Chris Andrews Update

John Joe McGirl – an unbreakable Fenian In the course of almost 60 years of activism I have been very lucky to meet many wonderful, committed, compassionate republicans. On Saturday, in Ballinamore in County Leitrim, Republicans from Leitrim and beyond will gather to celebrate the life of one of these – John Joe McGirl. The annual John Joe McGirl commemoration is one of the highlights of the Ballinamore Festival Week and the participants will walk from John McGahern Square to the monument t...

20 Elo 202312min

Be An Activist I had the privilege of attending many of the debates and discussions which are a unique and vital part of Féile an Phobail. Well done to all the participants and in particular to the organisers and the stewards who ensured that everything worked smoothly. Thanks also to the venues which welcomed us all. I want to touch briefly on the remarks made by Terry O'Sullivan and Jeremy Corbyn at separate events, particularly on the importance of organising civic society. Jeremy, a for...

13 Elo 202314min

Dawn Doyle remembers her friend and comrade Rita O’Hare. Last week (Thursday August 2023) I launched my latest Léargas book An Bhean Dearg about Rita O’Hare. The main speaker at the event was Dawn Doyle who was a close friend and comrade of Rita’s for many years. These are her words of tribute.

10 Elo 20238min

Frederick Douglass takes pride of place in Belfast A great crowd turned out on Monday morning in Lombard St. in Belfast City Centre for the unveiling by Belfast City Ard Mheara Ryan Murphy of a very fine statue of Frederick Douglass, escaped slave and human rights campaigner. It is a striking image of Douglass who is an iconic figure for his work on campaigning for an end to slavery and for equality and justice for African Americans and for women. He visited Ireland in 1845-46 just before th...

5 Elo 202314min

Fly Me To The Moon. I am a longtime fan of Tony Bennett. News of his death at the fine age of ninety six brings an end to an amazing life and a wonderful singing career lasting over sixty years. In more recent times this column reviewed an album he did with Lady GaGa. Cheek to Cheek is an envigorating stroll through some old favourites like Anything Goes alongside more modern melodies. “I stand with the people of Ireland” Jessie Jackson Reverend Jesse Jackson has been a l...

30 Heinä 202317min

Slán Irish Voice Two weeks ago Niall O’Dowd, founder of the Irish American newspaper The Irish Voice announced that it was to close after 36 years. The New York based Irish Voice and the Irish Echo were the principle sources of news for decades of Irish Americans and new Irish immigrants moving to the USA. Now the Irish Voice is gone. But a far sighted Niall O’Dowd realised some years ago the direction of travel for newspapers competing against the huge growth in online media service...

23 Heinä 202314min

Britannia waives the rules – again Internment was introduced 52 years ago next month on 9 August 1971. In the early hours of that morning 342 men and boys from nationalist homes across the North were dragged from their homes. Many were badly beaten and forced to run a gauntlet of battle wielding British soldiers. 14 – The Hooded Men - were subjected to days of sustained torture. It was a traumatic moment for society in the North. In Ballymurphy ten local people were shot to death b...

16 Heinä 202318min

Debate on Irish Unity steps up Two successful events on the future of Ireland were held in Belfast and Dublin last week. The atmosphere and enthusiasm at both events was mighty. The two events were part of the work of Sinn Fein’s Commission on the Future of Ireland which was established two years ago by the party to encourage dialogue. It’s about people having their say about the kind of Ireland we want. Teach your dog Irish I’m pleased to say our dogs were reared in Irish...

9 Heinä 202315min