Thursday, August 05, 2010


Aitheasc an Uachtaráin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh don 85ú Ard-Fheis de Shinn Féin in Óstlann an Spa , Leamhcán , Co. Atha Cliath , 21ú agus 22ú Deireadh Fómhair , 1989 /
Presidential Address of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh to the 85th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin in the Spa Hotel , Lucan , County Dublin , 21st and 22nd October 1989.....


" In the Leinster House election at the same time we stated in a leafletting blitz throughout the 26 counties that it was a failed institution that was not going to deliver any solutions to Ireland's problems. The first step towards revbuilding this country is the total withdrawal of British forces and administration from Ireland and a 32-county election for one national parliament. That remains our alternative to the Leinster House cul-de-sac.

Let us take the opportunity at this Ard-Fheis to publicly salute Irish Republican prisoners in Irish , British or other foreign jails. Some of them are now longer in jail than the Fenians in Victorian England , passing the fifteen-and-a-half years highwater mark endured by Tom Clarke, the 1916 signatory , in English jails. We pledge our support to you and extend solidarity greetings to all Basque , Corsican and Breton prisoners and all those imprisoned fighters for justice throughout the world.

It is proper for us also to acknowledge here the good work done in the last year by other branches of the Republican Movement : the women of Cumann na mBan, the youth of Na Fianna Éireann and the dedicated personnel of CABHAIR, the Irish Republican Prisoners' Dependants Fund. Each has a vital role to play in the Movement and all of them have a call on our time , energy and resources. There is a place for every contribution and a role for every person within our ranks....."

(MORE LATER).






MURDERER , LIAR , OR BOTH.......?
(* '1169...' Comment - their word, not ours.)
From 'MAGILL' magazine, December 1997. By Ursula Halligan.




When asked why the gardaí did not intervene to save John Corcoran , Seán O' Callaghan said he never received an explanation. He said it was a "cock-up" and could have been avoided . His own theory is that the gardaí didn't take his warnings seriously , because they believed he could handle the situation on his own , as he had done previously in a similar situation involving another garda informer in Cork. He wouldn't say who that was.

" That's one explanation . The other is that they simply were not going to compromise me. The 'Marita Ann' ( a gun-running ship intercepted by gardaí in 1984) had happened and , if they rescued John Corcoran , then the finger of suspicion would point to me . I'm just guessing this . Someone , somewhere may have deemed that I was a million times more valuable , as an informer, than John Corcoran was to the gardaí..." , he said.
(MORE LATER).






CABHAIR : organising fund-raisers for the Republican prisoners and supporting them on the streets....
This weekend will , yet again, see the CABHAIR organisation hold another function for the POW's that it supports ; one of these will be held on Sunday 8th August 2010 in Dublin and , the day before that , in Belfast, a 'Political Status' march through the streets will be held , assembling at 1.30PM at Dunville Park and marching from there to Castle Street.

We on this blog are proud to be associated with such an organisation , and have met and befriended some of its many members and activists throughout this country , and from abroad. For the most part , it's an organisation that stays mostly 'off radar' , content to work away in the 'back-ground' , doing what it does best - helping to ensure that as much money as possible is available to the families of the Irish Republican prisoners which it supports.

It is maintaining the proud tradition of Irish Republicanism that it has always held , and is to commended for doing so.

Thanks!
Sharon.






Sunday, August 01, 2010

POW FUND-RAISER (and coffee!) IN THE 79'r , SAT 31st JULY 2010.

Hectic! Full house , busy , 'buzzing', noisey , sweaty , great 'craic' , great company - and a great Cause!

Practically standing-room only in the 79'r Pub in Ballyfermot , Dublin , last night , for the fund-raiser for the families of the CABHAIR-supported Irish Republican prisoners in Maghaberry and Portlaoise Prisons. Three musicians - Paddy Sweeney , Pato Cullen and Peter Kearns - kept the crowds entertained and on their feet with the Irish rebel songs which , between them , they delivered from the stage for well over three hours. The packed house was welcomed by one of the organisers at the start of the night ,and was given an update on the conditions endured by the POW's in Maghaberry : regular strip-searches, inhumane facilities re their toiletries requirements , 23-hour-a-day lock-ups , no gym or exercise yard access and constant harassment of visitors. A loud cheer was raised when it was mentioned from the stage that a protest march for the Prisoners will be held in Belfast next Saturday , 7th August 2010 (1.30pm , Dunville Park , and march to Castle Street) at which , amongst others , an ex-Blanketman will be delivering a speech. It was also mentioned that , next Sunday (8th August 2010) another CABHAIR-organised event , for which over 600 tickets have already been sold , will be held in Dublin.

Ten raffle prizes were offered , and won, on the night : a Bodhrón
(pictured above) , two framed mirrors ('Bobby Sands/1981 Hunger-Strikers') three Republican books ('Between Comrades/James Connolly/Great Irish Speeches') a 16-inch by 12-inch GPO Print , 'Political Status' T-Shirt, a bottle of 'Jameson' Whiskey and - a top of the range Morphy-Richards 'Coffee Maker' machine , which was very kindly donated by Liam S.,whom,it is rumoured, used a similar liquid to keep himself awake in 1966 ;-) !

We include a few photographs of some of the crowd at this function , and the raffle prizes which ten of their number won on the night -



A section of the crowd in the 79'r Pub at the POW Fund-Raiser , Saturday 31st July 2010.


'Continuity Not Compromise' T-Shirt raffle prize.


Two of the three books won on the night , and......


....the third one.


16inch by 12inch GPO Print.


Two Irish Republican-themed mirrors.


A bottle of 'Jameson' whiskey , which should only be used in conjunction with.....


.....the Coffee Maker! This prize was donated on the night by a man who is very special to all who know of him...!


And finally -
- another view of some of those in attendance.

We had a fantastic night (and morning!) at yet another extremely well-organised CABHAIR event , at which a sizeable amount of money was raised and will be passed-on to the families of the Republican Prisoners which are supported by that organisation. Thanks to Frank , Robbie , Paddy E. , Pat and Barney and the crew for the Security work , Cathy and crew for the raffle ticket sales and to the staff and management of the Pub. And , again , to Liam S. for helping all of us - and the winner , in particular - to sober up afterwards!
Thanks!
Sharon.