderly fashion. After all, Britain has ample experi- progress is to be made over the next few months it is merely for the rural Gaeltacht. practice to pay Presbyterian Ellis's lecture will be publish- bucolic bliss while the future ence of decolonisation. the Irish who must seize the political initiative. What- Dublin correspondent T na G will undoubtedly be priests to take an oath or allegi- ed by the Connolly film-maker was growing up. Harry Barnes argues that withdrawal would lead to "a ever the difficulties of achieving a new IRA ceasefire, an immense stimulus to the na- ance to the English crown. Association in the new year. Who knows the precise con- civil war that would make the Troubles look like a tea one must come, hopefully sooner rather than later and tional revival in culture and tours of the trauma? But one party". Yet all sides agree that disarmament of the para- the peace process must be rebuilt. public affairs happening thing's for sure: with Jordan's militaries must be part of a final settlement. And what Oh yes, and a return to the usual bull-headed tru- IHESE DAYS are good throughout Ireland, and die latest foray into Irish affairs, would be the aim of any unionist revolt? As loyalists are culence, displayed by Mr Trimble and his unionist col- ones for the Irish lan- Irish Democrat wishes it well. Michael Collins, Eamon De aware, an Orange state would have no chance of survival leagues when matters are not going their pray, will guage. Telefis na Gaeilge, We also welcome the new Donations to the Connolly Association and the Valera will never look the easy to imagine dispatching Of course, anyone digging up a stereo typically Orange without the support of Britain and the European Union. probably be one of the first signs thai real progress is Besides, by population they would be nearly 20 per cent Ilaunche d on Halloween, is al- Irish-language weekly Foinse, Irish Democrat same again. someone to negotiations he into this chapter of Britain's RIC man with an anachronistic in the offing.We will look forward to the next outburst. ready a big hit with the Irish an immense improvement on After the film noir-ish The knows cannot fully succeed imperial history risks the car bomb just after he's called of Ireland instead of 1.5 per cent of the UK. DG the now defunct Anois. just to keep himself squeaky The bloodbath argument has been deployed in South public. 18 September to 19 November 1996. Crying Game and the modern wrath of the Daily Telegraph's for "a bit of Belfast efficiency" Broadcast from Baile na horror of Interview with ihe clean. leader writers, arid they have is being disingenuous if he Africa, Rhodesia and many other ex-British colonies. It is hAbhann, Connemara, Co Vampire, Jordan has plumped Slugging it out with Dev, duly obliged by calling for the says that he's not in some way Britain's divide-and-rule policy which created the condi- Galway, the new station is infor traditional historical epic to Liam Neeson as The Big Fella Jordan film tob e banned cm the writing about the present. tions which make it a plausible threat, so it is not a valid Seasonal C Cunningham £5; A Noone £5; K, Gill £2.50; M Melly £5; A dependent of RTE and has a present his on-screen version swashes more buckles than grounds that it's IRA propa- I prefer the analytical ap- excuse for the continuation Of colonial rule. Inish Demociuuc Higgins £4.40; G Findlay (in memory of Paddy Bond) £10; M The Irish desire for re-unificationgoe s largely un- young and committed staff. Se- of Ireland's struggle for inde- Errol Flynn in his matinee ganda. proach of Spike Lee's Malcolm McNkholas £2.50; FHO £12.50; G Campbell £5; Y Hart £2.5" BI-MONTHLY NEWSPAPER OF eing people on television in all gifts pendence. prime: he's a daredevil soldier It's an unlikely charge X — another film about a lost voiced, due to revulsion at the IRA's methods, and a prag- Anon £1.10; J. Tate £5; D Forrest £8; M. Caffell (in memory THE CONNOLLY ASSpCIATION sorts of situations, speaking It's a form that gives him who can penetrate to the heart given that Collins has neyer oc- leader — or the subtleties of matic recognition of Britain's overwhelming power. Paddy Bond) £10; G Logan £3; F Jennings £10; in memory Founded 1939. Volume 51, number 6 Irish as naturally as English, is scope for massive crowd of Dublin Castle's intelligence cupied a place in the republi- John Carpenter, whose latest The emergence of a visible decolonisation campaign Liam O'Dwyer £10; M Donohoe £5; PT Mullin; £15; M c Editorial board: Helen Bennett; Gerard Curran; breaking down the shyness Beautiful Ireland scenes and stirring oratory — machine, an agitator of impro- can pantheon. But the pattern movie Lone star teaches a bitter in Britain would change that, and would encourage the Flannery £8; J Logan (in memory of Paddy Bond and David Granville (editor); Jonathan Hardy; Peter and inhibitions so many have calendars; Celtic design and there's certainly plenty of visational brilliance and a Of the violence — brutal and American history through a IRA to look to other methods. This needs people with smond Greaves) £10; R & M Walker £4; T Mathews £10; Mulligan and Alex Reid. about using what Irish they greetings cards that. But it also dictates a cer- singer who knows every verse indiscriminate on the British community of well-rounded courage to defy the media onslaught; and the clarity to Cos^rave (in memory of Brian Crowley); R Rossiter £25;" Production: Derek Kotz have. tain cartoon character to the of She moved through the fair. side, clinical on the Irish — characters. But then they're not see the fire through the smoke. . :jj Curran £10. PUBLISHED BY: Connolly Publications Ltd, 244 The challenge facing T na G, available from the movie and in Aim Rickman's As the love interest, Kitty does suggest that there's more the sort of films that could o Ken Keable is an independent English sociaJ^who Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR, telephone as it is already known, will be Four Province* Bookshop De Valera, there's a bad guy to Kietnan, 'pretty woman' Julia than just an: historical case triumph over Independence Day now lives in the Republic of Ireland. The above toa n 0171 8333022. Email: [email protected] to orient itself to the vast mass 244 Grays Inn Road, Bankets orders £334.84 duck and dive with the worst Roberts, does perfectly well being made. at die box Office as Michael edited version of his contribution to a debate on Ireland PRINTED BY: Ripley Printers (TU) Ltd, Nottin- of Irish people who live in Eng- London WC1X 8JR of them: this is a man if s all too with nothing to go on. * And a director who Mows Collins has in Ireland. in the left-wing Labour newspaper Campaign News. TOTAL- gham Road, Ripley, Derbyshire, telephone 01773 lish-speaking Ireland, and 01718333022 £53334 743 621. IRISH DEMOCRAT Dee+mber I R I S.H DEMOCRAT December 1999/Jeniiery 1997 page 2 BEHIND THE HEADLINES BEHIND THE HEADLINES

DEMOCRAT LETTERS Orange Time for a new departure Another Irish prisoner pleads FEICREANAOf rules OK? argues that the his innocence IRA should call off What are the present rules of the Orange Society? What DuWjn "While their prosecution are the qualities deemed necessary for members? I am the war and Irish prisoners correspondent testimony was uncertain and sure the general public would like to know. Should the concentrate its byAlexReid inconsistent and against the Orange Order in this age of ecumenism, and now stress- weight of the considerable ing more its cultural aspects, revise its anti-catholicism? efforts on the ANTHONY forensic evidence available, I would like to see theologians and scripture scholars COUGHLAN the Diplock Judge quickly from the Presbyterian Church and the Church of Ireland political struggle ONG KESH prisoner found me guilty." commence an in-depth study of the religious nature of for Irish unity and reviews Before the Christy Walsh is calling Walsh believes the judge the Orange Order today and publish a report of their find- Lfor support in his cam- made this decision because ac- ings. independence. darn; an paign to overturn the 14-year quittal would have suggested The Orange Order is an oath-bound secret society. I jail sentence he was given in the security forces were lying think that the RUC membership of the Orange Order in- December 1992. rather than merely mistaken. terferes with the impartiality and solidarity of the police Walsh has published a dos- Walsh details the evidence force and that legislation should be enacted to prohibit a o New departure needed Gerry Adams, sier outlining the events sur- given by the paras and shows police officer from taking an oath in any secret society. Pic: Paul Herrmann Heinemnn, rounding his arrest by the how their claims that they had seen him placing the coffee-jar PRINCIPLE of wisdom paratroopers in June 1991, his Mgr Raymond Murray fluence of Sinn Fein vis-a-vis quest of Ireland by its people', some kind in a generation or 'bomb' on the wall is, by their in politics, as in war, is £17.99 hbk. four-day interrogation by the Moneymore the SDLP in the Six Counties to use James Connolly's two. But as things stand it own information, totally false. that when one has won army at Castlereagh, a sub- County Derry A and prepare the way for major words. The Fine Gael-led gov- looks like unity without inde- sequent interrogation by the He also says that the statement an advantage, one should nationalist advance in the up- ernment is currently planning pendence, as most economic he made while in custody was press it home, continually RUC and the trial itself, fol- coming general election at the to sell out Irish neutrality and and foreign policy decisions lowed by an appeal. tampered with. keeping the initiative and expense of the unionists; an independent Irish currency pass from Dublin and London The dossier catalogues the Neither the trial judge nor wrongfooting the enemy. At- o assist in solidifying the pan- in the interests of building a towards Brussels. Photo: AP/RN series of beatings he suffered the appeal court "even attaque, attaque, toujours attaque!, nationalist consensus with federal European superstate. What Ireland needs at this ERRY ADAMS was a 22- of revolutionary mass politics tions throughout the North to tween Secretary of State — and was paid damages for tempted any explanation of as Napoleon used say. Dublin and America, prepar- Yet its plans go virtually un- time are republicans who are year-old barman in Bel- — a story which should be the stretch the RUC and relieve the Whitelaw and IRA leaders — while in army and RUC cus- the contradictions" of the so- Remand Undoubtedly the best way ing the ground for the opposed. Most people don't concerned about Ireland free fast in 1970 when the subject of. an even more im- pressure on-Derry Nationa- Sean MacStiofain, Daithi O G tody, the contradictory evi- called witnesses, says Walsh. for northern republicans to building of a mass solidarity even know what they are up as well as Ireland united. This Provisional. IRA went on the portant future volume, for lists. Conaill and Seamus Twomey. dence given by the soldiers build on the political advances movement within Britain it- to. Christy Walsh was paid stage of history is crying out military offensive against the which historians will hope Mr Adams tells how he left the Although a mere junior who arrested him, and serious secured in the Forum elections self. The absence of such a damages following an out-of- The republican movement for new methods. Irish nation- British army. Today, as presi- Adams regularly makes notes. meeting to mobilise a demon- Adams was already showing flaws in the whole legal pro- and in the aftermath of Drum- movement in Britain, despite court settlement for the in- is obsessed with the Six Coun- alism has always shown re- dent of Sinn Fein, he seeks to This reviewer learned from stration on the Falls Road he had an astute political head. cess. juries he suffered during the cree is for the IRA to bring the the best efforts of several or- markable powers of political Injustice ties, while the Twenty-Six are lead Irish republicanism on the the book that he attended two against the RUC. I can remem- He mentions that beforehand The case centres around a Castlereagh interrogations. military campaign to a com- ganisations, has been the creativeness. being abandoned before their road to ending partition by important meetings along with ber the rhetorically intoxicated he "argued very strongly coffee jar allegedly found on a His case is under consideration plete end and to urge republi- fundamental weakness of the eyes. . Look at the beginning of political means, building up Mr Adams during the Civil Gogarty speaking as if NICRA against the course of action cans henceforth to concentrate peace process to date. Britain, wall in an alleyway which by the United Nations Centre Should the IRA just fade modern mass politics with the necessary alliances to that Rights period, although of was about to lead the revol- which was being suggested, Walsh was passing through on for Human Rights at Geneva Under British law an accused person has the right to exclusively on politics. Not a after all, is where British pol- away if the armed struggle is O'Connell, the use of popular end both within Ireland and course we did not know one ution, and how I felt that things which appeared to see the his way to meet a friend in a and he awaits its findings. unimpeded legal advice? Wrong: all Irish remand ceasefire, but a complete cessa- icy is made. But while die US ended? If Fenians like John boycott in the Land League abroad. another. were moving rapidly away pending negotiations as if they tion, accompanied by a switch government has continually to pub in Andersontown, Belfast. To receive a copy Christy prisoners in Belmarsh SSU (Special Secure Unit) prison Devoy, from whom the con- times, the role of the IRB as This fascinating and well- The first, in January 1967, from civil rights. were a follow-through to the to mass republican political ac- take into account the views As Walsh approached the Walsh's dossier produced are subjected to 'closed legal visits'. temporary IRA is directly de- organiser of the Easter Rising, written autobiography tells the was the founding meeting of treaty talks of 1920 and which tivity. and aspirations of Irish- I remember too at that time end of the alley a soldier write to him at: H-7 A-wing, Under British prison rules all prisoners have the right scended, could encourage a Sinn Fein's tactic of abstention story of how that came about. the Northern Ireland Civil proposed a very formalised Americans, the British being in Proinsias MacAirt's stopped him and asked him Long Kesh, Co. Antrim, BT27 to reasonable facilities to consider legal defence? Wrong: That would be a new depar- new departure in their day, from Westminster and its self- Future historians will regard it Rights Association, in the In- approach to our engagement government is under no such house along with Liam McMil- where the coffee jar had come 5RF. my solicitor, Gareth Peirce, has told English courts re- ture comparable to what John there is need for the modern creation as an Irish Parliament as one of the most important ternational Hotel, Belfast. with the British government". pressure. And this despite len. Adanis tells how young from. Denying any knowl- The last word goes to Walsh peatedly that it is impossible to consider any legal Devoy, Parnell and Michael leaders of republicanism to two years later, De Valera's books on the Northern Adams was there with other nearly a million Irish-born Republican activists like him- The republicansdemande d edge, Walsh attempted to himself: "Forensic evidence defence under closed visits. Davitt sanctioned in their day. show comparable political cre- formation of a mass movement troubles of this past quarter- young republican activists voters in this country, another self used to gather there regu- "a British withdrawal from the move off but the paratrooper proved that I was not in pos- All remand prisoners in English jails are subjected to Four political objectives re- ativity. of Irish nationalism in Fianna century. while I attended as an officer of larly. He shows himself aware two to three million others of |5ix Counties within three arrested him-. session of this device, yet this closed legal visits? Wrong: out of a prison population of quire such a bold departure. Ireland urgently needs a Fail between 1926 and 1932, the Dublin Wolfe Tone Society. of the splendid human Irish background, and vast, if The book brings Gerry years, amongst other things. "It was largely my word absolute evidence of innocence 56,000 there are a total of eleven remand prisoners sub- An end to the armed struggle corps of dedicated and disci- the Civil Rights Movement as qualities of those two older diffuse goodwill towards Ire- Adams' story up to 1981, the The second was an emer- Then there was a pause in die against two British para- was ignored or sidestepped by jected to closed visits. would: plined republicans, men and a tactic to destabilise unionism, Belfastmen and the sadness of land. This can't be organised year when die extraordinary gency gathering of NIGRA ac- meeting and they went into troopers who alleged that I the judges in question. As a Anti-Irish discrimination does not exist in the English o completely wrongfoot die women playing their part in the quarter-century-long r the events that forced them effectively while bombs are sacrifice of the ten Long Kesh tivist in Belfast's Wellington another room to discuss mat- was in possession of the coffee result, I am serving 14 years in legal/prison system? Wrong: all eleven remand prisoners British government and every area of Irish public life, urban-guerilla struggle of the apart over political tactics. liable to go off and die PTA hunger-strikers gave rise to a Park Hotel at die height of die ters, "Jesus, we have it!" said jar," says Walsh. jail for something I did not do." subjected to closed visits are Irish. unionism, precipitating a bound together by a common present IRA. forces the Irish community to mass movement of political Battle of Bogside in August The illusions of easy victory MacStiofain. "Butthat was the If Irish people are impeded from making a legal crisis in, and further division commitment and idealism, but keep their heads down, Each of these were remark- support analogous to that fol- 1969. An emotional NICRA which the IRA leadership had complete opposite to what I defence can they have a fair trial? No: coincidence? among, the unionist and to political, not military, work. o open the way for political able political achievements in lowing the 1916 Rising. chairman, Frank Gogarty, in those days are well illus- thought", Writes Adams. giiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliq loyalist parties, outflanking Now that the cold war is their way. Thatpointed republicanism played a passionate tape-re- trated in his accouht of die fa- Twenty-five years on, and Gerard Hanratty Trimble, Paisley and co; advance by republicanism in the 26 Counties, for 'the recon- over; Ireland seems to be mov- It is time for some political towards taking up from where corded appeal by Sean Keenan mous meeting in 1972 at the with the British troops still Belmarsh Prison o increase the standing and in- ing inevitably towards unity of creativity again! the civil-rights movement had of the Defty Citizens'. Defence Cheyne Walk home of Guin- there, we can see who was {Join the Connolly AssociationI \ left off, embarking on die road Association for demonstra- ness heir Paul Channon, be- lit. m m £ The Connolly Association is the premier Irish A ^ J . .. J 5 organisation in Britain, campaigning for civii • = liberties and fair employment in the Six = Holidays in Ireland The Orange Order in its own words : Counties and for the repeal of the British claim : : to sovereignty over Northern Ireland. : T'S REMARKABLE what o His deportment should be ments, and the extension of its there is to be found a brother- B&B, magnificent setting in the Comeragh Mountains. little gems can be found sur- gentle and compassionate, power, ever abstaining from hood of men pledged to £ Membership costs a mere £10 a year—or £12 Great for walking, angling, golf, relaxing. Excellent food, I. fing the internet. The follow- kind and courteous; all uncharitable words, ac- uphold the ancient concept of Spanish civii war make the journey. for joint membership, (£6 joint unwaged) and £5 • good wines, en-sulte rooms, wheelchair access. Easy ing information about the o He should seek the society tions or sentiments towards the Protestant faith and liberty Although the Spanish par- for individual students, unemployed or : Ken Keable liament voted unanimously to reach Rosslare & Cork. Orange Order appeared, until of the virtuous, and avoid that Roman Catholics; under the law. They are pensioners—and includes a free subscription £ recently, on its very own web of evil; o He should never take the neither bigots nor extrem- offer Spanish citizenship to surviving International Bri- : to the Contact Pauline Humphrys & Ken Keable (former CA page. o He should honour and dili- Name of the Lord in vain, but ists....They stand for tolerance Irish Democrat gaders, this was politely de- m - • m members), Coumshlngaun Lodge, Kllclooney, abstain from all cursing and and compassion towards all t, m We print an edited version gently study the Holy clined as it would have M - •• m Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. Tel 00 353 51 646 238 in responset o recent enquiries Scriptures, and make them the profane language, and use men...; fETERANS OF the war every opportunity to discour- against fascism from as required them to relinquish 5 Name(s) : i about the workings of the rule of his faith and practice; o That the British collection their existing citizenship. Orange Order following the o He should love, uphold and age those, and all other, sinful will be maintained Jfar afield as Ghina, Cuba practices in others; and the USA received emo- However, die offer was wel- : Address : spectacular display of piety, defend the Protestant religion, o That every effort will be comed by the veterans as a vin- tolerance, and devotion to the and sincerely desire and en- o His conduct should be made to make the Province tional welcomes on their recent guided by wisdom and V visit to Spain to mark the 60th dication of the role they had rule of law witnessed in con- deavour to propagate its happy, prosperous and out- played in Spain. nection with the events at doctrines and precepts; prudence, and marked by ward looking, a good place for Volunteers needed Guernica — whose grand- the firsti n Europe to resist fas- Drumcree earlier this year. o He should strenuously op- honesty, temperance, and so- everyone who lives in it; and In addition to the many, civic receptions and concerts in father had been murdered in cism, and I want to say thank We leave it to our readers to pose the fatal errors and briety. o The Orange Institution Among them were three honour of the veterans, the die massacres which followed you for that" Irish Democrat readers are needed to help staff the judge whether Orange Order doctrines of the Church of o The glory Of God and the takes no pleasure in anything Surviving members of the Con- Irish party was able to visit die Franco's victory—why he had Speaking in Guernica, Mi- .Postcode Four Provinces Bookshop members have met their own Rome, and scrupulously welfare of man, the honour of that curtails die liberties of die nolly Column, Irish brigaders battlefields of Jarama, Gan- left Ireland to fight alongside chael O'RiordeORioi n recalled the qualifications — and to specur avoid countenancing (by his his Sovereign and die good of individual. It has the utmost Peter O'Connor, Michael O'Riordan and Maurice Le- desa and Ebro, where the Con- government forces in Spain, words of the anti-fascist Bas- Those Interested should contact Gloria Findlay on: late as to why this informatipn presence or otherwise), any his country, should be the mo- respect for die rujp of law and = •• = nolly Column had fought. Connolly Column "veteflh que priest, Ramon Labordo, is no longer available on the act of Popish worship, tives of his actions. the Christian ethjbc.lt never vitti, jtljctured right.> They were also received by die Peter O'Connor, replied: "To who said it was a "crime to link £ l/we enclose th« membership subscription of £ and £ 0171833 3022 or write to the Four Provinces Bookshop, internet. o He should by all lawful What does Orangeism stand condones violence or bigotry. The only other survivL Irish Ambassador. fight fascism. Christianity with such blood- Z a donation of £ towards ttw CA's campaigning S 244 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8JR Qualifications of an Orange- means, resist the ascendancy for today? It stands for the great prin- member of the Connolly Col Asked by a young man in The Spanish people wBob Doyle, was unable to fraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaS ^^SSBSSK^mmim IRISH BOOKS

! IRISH SONGS Britain's PETER MULLIGAN'S PEEPSHOW Women at the centre propaganda he Red Flag war exposed War, child abuse When joe SIQVO'S daughter Gillian was trying to reconcile If you had a Vicar of Bray competition in frish History, a duty to their dead. tion and addresses the past herself to her mother's death at the hands of Apartheid John Redmond MP would easily win. He started as Home Ruler, then he became recruiter for the British Army, The book finishes on a and continuing conflicts be- DAVID GRANVILLE assassins for a recent TV film she recalled the time that rather forlorn note. By the tween feminism and national- two ANC fighters returned to her father's house in Mo- sending young Irishmen to the trenches, and later he reviews War and words: and murder 1930s women were being mar- ism. zambique. Joe was watching on TV the devastation the advocated munitions factories far Ireland. He went en to ginalised and were expected to The Ladies' Land League the Northern Ireland media two men had wrought in South Africa. The three men support partition. Like the Vicar of Bray he made a confine themselves to domes- was dissolved by Parnell and reader edited by Bill began singing the Red Flag. Little did they know that the principle of staying in power. ' TONY BENN — "For a very long time, the war in Ire- tic duties. Women found them- other men because it was too Rolson and David Miller, land has been the biggest single political issue in British selves having to fight song was written by Irishman Jim Conrtell, Fenian, Lan- pontics. Since 1969, there have been more than 30,000 successful. Similarly, although Beyond the Pale, 458pp, dleaguer and socialist. legislation designed to give many women played a crucial shootings, 16,000 explosions, with over 3,000 people men priority over women in role in the Easter Rising, and £12.95 pbk. • \ ,-.-71=-' killed, 33,000 people injured and more than 7,000 de- employment, while the 1937 for nearly a year after the Ris- The people's flag is deepest red; In good King Charles's Golden Days, tained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act The cost constitution overturned the ing women were the nationa It shrouded oft our martyred dead, When loyalty no harm meant, has been more than £15 billion." 1916 promise of equal rights list movement, their And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold A zealous high — churchman was I, and equal opportunities for all involvement was not always Their hearts' blood dyed its ev'ry fold. And so I got preferment. liilJdtWiWJBl — "The problem is that the Unionists citizens. welcome. HIS BOOK has gone a want British troops in Northern Ireland to protect their considerable way to To teach my flock I never missed, Women have fought back privileges and cover thek backs, so that they can con- While the Irish Citizens achieving the editors' Then raise the scarlet standard high! That Kings are by God appointed, and won't be dehied. Still it is T tinue their long-term process of discrimination against Army proclaimed the equality stated objective of making heartening to read of our sis- Within its shade we'll live and die! And lost are those that dare resist, the minority of Catholics." The Independent of the sexes, there were diffi- available to a wider audience ters from the past who fought Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer Or touch the Lord's annointed. culties convincing the leaders some of the best writing about so courageously, and did so Weil keep the red flag flying here! fl'j• [«1 d :M d»I»f»1• IjW.'MIWTaaa — Under the guid- of some garrisons that this the conflict in Northern Ireland much for us, and of the men And this is the law that I'll maintain anceorhiscontroller^!ewa8 a technician of the should be so. over the last 30 or so years. who recognised their value Look round — the French man loves its blaze; Until my dying day, sir. Information Policy Unit the dirty-tricks department of Ward also demonstrates The material, which in- and worked alongside them. that women's contribution has The sturdy German chants its praise; That whatever King shall reign, the British army and RM5 in Northern Ireland. His work cludes important contribution- was admired by his controllers until he released infor- not necessarily led to an im- s from the likes of Robert Fisk, In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung; I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir. provement in women's lives mation on the homosexual ring at the Kincora boys' Rex Cathcart, Roger Bolton, Chicago swells its surging throng! home. His controllers took exception to this, as they o Members of Inghinidhe na hEireann and that years later the same Duncan Campbell, Paul Foot, When royal James possessed the crown, OMEN HAVE always conflicts and tensions con- were implicated. He was dismissed from his Job. He then Liz Curtis and Peter Taylor, ex- It well-recalls the triumphs past; And popery came in fashion, exposed the forgeries of his former employers. They in played a central role in tinue. ( plores the implications of Bri- The penal laws I hooted down, bled a selection of documents It gives the hope of peace at last, turn set him up on a murder charge. He got ten years for children and reliving her hus- Wthe struggle for Irish In 1979, Sinn Fein, arguably tain's propaganda war on And read the Declaration. SALLY RICHARDSON which tell, in their own words, The banner high the symbol plain manslaughter and served five. He continued to fight his band's execution. freedom, but this contribution the most feminised of all Irish broadcasting and print jour- of the part played by women in Of human right and human gain. The Church Of Rome I found would fit, case and he has now had his conviction quashed by the reviews Women and Irish Many women were critical has either been ignored or per- political parties, Was forced to nalism, and on the public per- the fight for Irish inde- Full well my constitution, court of appeal. NB: even though the British media nationalism by Margaret of the lack of resources allo- ceived and celebrated as an admit that little had been said ception of the conflict in the pendence and women's It suits to-day the weak and base, And I had been a Jesuit, received the material oh the Kincora boys' home only Ward, Attic Press, £8.99 cated to Markievicz's cam- aside to the main events. or written on women. North. equality. paign. Looking back it seems Margaret Ward's book Un- Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place, But for the Revolution. Irish newspapers exposed the abuse. pbk. ANGIE BIRTILL Although it now has its Despite the proximity — Here are accounts of Easter such a triumph, but at the time manageable Revolutionaries, first own women's department and many would say because of the To cringe before the rich man's frown,' reviews Unmanageable week by the women who were the women expected more. published in 1989 and re- has developed a strategy for proximity — of the conflict, it And haul the sacred emblem down. When William was our king declared, revolutionaries by the involved, including Louise Better success attended printed in 1995, confronts this women's liberation, it still re- remains one of the most mis- To ease the nation's grievance, Gavan Duffy, Margaret Skin- when six women were elected omission. same author, Pluto Press, fused to participate in the re- represented, and therefore one With heads uncovered swear we all With this new wind about I steered, nider and Helena Moloney. to the Second Dail, and the £12.99 pbk. Focusing on the period cent anti-Amendement of the least understood, within To bear it onward till we faUl And swore to him allegiance. While their role was mainly book includes several extracts 1881-1940, the book places campaign leaving Irish femin- the experience of an over- Old principles I did revoke, confined to traditional from their speeches made dur- Come dungeon dark, or gallows grim, women at the centre of the ists, once again, to fight with- whelming majority British Let them know women's tasks such as provid- ing the Treaty debate. All were This, song shall be our parting hymn! Set conscience at a distance,: struggle for freedom, provid- out the assistance of the' people. ing food and tending the in opposition and, while four ing a detailed historical ac- republican movement — this Passive obedience was a joke, Given the corrupting and wounded, they were glad to be had lost close male relations count and thorough analysis, time on the fundamental right A jest was non-resistartce. intellectually numbing diet of OMEN HAVE been there and able to do something since 1916, they resolutely re- drawing parallels with today's to control their own fertility. such an important part for the cause. futed the charge that their po- continuing struggle for na- distortion and disinformation, When royal Ann became our Queen, it's As the political landscape compounded by censorship, Wof the Irish republican Constance Markievicz's sition was due to personal tional self-determination and develops, the need for a strong The Church of England's glory,, both self- and state-imposed, movement that it is surprising success in the 1918 election bitterness. female liberation. feminist movement is as im- this should come as no sur- Another face of things was seen, ate. •. , - •',-'• to encounter Maud Gonne in seems such a milestone, but Wolfe Tone Kate O'Callaghan, who ear- It vividly describes the portant as ever. Just as there is prise. And I became a Tory. ELOW IS a comprehensive list of Irish political 1888, unable to find a nationa- other women were involved lier in the book gives a hear- work of the women in the a need for "a movement that This fascinating and en- Occasional conformists base, prisoners hc>ld in British jails on 29 November list organisation that would ac- are often overlooked. Winifred trending account of her Ladies' Land League, Ing- unites the working class in Two hundred years ago in December the French arrived lightening collection makes a I blamed their moderation, 1996. The association recognises that their incar- cept women members. Carney was a candidate in an husband's murder, stressed hinide na hEireann, Cumann common struggle" so too is in Bantry Bay with Wolfe Tone aboard one of their ships. valuable contribution to set- And though the church in danger was, ceration is a direct result of the conflict We there- Undeterred by the National 'impossible' Belfast consti- that "the women of An Dail are na mBan, capturing the energy there a need for women to or- The following song was written by Alice Milligan during ting the record straight and ask readers of the Irish Democrat to add one League's response that 'a tuency. women of character, and they and creativity of women in- ganise on their own terms. By such prevarication. should be made obligatory commemorations of the first centenary or more of the prisoners to your seasonal card list Remem- women's place is in the home', Kathleen Clarke had hoped will vote for principle, not for volved in political struggle and As James Connolly said reading for every journalist, ber always to use the prison number in letters. she and other women, includ- to stand but was outma- expediency." Still, as Kathleen exploring the links between about women in 1914: "None broadcaster and7 academic The first storm of winter blew high, blew high, ing Alice Milligan and Jenny noeuvred by Dick Mulcahy Clarke, Mary McSwiney and women's oppression and that so fit to break the chains as they who purports to have any- HM Prison Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, Lon- Wyse-Power, were soon active whilst in Holloway prison, Mrs Pearse make ciear, al- of other classes. Red leaves were scattering to a gloomy sky; who wear them, none so well thing to say about the Irish con- From Clare to Here don SE28 0EB. (The following are held on remand await- in nationalist organisations. where she spent sleepless though they made their own Rain clouds were lowering o'er the plainis of Kildare, The book is essential in that equipped to decide what is a flict. ing trial): Margaret Ward has assem- nights worrying about her minds, they were conscious of it provides us with informa- fetter." When from Dublin, southward, the mourners came there. This is the first stage of emigration, when the lads and Clive Brampton, John Crawley, Michael Gallagher • lassies cannot stop thinking of home where Ma served up Donald Gannon, Gerard Hanratty, Patrick Kelly, "In the spring," they whispered, Lord Edward bled. Patrick Martin, Brian McHugh, Patrick McKinley, A journey for And the blood of hosts was in summer shed; the meals. Life xoas easy except that there were no jobs and no prospects. Robert Morrow, James Murphy, Martin Murphy, Two funerals and everyone's taste Death in the autumn o'er Connacht passed, Michael Phillips, Francis Rafferty. * But the loss that is sorest came last, came last. II :>"'v'v-v ! '.. z-^y'tf HM Prison Frankland, Finchdale, Brasside, Durham,DH1 Well there's four of us who share the room, we work CONNIE MARKS reviews "Though Fitzgerald died, sure we fought them still, 5YD . » an act of collusion And we shouted 'vengeance' on Vinegar Hill, hard for the brass Name Prison number Wandering Women — Two And getting up late on the Sunday, I never get Joeseph McKenny L46486 Centuries of Travel out of Knowing our flag would again be flown, one of Stone's victim. Dublin's Ki If France gave ear to the prayers of Tone. up to mass Eddie Butler 338637 JIM REDMOND reviews Ireland, by A A Kelly, Joe (XConnell 338635 Stone Cold is an attempt to • Stone Cold by Martin analyse what brought Stone to Wolfhound Press, 211pp, "Twice," we thought his appealing lips chorus pagan folk customs, and al- In addition to details about HM Prison Full Sutton, York Y04 IPS: Dillon, Arrow Hutchinson, Belfast's Milltown cemetery LES MAC AN ULTAIGH 1.99 pbk. Brought forth her armies and battleships. If s a long, long way from Clare to here and is as much about the work- though Dr Kenny is an histo- the infamous jail and the splen- Paul (Dingus) Magee BR3783 £6.99 pbk. reviews Kilmainham by Dr rian and a lawyer this is no dry did Royal Hospital buildings And, the storms of God shall not always stay If s a long, long, long way, it gets further day by day. Thomas Jack EN3177 ings of the loyalist paramili- If s a long, long way from Clare to here taries as it is about the man Colum Kennedy, Four tome. All credit is due for the — now Dublin's modem art England's doom as in Bantry Bay. Danny McNamee(framed)EN3887 himself. Courts Press, £6.99. extensive quotes and refer- museum gallery—other gems • Vincent Wood EN1049 ences. ' in the book relate the import- When Friday comes around and Eddy's in the fighting Liajn McCotter LB83693 The book also examines the omen have always been "And oh" we said to the hopeless ones, ance of the Perpetual Fire to LiamO'Duibhir MT2485 N MARCH 16, 1988 at role of British intelligence and Different angles are given compulsive letter Who made count of Ireland's martyred sons, My Ma would like a letter home, but I'm too tired for Kilmainham, and the prob- the funerals of three un- its collusion with loyalist para- HIS IS not an account of on the history of sectarian re- writers "and diary "The bravest lives; be your mourning dumb, writing , Peter Sherry B75880 ligious persecution, including ability that Ireland's first black W LiamQuinn 49930 Oarmed IRA members militaries and investigates the martyrs of 1916 and ceepers, and the author has Ere the snow of winter of winter Wolfe Tone shall come. voter lived in the area. shot dead by the SAS in Gibral- how the two soldiers got Ttheir treatment at the infa- humorous tales of drunken- Jeen abje to draw on a rich And the only time I feelalrigh t is when I'm into John Kinsella EN1944 ness and debauchery dis- tar, a lone loyalist gunman, caught up in a republican mous jail, but a fascinating and A: treasury of writing spanning He came — was beaten — we bear him here, drinking Martin stone, began shooting funeral. concise history of a community played by the huge crowds For books on Ireland two centuries. HM Prison Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambridge assembling at- Kilmainham's From aVrison cell on his funeral bier, It eases off the pain a bit and levels out my thinking and lobbing grenades into the I Some of the what is pro- older than Dublin to which St i These accounts are varied, PE150PR: old holy well on St John's Eve. And freedom'sho r .f* shall buried low, Hugh Doherty 338636 mourners with deadly conse- duced by Dillon as hard evi- Maignenn gave his name in the and every reader will find at Four Provinces Bookshop With his mouldering corpse 'neath the snow. Well it almost breaks my heart when I think of Vincent Donnelly 274064 quences. dence is based on the author's sixth or seventh century. The establishment's efforts east one author with whom to 244 Gray's Inn Road, Harry Duggan 338638 Three days later two plain unidentified contacts and Anyone with an interest in to snuff out the well keeps re- identify. They are often clums- Josephine clothes British soldiers were Irish history will find some- appearing — as recently as London, WC1X8JR "Hush," one said, "o'er the new set sod, I promised I'd be coming back with pockets full of green Pat Hayes EN1978 while both believable and il- ily linked by the author, but "Hope shall endure with our faith in God, thing of interest because of the 1995 it was rediscovered by a ; Sean McNulty CL3440 killed after they drove into the luminating will undoubtedly Telephone 01718333022 I his is my sole criticism of a " * • ' * Nicholas Mullen MR0639 midst of the funeral cortege of prove difficult to corroborate. descriptions of pre- and post- Tibetan monk. fascinating anthology. And God shall also forsake us when, I dream I hear a piper play maybe if s emotion Jan Taylor EN1977 This grave is forgotten by Irishmen. I dream I see white horses dance on that other ocean ANONN IS AN ALL: THE PETER BERRESFORD ELLIS COLUMN

period in Ireland was Cyril sent to the Frongoch camp. 0 Peter Berresford Ellis picks out some recommended reading for the festive season Falls' Elizabeth's Irish wars. his release, he had written . Methuen, 1950. Falls was an book of his experiences the ^ eminent military historian, al- A good Journalistic account. beit an Ulster unionist. He had During the war of ind J served as a captain in the 36th pendence he served on Collin * (Ulster) Division in the first staff. He was right-wing in world war. His politics apart, politics and took the pro- Falls is a scrupulous historian Treaty side in 1922 becoming a and his work was an essential commandant in the Free-State guide to the period. forces. Insurrection, workers' I was delighted, therefore, I came to know him in the to see his book The birth of Ul- 1960s, while I was doing some ster, originally published in research, and we also had a 1936and now reissued by Con- brief correspondence. I was stable at £16.95. This book is never happy with his simplis- actually about the plantation tic approach to politics, but soviets and the death of Ulster in the 17th century. It then he was no more than a is an indispensable account of simple soldier with a good de- the period. I cannot recom- scriptive journalistic eye. Sur- mend it too highly. It is one of prisingly, he supported Clann those basic works that help one na Poblachta for a time but understand some of the roots mainly for its fiscal reform pro- of Ireland's 'English problem'. gramme in which it advocated Similarly, Constable has a break with sterling. He died also reissued Falls' The history in 1977. of the 36th (Ulster) Division, Completed in 1961, Dublin £18.95, first published in 1922. burning was regarded as too While, of course, nationalists controversial when submitted are perhaps sick to death of the to publishers. It is a vivid, eye- 36th being used as a unionist witness account of the insur- icon, one cannot deny the sac- rection and an important rifice they gave. Although sol- addition to the studies of the diers from the nationalist period. Essential reading may community suffered just as be a cliche but I have no hesita- much, perhaps more, and their tion in using it. working as a journalist on the 1960s. I had moved on from sacrifice is neglected because Brighton Herald. Mike had also Brighton in 1963. It was in 1970 they were not allowed, for pol- been a reporter in Brighton and that Jack made the move to itical reasons, to band into a went from there to the glossy Fleet Street, when Fleet Street division, the; story of the 36th ASTLY, I look at Mark Today magazine in London be- still counted for something in Division is a tragic story of Bence-Jones' new offer- fore heading to the Irish Times, the world of journalism. Soon how Ulster Irishmen were sac- Ling: Life in an Irish country We would meet up at par- he had found his niche as rificed by incompetent mili- house (Constable, £20.00.). I ties at various mutual friends theatre critic on the Mail. He tary commanders for no think we look back to the days where the wine would circle also began to broadcast on greater moral purpose than to of the Anglo-Irish landowning and we would stay up all radio and television on theatre, retain the status quo of empire. gentry with a degree of curios- , night, changing the world. He became a respected auth- ity. It isn't a phenomenon that There was a lot to change in ority. In fact, when his death should be forgotten about. IJ those days. A lot of things for was announced, all the Lon- thoroughly enjoyed—if enjoy-J young men and women, who don theatres lowered their We would ment is a correct word —T hoped to change the world, to lights in token of his passing, Bence-Jones' Tivilight of the as- argue over. * Sadly, he never wrote the meet up at cendancy. It was die story of the * It was while I was remem- novel that he ysed to talk last breath of European feudal- bering such times, inspired by about. Fvgit irreparabile tempus. parties at ism. One could almost feel the fact of Mike Viney's book, Jack was a great believer in sorry for those ascendancy that a sad event occurred: one that line from Thomas Davis: various grandees and their families of those things that bring you educate that you rhay be free, faced by their decaying and up with a jolt and make you So, returning to education, I mutual disappearing world — until realise the transience of this ex- went once more to the pile of oneremembers the untold mis- istence. Waiting books. friends and ery their system caused. I had, as I say, been remem1 V ' > - ;- This volume continues to bering those times and the look at life in the middle 19th other young men and women , we would •and early 20th centuries in the who were part of that period in 1JIGH ON my recom- stately piles of Ireland. Brighton at the start of the mended list is Conor Ko- stay up all What appealed to me was brave new decadeof the 1960s. I I stick's Revolu tion in the portrait of the Trig house One of them was Jack Tinker Ireland- popular militancy 1917 literary world'. We have some who was working for the Eve- to 1923, Pluto Press, £12.99. changing fascinating glimpses of Au- ning Argus. This is essential reading and brey deVereatCurragh Chase, ! year on his remote cottage I had put down Mike's book tells of working-class milit- the world. Edith Somerville at Drishane, | Maria Edgeworth at Edge- I NOTHER YEAR almost farm in County Mayo, a place and switched on the radio for ancy and its impact on the Brit- A he describes as a 'one thorn- the early evening news. It was ish authorities during this There was a worthstown, Bernard Shaw at I over. Where does time edged acre'. Monday, October 28. Jack Tin- period. In this you will also Mitchelstown Castle and Lady 1 go? Is it really nine years Not to be outdone, Mike's ker had died as the result of find the story of the Irish so- Gregory at Coole Park. ago that, at the invitation of die wife, Ethna, has also published heart attack. He was 58 years viets, like the Limerick soviet, Perhaps one of these days: late Des Greaves, I started writ- a book with Blackstaff entitled old. set up with the war of inde- change in the story of these great houses i ing this column? There is a Dancing to different tunes: sex- In recent years Jack, like all pendence. and estates, and the Anglo- I poignancy to that line from uality and its misconceptions. we dedicated young men, had A more esoteric book is Was those days Irish gentry, will be told in J Horace's Odes — Eheu,fugaces Back in the 1970s, Mike and moved on from Brighton jour- Ireland conquered?:international terms of what happened out-1 labuntur anni — alas, the fleet- Ethna Viney were being de- nalism to become the flamboy- law and the Irish question by An- side the comfortable walls as 1 ing years glide by. scribed as Ireland's Sidney and ant theatre critic of the Daily thony Carty (Pluto Press, Another book added to my well as inside. Of how these It is coming up to Beatrice Webb, after the pion- Mail. He had always been fas- £12.99) in which Professor shelves has been Dublin burn- tided gentry could, and did, j Christmas, traditionally a book eer Fabian socialists, historians cinated in theatre. In 19601 was Carty, a professor of Interna- ing: the Easter rising from behind summon the wives and buying time. So I thought, for a and social and political activ- doing theatre criticism for the tional Law, examines the legal the barricades, by W.J. Brennan- daughters of their workers and change, I would use this col- ists. Many of us still remember Brighton Herald and, though arguments put-forward by Whitmore, published by Gill & peasants to their beds or, if re- umn to recommend some of Mike's crusading articles in the Jack was on the rival news- England as to why they Macmillan at £9.99. Brennan- fused, would cause bones to be the books which publishers Irish Times in die late 1960s and paper, we were always meet- claimed that had a legal right Whitmore, a journalist from broken — even having the d have been sending me to re- 70s, taking up issues of mental ing in the bars of the Theatre to occupy Ireland. It's a fasci- County Wexford, was director workers hanged. When tens of " view. And curiously enough, health, child poverty and other Royal or the Palace Pier nating book but I feel more an of field intelligence in the Irish thousand starved to death on * even as I turned to the pile, I social matters, which were also" Theatre, as well as doing the academic exercise than having Volunteers in 1916. He com- those same great estate. In the was sharply reminded of that issued in pamphlet form. party rounds, and talking of any real relevance in a situ- manded the garrison in North year 1740 alone some 400,000 J line from Horace and, indeed, Ethna was writing on femin- the future, of the plays and ation where an imperial power Earl Street during the insurrec- Irishmen, women and children of the harsher judgment from ism and sexuality. novels v, e v ould one day uses war as a method of occu- tion after having served in the starved to death because of the Virgil's Georgics — fugit irrep- • In the 1970s they retired write or how, "hen the Labour pying another country. It was GPO in die early days of the policies of the families. arabile tempus—time irretriev- from full-time journalism and Party swept into power, the Cicero who said: silent le- insurrection. So I leave you to your read- J ably is flying! set themsejves up in their world would become a better gesenim inter arma—laws don't I still have my father's copy ing pleasures while I turn back ! I had noticed that an old ac- smallholding under die Mure- place. This was, I hasten to say, count in wartime. Law never of Brennan-Whitmore's book to work. Virgil, in Ceorgks, quaintance of mine, Michael ela Mountains. once said labor omnia vicit im- Viney, has just published a 1960 and we were young and (ounts with imperialists any- With the Irish in Frongoch, Tal- bot Press, Dublin, 1917. Bren- probus — never ending work new book witiilpgkstaff Press I had known Mike in an- full of enthusiasm. .jyay. nan-Whitmore had been conquers all things. Who did of Belfast A year s turning, illus- other world: in Brighton, on Jack made a name for him- ' One of the best books that I captured and interned, being he think he was kidding? trated as well as written by the Sussex coast, wh£n I was self on the Evening Argus in the ever read on the Elizabethan Mike. It is about the changing