FOUNDED 1939

Organ of the Connolly Association IRISH

MOCK AT No 492 FEBRUARY 1985 30p

TERROR ACT

IN THIS ISSUE

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UDRFACTS

POLITICS TODAY

IRISH NEUTRALITY

BELFAST JOTTINGS

IRISH SONGS

BOOK REVIEWS

DONAL MacAMHLAIGH

A NEAR RIOT A BUS load of enthusiasts from Birmingham came near to causing a riot when they descended on the court where Dr Maire O'Shea was being charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

They had publicised their trip not widely but too well and the Orangemen had organised. The protest outside the court therefore had to be called off .

In their p u b l i c i t y they had irresponsibly referred to the Irish Centre, despite the fact that this is a strictly non-political institution and the result was that a group of Orangemen tried to demonstrate outside it; ugly scenes might well have developed.

Irish organisations in Liverpool were unanimous in condemning this incursion. Its authors were the so-called "Irish Freedom Movement" said to be an of f - shoot of the "Revo-l u t i o n a r y C o m m u n i s t P a r t y " g e n e r a l l y r e g a r d e d a s n e i t h e r revolutionary, communis t , nor yet a party.

But the impression had been given that the Labour Committee on Ireland and Troops out Movement were collaborating.

W I T H O U T doubt these errors were committed without evil intent and through lack of experience. But it is elementary that when planning a demonstration in a city, especially a city with a history of sectarian division like Liverpool or Glasgow, you consult the organisations that are working there and take their advice.

In the event Betty O'Shea's daughter, Deirdre, said that her mother's solicitors would be issuing a statement dissociating herself from the IFM demonstration. She also objected to the establishment of a so-called O'Shea Defence Committee.

Except in rare circumstances it is anyway silly to hold demonstrations outside courts. In most , if not all, cases it is liable to be counter-produc-tive, and does not help the accused in the slightest degree.

COMES UP FOR SCRUTINY

LOBBY PARLIAMENT ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6th

THE Prevention of Terrorism Act which has spread heart-break through so many Irish homes, was passed on a five-year basis last year, but comes up for scrutiny once a year.

It is vitally important that Members of Parliament should be aware of the consequences of its operation, and still worse the consequences of its abuse.

ABUSE A n e x a m p l e o f its a b u s e w a s the

arrest o n C h r i s t m a s Eve o f t w o m e n w h o s e state o f t o s t i c a t i o n p r e v e n t e d their g i v i n g the secur i ty m e n a fair a c c o u n t o f t h e m s e l v e s . T h e y were held for a w e e k i n c o m m u n i c a d o a n d f i n e d o v e r a h u n d r e d p o u n d s .

T h a t was s c a n d a l o u s .

D u r i n g the s a m e spa te o f arres t s c e n t r e d o n L i v e r p o o l , m e n w e r e h e l d the usual w e e k a n d t h e n let o u t w i t h o u t a s ta in o n the ir charac ter .

T h e y get n o c o m p e n s a t i o n . When two young fellows make

the mistake of taking a drop too much they lose a hundred pounds and a week's time. When the police arrest perfectly innocent people and lose them a week's pay, they haven't to give them a thing.

T h i s A c t n e e d s to b e repealed . But e v e n if there is little i m m e d i a t e p r o s p e c t o f that be ing d o n e w h i l e D o w n i n g Stree t is t h a t c h e d wi th writs a n d s u m m o n s e s . M e m b e r s can ins is t o n the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a h u m a n e c o d e o f pract ice , a n d the r e s t o r a t i o n o f the tort o f w r o n g f u l arrest .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y the T o r i e s are s h o w i n g i n c r e a s i n g s igns o f f ear o f t h e p e o p l e t h e i r p o l i c y i s be tray ing .

Mr J o h n Prescot t , L a b o u r ' s e m p l o y m e n t s p o k e s m a n a s k e d H o m e S e c r e t a r y Mr L e o n Bri t tan what w e r e t h e gu ide l ines g i v e n Spec ia l B r a n c h Of f i cers f o r t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f their w o r k . H e descr ibed t h e a c c o u n t g i v e n in the reply a s a " s p i e s ' charter ."

T h e H o m e Secretary to ld M r Prescott t h a t the po l i ce m u s t n o t be p r e v e n t e d f r o m " l o o k i n g i n t o the a c t i v i t i e s o f those w h o s e real aim is t o h a r m o u r d e m o c r a c y , but w h o for tac t i ca l or o t h e r r e a s o n s ,

Conference to defend the nation state REACTING to the evil and criminal plan of the Brussels dictators to abolish national boundaries in Europe, and thereby destroy the last vestiges of partici-patory democracy the Connolly Association has decided to invite interested organisations to hold a conference on the defence of the nation-state.

The principal enemies of human progress, the robber-barons of the transnational companies, see the existence of the independent communities as an obstacle to'their operations. These operations include the

wholesale felling of the world's forests, the genocide of primitive peoples, interference with the world's climatic conditions with the production of droughts and floods, and the causing of famine through agro-business. They cause the de-population of Africa; they cause the floods of Bangladesh. They load dud drugs and poison industries on to the third world.

At the same time they close down British, Irish and West European industries, transfer capital to whatever place seems likely to yield most profit, and through their

stooges in local governments create the rules of the game that suit them.

THERE are countries like Ireland that have not yet attained the position of a unified nation-state. There can be no question that partition has cost the country millions of its people and years of economic development. But this is becoming a global problem. Propaganda to discredit the very notion of national democracy is being stepped up all the time. A big factor is the promotion of faceless American pop-culture, fair parallel to American junk food, tasteless, all but inedible, but thrust (Continued on page 4, col 1)

c h o o s e t o keep (e i ther in t h e l o n g or t h e s h o r t term) w i t h i n t h e le t ter o f the l a w in what t h e y d o . "

In o t h e r words , as M r P r e s c o t t i n d i g n a n t l y replied, t h e y c a n d o w h a t e v e r they please .

HARMING DEMOCRACY O n w h a t basis are t h e y t o f o r m

the o p i n i o n that s o m e t h i n g wil l " h a r m " d e m o c r a c y . O n e w o u l d th ink d e m o c r a c y w a s h a r m e d e n o u g h a lready by t h e T o r y G o v e r n m e n t . For e x a m p l e b y s t o p p i n g cars because t h e y m i g h t b e g o i n g t o picket in t h e c o a l d i s p u t e , a n d there m i g h t be d i s o r d e r .

A n d there is e v id e n ce t h a t s o m e o f f i c e r s are in terpre t ing the g u i d e l i n e s in the w a y M r P r e s c o t t fears . A c c o r d i n g to t h e N e w S t a t e s m a n a D r M a g u i r e , a c o m m u n i t y worker a m o n g t h e Irish in I s l ington , w a s r a i d e d u n d e r t h e P T A and h e l d f o r 13 h o u r s w h i l e he was q u e s t i o n e d a b o u t h i s report o f a W o l f e T o n e f o l k c o n c e r t in L o n d o n s e n t t o a D u b l i n n e w s p a p e r .

There is no prohibition of Wolfe Tone folk concerts in the schedule of organisations proscribed under the PTA. Nor does the Act forbid reporting anything that goes on

Yet D r Maguire , a c c o r d i n g to this i n f l u e n t i a l week ly , w a s t o l d that s e n d i n g that report c o u l d b e i n t e r p r e t e d a s " a i d i n g a n d a b e t t i n g a proscr ibed o r g a n i s a -t i o n . " It c o u l d , p r o v i d e d t h e i n f i - p r e t e r w a s a l l o w e d t o i l erpret e x a c t l y as he p l e a s e d , n o m a t t e r w h a t h i s p o l i t i c a l p r e s u p p o s i t i o n s .

According to an Editorial in the "Irish Times" the present wave of a r r e s t s a n d h a r a s s m e n t s , particularly of the IBRG, is widely believed in Ireland to be a clever method of bringing pressure on the Fitzgerald Government so as to edge them into NATO.

They need nothope. The refusal (Continued on page 2, col 1)

JAMES WALSH R.I.P

THE DEATH occurred recently of Mr James Walsh, Old Road, Moneenroe, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. Aged 84 years he had been unwell for some time.

He was a remarkable man. I remember calling on him around 1948 while the sugar factory strike was on in neighbouring Carlow.

The anthracite mines had run down and many of Jim Walsh's fellow miners had got employment in the sugar industry. I was most impressed by his good humour, wit and political insight. After that I met him from time to time in Dublin.

He was a member of a Moneenroe nationalist family, but later joined the CPI and took part in the famous mining strike in Castlecomer in 1934. He worked in every one of the local mines-levels rather than pits—at some time in his life.

He was a member of A Company, 3rd Batt . North Kilkenny Old IRA, and a firing party from Kilkenny barracks rendered military honours after Requiem Mass in Moneenroe cemetery. Fr. Kieran Cantwell officiated.

He is survived by his brothers, Willie, Joe and Patrick, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

CDG

Northern I re land Secre tary Mr Douglas Hard has told Mr Bob Ftorry, M P , tha t he will not order an enquiry in to the death of Mrs N o r a M c C a b l e who died after the f i r ing of baton r o u n d s in J u l v 1981.

IRISH BOOKS

244 GRAYS INN ROAD LONDON WC 1

WRITE FOR LIST 0 1 - 8 3 3 - 3 0 2 2

P a g e 2 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT February 1985

Down among the la-di-dahs

By NOEL GORDON

i l " S .1 r a r e o c c a s i o n i n d e e d w h e n a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i>: t h e C o n n o l l y V s s o c i a i i o n is inv i t e d t o a m e e t i n g

ot t h e i u r o p e a n A t l a n t i c G r o u p in t h e ( i r a n d C o m m i t t e e R o o m ot t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s . W h o a r e t h e \ ' "i o u m i g h t we l l a s k . I t ' s e v e n r a r e r w h e n t h e g u e s t s p e a k e r h a p p e n s to he M r D o u g l a s H u r d , S e c r e t a r \ o t S t a t e t o r N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d '

S o o i l I t r e k k e d o n t h e e v e n i n g .il I h u r s d a y , J a n u a r y 2 4 t h t o W e s t m i n s t e r t o f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t t h i s n i v s t e r i o u s g r o u p . O n a r r i v a l 1 w a s p r e s e n t e d w i t h a list w h i c h g a v e p a r t i c u l a r s o l al l t h o s e inv i ted A q u i c k p e r u s a l o f t h e list i n d i c a t e d t h a t 1 w a s s h a r i n g t h e c o m p a n s o t A m b a s s a d o r s . P r o f e s s o r s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s ot M u 111 - N a 11 o n a I c o m p a n i e s . B a n k i n g E x e c u t i v e s a n d m i l i t a r v m e n 1 1 i m m e d i a t e ! ) t h o u g h t o t N e i l J o r d a n ' s l a t e s t f i l m " C o m p a n y o t W o l v e s " . O n a c l o s e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n ot t h e list I n o t i c e d t h a t 1 w a s n o t e n t i r e l y o n mv o w n . In t a c t , t h e r e w e r e r e p r e s e n t a 11 v e s f r o m t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f I r i s h S o c i e t i e s , C o n r a d h n a G a e i l g e . C a m p a i g n

Terror Act Continued f r o m Page O n e

ot t h e e m b a s s y t o h e l p t h e v i c t i m s o f t h e P T A s h o w > h o w m u c h t h e c o a l i t i o n c a r e s . T h e y ' l l g e t n o t h i n g f r o m D u b l i n by t w i s t i n g t h e e x i l e s ' a r m s t h e s a m e t i m e it is a d i s g r a c e t h a t t h i s s h o u l d be so

L o o k i n g at t h e m a t t e r f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o t c o m i n o n s e n s e . it is o b v i o u s t h a t t e r r o r i s m is a n ev i l . It i s a l s o o b v l o u s t h a t n o g o v e r n m e n t c a n b e e x p e c t e d t o a c c e p t it as a n o r m a l p a r t o f p u b l i c l i f e . It is n o t t o b e r e c o m m e n d e d .

Bu t it is t h e p r o d u c t 'if i n j u s t i c e . T h e s o l u t i o n i s t o r e m o v e g r i e v e n c e s t h a t f e s t e r in p e o p l e ' s m i n d s a n d n e r v e t h e m to d e s p e r a t e m e a s u r e s .

O n e c a n i m a g i n e h o w h e a r t s . s ank in I r e l a n d w h e n M r s I h a t c h e r , w i t h t h e s e n s i t i v i t y o f a

h i p p o p o t a m u s , m a d e h e r f a m o u s " o u t . o u t . o u t ! " s p e e c h . C o u l d s h e b e s u r p r i s e d if s o m e p e o p l e d r e w t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e r e w a s n mInne t o r it b u t v i o l e n c e ? It is t r . e t h a t v i o l e n c e h a s n o t s u c c e e d e d i n r e m o v i n g t h e g : e v a n c e s . b u t a r e p e o p l e a l w a y s it: t h e m o o d t o r e f l e c t o n t h a t ?

Bv t h e m e t h o d o f b l a n k e t s u p p r e s s i o n , h a r a s s m e n t a l i k e o f i n n o c e n t a n d g u i l t ; , , r e p r e s s i v e l e g i s l a t i o n a n d p o l i c e d i s c r e t i o n , t h . g o v e r n m e n t s p r e a d s t e r r o r i s m by d r i v i n g i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r s of p e o p l e i n t o t h e f r a m e of m i n d t h a t b e g e t s it.

W e a r e a g a i n s t t h e P r e v e n t i o n o" T e r r o r i s m A c n o t b e c a u s e it p r e v e n t s t e r r o r i s m , b u t b e c a u s e it d o e s t h e o p p o s i t e It m a k e s t h i n g s wi >rse, n o t b e t t e r

M e a n w h i l e t h e C o n n o l l y A s s o c i a t i o n c a I N o n all its m e m b e r s , f r i e n d s a n d s u p p o r t e r s , a r . d a l l b o n a t i d e L a b o u r m o v e m e n t a n d I r i s h p o l i t i c a l , r e i i g i o u s a n d c u l t u r a l a s s o c i a -t i o n s , t o j o i n t h e l o b b y o f P a r l i a m e n t o n M a r c h 6 t h , b e g i n n i n g at 2 p m W e w a n t t o g o t o W e s t m i n s t e r in a q u i e t o r d e r l y w a y a n d e x p l a i n t o o u r M P s w h a t t h - I r i sh c o m m u n i t y is f a c i n g t o d a y .

PEACE T O T H E . C H I L D R E N O F ALL THE. W O R L D

to t D e m o c r a c y in L i s t e r . I r i sh N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l a n d t h e C e l t i c I e a g u e .

S o , it w a s w i t h i n t e r e s t t h a t w e a w a i t e d t h e o p e n i n g r e m a r k s ot t h e c h a i r m a n — T h e R i g h t H o n o u r a b l e L o r d C h a l f o n t . H e i n t r o d u c e d t h e m e e t i n g b y t e l l i n g us a l i t t l e (ve ry l i t t l e ) a b o u t t h e g r o u p A p p a r e n t l y t h e y m a k e it t h e i r b u s i n e s s t o d i s c u s s c o n t r o v e r s i a l " i s s u e s , a n d o f c o u r s e N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d w a s o n e ot t h e s e It w a s , h e a d d e d , a n h o n o u r t o i n t r o d u c e h i s o l d f r i e n d D o u g l a s H u r d w h o h a d h a d s u c h a g l i t t e r i n g c a r e e r in p u b l i c l i fe . I u r t h e r m o r e . L o r d C h a l f o n t a d d e d " D o u g l a s wil l b r i n g c o m p a s s i o n t o t h e t r a g i c s i t u a t i o n in N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d "

111L S E C R E T A R Y ot S t a t e a n d D i r e c t - R u l e s u p r e m o t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o g i v e u s t h e b e n e f i t o f h i s m i n d . " S p e a k i n g a s a n a m a t e u r h i s t o r i a n " h e i n f o r m e d u s t h a t " h i s t o r y w e i g h s h e a v i l y o n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d . " H e d i d n ' t o f c o u r s e d w e l l o n w h o w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r its h i s t o r y .

O t h e r w o r d s o f w i s d o m i n c l u d e d " I n t h e R e p u b l i c o f I r e l a n d t h e r e is a n i n d e p e n d e n t g o v e r n m e n t " If D o u g l a s a n d h i s c o l l e a g u e s h a d t h e i r w a y I ' m s u r e t h e r e w o u l d n ' t b e 1

O n a m o r e s e r i o u s n o t e t h o u g h , h e t a l k e d a t g r e a t l e n g t h a b o u t t h e n e e d t o a c c e p t t h a t I r i s h p o l i t i c i a n s h a v e t h e r i g h t t o e x p r e s s o p i n i o n s o n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d — a g r a n d c o n c e s s i o n i n d e e d ! F u r t h e r m o r e s i n c e I r e l a n d a n d B r i t a i n h a d j o i n e d t h e H E C t h e r e h a d b e e n a n i n c r e a s e in f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o - o p e r a t i o n .

I w o u l d s u s p e c t t h a t o n t h e s e t h e m e s h e w a s g e t t i n g n e a r e r t o t h e a i m s o f t h e E u r o p e a n / A t l a n -t ic G r o u p , a c l o s e r c o - o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n B r i t a i n a n d I r e l a n d w i t h i n a n F T C / N A T O f r a m e -w o r k . In o t h e r w o r d s a w h i t t l i n g a w a v o l w h a t l i m i t e d s o v e r e i g n t y I r e l a n d s t i l l h a s .

M R N O F L D O R R , t h e I r i s h A m b a s s a d o r in B r i t a i n w a s t h e f i r s t t o s p e a k a f t e r M r H u r d . H e s t a t e d t h a t a g r e a t e r s e n s e o f h i s t o r y w a s r e q u i r e d in B r i t a i n a n d p e r h a p s a g r e a t e r s e n s e of r e a l i s m in I r e l a n d H e a d d e d t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n t o d a y in t h e s ix c o u n t i e s " w a s a p r o d u c t o f t h e u n r e s o l v e d l e g a c y o f t h e l o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e s e i s l a n d s . " A d i s t u r b i n g f e a t u r e o f t h e A m b a s s a d o r ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n w a s h i s c o n s t a n t r e f e r e n c e t o " t h e m a j o r i t y in N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d a n d t h e i r B r i t i s h i d e n t i t y . " O n e w o u l d h o p e t h a t t h i s i s n ' t a n a c c e p t a n c e o f B r i t i s h r u l e in I r e l a n d .

Q u e s t i o n t i m e w a s a p t l y d e a l t w i t h b y M r H u r d in t h e t i m e h o n o u r e d t r a d i t i o n o f t h e B r i t i s h r u l i n g c l a s s — a v o i d a t all c o s t s a n s w e r i n g t h e q u e s t i o n s t h a t h a v e b e e n p u t t o y o u ! T h i s of c o u r s e b e c o m e s d i f f i c u l t w h e n m e m b e r s o f y o u r o w n c l a s s a s k q u e s t i o n s , a s w a s t h e c a s e w h e n a L i e u t e n a n t C o m m a n d e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t all C a t h o l i c s s h o u l d b e s e n t s o u t h o f t h e b o r d e r . In h is v i e w t h i s w a s t h e p e r f e c t a n s w e r t o a " d i f f i c u l t " q u e s t i o n . M r H u r d w a s o b l i g e d t o r e p l y " t h a t in a c i v i l i s e d s o c i e t y w e d o n o t r e s o r t t o s u c h m e t h o d s . "

T h e e v e n i n g w a s r o u n d e d o f f w i t h f u t u r e p l a n s f r o m t h e p l a t f o r m w h i c h i n c l u d e d m e e t i n g s o f t h e g r o u p o n t h e s i t u a t i o n in

NORTHAMPTON CONNOLLY ASSOCIATION

61 Meshaw Crescent Abingion Vale

N o r t h a m p t o n NN3 3NG

P E A C E T O T H E C H I L D R E N O F A L L F H E W O R L D O n e of the N o r t h a m p t o n designs (see below, col 3)

NORTHAMPTON WORKSHOP

NORTHAMPTON Connolly As-sociation is holding its tenth Irish Community Arts Screen Printing Workshop on Saturday 16th February in the Roadmender Youth Club, 1 Lady's Lane from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is free. The w orkshops specialise in hand

printing and hand colouring of Celtic designs which are developed on card and fabric.

l~hose wishing to learn the craft of screen printing should contact Peter Mulligan at the workshop.

Mr Mulligan is giving a display of his techniques in the East End of London on February 9th. For particulars telephone Connolly Association Head Office at 01-833-3022. or Mr Patrick Bond at. 850-0283.

I s r a e l A p o s s i b l e m e e t i n g a d d r e s s e d by M i s s J e a n K i r k p a t r i c k — w h o i n c i d e n t a l l y is R o n a l d R e a g a n s g r e a t e s t a d v o c a t e , a n d a p o s s i b l e m e e t i n g t o b e a d d r e s s e d b y L o r d C a r r i n g t o n . S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l o f N A T C V

A f t e r t h a t I w a s in n o d o u b t a s t o w h a t t h e a i m s a n d o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e E u r o p e a n / A t l a n t i c G r o u p w e r e , a n d t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t t o o !

UDR murders Mountbatten W H O a s s a s s i n a t e d Lord M o u n t -ba t t en? M o s t peop le would reply, " T h e I R A " of course . Yet the c lumsy a t t e m p t s t o link the I R A with the kil l ing c a m e to no th ing . O n e w o u l d have e x p e c t e d the mos t g igant ic c a m p a i g n t o ca t ch the killers of a m a n of tha t i m p o r t a n c e . But it was f o r g o t t e n a b o u t in a fo r tn igh t .

N o w fresh evidence comes f rom a life of Sir M a u r i c e Oldf ie ld , head of M I 6 , w h o w a s b r o u g h t back f r o m , r e t i r emen t t o b e c o m e secur i ty chief in the six c o u n t i e s . H e cites E n o c h Powell as s a y i n g the m u r d e r was "a very h igh- leve l j o b , " a n d one " n o t u n c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e n u c l e a r s t ra tegy of t he Un i t ed S t a t e s . "

H e c l a i m s t h a t L o r d M o u n t b a t t e n as First Sea L o r d h a d "secret a n d p e r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s " with the Soviet d e f e n c e minis t ry and was r ega rded as a " s ecu r i t y risk fo r N A T O by A m e r i c a n intell igence. Shortly be fo re the m u r d e r , he po in t s out , M o u n t b a t t e n h a d criticised the a r m s race arid pub l i c ly ques t i oned U S o p p o s i t i o n t o t he Salt ag reemen t . The i m p l i c a t i o n s a r e clear .

T H E B i r m i n g h a m p u b b o m b i n g was a n o t h e r q u e e r a n d u n e x p l a i n e d event . It is b e i n g sugges ted tha t t he reason f o r t he s u d d e n h a r a s s m e n t o f the I B R G was their i l l -advised a n n o u n c e m e n t tha t they were g o i n g to inves t iga te th i s subjec t . T w o o d d th ings s t a n d o u t . Firs t the fac t tha t a n ex t r eme r i g h t w i n g o r g a n i s a t i o n h a d a pos te r p a r a d e m i n u t e s a f t e r t he exp lo s ion , s e c o n d tha t a m e m b e r o f such a n o r g a n i s a t i o n a d m i t t e d in W i n c h e s t e r C r o w n C o u r t tha t his o r g a n i s a t i o n h a d discussed le t t ing of f b o m b s in t he M i d l a n d s a n d b laming the I r ish. W e d o no t urge the I B F G t d probe t o o deep ly . T h e impl icat ions are c lear .

T H E k i d n a p p i n g of a wea l thy car-dea l e r ' s w i f e is obvious ly a ser ious m a t t e r — n o t like the k i d n a p p i n g of two B & 1 s e a m e n which is d o n e with i m p u n i t y u n d e r the P reven t ion of T e r r o r i s m Act .

W h e n M r s B e r n a d e t t e Speers was tied u p in a shed for thir ty hours , the mass m e d i a to ld the s tory in such a way t h a t o n e wou ld infer republ ican i n v o l v e m e n t , just as thev h in ted at W a r s a w Pac t invo lvement when the F r e n c h we re c a u g h r spying in India .

N o w it t u r n s ou t tha t all the suspec t s , s o m e of w h o m are to be c h a r g e d w e r e m e m b e r s of the Ulster D e f e n c e R e g i m e n t , a sec tar ian force m o d e l l e d o n the B-Specials , but part of the Br i t i sh A r m y .

F i a n n a F a i l l e a d e r C h a r l e s H a u g h e y , a n d S D L P d e p u t y leader, S e a m u s M a l l o n , have d e m a n d e d the d i s b a n d m e n t of this regiment which is desc r ibed as a bar to polit ical p rogress .

L A S T m o n t h a U D R pr iva te was sen tenced t o life i m p r i s o n m e n t a f te r he h a d a d m i t t e d m u r d e r i n g a Sinn Fein e l ec t ion worker , Mr Peter C o r r i g a n a n d a t t e m p t i n g to kill six o the t C a t h o l i c s .

In a n o t h e r case in J a n u a r y U D R men s h o t d e a d a t e enage joy - r i de r w h o t r ied to j u m p a check-po in t T w o o f h i s c o m p a n i o n s were w o u n d e d

M e a n w h i l e , six m e m b e r s of the U D R h a v e been charged with the m u r d e r of a wel l -known repub l ican A d r i a n C a r r o l l , who was shot dead on his d o o r s t e p in A r m a g h in 1983.

It is s u s p e c t e d that the U D R has been i n f i l t r a t e d by the extremis t " P r o t e s t a n t Act ion F o r c e , " but a U D R p r i v a t e , G e o f f r e y E d w a r d s to ld pol ice t h a t it was more t h a n his life was w o r t h t o tell them what he knew a b o u t it

February 1985 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT P a » B 3

RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRE T H E C O N F E R E N C E S called by the C o n n o l l y A s s o c i a t i o n in I 9 8 4 h igh l i gh t i ng pa r t i cu l a r ly the r e l a t ion between the I r i sh ques t ion a n d tha t of world peace , have s h o w n a s teadi ly deve lop ing consensus , w h e r e only th ree q u e s t i o n s still seem to cause d i s a g r e e m e n t .

Peop le a r e c o n f u s e d on the q u e s t i o n s of w i t h d r a w a l of the t r o o p s , the a t t i t u d e to R e p u b l i c a n violence, a n d t h e p a r t o f t h e Dfciblin g o v e r n m e n t .

In each case there is on the o n e h a n d a r i g h t w i n g a p p r o a c h , a n d on the o t h e r an u l t ra - l e f t which whi le it s o u n d s r e v o l u t i o n a r y , real ly h a s an imper ia l i s t basis .

On the q u e s t i o n of the t r o o p s the r i gh twing s o l u t i o n is to k e e p t h e m there , even at lower p ro f i l e , while a long series of p u s s y f o o t i n g r eques t s fo r r e f o r m s a r e put in

In effect t hey r ema in the re fo r eve r , or unti l the U n i o n i s t l e o p a r d c h a n g e s his s p o t s a n d " c o n s e n t s " t o a un i t ed I re land .

It is n a t u r a l tha t peop le w h o see t h r o u g h th is s h o u l d feel i m p a t i e n t . So we get %he cry " t r o o p s ou t n o w . " If they sa id jus t " t r o o p s o u t " a n d left it a t t ha t t he re w o u l d be n o c o m p l a i n t . T h e y m u s t be got out as q u i c k l y as poss ible .

But m a n y p e o p l e w h o ta lk a b o u t " t r o o p s o u t n o w " forge t t h a t t he re are t h r ee c a t e g o r i e s of British t r o o p s in the six c o u n t i e s . T h e first c a t e e o r v h a v e b e e n o c c u p y i n g v a r i o u s g a r r i s o n s f o r several cen tu r i e s . T h e n the re a re o t h e r s sent in to s u p p o r t the civil p o w e r ; these a re the on ly t r o o p s m o s t Eng l i sh p e o p l e have h e a r d of. But the re is a l so the Uls te r D e f e n c e R e g i m e n t . T h e y a r e local p e o p l e w h o c a n n o t be g o t " o u t " , " n o w " . T h e r e is m o r e t o it t h a n tha t s imple s logan impl ies , t h o u g h of cour se it is a well-m e a n i n g s l o g a n .

T H E P R O C E S S of g e t t i n g t h o s e t r o o p s o u t m o r e o v e r is no t j u s t a q u e s t i o n f o r t he Brit ish. T h e Ir ish have a r ight t o k n o w if the Uls te r D e f e n c e R e g i m e n t will be d i s a r m e d . A n d as it is p r e s u m a b l y n o t i n t e n d e d t h a t there will be n o a r m y the re at all , then the D u b l i n g o v e r n m e n t is involved .

W h a t is w a n t e d first is a d e c l a r a t i o n of in tent t o w i t h d r a w by the Br i t i sh g o v e r n m e n t , a n d then d i s c u s s i o n s with the I r ish o n w h a t is t o f o l l o w . J u s t t o pul l t r o o p s o u t w i t h o u t m a k i n g a n y a r r a n g e m e n t wi th the Irish is imper i a l i s t i c , a n d it w a s ac tua l ly d o n e in Belgian C o n g o with the d e l i b e r a t e in t en t ion of c a u s i n g m a x i m u m c h a o s a n d an excuse to go back .

' T h i s is n o t t he h o a r y old b l o o d - b a t h a r g u m e n t . It m a y be p u t t i n g it a bit c rude ly t o say it is n o t h i n g to d o wi th the Engl i sh w h e t h e r the Ir ish deci 'de t o b a t h e in b l o o d o r mi lk , as l ong as it is the i r o w n . Bu t it is a grea t dea l t o d o with the I r ish tha t the Bri t ish w i t h d r a w as t he Irish w a n t t h e m to w i t h d r a w , a n d t h a t will c e r t a in ly give the best c h a n c e of an o r d e r l y t r ans i t i on . " T r o o p s o u t n o w " f o r all its r e v o l u t i o n a r y s o u n d is real ly a chauv in i s t i c s l o g a n .

PROBLEMS OF PARTITION

O N T H E q u e s t i o n of R e p u b l i c a n v io lence the r i g h t w i n g pos i t ion is tha t it is w icked in itself a n d m u s t be c o n d e m n e d . N o d o u b t it is, b u t it a l t e r s n o t h i n g t o say so. T h e v io lence of t he A f r i c a n N a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s is n o t c o n d e m n e d . Violence d i r e c t e d aga ins t S o u t h A m e r i c a n d i c t a t o r s h i p is no t c o n d e m n e d . But violence agains t B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s o r c o n t r a r y t o the will of the Bri t ish

g o v e r n m e n t is nas ty violence, n o t t o be s u p p o r t e d at all, and very m u c h to be c o n d e m n e d fo r its i m m o r a l i t y , while o the r i m m o r a l i t y is i gno red

This is a c h a u v i n i s t pos i t i on , a n d can be seen f o r what it is, t h o u g h people t ake it u p in all i nnocence

T h e r e a c t i o n aga ins t this l ine of a r g u m e n t s o m e t i m e s takes the f o r m " V i c t o r y to t h e I R A " and I have o n e p a m p h l e t b e f o r e me that says tha i " I r e l a n d ' s v i c t o r y means Br i t a in ' s d e f e a t . "

But the w a r is not being f o u g h t be tween B r i t a i n a n d I r e l and , bu t be tween s o m e of the British a n d s o m e of the I r ish , a very d i f fe ren t m a t t e r

In p r inc ip l e h o w e v e r , the re is n o reason why a n y Engl ish pe r son s h o u l d e i ther p ra i se o r c o n d e m n the v io lence of the I R A . E v e r y sensible p e r s o n is o p p o s e d to v io l ence in genera l a n d wan t s as l i t t le of it a b o u t as poss ib le

But s u p p o s e there are p a t r i o t i c I r i shmen in I r e l a n d w h o w a n t the r eun i f i ca t ion of their c o u n t r y , ha s a n y b o d y in E n g l a n d the respons ib i l i ty telling t h e m w h a t they shou ld d o ? H e is u n d e r n o m o r e ob l iga t ion to tell them they s h o u l d use the gun t h a n to tell t hem they s h o u l d use the ba l lo t box.

T h e Br i t i sh o c c u p a t i o n is a fac t . T h a t fact b e g e t s o t h e r fac ts , o n e of which is t h a t M r J o h n H u m e is r e tu rned t o W e s t m i n s t e r , and a n o t h e r is tha t r e p u b l i c a n s f r o m t ime to t ime b low th ings u p .

T H E I R I S H will d o what they t h ink the s i t u a t i o n d e m a n d s , r ight ly o r wrongly , a n d l i s t en to n o b o d y . T h e y a r e n o t l o o k i n g f o r p r a i s e or b l a m e f r o m E n g l a n d . W h a t they a re l o o k i n g f o r is t h a t Bri tain s h o u l d recognise t he n e e d to w i t h d r a w f r o m I re land a n d e n d t he par t i t ion of tha t c o u n t r y .

F o r t h a t t o be d o n e it is necessary to have a g o v e r n m e n t tha t will d o it. T h i s can only c o m e t h r o u g h p e r s u a s i o n , a n d m e m b e r s of t h e L a b o u r m o v e m e n t a r e t he people to d o the p e r s u a d i n g . T h e English have n o respons ib i l i ty in Ir ish affa i rs .

S o o n c e a g a i n , left and r ight trail c l o u d s of E n g l i s h c h a u v i n i s m — t h a t h a n k e r i n g a f t e r m a k i n g pol icy f o r I re land t h a t is s o cur ious ly b l i nd ing .

It is w o r t h a d d i n g however tha t the Brit ish L a b o u r m o v e m e n t faces exact lv the s a m e weaknes s in re la t ion to the S D L P . It is u t ter ly m o n s t r o u s tha t p e o p l e s h o u l d be t a lk ing of se t t ing u p a Br i t i sh -based L a b o u r Par ty in Be l fa s t w h e n its sister p a r t y the S D L P is a f f i l i a t e d to the s a m e L a b o u r a n d Soc ia l i s t i n t e r n a t i o n a l . A n d n o b o d y in E n g l a n d has the r ight t o say t h a t t h e c i t izens of Belfas t s h o u l d o r s h o u l d n o t send M r H u m e to W e s t m i n t e r . T h e y should back h im u p n o w he is t h e r e , t h o u g h s o m e of us s o m e t i m e s t h i n k h e m i g h t occas iona l ly t a k e a leaf ou t of Pa rne l l ' s b o o k a n d move a few lef t -wing m o t i o n s t h a t wou ld e m b a r r a s s the min i s t ry a n d t he L a b o u r r ight !

g o v e r n m e n t e lec ted by the m a j o r i t y of t hose enti t led to vo te a n d in a pos i t i on to d o so.

It may at one t ime or a n o t h e r be g o o d , bad or i nd i f f e r en t But it can ' t be ignored If the Bri t ish g o v e r n m e n t dec ided to w i t h d r a w f r o m I re land does a n y b o d y ser ious ly a r g u e tha t it wou ld negot ia te wi th a n y b o d y o the r t han Mr F i t zgera ld .

Maybe he isn ' t as socialist as we wou ld like h im to be. N o r is he as r epub l i can as s o m e of us might like him to be. He has the m a n d a t e of the Irish people . Cri t ic ise h im if you wish. Dea l with h im you m u s t . T h e r e is no a l t e rna t ive .

T H O S E w h o t a k e up a f r a n k l y imper ia l i s t pos i t i on re fuse to h a n d over the six c o u n t i e s because E n g l a n d wan t s them. But there is a l so a " l e f t i s t " excuse f o r keep ing pa r t i t i on , n a m e l y tha t the Ir ish g o v e r n m e n t is not g o o d e n o u g h to have back the t e r r i t o ry it is en t i t led to .

T h e r e is a p h e n o m e n o n in the six c o u n t i e s k n o w n as the " O r a n g e soc ia l i s t . " I s e l d o m hea rd one d e n o u n c e De Va l e r a , L e m a s s , Lynch , H a u g h e y o r F i t zge ra ld fo r w a n t i n g the six coun t i e s . It is a lways on g r o u n d s of s o c i a l i s m — a s if they got soc ia l i sm f r o m E n g l a n d !

A very s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t of w h a t may be b r o a d l y cal led the Ir ish m o v e m e n t in Br i ta in is b e c o m i n g c lear on these issues. W h e n t h a t c la r i ty a p p r o a c h e s c o n s e n s u s we w a n t a n a II-1 n c o n f e r e n c e of Irish o r g a n i z a t i o n s to o r g a n i z e the Irish vo te a n d b r i n g real p ressure .

F E I C R E A N A C H

William (Bill) O'Shaughnessy

R.I. P.

F I N A L L Y t h e r e is the ques t ion of the Ir ish G o v e r n m e n t S o m e t i m e s I see r e s o l u t i o n s ca l l ing for a un i t ed socialist I r e l a n d .

T h a t is sheer i m p e r t i n e n c e . N o b o d y in E n g l a n d h a s t h e right to tell the Irish p e o p l e w h e t h e r they shou ld have socia l i sm o r n o t , stil l less to say " w e ' l l h a n g o n to a p a r t o f y o u r c o u n t r y unt i l you agree t o r u n it t h e way we w a n t . "

T h e p e o p l e of t h e six count ies a r e debarred from v o t i n g f o r an Ir ish government . T h e y are d e b a r r e d by the British o c c u p a t i o n o f those coun t i e s .

W h o then r e p r e s e n t s the m a j o r i t y of the Irish p e o p l e 9 It can only be the

ST PATRICK'S EVE SOCIAL

SATURDAY, MARCH 16th :: 8 p m at the

CALTHORPE ARMS 2 5 2 G r a y s Inn Road (ne*t door (o F.P. Bookshop)

Traditional Music :: Song :: Refreshments Admission £ 2 Concessionaries £1

A LINK was broken with the early days of the struggle for civil rights in Northern Ireland with the passing of Bill O'Shaughnessy in Manchester on 19th January. 1985 at the age of 46.

Bill, a native of Port Laoise, was prominent in the l a b o u r movement in London, being Secretary of the Streatham Labour Party. After the victor) of the party in the general election of 1964, when Labouremerged with a majority of three, the prominence of "Ulster's" 12 Tory MPs stood out in stark relief. Some of us in the party fell that it was time that the background to the election of these characters was brought to the notice of (he movement, and C D U (Campaign for Democracy in Ulster) was born, m a i n l y the b r a i n c h i l d of B i l l O'Shaughnessy, Mick Melly, Oliver Donoghue. and the writer. Rapid p r o g r e s s was m a d e under the Chairmanship of Paul Rose, MP, and Secretaryship of Bill, who between them obtained the sponsorship of 102 Labour MPs, including Chuter Ede, who was Home Secretary when the Ireland Act 1949 confirming Partition, was passed through the Commons.

BILL moved to Manchester in 1970 to take up a senior post with the BRC, but later moved to "The Churches Work Scheme," in which he became a very efficient director, a post he held at the time of his death. He was particularly involved with the Hulme-Moss Side Christian Fellowship, which was engaged in creating employment schemes for the most distressed areas in the city. He was the main mover in the endeavour to obtain recognition for the Fellowship as an agency within the Manpower Services Commission, which would have brought considerable prestige and financial benefits to the movement. Its leader, Mr Tom Gossard, has told me that "Bill was a greatly loved character, and an inspiration to everyone. He will be sadly missed."

I believe that he would wish to be remembered principally for his work in C D U to obtain justice and equality for the minority community in Northern Ireland, and for the reunification of our country.

He was interred in his native soil at Port Laoise on 25th January.

PATRICK BYRNE

THE ALTERNATIVE TO DE-INDUSTRIAUSATIOIM

T H E S H R O U D S are now well a n d truly o f f T o r y p l a n s for t he d e s t r u c t i o n of B r i t a i n . D e i n d u s -t r i a l i s a t i o n is t a l k e d about open ly , e v e n if it is g iven d i f f eren t n a m e s . T h e decl ine of Br i t a in ' s indust r ies , dea l t with m a n y t imes in these c o l u m n s , is due to t w o ma in reasons; the a d o p t i o n of the T r a n s - n a t i o n a l C o r p o r a t i o n s ' p l a n s fo r the E E C — a n d their massive fo re ign inves tment . It is ha rd to believe, bu t none the less t rue , tha t Br i ta in is the second richest c o u n t r y in the wor ld a n d , per head , is the r ichest T h e g o v e r n i n g class of Br i ta in has fal len in wi th the T N C s ' ques t fo r a West E u r o p e a n supers ta te — the E E C .

T h e T o r y g o v e r n m e n t , in line with this ques t , will s p a r e n o expense to d e f e a t the miners , j u s t as they spare no e x p e n s e to keep N o r t h e r n I re land for N A T O . T h e a im is t o subdue c o m p l e t e l y the l a b o u r m o v e m e n t and Bri t ish peop le f r o m re ta in ing a n d re inves t ing in i n d u s t r y . T h a t is why the T o r i e s n o w cry f o r ' m o d e r a t e and n o n - p o l i t i c a l ' t r a d e u n i o n leaders.

T h e o r i e s a b o u n d f o r t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the c u r r e n t s i tua t ion , a n d s o m e insist on its a ccep t ance . T h e t heo r i e s e m a n a t e f r o m the right and lef t , especial ly a c a d e m i c s w h o have never d o n e a d a y ' s m a n u a l work in the i r lives. These a c a d e m i c s p ropose ' new s t r u c t u r e s ' t h a t a c c o m m o d a t e fu l ly the d e i n d u s t r i a l i s a t i o n . One t heo ry f r o m the left goes so far in to f a n t a s y as t o suggest tha t the service s ec to r will b e c o m e so i m p o r t a n t a n d la rge t h a t it will c o n t r i b u t e to the m a n u f a c t u r i n g sec to r . It is a simple bas ic e c o n o m i c fact t h a t agr icu l tu re , the p r i m a r y indus t r i e s inc luding m i n i n g , a n d m a n u f a c t u r i n g , p r o d u c e the wea l th tha t is used to f inance the service sec tor . T h e r e is n o case present o r p a s t whe re this p r o c e s s has been reve r sed . T h e sugges t ion tha t twice as m a n y wai te rs can s o m e h o w f inance hal f as m a n y coal m i n e r s cu t t ing coal w o u l d n o t even foo l a six year old. In fac t t he n o t i o n revives a visit.n ot the pas t w h e n all the m i d d l e a n d upper c lasses h a d se rvan t s ! H o w e v e r the m a j o r c r ime of such theor i s t s is that they m o u t h s u p p o r t f o r the miners but p r o p o s e tha t the i ndus t ry is re-s t r u c t u r e d a n d s l i m m e d d o w n — j u s t like t he T o r y g o v e r n m e n t .

ALTERNATIVE T h e r e is a n a l t e r n a t i v e t o

de indus t r i a l i s i ng Br i t a in which does not p e n d u p o n the c o u n t r y again b e c o m i n g the ' W o r k s h o p of the W o r l d ' o r b e c o m i n g ' compe t i t i ve ' , wh ich w o u l d s imply m e a n re tu rn ing to a p a s t imper ia l i s t pos i t i on in the wor ld o r m a k i n g a p r o f i t out of some o t h e r c o u n t r y by be ing a d o m i n a n t cap i ta l i s t c o u n t r y . O n e of the first s teps is t o retr ieve sovere ign ty f rom the E E C by get t ing Br i t a in out of the C o m m o n M a r k e t . J u s t because the g o v e r n m e n t in Whi t eha l l p re t ends to be m o r e o u t of the E E C than in, s h o u l d c o n f u s e n o b o d y tha t large sec t ions of the e c o n o m y of Bri tain is c o n t r o l l e d by Brussels.

T h e steel indus t ry was cut to a s h a d o w of its f o r m e r self by o r d e r of the E u r o p e a n C o a l a n d Steel C o m m u n i t y T r e a t y , p a r t of the E E C ' s c o n s t i t u t i o n , a n d Brussels .

By JOHN BOYD

T h e fishing industry h a s been d e c i m a t e d bv order of the C o m m o n F i s h i n g Policy and Brusse l s T h e a m o u n t f ished has c h a n g e d l i t t le , it is s i m p l y caugh t by fore ign E E C vessels W h a t agr icu l tu re p r o d u c e s a n d where Br i t a in buys food and at w h a t price is by o r d e r of the E E C a n d Brusse l s .

F u r t h e r , under ser ious d i s c u s s i o n is a n E E C fuel policy in o r d e r t o s i p h o n off B r i t a in ' s Nor th Sea oil a n d gas for E E C m e m b e r s v.ho have n o such r e s o u r c e s .

S O L D O L T It is the T N C s that the r u l i n g class is

p a r t of a n d has sold Br i t a in o u t to. T h e T o r y government r e p r e s e n t s the T N C s a n d is in the process o f c a r v i n g a n d s m a s h i n g up every i n d u s t r y in B r i t a i n f o r their benef i t .

A n o t h e r vital step to be tak ing , along with re t r ieving sovere ign ty , is to c u r t a i l t he export of cap i t a l . Near ly the ve ry first act of the l o r v g o v e r n m e n t was to lift all r e s t r i c t i o n s on t h e expor t of capi ta l . T h i s was in o r d e r t o enable the T N C s to invest m o n e y where m a x i m u m p r o f i t cou ld be m a d e , leaving beh ind in Br i t a in a n t i q u a t e d machinery which r e su l t ed in f l a t t e n e d factory sites a n d th ree mi l l i on unemployed w o r k e r s .

T h e mass ive investment a b r o a d has t o be d e f e n d e d and this Br i t a in c a n no l o n g e r d o a lone. H e n c e it j o i n s as l ackey to the USA. which itself has c o n s i d e r a b l e interests a b r o a d . N A T O exis ts p r i m a r i l y to de fend U S f o r e i g n i n t e r e s t s a n d may, at a p i n c h , d e f e n d B r i t a i n ' s foreign interests . T h i s is d o n e at a cost of impos ing a sac r i f i c ia l m i l l s t o n e r o u n d the necks of B r i t a i n ' s p e o p l e a n d industr ies .

If t h e s e steps are t a k e n it p laces f i r m l y o n the agenda the q u e s t i o n of w h a t s o r t of e c o n o m y is bes t to r B r i t a in — capitalist o r soc ia l i s t . It B r i t a in g o e s a long with the T N C then it h a s t o r ema in capi tal is t . If Br i t a in d o e s n o t g o a long with the T N C s it has h a r d l y a n y a l ternat ive but to t u r n to s o c i a l i s m to survive.

T h e a l t e rna t ive to d e i n d i r t r i u l -i sa t ion is qu i t e clear a n d r a t i o n a l a n d will u n i t e wide sect ions of p e o p l e i n s t ead of dividing the c o u n t r y as the c u r r e n t s i t ua t i on does. Br i t a in m u s t qu i t t h e E E C to regain s o v e r e i g n t y . C a p i t a l h a s to be invested in B r i t a i n , no t a b r o a d , which in t u r n n v a n s a po l icy f o r peace.

T h e m o n e y f r o m N o r t h Sea oil can be used t o re juvena te i n d u s t r y , i n s t ead of b e i n g spent on a l lev ia t ing s o m e m i n o r a s p e c t s of u n e m p l o y m e n t or p a y i n g f o r i m p o r t s that cou ld eas i ly be m a d e in Bri ta in . The colossa l s u m ol m o n e y s p e n t on arms, mos t ly t o m a k e p r o f i t s f o r ! ' S n u c l e a r a r m s m a n u f a c t u r e r s , c o u l d ins tead be used in m a k i n g manufactures , hosp i ta l s a n d h o u s i n g A n y trade that Br i t a in n e e d s to m a k e c a n be done on the bas i s of be ing a n equal pa r tne r , n o t by e x p l o i t i n g th i rd world c o u n t r i e s o r i m p o r t i n g high pneed C o m m o n M a r k e t su rp luses .

T h e a c c e p t a n c e of d e i n d u s t r i a l -i sa t ion w o u l d mean a gr im f u t u r e t o r Br i t a in , w h i c h is not a ccep t ab l e w h e n the re is a n a l te rna t ive

Monster JUMBLE SALE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 3 r d

2 . 3 0 p m

TENANTS' ASSOCIATION HALL Meadow Road/Claylands Road,

London SW8 — O V A L T U B E —

THE IRISH DEMOCRAT February 1985 '

IRISH NEUTRALITY THESE DON'T

NOT FOR SALE SLEEP ROUGH A DUBLIN CORRESPONDENT

I KI s 1 1 ( N I) is c h a l l e n g i n g D e f e n c e M i n i s t e r l ' a d d \ ( o o n e > t o d e b a t e I r e l a n d ' s p o l i o of m i l i t a r \ i icii trali tN a n d k e e p i n g out of w a r a l l i a n c e s .

( o o n e \ s a i d recen t ly t h a t I r e l a n d s h o u l d be u i l l in t ; to t a k e p a r t in " d e f e n d i n g " an E E C P o l i t i c a l I n i o n if t h a t shou ld b e f o r m e d . W e s h o u l d not look o n n e u t r a l i t y a s a m a t t e r of p r i n c i p l e , he s a i d . W e s h o u l d r e g a r d it a s a n a r r a n g e m e n t w h i c h cou ld be r e v i s e d in t h e l i g h t o f c h a n g i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s , l i e c a l l ed l o r a d e b a t e on t h e s u b j e c t .

( o o n e \ m a k e s a r e g u l a r h a b i t o f c h i s e l l i n g a « a \ a t t h e f o u n d a t i o n s of an i n d e p e n d e n t f o r e i g n p o l i c y f o r I r e l a n d H i s i d e a of n e u t r a l i t y s e e m s to be t h a t it is s o m e t h i n g t o be b o u g h t o r s o l d in s o m e s o r t o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m e r c i a l m a r k e t . ( c r t u i n l y I r i sh ( N D - a n d m o s t o t h e r p e o p l e a l o n g with i t - r e j e c t th is a t t e m p t t o t u r n t he I r i s h p e o p l e , a n d m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e a r m y f o r w h i c h C o o n e y h a s s p e c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a s M i n i s t e r f o r D e f e n c e , i n t o a b a n d o f m e r c e n a r i e s f o r s a l e to the h i g h e s t b i d d e r .

( O O M ' Y of c o u r s e is on t he f a r r igh t of t h e l i n e C• ae l I ' a r t y . H e is n o t o r i o u s ^ b a c k w a r d in h i s

a t t i t u d e to m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s a s well a s n e u t r a l i t y . H i s c r i t i c i s m of n e u t r a l i t y w a s d e n o u n c e d by G a r r e t F i t / G e r a l d ' s D e p u t y , D i c k S p r i n g , t h e L . a b o u r P a r t y l e a d e r , w h o s a i d t h a t a s l o n g a s h is p a r t y w a s in g o v e r n m e n t t h e y w o u l d n o t s t a n d f o r any c h a n g e s . M a n y p e o p l e th ink t h a t C o o n e y is e n g a g e d in t he b u s i n e s s of f l y i n g k i t e s t o tes t ou t o p i n i o n f o r t h e E u r o - f a n a t i c s b e h i n d t h e E E C P o l i t i c a l I n ion p l a n s .

W h e n (he I r i sh p e o p l e v o t e d t o join t h e C o m m o n M a r k e t C o o n e y s f ine G a e l P a r t y p r e s e n t e d t h e c a s e in f a v o u r a n d s t a t e d s p e c i f i c a l l y t h a t t h e r e w e r e n o m i l i t a r y i m p l i c a t i o n s . Net h e now a d m i t s t h a t d e s p i t e th is m o v e s a r e on f o o t t o c h a n g e c o m p l e t e l y t h e n a t u r e of I r e l a n d ' s c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e E E C .

I he c o m m i t t e e s e t u p l a s t y e a r by t h e E E C H e a d s o f G o v e r n m e n t , k n o w n a s t h e D o o g e C o m m i t t e e f r o m its I r ish c h a i r m a n , is d u e to m a k e a r e p o r t on a s c h e m e of E E C P o l i t i c a l U n i o n in t h e s p r i n g a n d s u m m e r . O n e of i t s r e c o m m e n d a -t i o n s is l ikely to b e t h a t t h e E E C S t a t e s se t u p a w o r k i n g g r o u p to d r a f t a new t r e a t y f o r a " E u r o p e a n P o l i t i c a l I n i o n " w h i c h w o u l d r u n f o r e i g n p o l i c y a n d d e f e n c e t h r o u g h o u t t h e E E C , w o u l d a b o l i s h

the na t iona l v e t o o n E E C d e c i s i o n s and would g ive rea l p o w e r s to the EEC A s s e m b l y w h e r e Ireland has o n l \ t in \ r e p r e s e n t a t i o n .

T H E G E R M A N S want EEC P o l i t i c a l U nion s o that in the gu i se of be ing " g o o d E u r o p e a n s " they c a n po l i t i ca l ly d o m i n a t e W e s t e r n E u r o p e . The E r e n c h p s e u d o -s o c i a l i s t . M i t t e r a n d , h a s a g r e e d to g o a l o n g with t h e m - b e i n g m u c h w o r s e than G i s c a r d d ' E s t a i n g and the G a u l i i s t s o n f o r e i g n a f f a i r s . T h i s g i v e s the g r e e n l ight for the po l i t i ca l union p lan s o f a r a s the big E E C S t a t e s are c o n c e r n e d . O n c e they get S p a i n a n d P o r t u g a l in the E E C they are d e t e r m i n e d to push a h e a d . Th i s is the rea l b a c k g r o u n d to C o o n e v ' s " a b a n d o n n e u t r a l i t y " ta lk .

Irish p o l i t i c i a n s are under pressure to suppor t t h e s e s c h e m e s . S o m e p o l i t i c i a n s , c iv i l s e r v a n t s and army o f f i c e r s s e e a c h a n c e for b e t t e r j o b s for t h e m s e l v e s . O t h e r s h a v e g iven h o s t a g e s t o f o r t u n e in f o r m e r y e a r s w h e n n o o n e thought that E E C P o l i t i c a l U n i o n could ever be a rea l i ty . A f t e r a l l what kind o f " d e f e n c e " o f n e u t r a l i t y is the f o l l o w i n g ?

G A R R E T F I T Z G E R A L D IN 1980: " T h e r e real ly isn't such a th ing as n e u t r a l i t y t o d a y . W e are

part o f Western Europe a n d our i n t e r e s t s c o i n c i d e with the i r s . O u r n o n - m e m b e r s h i p of N A T O c a n be u s e f u l if we use it p r o p e r l y , but we h a v e to f a c e d e c i s i o n s l ike this p o s i t i v e l y and not d o d g e t h e m . "

C H A R L E S H A U G H E Y IN 1 9 8 1 : " W e would be p r e p a r e d to p a r t i c i p a t e in a E u r o p e a n d e f e n c e a r r a n g e m e n t in the c o n t e x t o f a p o l i t i c a l u n i o n . "

At n o t i m e has the Irish p e o p l e g i v e n t h e s e po l i t i c ians a m a n d a t e to m a k e s u c h s t a t e m e n t s o n their b e h a l f . At no t ime h a v e p e o p l e v o t e d in f a v o u r of an E E C P o l i t i c a l U n i o n or E E C f o r e i g n p o l i c y and d e f e n c e c o - o p e r a t i o n . O p i n i o n po l l s s h o w that 8 4 % o f Ir ish p e o p l e w a n t t o k e e p the n e u t r a l i t y po l i cy w n i c h t h e S t a t e has f o l l o w e d s i n c e i t s f o u n d a t i o n and w h i c h e n a b l e s us m a k e t h e best c o n t r i b u t i o n p o s s i b l e to d i s a r m a m e n t and p e a c e .

T h e Irish po l i t i c ians c o n c e r n e d m u s t b e m a d e to w i t h d r a w t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s they had no r ight to m a k e . T h e r e are s igns t h a t F i a n n a F a i l ' s C h a r l e s H a u g h e y is h a v i n g s e c o n d t h o u g h t s about s u p p o r t i n g f u r t h e r " i n t e g r a t i o n " in t h e E E C .

T h e l i n e s of bat t le o v e r neutra l i ty a n d the p l a n s for P o l i t i c a l U n i o n in the E E C are now b e c o m i n g c l e a r e r .

CONFERENCE ANTI-PTA CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY F r o m P a g e O n e

- •• public by advertising pressure jnd the unavailability of anything else.

The Greek word "idiot" means a person w ho is uninterested in public affair). The "consumer society" w hich the transnational monopolies consistently boost, is in effect the idiot <\:et\.

The ?e 'pie of Britain and Ireland h n e g ••: to be told thai unless they c.sert their national independence they sv:\'lose the last traces of their abilir. :> control their own i i'stuiie

This uhere the egregious ass Mit'erand went w rong. He thought he could solve France's economic problems within the framework, the straiUJeket indeed, of the EEC. At the next election it will probably be shown that he has wrecked his party, decimated the Communists who were foolish enough to join with hi"' and were probably too late getting out, and opened the way for the extreme right to stage a come-b.ie*

THE COS NOLLY Association, whose '•'•it President was James Conno!l: 'i son, makes no bones about its internationalism. But the present insidious propaganda for the merging of nations is not inter-nationalism. There have to be nations to have internationalism. And nations cannot agree among themselves unless they have sovereignty. In a Europe of merged nations the ruler would be

The icnue of the conference has not been 'ixed, but the date will be Vovember 30th and 31st, and the place London. Those interested should : >ntact the General Secretary of the Connolly Association, 244-246, Grays Inn Road, London. W C. I., telephone 01-833-39J 2.

A T A press c o n f e r e n c e cal led in the H o u s e of C o m m o n s o n beha l f o f the I B R G , five L a b o u r M P s s p o k e in f a v o u r of the repeal of the P r e v e n t i o n of T e r r o r i s m Act.

Mr J a m e s King , a M a n c h e s t e r L a b o u r C o u n c i l l o r , said tha t a depu ta t ion was shor t ly go ing to I re land a n d work would be c o n d u c t e d in the Irish c o m m u n i t y in the U n i t e d S ta tes . F o r t y I B R G b r a n c h e s w o u l d be ho ld ing meet ings .

T h e presence of M r M a c L o c h l a i n n was m a d e an excuse t o try t o d e n i g r a t e the c a m p a i g n M r Noe l G o r d o n a t t e n d e d on beha l f of the C o n n o l l y Assoc ia t ion .

T h e c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t the P T A is w a r m i n g u p . T h e evils of th is Act have been highl ighted by recen t a r res t s in L ive rpoo l .

It is po in ted ou t t h a t o n e in fo r ty of t hose a r res ted are ever c h a r g e d with a n y t h i n g .

Military savagery

N U C L E A R e x p e r i m e n t s on h u m a n beings seem par t of t he e n t e r t a i n m e n t t h e r u l i n g c l a s s p r o v i d e f o r themselves .

Fo l lowing a d m i s s i o n s tha t d e a d l y n u c l e a r w a s t e w a s d e l i b e r a t e l y released in to the I r ish Sea to see w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n , c o m e s the m o s t hor r i f i c tale of all.

A c c o r d i n g to the ' G u a r d i a n ' of J a n u r a r y 16th, d u r i n g the a t o m b o m b tests in Aus t ra l i a , wh ich an A u s t r a l i a n Royal C o m m i s s i o n is p resen t ly p r o b i n g soldiers were " o r d e r e d to crawl in rad io-ac t ive d u s t . " A n d read this:

" L o r d Penney , w h o was in c h a r g e of the a tomic tes ts f o r Br i ta in , said he knew a b o u t the e x p e r i m e n t s on the soldiers bu t w a s no t a w a r e of the d o c u m e n t s to service ch iefs w a r n i n g them of the d a n g e r s . " Mr Jus t ice M c C l e l l a n d desc r ibed

t h e f a i l u r e o f t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t to c o o p e r a t e with the C o m m i s s i o n as " a t its lowest , s o m e w h a t d i s c o u r t e o u s . " A n d we all w o n d e r wha t is in the d o c u m e n t s the g o v e r n m e n t has r e f u s e d to d isc lose!

As Miss J o a n M a y n a r d M P r e m a r k e d , this h a s " a b s o l u t e l y n o t h i n g to d o wi th t e r r o r i s m a n d eve ry th ing to d o wi th col lec t ing i n f o r m a t i o n on a n d i n t i m i d a t i n g the Irish c o m m u n i t y . "

F A T H E R R a y m o n d M u r r a y , A r m a g h Pr i son c h a p l i n , sugges ted tha t the Act was c o u n t e r - p r o d u f tive a n d begot v io lence . G r i e v a n c e was c rea ted by its a p p l i c a t i o n a n d , b e c a u s e t h e r e w a s n o r e d r e s s ava i lab le , the g r i e v a n c e g rew.

U p to the e n d of S e p t e m b e r 1984, 5,896 people h a v e b e e n held , the m a j o r i t y of t h e m at a i r p o r t s a n d sea-por t s . T h e r eco rd y e a r f o r a r res t s was 1975. N o w a b o u t 200 a y e a r a re t a k e n in. Most are held o n l y a few h o u r s as Special Branch o f f i c e r s p r o b e f o r low key intel l igence r b o u t pol i t ical act ivi ty in I r e l and o r a m o n g the Ir ish in Bri tain.

T h e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l f o r Civil Liber t ies has t w o f u l l - l i m e research w o r k e r s m o n i t o r i n g t h e o p e r a t i o n of the Act a n d in its r e c e n t Bulletin appea l ed fo r all w i th a n y exper ience to con tac t t hem at 21 T a b a r d Street , L o n d o n , SE1 4 L A .

T H E A C T a p p l i e s t o the six coun t i e s and is o p e r a t e d t he re with the tvpical savagery of t h e R U C . He re is a n a x a m p l e f r o m t h e N C C L bul le t in .

" P a u l C a r u a n a , a 24 y e a r old f r o m Der ry , was a r r e s t e d a s he wa lked in the street o n S a t u r d a y , Augus t 11th, 1984. H e w a s t a k e n to S t r a n d R o a d a n d t h e n t o Cas t l e r eagh police s t a t ion in Be l fas t . T h e next

d a y q u e s t i o n i n g s t a r t e d . M r C a r u a n a said later:

" I was in a s i t t ing p o s i t i o n o n t h e f l o o r and one of t h e o f f i ce r s s t a r t e d fo rc ing my h e a d b e t w e e n m y legs while the o t h e r held my fee t . A t one p o i n t the o f f i ce r p u s h i n g my head d o w n c l imbed o n m y back a n d s t a r t ed p u s h i n g al l h i s weight on me. T h e pa in w a s so great tha t I cr ied o u t " O h . Jesus , N o ! " O n e of t hem sa id " Y o u could m a k e it a lot ea s i e r fo r y o u r s e l f '

" T h e next m o r n i n g M r C a r u a n a w a s in pain a n d was t a k e n to D u n d o n a l d Hosp i t a l , w h e r e he w a s X - r a y e d a n d given a cervical co l la r . H e w a s t aken back in to the c u s t o d y o f t h e s a m e off icers at C a s t l e r e a g h d e s p i t e the fact he h a d c o m p l a i n e d of m a l t r e a t m e n t . T h e i n t e r r o g a t i o n s e s s i o n s con t inued . H e was s l a p p e d o n t h e face , pushed , spa t o n , a n d a t o n e p o i n t an off icer b r o u g h t a b lack p l a s t i c b a g a n d held it t ight r o u n d his f a c e . " M r C a r u a n a , a f te r - u f f e r i n g this

b a r b a r o u s t o r tu r e was re leased on the fifth d a y wi thou t charge .

W h a t a re you to say of a g o v e r n m e n t that s h o w s c o m p l e t e i n d i f f e r e n c e when an innocen t m a n is h a n d e d over to the mercies of sadis t ic t h u g s f o r five days?

M r C a r u a n a had the c o u r a g e to r eg i s t e r a compla in t a n d a n u m b e r of M P s a n d M e m b e r s of the E u r o p e a n A s s e m b l y a re tak ing the m a t t e r up .

DICK BURK£—the former Fine G a e l minister whom Charlie H a u g h e y appointed to the EEC Commission in order to avoid a d a n g e r o u s b y - e l e c t i o n — w a s r e p l a c e d b y another Fine Gael m a n P e t e r Sutherland in January.

P a y a n d p e n s i o n details about B u r k e s h o w how well these E u r o c r a t s a r e rewarded for subver t ing t h e » i n d e p e n d e n c e of t h e i r c o u n t r i e s in the cause of the t r a n s - n a t i o n a l firms who are r e a l l y b e h i n d t h e w h o l e " E u r o p e a n " t h i n g .

W h e n D i c k B u r k e w a s C o m m i s s i o n e r h e u s e d t o g e t a c u r r e n t s a l a r y o f j u s t o v e r £74,000, o n t o p o f w h i c h t h e r e w e r e l a v i s h e x p e n s e s a v a i l a b l e . T h e n a f o r t n i g h t b e f o r e h e w a s d u e t o l e a v e o f f i c e h e w a s a p p o i n t e d t o t h e p o s i t i o n o f o n e o f t h e h a l f -d o z e n E E C " V i c e - P r e s i d e n t s " , w h i c h g a v e h i m a ' nominal o u t g o i n g s a l a r y o f o v e r £82,000. T o e a s e t h e t r a n s i t i o n back to n o r m a l l i f e o f t h e s e h i g h l y - p a i d b u r e a u c r a t s t h e y a r e a l l o w e d t o k e e p 5 0 % o f t h e i r s a l a r y f o r t h r e e y e a r s a f t e r t h e y l e a v e t h e j o b , w h i c h m e a n s M r B u r k e h a s £ 4 1 . 0 0 0 a y e a r f o r t h e n e x t t h r e e y e a r s . In a d d i t i o n h e is e n t i t l e d t o a p e n s i o n o f a r o u n d £23,000 a y e a r f r o m t h e a g e o f 6 5 . T h i s i s a l l in a d d i t i o n t o t h e p e n s i o n s h e g e t s a s a f o r m e r I r i s h Government M i n i s t e r a n d a T D o f s e v e r a l y e a r s s t a n d i n g .

S m a l l w o n d e r t h a t h e a n d h i s c o l l e a g u e s s h o u l d b e e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d c o m m i t t e d " E u r o p e a n s " a t

• s u c h a p r i c e !

SUSTENTATION FUND

I T ' S r a t h e r a p o o r s ta r t t o 1 9 8 5 — w h a t wi th t h e h a n g - o v e r f r o m C h r i s t m a s , a n d the c o n t i n u e d need t o send e v e r y t h i n g pos s ib l e t o the m i n e r s .

We real ly need £300 a m o n t h to k e e p t he o r g a n i s a t i o n g o i n g . T h e Execu t ive C o u n c i l o n F e b r u a r y 2nd w o r k e d o u t a p lan f o r i n c r e a s e d ac t iv i ty in 1985, b e g i n n i n g w i t h a l o b b y of P a r l i a m e n t on M a r c h 6th p r i o r t o the d e b a t e on the P r e v e n t i o n of T e r r o r i s m Act .

So as s o o n as the p o c k e t b o o k t h i c k e n s o u t a bi t , d o n ' t f o r g e t the C o n n o l l y A s s o c i a t i o n .

O u r t h a n k s to : T. O ' B r i a i n £5, J . M c G r a t h £4.

P. B y r n e £4, R. & P. M a g e e n £2 . 50 , S. P a d g h a m £13.65 , S o u t h L o n d o n C A £27, J . Mor r i s ey £10 , G . W a r d £1, J . K a v a n a g h £3 .20, P . J. C u n -n i n g h a m £5, C . M o l o n e y £7 , M . B r e n n a n £5, D . F l y n n £5 , D . A s h -ton £3, J . M c C . £20, P . D ' A r c y £7, A. S. B r o w n £5, A. B a r r £ 4 , M . D u g g a n £2, A. M c N a l l y £ 2 , S. Breen £3 , P. B r o w n e £2 , s u p p o r t e r s in S o u t h L o n d o n £12.62 , in C e n t r a l L o n d o n £3. T O T A L : £155 .97 .

GRAND IRISH NIGHT IN AID OF THE MINERS

SUNDAY, MA&CH 3rd :: 8.00 pm at the

OLD WHITE HORSE, Brixton Road G U E S T O F H O N O U R

MICK MOORE (Barnboro Pit, Yorkshire) - THE OCCASIONAL SHAMROCK BAND -

Singers include MARY WHITE, ANN SHRIEVES, A N D Y HIGGINS SOUTH LONDON CONNOLLY ASSOCIATION

Admission £2.00... Unwaged £1.00 r s

- i

February 1985 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT Page J

BELFAST SIGHTINGS BY S.O'D.

MR PADDY DEVLIN'S NEW PARTY

TYPICAL Discrimination

VICTIMS P R I M A R Y s c h o o l teachers in t he g h e t t o a r e a s of the Six C o u n t i e s h a v e m a n y a tale t o tell a b o u t the i r ex-pupi l s w h o get caugh t u p in the t r o u b l e s , a f t e r leaving, or even b e f o r e , leaving s c h o o l . T e a c h e r s k n o w n o t only their pup i l s but their p a r e n t s a n d fami l i e s a s well T o poo l a n d d o c u m e n t the special k n o w l e d g e and e x p e r i e n c e of these t e a c h e r s would p r o d u c e a n in te res t ing a n d reveal ing ch ron ic l e o n this aspec t of Br i t i sh rule in the N o r t h of I r e l and .

Recent ly I w a s ta lk ing wi th a t eache r f r o m the T u r f L o d g e p r i m a r y s choo l in A n d e r s o n s t o w n . O n e of his ex-pupi l s w a s T h o m a s " K i d s o " O 'Re i l ly . T h o m a s O'Rei l ly w a s t he twen ty t w o yea r o ld w h o was ki l led last A u g u s t by a rifle bul le t in his back . T h e fa ta l sho t w a s f i red by the n ine teen-yea r <5ld Brit ish so ld ie r P r iva te Ian T h a i n e w h o s u r p r i s i n g l y w a s c h a r g e d w i t h m u r d e r . Even m o r e surpr i s ing ly , a n d aga ins t all p r e c e d e n t in this p a r t of the w o r l d . J u s t i c e Higgins s e n t e n c e d T h a i n e to life i m p r i s o n m e n t .

O ' R E I L L Y ' S t eacher says t h a t he was w e l l - c o n d u c t e d at s choo l a n d never gave a n y cause for anx ie ty . H e c a m e , as they say , f r o m a g o o d f a m i l y . His m a i n in te res t was p o p m u s i c . W h e n he w a s kil led he was h o m e on h o l i d a y f r o m E n g l a n d w h e r e he m a n a g e d a p o p g r o u p . It is o b v i o u s t h a t h e h a d n o p o l i t i c a l o r p a r a m i l i t a r y c o n n e c t i o n s as these w o u l d have been used by d e f e n c e counse l in t he t r ia l .

It is p r o b a b l e t h a t Ian T h a i n e ' s t eache r in T i d w o r t h , E n g l a n d , w o u l d r e p o r t on h i m , m u c h as does t he T u r f L o d g e t e a c h e r on O 'Rei l ly . Bu t t h e n the Bri t ish A r m y t o o k y o u n g T h a i n e in h a n d . J u d g i n g by the a v e r a g e s q u a d d i e w h o p a t r o l s the s t ree t s ove r here , he w o u l d p r o b a b l y have b e c o m e a r r o g a n t a n d n e r v o u s at the s a m e t ime . I g n o r a n t h imsel f of the s i t u a t i o n h e r e , h e w o u l d h a v e b e e n p r o g r a m m e d in the Ki t son m o d e to keep the " P a d d i e s " in s u b j e c t i o n . O 'Re i l ly is d e a d a n d T h a i n e will serve a very sho r t l i fe -sentence , if no t i n d e e d re leased o n a p p e a l . Whi le in p r i s o n in Br i ta in he will get bet ter t r e a t m e n t t h a n the Ir ish pol i t ica l p r i sone r s .

ESCAPE G R E E N L A N D has escaped from the Brussels tyranny. Regrettably, the Irish Republic was the last state to ratify the new agreement.

Not that this spells complete independence for Greenland, as she is still linked by looser ties with both Denmark and the EEC.

The Worthless European mass media are not shouting sour grapes. They talk about impending climatic changes which are driving the fish out of Greenland waters into their own.

They'd make a cat laugh. Whom on earth do these journalists think they deceive?

LONDON EVENTS

T H E " G r e e n w i c h P r o j e c t " is organising a Ceili on February 23rd, at the West Greenwich House, Greenwich High Road, with admission at £3 (concessionaries £1). This includes a buffet.

* * * A P O R T R A I T of James Connolly is

to be unveiled in the West London Trade Union club on Saturday, February 9th.

Closely identified with the project are Limerickman Mr John Hourigan and Londoner Mr George Smith, chairman of Kilburn TGWU. A lecture on the Irish question will be given by Irish Democrat Editor Mr Desmond Greaves, and the ensuing social evening will go on from 9 pm to midnight.

T H E D E C E M B E R issue of the " I r i sh D e m o c r a t " r epo r t ed o n t he c o n t i n u i n g r a m p a n t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n in the Six C o u n t i e s . In that repor t a q u o t e the Six C o u n t i e s . In tha t r e p o r t a q u o t e t a k e n f r o m the Brit ish j o u r n a l " N e w S o c i e t y " is w o r t h r e p e a t i n g : " T h e y k e y f i n d i n g f r o m t h e p r e l imina ry ana ly s i s of the C e n s u s is tha t a f t e r a l m o s t ten yea r s of ' i m p a r t i a l m a n a g e m e n t ' the i n f e r i o r p o s i t i o n o f C a t h o l i c s r e m a i n s essent ial ly the s a m e . T h e N o r t h e r n I re land O f f i c e m a y have b e c o m e m o r e soph i s t i c a t ed at d e f e n d i n g the s t a t u s q u o , bu t the s e c t a r i a n l a n d s c a p e of the p rov ince r e m a i n s , in e m p l o y m e n t a n d o the r t e r m s , as hos t i le as e v e r . " T o the w o r d s " m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d " s h o u l d be a d d e d " m o r e dev ious a n d u n p r i n c i p l e d . "

T h e j o u r n a l i s t M r F o r b e s M c F a l l has u n c o v e r e d in m u r k y de ta i l t he sys tem w h e r e b y C a t h o l i c s a r e b l a c k -l is ted,a l legedly f o r secur i ty r e a s o n s , when they a p p l y f o r j o b s in the p u b l i c services.

L A S T y e a r t he N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d Electr ici ty Serv ice adver t i sed f o r 36 s choo l - l eav ing appren t i ce s . T h e y received 900 app l i ca t ions . A f t e r in terv iews a n d a p t i t u d e tests f o r t y boys m a d e u p t he sho r t list. O f these , th ree were C a t h o l i c s , M a r t i n C o n n o r a n d S t e p h e n P o w e r f r o m D e r r y C i ty a n d T e r r y Reil ly f r o m Wes t Be l fas t . A f t e r p a s s i n g m e d i c a l tes ts they we re s u m m o n e d t o t he N u t t s C o r n e r T r a i n i n g C e n t r e of the E lec t r i c i ty Boa rd . T h e i n s t r u c t o r w h o p u t t h e m t h r o u g h f u r t h e r tes ts was well s a t i s f i ed a n d to ld t h e m he w o u l d see t h e m o n the s t a r t i n g d a t e w h e n they h a d g o t their final O . K . f r o m the N . I . E . S . off ice . I n s t e a d t h e three boys rece ived re jec t ion sl ips.

T h e b o y s ' a n g r y p a r e n t s immed ia t l ey r ecogn i sed the b l a t a n t d e s c r i m i n a t i o n . T h e y a p p e a l e d t o t h e Fa i r E m p l o y m e n t Agency . T h e b o y s had n o po l i ce r e c o r d s a n d n o po l i t i c a l ties. T h e F . E . A . inqui r ies wen t o n f o r m o n t h s . F i n a l l y t he N . I .E .S . j u s t i f i e d its r e fusa l t o t a k e o n the lads u n d e r sect ion 42 of t h e F a i r E m p l o y m e n t Act , o n the g r o u n d s of s a f e g u a r d i n g n a t i o n a l s ecu r i t y . H o w e v e r t h e e m p l o y e r c a n n o t d o this w i t h o u t t he a u t h o r i t y of t he N . I . H o m e S e c r e t a r y . It was t h e n r evea l ed tha t M r J a m e s Pr ior h a d s i g n e d Sec t ion 42 s e c u r i t y cer t i f ica tes a g a i n s t the three C a t h o l i c boys . H i s s i g n a t u r e b l o c k e d all a p p e a l s o r f u r t h e r inquir ies i n t o t he ma t t e r .

W h a t w a s t h a t w o r d t h a t M r s T h a t c h e r d i d n o t like? O h Yes! A l i e n a t i o n .

PRIORITY TARGET

B E L F A S T is r e g a r d e d as " o n e of t h e 20 t o p - p r i o r i t y t a rge t s in t he U n i t e d K i n g d o m " f o r n u c l e a r a t t a c k in t he event of a n o u t b r e a k of w a r b e t w e e n the S u p e r p o w e r s .

T h a t is t he imp l i ca t i on of a m e m o r a n d u m p r e p a r e d f o r t he Six C o u n t y C a b i n e t in 1954, p r e p a r e d by the S t o r m o n t Min i s t e r f o r H o m e Af fa i r s of the t ime , which has j u s t been re leased u n d e r the 30-year ru le g o v e r n i n g C a b i n e t p a p e r s .

Such a n u c l e a r a t t a c k w o u l d comple t e ly d e v a s t a t e the city a n d s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a . U p to 500 ,000 peop le w o u l d be likely to be k i l l ed , 165,000 d w e l l i n g houses w o u l d be d e s t r o y e d a s well as 18 hosp i t a l s . As Belfast w o u l d be v i r tua l ly w r i t t e n o f f as a f u n c t i o n i n g city a f t e r such a n a t t ack civil d e f e n c e wou ld o n l y be p rac t i cab le o u t s i d e the Belfast a r e a .

O n e c o n c l u s i o n f r o m this is t h a t if Belfast p e o p l e w a n t t o be c rossed o f f the list of d i r ec t t a rge t s in a n u c l e a r war , they s h o u l d s u p p o r t a u n i t e d I re land . As a n e u t r a l S ta te t he re is n o reason w h y a n y o n e s h o u l d t a rge t D u b l i n o r C o r k f o r nuc l ea r a t t a c k in t h e even t of a w a r . Of cou r se if we give up n e u t r a l i t y t h a t wou ld all c h a n g e . But as it is, it is n o t jus t n a t i o n a l i s t s but U n i o n i s t s t o o w h o s h o u l d we l come w h a t e v e r s t r e n g t h e n s I r i sh neu t ra l i ty

MR PADDY D E V L I N is Belfast organiser of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, holding the same position that James Connolly held for two years from 1911. Today Paddy Devlin is of the opinion that there is too much emphasis on the role that Connolly p layed in the formation and affairs of the Union . He thinks that pride of place should be given to the role of Big Jim Larkin in the Union's history. It is not surprising therefore that a new s ix-county Labour Party envisaged by Paddy Devlin seems, even at this early s tage , to be a negation of Connolly's ideas for the political organisation of Labour in Ireland.

A group of people was brought together by private invitation in December last, under the aegis of Paddy Devlin and Lord Blease. Lord Blease was one- t ime chairman of the Belfast Trades Counci l . From the meeting it was decided to set up a new party called the Labour Party of Northern Ireland. Preliminary press releases seem to indicate that this is a hesitant probing venture which will have no significant or lasting influence on current politics.

WALKERISM The Party would have thre main

objectives: to pursue democratic socialism through the ballot box- to be independent both of the Irish and British Labour Parties: to find an

accommodation between all the North's traditions in local council matters.

Lord Blease is reported as "honing to transcend the old loyalties by wonting on bread and butter issues and appealing to Northern Irish socialists, Northern Irish workers and Northern Irish people to work out their own destinies together." At this point those long enough in the tooth will recognise in all this a re-hash of the old discredited W i l l i a m Walker s t r a t e g y be ing adopted to current conditions. They will bring to mind James Connol ly 's bitter and devastating attack on Walker for his ostrich-like compromises on British rule and on the struggle for Irish independence. They will recall the failures of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, the United Labour Party and other such.

I N T E L L E C T U A L S "But come here, there's more!" as

Jimmy Cricket would s a y . Paddy Devlin is reported as saying that the Thatcher Government's policies on social issues had given the new party a new platform. It is noteworthy that he d o e s not m e n t i o n the p o l i t i c a l consequences of Thatcherism. H e then continues "a new generation of graduates from the North's universities and polytechnics needed to be given the same chance to become involved in left wing politics as their counterparts in the rest of Western Europe." Where has the man been? Graduates have

never been so active as they are at the present time, pontificating on class politics. Arising out of tbeir degree t h e s e s , c o m e d i s s e r t i o n s i a j o u r n a l s , m a g a z i n e s , p a m p h l e t s , paperbacks, hardbacks etc. Since the start of the "troubles" they have been falling upon us like hailstones from the h e i g h t s of the u n i v e r s i t i e s and p o l y t e c h s . M o s t of t h e m are denigratory of the centuries-old aim of national freedom and its relevance to the class struggle.

P A R T I T I O N On the question of Partition and

"Union ii B.itain" the new party will decide its policy at its first annual conference at the end of this year. This is deception of the people, since they mean to contest the local elections next May on purely "bread and butter" issues. Surely any political party, n»cth or south of the border, be it in local or governmental elections, without telling the electorate whether they are for or against Partition, is being irresponsible. It is so obvious that six months or so later at their conference there will be division and disillusionment among their members when the fundamental issue of Partition has to be confronted.

It is early days yet but all indications point to the conclusion that the Labour Party of Northern Ireland will serve only to further confuse the already confused and sectarianism-ridden working class of the Six Counties.

Cardinal despairs of Thatcher C A R D I N A L T o m a s O Fiaich h a s said tha t he f e a r s t h a t n o progress will be made in N o r t h e r n I r e l and as l o n g as M r s T h a t c h e r r e m a i n s P r i m e Minister.

Asked recen t ly if M r s T h a t c h e r ' s dismissal of t he F o r u m o p t i o n s w o u l d be a boos t f o r S i n n F e i n , he said t h a i n o one c o u l d b e s u r e how t h i n g s would go b e t w e e n S i n n Fein a n d t h e S D L P in t he p e r i o d a h e a d , but t h a t everyone migh t b e inc l ined to feel, o n the spur of t he m o m e n t a f te r h e a r i n g M r s T h a t c h e r , " I s S i n n Fein r ight? Is violence the o n l y t h i n g which will get c o n c e s s i o n s f r o m t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t ? "

It wou ld be b e t t e r not to h a v e a n o t h e r s u m m i t b e t w e e n t h e Tao i seach a n d t h e British P r i m e Minis te r t h a n t o h a v e a repeat of t h e last C h e q u e r s s u m m i t , the C a r d i n a l said.

W h e n a s k e d w h a t he t h o u g h t of M r s T h a t c h e r ' s d i smi s sa l of the idea tha t there w a s s e r i ous a l i ena t i on a m o n g N o r t h e r n Ca tho l i c s a n d

na t iona l i s t s , the c a r d i n a l wen t on : " T h e r e has a lways been a ce r t a in sense of a l i ena t ion a m o n g C a t h o l i c s in the N o r t h f r o m the b e g i n n i n g . T h e y resent very m u c h be ing cut off f r o m the i r fe l low c o u n t r y m e n . "

H e recal led tha t po l i t i ca l a l i e n a t i o n a m o n g the 4 0 % N o r t h e r n na t iona l i s t m i n o r i t y h a d risen in 1970, 1971 a n d 1972 because of i n t e r n m e n t a n d sec ta r i an a t t a c k s on C a t h o l i c s . " A t t h a t t ime it rose t o a p o i n t it h a d never seen be fo re . T h e n in t he mid -70s it went d o w n a bit af ter Sunn ingda l e and a f t e r the Shankh i l l m u r d e r t r ial when i* w a s felt tha t an e f f o r t was being m a d e to m a k e t he S t a t e m o r e b r o a d l y accep tab le . Bu t it has risen a g a i n over the last c o u p l e of years — s u p e r g r a s s e s , p l a s t i c b u l l e t s , s t a t e m e n t s by j u d g e s , all th is has been pi led u p a n d a l i ena t i on is poss ib ly at a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d l eve l . "

T h e na t iona l i s t sense of a l i ena t ion h r d app l i ed to a t t e n d a n c e at the old S t o r m o n t P a r l i a m e n t a n d a b s t e n t i o n w a s a lways a pol i t ica l b a r o m e t e r of a l i e n a t i o n . " T h e r e w a s never an a c c e p t a n c e of the U D R a n d that has

LECTURES ON IRISH

HISTORY

ADDING one more to its many "firsts," the Connolly Association is presenting a series of lectures on women in Irish history, mostly, but not entirely, delivered by women. The first two are advertised below. They take place at the Irish Centre, Mount Pleasant Liverpool, at 6.30 p.m. Admission is free.

FEBRUARY 10th

" C O U N T E S S M A R K I E W I C Z " -C. Desmond Greaves

FEBRUARY 24th

" W O M E N I N T H E N A T I O N A L M O V E M E N T ' -Margarat Ward (Belfast)

a u t h o r , " U n m a n a g e b l e R e v o l u t i o n a r i e s "

r e a c h e d rock b o t t o m n o w . T h e r e was never full accep tance of the R U C " , he sa id .

O n the s u p e r g r a s s sys tem the c a r d i n a l said tha t he d i d not accept t h a t the dismissal of t he G i l m o u r s u p e r g r a s s case by the j u d g e ind ica ted a n y s ignif icant c h a n g e in t he system, a s imi l a r verdict had b e e n given in a n o t h e r supe rg ra s s case w h e r e the s u p e r g r a s s had a d m i t t e d p e r j u r i n g himself .

"The feature 1 object to most" he said, "is that it is a system of internment under another name. Four to Ave hundred prisoners have been arrested under the supergrass system, more than were interned in 1971. In every case prisoners were kept for very long periods on remand. There are now prisoners going on three years on remand awaiting trial." L E G A L men a d m i t t e d tha t the

s u p e r g r a s s s i tua t ion w a s wide o p e n to a b u s e . It was a c h a n c e f o r a wor th les s k i n d of pe r son to m a k e m o n e y , a n a m e f o r himself a n d a new life a b r o a d . It was wide o p e n r ega rd ing p e o p l e w h o went i n to a po l i ce s ta t ion o n the i r l awfu l o c c a s i o n s , a s s h o w n by a very recent t ape f r o m R T E . Th i s s h o w e d clearly tha t a p e r s o n w h o l o o k e d fo r s o m e t h i n g to w h i c h he was no t ent i t led could be t h r e a t e n e d with no t ge t t ing it a n d o f f e r e d financial i n d u c e m e n t s to b e c o m e s o m e k ind of i n f o r m e r , the ca rd ina l c o n t i n u e d .

M r s T h a t c h e r s e e m e d p r e p a r e d to let the N o r t h e r n s i t u a t i o n d r i f t as long as it did not impinge t o o m u c h o n the Engl i sh scene. I n s t e a d of even leaving the F o r u m R e p o r t a s i d e f o r s o m e f u t u r e British G o v e r n m e n t t o t ake it u p a n d look at it a g a i n , she h a d d o n e the equ iva len t of t e a r i n g it up . H e himsel f t h o u g h t t h a t t h e F o r u m R e p o r t r epresen ted the b o t t o m line f o r Irish na t iona l i s t s .

"There can be no future successful summits unless out, out, out becomes in, in, in", he said. R u m o u r has it t h a t the British

G o v e r n m e n t is t ry ing t o w o r k out a p a c k a g e of symbo l i c c o n c e s s i o n s to na t iona l i s t o p i n i o n in the Six C o u n t i e s in o r d e r to m e e t cri t icism like tha t of the C a r d i n a l . O n e idea be ing cons ide red is t he a b o l i t i o n of the F lags a n d E m b l e m s Act which b a n s the f lying of t he T r i co lou r . A n o t h e r is c h a n g i n g t he n a m e of the R U C a n d a t t e m p t i n g t o r e v a m p the U D R once aga in t o m a k e it m o r e accep tab le to C a t h o l i c s , f o r it is tioyv a vir tual ly 9 9 % P r o t e s t a n t fo rce .

W a t c h ou t fo r a p u b l i c re la t ions bl i tz f r o m D o u g l a s H u r d a n d C o . des igned to m a k e t h e s e t o k e n m e a s u r e s seem m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n they really are.

P a g e 6 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT February 1985

SLIABH GALLION BRAES I went out walking one morning in Ma>

To t ien >on fair vallf> and meadows so ga \ . I was thinking on those flowers, all born to deca> That blow a r c n d those bonnv bonny Sliabh Gallion b r a t s .

Oft o'er those mountains with m\ dog and m\ j;un I rambled those mountains for jo> and for fun But those davs tht> are all over and I am far awa>. v 0 farewell unto those bonnv. bonnv, Sliabh ( .al l ien brats.

Oh. it is nut the w^nt of employment at home that causes us poor exiles in sorrow to roam. But those tyrannising landlords, they would not let us stay. <o farewell unto thvu- bonny, bonny. Sliabh Gallion braes.

RORY OF T H E HILL ' I H M rake up near the ra f te rs , why leave it there so long? The handle, of the best of ash, is smooth and straight and strong; \ n d . mother, will you tell me. wh\ did my father f rown. When to make the has . in summer time. I climbed to take it down?" She looked into her husband 's eyes, while her own with light did fill, " \ o u ' l l shortly know the reason, boy" said Rory of the Hill.

The midnight moon is lighting up the slopes of Slievenamon. Whose foot affr ights the s tar t led hares so long before the dawn? He slopped just where the Anner 's stream winds up the woods anear. Then whistled low and looked around to see the coast was clear. \ sheeiing door flew open- in he stepped with right good will-"God save all here, and bless your work" said Rory of the Hill.

Right hear ts was the welcome that greeted him, l ween, ^or s ea r s gone by he fully proved how well he loved the Green; \ n d there was one among them who grasped him by the hand-One who through all that weary time roamed on a foreign strand; He brought them news f rom gallant friends that made their hearts" strings thrill. " M s soul, I never doubted t hem" said Rory of the Hill.

Thev sat around the humble board till dawning of the day, «ind vet nor song nor shout I hearcTno revellers were they; Some brows flushed red with gladness, while some were grimly pale; But pale or red, f rom out those eyes flashed souls that never quail! "And sing us now about the vow. they swore for to fulfi l l" 'Sv. "You' l l read it yet in h i s to ry" said Rory of the Hill.

Next day the ashen handle, he took down from where it hung. The toothed rake, full scornful ly, into the fire he flung; And in its stead a shining blade is gleaming once a g a i n -f ) h ! for a hundred thousand of such weapons and such men! Right soldierly he wielded it. and, going through his drill, " M t e n t i o n , " " C h a r g e , " "F ron t , point," "Advance" cried Rorv of (he Hill.

She looked at him with woman 's pride, with pride and woman's fears. She flew to him. she clung to him, and dried away her tears; He feels her pulse beat (ruly, while her arms around him twine-"Now God be praised for y our stout heart, brave little wife of mine."

He swung his first-born in the air, while joy his hear t did fill-"You' l l be a freeman y et, mv boy" said Rory of the Hill.

Oh! knowledge is a wondrous power, and stronger than the wind; And thrones shall fall, and despots bow before the might of mind; The poet and the orator , the heart of man can sway. \ n d would (o the kind heavens that Wolfe Tone were here today! Vet trust me, friends, dear Ireland's strength, her truest strength, is still. The rough and readv roving txivs, like Rory of (he Hill.

( C H A R L E S KICKHAM)

rniON AN FHAOIT ON N GLEANN S l l II.. a chuid. bi g gluaiseacht gan scith, gan stad. gan fuaru; Ta n oiche ghairid sh -mhra idh ann is beam araon ar shiul Mar a bhfaigh'mid radliarc ar chuanta, ceol. aoihhneas, bailte mora Is. a Dhia, nach ro-bhrea 'n u«in i d'inion an Fhaoil on nGleann!

Taimse lan de naire. tri gach heart da ndearna Mar is buachaill og a cradn me is d'imigh uaiin mo ghreann; Ni beo me mi na raithe m u i a bhfaighe me pog is gra uait Agtss failte chaoin o d 'ehairde, a 'nion an fhaoit on nG 'eann .

Ni! aon chailin speiriuil a ghluaisfeadh seal liom feinigh Nach molfainn fein a treithe faoi Ard na gCoillte a thuaigh; Da mbeimis ag a cheile ag ol i nDurlas File Mo lamh faoi cheann mo cheadseare, do bhreagfainn i chun suain.

Thios ag Moin na Ratha sea chonaionn mo ghra geal S i an chuachin mhilis mhanta 'binfuil a piob mar eala ar linn; S gur binne lion i na n c h l a i r s e a c h ' s na ceolta binn i ngairdin,

\ nach trua sin fear mar ta m e - g o saraionn si me tinn.

IRISH SONGS Edited by

PATRICK BOND

HOME B Y

BEARNA In S c a r t a g k n there lived a Ixss And every Sunday after mass She would go and take a glass Before going home by Bearna . We won't go home along the road For fear that you might act the rogue. Won't go home along the road; We'll go home by Bearna. We won't go home across the fields. The big thomins could stick in your

heels. We won't go home across the fields; We'll go home by Bearna. We won't go home around the glen For fear your blood might rise again. W on't go home around the glen. But we'll go home by Bearna. We won't go down the milk boreen. The night is bright we might be seen. We won't go down the milk boreen. But we'll go home by Bearna. W e won't go home across the bog In fear we might meet Kearney's dog. We won't go home across the bog, But we'll go home by Bearna.

CONNEMARA CRADLE SONG ON the wings of the wind O'er the dark rolling deep Angels are coming To watch o'er thy sleep; Angels are coming To watch over thee, So list to the wind Blowing over the sea.

Chorus: Hear the wind blow, love hear the wind blow, Lean your head over And hear the wind blow!

Oh winds of the night May your fury be crossed May no-one who's dear To our island be lost! Blow the wind gently Calm be the foam Shine the light brightly And guide them back home.

The currachs are sailing W ay out on the blue Laden with herrings

Of silvery hue; Silver the herring And silver the sea And soon there'll be silver For fcabv and me.

RATHFRILAND THERE ' S a spot that I love dearest, - Sure I think I see it still, I t ' s that little town in County Down,

Kathfriland on the hill.

Oh its brow is decked with emeralds, While flowers around it grow,

W hen the sun does shine, it looks so fine MI in the golden glow.

Sure if l were in Rathfriland t would count myself at home-

It 's there I'd be contented An>) never more I'd roam.

FELONS OF OUR LAND FILL up once more, we'll drink a toast to comrades far » * t y : No nation upon earth can boast of braver hearts thanlht > And tho' they sleep in dungeons deep, or flee, outlawed a rut banned. We love them yet, we can't forget the felons of our land.

In box hood 's bloom and manhood s pride, foredoomed bv alien laws, Some on the scaffold braveh died for Ireland's holy cause. And bro thers , say, shall we today, unmoved, like cowards, s tand W hile t r a i t o r s shame and foes defame the felons of our land.

Some in the convicts ' dreary cell have found a living tomb: And some unseen, unfriended, fell within the dungeon's glc-cr But what c s r e we, although it be trod by a ruffian band-Gc-d bless the clav where rest today the felons of our lane)

Let cowards mock and tyrants frown, ah, little do we ca r , : A felon's c a p ' s the noblest crown an Irish head can wear. And every G a e l in Inisfail who scorns the s e r f s vile brand. From Lee to Bovne would gladlv join (he felons of our lar.i.

THE REASON I LEFT MULLiNGAR

i W ALKED through the city a stranger In the land I can never call home I cast a sad notion across me In search of my fortune to roam. I'm weary of working and drinking And a week's wages left in the bar And God, it's a shame for to use a friend's name Just to beg for the price of a jar.

( H O R L ' S t remember that bright April morning When I left home to travel a fa r But to work till you're dead For one room and a bed That's not the reason I left Mull ingar.

\ h , this London's a city o£ h e a r t b r e a k -On a Friday there's friends by the score Ah, but when the pay's finished on Monday A friend's not a friend anymore. The working day seems never ending, From a shovel and pick there's no break, And when you're not working you're spending That fortune you left home to make.

And for every man here that finds fortune And goes home to tell of the tale. Each morning the Broadway is crowded With man's the thousands who failed, So young men of Ireland take warning In London you never will find That gold at the end of the rainbow You might jus t have left it behind.

C O O K S E Y

THE HILLS OF DONEGAL

O H , Donegal, the pride of all, my heart still turns to thee. My cottage home, where oft I've roamed when I was young and free, Big houses grand in a foreign land cannot compare at a!!. Tc. my cottage bright on a winter 's night on the hiils of Donegal .

Right well I mind the harvest t ime that doleful dreary day. When I left all in Donegal to wander far away, Near Creeslough town my friends stood round; 1 bid farewell to all And from the van I waved my hand to the hills of Donegal.

Gazing back through the blossons gay on my own native h i l l , 1 thought no shame (oh, who could blame) 'twas there I cried my fill, My parents kind ran in my mind, my friends and comrades all. My heart did ache, I thought 'twould break, in leaving Donegal.

From Derry Quay we steamed away, the waters calm and still, Down Lough Foyle our tug did toil to the big ship at Moville, Some love to see each tower and tree, each ancient lordly hall, Cut mv thoughts that day were far away on the hills of Donegal.

Round Tory Isle we steamed in style, the mainland we m i l d see, Till Muckish grand, with glistening sand, smiled over Cniskatee; Elagh, much more brighter still, looked proudly over all. 1 heaved a sigh and bid goodbye to the hills of Donegal.

Rhi me la brea aerach i m' shui ar bhinn an Tsle muigh Sea 'chuala 'n Ion ' s an cheirseach ag seinm os mo cheann; Is deas a scriobhfainn vearsa i ' s ni deise na mar 'lefinn Stair do d'mhotadh feinig, a 'nion an Fhaoit'on nGleann.

W e would call in Stephen Tobins And our glasses we would fill,

And we'd drink a toast to Erin and Rathfriland on the hill.

Amongst those hills St Columbkiile left miracles and cures. Amid streams and dells and holy wells his power it still endures; Green Garden cell and old Doone Weil where St Finian's waters fall, A simple shrine unchanged by time on the hills of D o M f t l

February 1985 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT Page 7

British presence means violence

SHAM JUSTICE

Death On The Streets of Derry. Tony Gifford. NCCL 22pp 75p.

TONY Gilford if a Liberal Peer and a Queen's Counsel.

His pamphlet follows visits to Derry where he questioned eye-witnesses to two incidents in April 1981. In them, three young civilians, all unarmed, Irish and Catholic, met their deaths.

Fifteen year old Paul Whitters was shot by an R U C man with a plastic bullet after the police had been attacked with stones. From the evidence Gifford is satisfied as regards the fact that the R U C were not in danger; that the boy was alone when shot; that the range was at most ten yards; and that the shot was head h igh , apparent ly ( a g a i n s t r e g u l a t i o n s ) , a i m e d t h a t w a y deliberately. As regards law, he is certain that a charge of murder should have been brought, and sustained, in court. No charge whatever was brought against the RUC.

Nineteen year Gary English and eighteen year old James Brown died after two landrovers, armoured and weighing three quarters of a ton each, were driven at a speed of between f ifty and sixty miles am hour, into a crowd. Already felled by one of the vehicles, and probably already dead, English's body was run over by one of the vehicles reversing.

From evidence, including that of an experienced BBC journalist, Gifford is convinced that the direction and speed of the vehicles were deliberate, and that charges of murder should have been brought and sustained against the British soldiers involved. One British soldier was charged with causing death by reckless driving, and another was charged with aiding and abetting him. They were acquitted by a jury after a trial which prompts Gifford to inform us as to the correct procedure for a court of justice.

For one thing, a judge should direct a jury on the law, particularly on the definition of a crime. For another he should remind the u of the evidence. M r Justice Hutton tailed to explain the law, disposed of the evidence in five paragraphs, and in passages covering six pages of transcript spoke for the defence.

Gifford is not satisfied with the conduct of the prosecution either. Wrongfooted from the start by not bringing a charge of murder and using the damning evidence to convince the jury, they allowed the judge throughout to impute innocent motivation to the army. The Crown Q C abandoned the case at the critical stage, leaving a Junior Counsel with the burden of cross-examining the defendants and the other crucial task of making the final speech.

Introducing the booklet, Gifford asks the following questions. What is the real nature of the "minimum force" policy of the security forces? What restraints are there in practice and what faith can the community have in the processes of judical hearing.

It is many years since those questions exercised the keenest minds in Derry. Government propaganda, as instanced by Humphrey Atkins in the Daily Mail includes the three youths amongst those killed by the IRA, whilst the Times numbers them amongst Its spurious calculations of Protestant martyrs. DONAL KENNEDY

"Political Violence in Ireland", by Charles Townshend. (Oxford University Press, pp 445. Price £20).

POLITICAL violence is by definition the illicit use of force for political ends. This definition is crisp and clear and from the viewpoint of the state, or the law and order lobby, a satisfactory one. Problems arise however when you realise that it is the state itself which decides what is or is not illicit and the use o f the word violence can be stretched to fit actions which ordinary people would not regard as violent. We are indebted once more to Charles Townshend for bringing these points to our attention and for his detailed scholarly discourse on the political problems of Ireland during the last one hundred and fifty years. His sub-title is Government and Resistance since 1848 though in fact he does not al low himself to be limited by dates.

British government in Ireland always got the worst of all possible worlds. Its authority appeared to rest on force while it seldom used enough force to secure real control. In the absence o f free consent force is all that is left to it. Indeed it is its perogative. If there are other groups within the state consistently exercising force then the authority of the government is seriously undermined and its right to call itself the government comes under question. The British Government never admitted that the normal processes o f law had ever broken down in Ireland and that a state of seige or martial law was the norm. Yet during the first fifty years of the nineteenth century emergency laws of one kind or another were in operation for forty-five o f them.

The second half of the century was no less troubled with the sixties dominated by the Fenians and the eighties by the L a n d L e a g u e agitations. But a more enlightened society was beginning to feel that martial law was not only morally u n d e s i r a b l e it was pract ica l ly unnecessary also. One Lord Chief Justice maintained that martial law was repugnant to English Law and had been abol ished by the Petition of Right; a modern society should solve its problems in more enlightened ways. As T o w n s h e n d points out "the result was confus ion amongst those responsible, under commission and c o m m o n l a w a l i k e , f o r t h e maintenance o f 'law and order'. The irresolution and vacillation so often reproved in Irish magistrates was due in great part to this. Delay permitted an increase in violent disorder, and could lead in turn to an excessive application of force when troops were finally sent in."

From 1880 onwards the Royal Irish Constabulary worried about its future under a H o m e Rule adminstration. It was sensitive to the charge by the Nationalists that it was an army of

occupation. Its status as an a rmed force gave edge to the charge and many of the constables, especially in the lower ranks, felt that rifles were an msurmountaole barrier n , normal relations w<th the people. Senior officers however, were not prepared to consider the idea of disarmament and still appeared to regard the suppression of insur-rection, or at least mass rioting, as the R I C ' s p r i m a r y d u t y . It is s i g n i f i c a n t that on the formation of the Free State, the Gardai were disarmed while the reshaped RUC continued to be armed.

The British media and government tend to ignore political violence in Ireland unless they can make a favourable political point from it, especially if the violence comes from the Loyalist side. When they do take notice their reactions are invariably exaggerated. An outbreak in 1870 provoked one Conservative MP to describe the county of Westmeath as a fortress more successful than Metz, Strasbourg or Belfort, referring of course to the Franco-Prussian war. In reply Gladstone roundly condemned the use of exaggerated language such as the phrase 'murder stalking abroad' to describe a mere handful of violent assaults. 'Things haven't varied much over a hundred vears.'

John Morley at the time of Parnell's arrest. Townshend makes it clear that the failure of H o m e Rule involved irreparable damage to constitutional-ism as a method and the gun was brought back into high politics by the U l s t er U n i o n i s t s . . 'From 1922 Northern Ireland more than most s t a t e s may be s a i d t o h a v e institutionalised violence.' op. cit. p384.

This is a book of which it can with tru(h be said that it should be compulsory reading for British administrators. There is no real hope that this c o u l d be s o . Such administrators thrive on compulsory ignorance. However the b o o k is so full of information and apt quotations that it could be a running commentary on the present situation in the North with few changes needed of names and dates. To be highly recommended.

In the period 1913 l o 1922 the British Government faced its greatest challenge in Ireland. There was the usual mixture of complacency, panic and over-reaction. It felt menaced by the workers in the Great Lockout of 1913, by the arming o f . the Ulster Loyalists in 1914 and the Curragh Mutiny of its own army, by the emergence of the Irish Volunteers and the Citizen Army. The true mind of the administration can be glimpsed in

Reviewed by FATHER TIM O DOWLING

Because of the alarmist propaganda it is difficult for the ordinary Briton to comprehend that the crime rate in Ireland, however you define it, rises or falls in direct relation to the presence of British security forces. The higher ratio of security forces the higher ratio of crime. Until the onset of the recent troubles the southern state had one of the lowest rates of cfrime per head of population in Europe. Townshend supports the view that this was true of nineteenth century Ireland as well.

Despite its constant denunciation of violence and its use o f such terms a.< 'the murder gang' to describe the IRA in 1921 and the 'men of violence' to describe the IRA in 1984 the British administration in Ireland has never at any time realised that its own actions have not only been the main incitement to violence but have also e f f e c t i v e l y u n d e r m i n e d a n y confidence in constitutional methods. This is as true in the remnant left to it in the six counties today as it ever was in the Ireland of the conquest .

T o w n s h e n d h a s m a n y a p t quotations to support this, 'The normalising of violence in Ireland was a direct product of the English refusal to attend to Irish,»grievances unless they were e x p r e s s e d v i o l e n t l y . ' Parnell' s successor as leader of the moderate and constitutional Home Rule party, William O'Brien, was forced to admit 'Violence is the only way of securing a hearing for moderation.' The same sentiments were expressed by the Liberal leader

Forces against neutrality

A Singular Stance. Irish Neutrality in the 1980s. By Patrick Keatinge. Institute of Public Ad-ministration, Dublin. Price hb £11.95, pb £4.95. This is a concise and clear guide to

some of the main forces affecting the* Republic's neutrality in the 1980s. both external and internal factors arc discussed which may undermine the neutrality policy.

For instance, the possibility of global tension and diplomatic polaris-ation in the late 1980s may increase pressure on Ireland— especially as European integration advances—to abandon, de fac to if not de jure, n e u t r a l i t y . T h i s t h r e a t i s demonstrated in practical terms bv the m i l i t a r y s t r a t e g i s t s o p e n discussion of the strategic value of Irish soil, particularly for maritime

purposes in the Atlantic. Internal pressures upon neutrality

come from several forces. The Republic's political instability since 1981 has brought the neutrality issue into party politics and paradoxically, eroded the apparent certainty of the government's position.

The conflict in the north and any settlement also has a major impact on n e u t r a l i t y . N A T O b a s e s a n d communication systems in the rtorth suggest that in return for a Dublin involvement in the Six Counties (not to mention re-unification) neutrality will come under further pressure.

Keatinge's book d o e s not rely on legal or moral Criteria when examining the future of Irish neutrality. Rather it is concerned with the diplomatic, military and political forces on neutrality and as such it presents a disturbing picture.

TIM WALSH

a letter of Augustine Birrel to Asquith during the Easter Rising; "Nobody can govern Ireland from England save in a state of siege."

It is hardly possible to deny that violence for political purposes is a familiar part of the Irish scene. But we must be careful in using English terms. Violence is of its nature and by definition illegal. The same actions sanctioned by the government or p a r l i a m e n t a r e d e s c r i b e d as restoration of law and order. It depends on which side of the fence one happens (o be whether one uses violence or lawful force.

For a thing to be illegal or illicit according to British law is not the same thing as wrong or immoral. There is no written constitution or Bill

of Rights in Britain The Bntisft Parliament is not accountable to anything but ^lujjporary m^ority of some political party and has no moral sanction higher than itself. It can with the same ease declare its ruler the head of its religion, that children can be hung for stealing a handkerchief, that anyone attempting to form a trade union can be transported to Australia, and that Ireland can have Home Rule for all its thirty-two counties. It car just as easily reverse these decisions as it has in fact done in all the cases quoted

It was an axiom of the British administration that the Irish were not capable of proper organisation, tha: they were always ready to fight among (hemselves and sell each other to the enemy. There are of course many sad examples to give a colouring of truth to the belief On the other hand alt oppressed groups have the same experience and it is to the advantage of the oppressors to stir up divisions under the old rule of divide and conquer. There is no evidence that the Irish are or were worse than others in this respect. It is true that the Irish have a greater spirit of independence which makes them less amenable to control by tyrants than others but which also makes it more difficult for them to combine against a common enemy. When they did manage to combine for any length of time the British were usually taken by surprise and ascribed it to (he influence of outside agencies.

T h o s e f a m i l i a r w i t h I r i s h c o n d i t i o n s k n o w h o w I r i s h organisations of all kinds spring up, split, disappear and reappear under different guises. It is a continuing feature of Irish life all over the world and should not cause any particular surprise. But it had a disturbing effect on the alien ruling class in Ireland which tended to see conspiracy and disaffection everywhere. It also affected their judgemen( abou( the nature of violence and caused them to make serious misjudgements about the sentiments of the people in the cases of the Repeal Association, the Fenians, the Land League, the influence of'the IRB on the Irish Volunteers and the grip of Sinn Fein on the Nat ionals ; populat ion of the Six Counties This is amply illustrated by Townshend.

ENGUSH VANDALS AGAIN The Miners Betrayed: Labour and

the South Wales Coalfield. By Huw Phillips. Published by Plaid Cymru 40p.

AS I write this review, the number of "working" miners in South Wales is less than a hundred. Once again the S o u t h Wales m i n e w o r k e r s are showing their will to fight against the threat to their jobs and communit ies .

One fact which is most noticeable, is that of all the valleys' MPs, only the recently elected Ann Clwyd of the C y n o n Valley constituency has put her head on the block in an all-out defence of the strike. Neil Kinnock has been distancing himself from his constituents, apart from one token appearance for a couple of hours at South Celynen during the festive season.

One has only to read this booklet to understand the Labour Party's reluctance to get too deeply involved. As H u w Phillips shows, during the 1 9 6 4 - 1 9 7 0 p e r i o d o f L a b o u r Government , a Welsh pit closed on average of one every six-and-a-half weeks. This was also the period of the 'Beeching' cuts on the railways, blamed in retrospect on the Tories, but most of which were authorised under Tom Fraserand Barbara Castle as Ministers of Transport.

It is a fact of life that people with impeccable 'socialist' qualifications within the English Labour movement have proved to have been disastrous in their dealings with Wales. The same is true of Ireland, of course. Tony Benn, as James Callaghan's Energy Minister, was the instigator of the push for nuclear power, doing a deal with the South African Government for the supply of uranium from Namibia , in defiance o f U.N. resolutions

Despite wha t the British Labour Party has done to the Welsh working class, they have s tood firmly behind the party. |

W h o would have believed that after closing the major steelworks in their c o n s t i t i u e n c i e s , b o t h J a m e s Caliaghan and Michael Foot would have been re-elected with large majorities? How long can this continue? Although not from a mining constituency, the Plaid Cymru MP Dafydd Elis Thomas has appeared at more miners' support meetings and rallies in Wales than any three Labour MPs put together Dafydd is also a staunch supporter of an independent united Ireland.

This is a Plaid Cymru campaigr booklet, but it is not a catalogue of innuendo and slander. The facts it contains are indisputable. It should bo read by everyone in Wales who is concerned for the future of the country. It is my belief that when the coal strike is over, many colliers and others involved will question the benefits of the political links with England.

Just to finish this review, I would like to quote a few lines penned by Harri Webb (who is he? I hear non Welsh readers asking) during the pit closures of twenty years ago. I quote them for two reasons: firstly, I am a great admirer of Harri and nis down-to-earth poetry and secondly because they are as apt today as they were in the 1960s.

"The lands of oil are on the boi l . The tankers have stopped

sailing, And the silly swines w h o shut the

mines Are ringing their hands and

wailing." BRIAN WILKINSON

P a q e 8 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT February 1985

A HIGH ONE By DONAL MacAMHLAIGH

11 II AS onl\ to be expected that the Centenary of the GAA would ^pawn (i) that's the word) a spate of books related one way or another to that qutnte sse ntially Irish organisation, but something that not many of us had dared to hope tor was thrown in by way of a bunus-a very large and welcome bonus indeed! I refer to Breanddn O hEithir's Over The Bar which may be admirably summed up by its subtitle, A Personal Relationship With The GAA. Breanddn 0 hEithir has had a lifelong love of athletic games, rugby being as dear to his heart. I would say. asapy; but as successive reviewers have been at pains to point out. Over The Bar is not a book about the GAA as such-if it were its appeal, though wide, would not be so wide or all-embracing, 1 believe, as the very fine piece of autobiographical work he has given us, a book which I find to be the most readable one to come my way in a very long time.

An islandman himself-born and brought up in and near Kilronan on the largest of the three Aran Islands, 0 hEithir is far more of a European than many a writer and journalist who grew up in parts of Ireland that were under much greater influence from the great big world beyond our shores; and it is this quality of European-ness, coupled with a deeply intuitive appreciation of our own way of thinking and feeling, that gives Over The Bar its edge. Inis Mor where Breanddn O hEithir grew up lacked athletic and cultural organisations and he recounts, surprisingly, that the boys in Aran played a form of rounders on the beach in his time there (as we had, across the bay in the village of Knocknacarra at roughly the same time):

"We had c form of rounders called bal ard, or high ball, played between teams chosen on the spot by the two appointed captains. As it only called for two bases it could be played along the road, on the strand at low tide or in a fairly small field. The batting side was dismissed when one of its number was hit by the ball, while running between the bases, by one of the fielding team. This game had the advan-tage that it could be played by boys and girls up to the age w hen girls lost interest in such activi-ties; which was when the boys' in-terest in them took on a new aspect." THIS is but one snippet from the

section that deals with the author's boyhood in Aran and again, surprisingly, .here is reference to games which I had not thought were played in the Gaeltacht. . . "Other pastimes came and went with the seasons Suddenly, without pre-arrangement, everyone took to spinning home-made wooden tops of all shapes and sizes. The air buzzed as they were lashed along the road, or on the flat limestone flags, with whips. Just as suddenly the tops were put aside for it was pitch and toss time. This was played at school, where gambling was forbidden, with buttons and with our precious half-pence when we Printed b y Ripley Printers Ltd (TU),

Nottingham Road. Ripley, Derbys, and published by Connolly Pub-lications Ltd, 244 Grays Inn Road London WC1

were admitted to the 'schools' run by the older boys."

A little farther along in this chapter the author talks about the very dangerous game of stone-throwing <we played it ourselves all the time and indeed a boy could hardly expect to pass through enemy territory without being subjected to a barrage of stones; or as O hEithir puts it:

"And let me not forget stone-throwing, hardly a remarkable activity in a place where stones of all sizes abounded and when one's instinctive reaction, when attempting to discipline or in-timidate an unruly animal, was to pick up a stone and let fly. But when I speak of stone-throwing I mean organised bouts between groups from different villages; these were rightly re-garded with horror and could only be practised far away from the eyes of our guardians." WHEN my family moved to

Kilkenny-1 was just turned fourteen then-we brought this custom with us much to the indignation of the Noreside lads who regarded it as a grave lapse

from accepted behaviour. If Inis Mor was relatively

isolated it was not anything like as inward-looking as most places in rural Ireland . . . there was contact from the outside, British and European trawlers calling to fill up with supplies (but no German U-boats in spite of the ludicrous charges levelled at us in the war years and after!) and at an early age 0 hEithir sampled the delights of the Thompson Press, the Beano

and the Dandy and all those other boys' weeklies which Our Boys and other native products had such a hard time competing against. Newspapers became something of a passion with him at an early age, the sports pages particularly, though a keen interest in murder ran a close second. In Dublin-the preparatory college, Colaiste Einde, being based there throughout the war years- 0 hEithir indulged his fondness for gaelic football and hurling to the full and his interest in the GAA, already well founded, developed further. But with the author of Over The Bar the relationship with the GAA was never one of unquestioning support and he has some very telling remarks to make throughout, on the ludicrous Ban and other manifestations of cultural insecurity; the much-abused word "Gael" too comes in for some pithy comment: "Nobody knows who coined the term Gael."

According to Fr Mark Tierney it was first used in connection with members of the GAA who marched in uniform in 1887. As far as I was concerned, after a year and a bit of too close acquaintance, it had lingered in its contemporary sense long enough to outlive its uselessness! Other facets of the cultural fanaticism so prevalent in Gaelic circles at the time are treated by O hEithir in the appropriate manner, and there is an absurd incident where a group of Gaels solemly debate whether the Clare Set is an Irish or a foreign dance . . . it is not hard to see the damage done to the Language

Revival movement in Ireland by such daft and humourless people and the author puts it nicely in perspective on the next page:

"Some years later I became briefly involved in a discussion on what a Gael-even a True Gael -actually was. Brendan Behan summoned me from my place of work to render some assistance in a pub in Baggot Street. He was drinking with a little man called 'Mouse' Donegan who was making heavy demands on Bren-dan's financial resources, as he had no money himself, having being released from Mountjoy that morning after a three-month spell for being caught in the pursuit of his profession as a cat-burglar.

" When I arrived, Brendan was having an argument with another customer, an ex-President of the Gaelic League called Diarmuid Mac Fhionnlaoich, on the subject of Gaels and their beliefs. Bren-dan was in a rare form for leg-pulling and had convinced Diar-muid that he was in deadly earnest as he denigrated all aspect of the Irish revival and mocked the GAA." "' You certainly are not a True

Gael'," said Diarmuid as he left for the toilet in a bad temper.

"'Neither are you," said Brendan, which was the point he had been heading for all the time. 'A True Gael is a loaf of bread that's baked by o'Rourke's below in Store Street.' (There was at the time just such a loaf on sale.)" O hEITHIR had little of

academic in him and his years rit

A HANDEL CENTENARY IN DUBLIN? N I N E p e o p l e o u t of ten will ag ree as t o w h o a r e t he th ree grea tes t c o m p o s e r s , w h a t e v e r orde i they p u t t h e m in. T h e y a r e J . S. Bach . Bee thoven a n d M o z a r t .

But w h o a r e the next in o r d e r . F o r my par t I w o u l d wan t t o i nc lude J o s e p h H a v d n . on ly o n e - t e n t h of w h o s e m u s i c has been p u b l i s h e d , a great i n n o v a t o r w h o a l o n g wi th C. P. E. Bach c r e a t e d the basis of classical mus ic , a n d w h o s e 250th a n n i v e r s a r y in I 9 8 2 w a s s o s c a n d a l o u s l y neg lec ted .

E v e r y b o d y w o u l d not agree . T h e y w o u l d w a n t t o a r g u e the c l a i m s of B r a h m s , S c h u b e r t , W a g n e r . . . b u t high u p on a n y list m u s t c o m e H a n d e l , w h o m m u c h m o r e t han Bach the classical c o m p o s e r s r e g a r d e d as " t h e m a s t e r " .

If the H u n g a r i a n s a n d A u s t r i a n s were m e a n a b o u t H a y d n , the s a m e c a n n o t be sa id of t he Eas t G e r m a n s w h o a r e c e l e b r a t i n g H a n d e l ' s t e r c e n t e n a r y in g r a n d style in the t o w n of Hal le , w h e r e he was b o r n o n F e b r u a r y 23 rd . 1685.

H a n d e l ' s m o s t f a m o u s w o r k is. of course , t he o r a t o r i o " T h e M e s s i a h " , especial ly i n t e r e s t i n g to Ir ish p e o p l e since its first p e r f o r m a n c e w a s given at the " M u s i c k H a l l " , F i s h a m b l e S t r ee t , D u b l i n , o n Apr i l 13th, 1742.

H A N D E L w a s no t as g rea t a c o m p o s e r as J . S. Bach , a lso b o r n in 1685, b u t he w a s be t t e r k n o w n f r o m living in L o n d o n , t hen the c o m m e r c i a l capi ta l of t h e w o r l d . A n d w h a t a L o n d o n it <vas! N o w o n d e r H a n d e l ' s first o p e r a s w e r e n o great success .

" . . . the i n h a b i t a n t s of the t o w n t h o u g h t a g a i n b e f o r e v e n t u r i n g i n t o the n igh t f o r a t h e a t r e , wi th t he r isk of be ing w a y l a i d a n d r o b b e d o n t he way h o m e . A w a v e of c r i m e h a d swept the m e t r o p o l i s . R o b b e r i e s were e n a c t e d in Picadi l ly; h o u s e s in B o n d Street were o p e n l y pil-fered in b r o a d day l igh t . N i g h t w a t c h m e n were t r u s sed like f o w l s in the p r i n c i p a l t h o r o u g h f a r e s whi le my lady's c o a c h on its way t o the t h e a t r e p a s s e d wi th in a few yards. T h e s t r ee t s were ill-lit a n d s t a n k o f

stale ga rbage , a n d t h e c o u r t y a r d s tha t led f r o m t h e m were th ieves ' k i t chens a n d m u r d e r s h o p s . O n e was a r res ted o n t he w o r d of an i n f o r m e r for n o t h i n g at all when pass ing d o w n a m a i n L o n d o n street at n i g h t . " In shor t y o u ' d h a v e t h o u g h t M r s

T h a t c h e r was r u n n i n g t h i n g s ! W H E N you listen t o J . S. B a c h ' s

m u s i c there is n o q u e s t i o n t h a t it is G e r m a n , P r o t e s t a n t G e r m a n . In H a n d e l ' s there is a n o t h e r e l e m e n t as well. There are t he p ie t i s t r u n s a n d sequences . But t h e r e is a l so a s u n n i e r e l emen t that c o m e s f r o m I ta ly , in pa r t i cu l a r f r o m I t a l i an o p e r a .

It was indeed as a c o m p o s e r of I t a l ian ope ra t h a t H a n d e l m a d e his d e b u t in L o n d o n . T h i s was a n a r i s t oc ra t i c tas te . His fu l l f a m e c a m e w h e n he t u rned t o the c o m p o s i t i o n of o r a t o r i o which a p p e a l e d t o the r i s ing m i d d l e class.

H e was a r g u a b l y the grea tes t c o m p o s e r for the h u m a n voice . Un l ike his classical s u c c e s s o r s he w a s no t b o r n in a r e v o l u t i o n a r y age , a n d t he w o r l d is the p o o r e r t h a t his s u p e r b d r a m a t i c gifts c a m e i n t o it j u s t hal f a c e n t u r y too s o o n . H i s gif t of m e l o d y w a s supreme . So w a s his abi l i ty to b u i l d on s imple h a r m o n i e s a n d w o r k by var ia t ion a n d r e p e t i t i o n t o t he ach ievemen t of r e s o u n d i n g c l imax . Put h im in D m a j o r w i t h a c o u p l e of t r u m p e t s a n d he ' l l h a v e t he k i p p e r s s izzl ing!

Of course many a story is told of him. I remember as a chi ld being told of how he kicked a ho le in a side drum. He might have been excused. A n y b o d y who goes to a concert will be familiar with the squeak ing and wheezing that g o e s o n while the orchestra is tuning up. Of that the story is told that an Eastern potentate went to the opera with King Edward VII and after the orchestra had tuned up, and "God save the k ing" had been played, his majesty asked his visitor, "WTiat do you think o f our national anthem?" The vis i tor replied, "I liked the first one best ." Probably that's apocryphal .

But H a n d e l h a d t h e no t i on of h a v i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t s tuned off s t age , a n d b r i n g i n g t h e m in to start p l a y i n g a t once .

A p p a r e n t l y s o m e villain played the tr ick of p u t t i n g t h e m ou t of t une while t h e m u s i c i a n s w e r e h a v i n g a d r i n k — p l a y i n g mus ic is thirsty w o r k — a n d w h e n the great c o m p o s e r m o u n t e d t he r o s t r u m a n d s tar ted t h e m o f f t h e r e was the m o s t a t roc ious c a c o p h o n y ever h e a r d by m a n . Some say it w a s n o t only a d r u m but a d o u b l e b a s s tha t felt the weight of his f o o t .

L ike m o s t c rea t ive ar t is ts he made m o n e y f o r o t h e r p e o p l e . T h e p u b l i s h e r W a l s h m a d e £1,500 f r o m r e p r o d u c i n g s o m e songs f r o m the o p e r a R i n a l d o . He h a d t he temeri ty to c o n g r a t u l a t e H a n d e l on the beauty of t he m u s i c . H a n d e l sugges ted that next t ime . W a l s h s h o u l d wri te the music a n d H a n d e l s h o u l d pub l i sh it.

T H E R E s h o u l d be plenty of H a n d e l ' s mus ic p layed in 1985. One h o p e s t he p e r f o r m e r s will not make a m u s e u m piece of it. T h e r e is a t e n d e n c y t o d a y t o play "ancient m u s i c " o n " p e r i o d i n s t r u m e n t s " to get the exact s o u n d tha t e ighteenth c e n t u r y a u d i e n c e s w o u l d hear . This is n o n s e n s e . Not a lways , bu t in general , m o d e r n i n s t r u m e n t s a re far super ior . I n d e e d if o n e were g o i n g fo r realism o n e w o u l d need to re -crea te the p o o r t echn ica l s t a n d a r d s of the e igh teenth c e n t u r y , when a p rov inc ia l concer t w o u l d r e q u i r e the p ress -gang ing of a few c h o i r - b o y s a n d a m a t e u r s a lmost u n r e h e a r s e d t o f o r m a cho rus .

I feel n o revuls ion wha t soever at M o z a r t ' s p r o v i d i n g " a d d i t i o n a l a c c o m p a n i m e n t s " to the .Messiah", t h o u g h I ' m not sure tha t I would accep t J o h n L e n n o n .

Finally, what about a Handel festival in Dubl in? It would give Irish people the opportunity to become more familiar with a composer whose verve, energy and directness is very much in tune with the Irish temperament .

C.D.G.

I CG were devoted more to the study of the City of the Tribes and its inhabitants than to the matters he had been sent to university to study-a more worthwhile subject the former proved, perhaps, as those who read his novel Lig Sinn i gCathu may agree!

All the famous hurlers and footballers of the period covered are here in these pages and the mythology and folklore that grew up about them, too; Christy Ring whom 0 hEithir knew very well is regarded with awe but his fanatical devotion to winning Breanddn viewed with something akin to repugnance:

"But while I found his dedica-tion to hurling admirable, his skills formidable and his com-pany most congenial, I must confess that I found his fierce competitiveness repellent and somewhat frightening. It did not apply to hurling only. Winning in any sport he took up, was of the utmost importance to him. This attitude is beyond my own comprehension and seems to enter the realms of fanaticism.

"Only on one occasion do I remember him talking about football, which he played at club level with St Nicholas's. He re-garded it, as indeed did Michael Cusack, as an inferior game to hurling ..." The GAA's lack of moral

strength-as in the matter of taking a firm stand on pitch violence and breaches of rules-does not go unremarked upon and the Ban which for so long was the cause of heated controversy comes in for some hard appraisal, too. Reading about the Kerry-Armagh dispute I was reminded of the re-markable bad grace with which some Kingdom supporters here in the English Midlands greeted their defeat by Down away back in the 1960's and I could appreciate all the more what the author of Over The Bar meant when he said that the win-at-all-costs attitude found little favour with him.

READING this very entertaining book I thought at one stage that the GAA is a little like the Church of England in its capacity for containing disparate elements-Conor Cruise O'Brien is quoted as saying that the GAA had more Provos in its membership than any other organisation (barring, presumably, the IRA itself!) but so has it more members of the Garddi Siochana as 0 hEithir points out/ There is a little gem of a story on the last couple of pages-Afterword -that sums up all the author of Over The Bar feels about the GAA and Tm not going to spoil it for anyone who has yet to read the book-which I am sure can be had from the Irish Democrat bookshop in Gray's Inn Road or direct from the publishers, Ward River Press, Knocksedan House, Swords, Co Dublin. And while on the subject of the publishers they are to be congratulated on the lay-out and presentation of the book which is one of the most tastefully designed paperbacks I have seen to come from an Irish publisher. At a modest £4.95 (Irish) I consider Over The Bar an excellent bargain and I am sure it will have the very . wide readership it deserves. t