Palestine Must Be Free | Oireachtas na Samhna | Liam Mellows and the Irish Revolution – ‘a Very Important Book’

Time for Clarity. The question – will he or won’t he – has yet to be answered. Will Jeffrey Donaldson provide the leadership needed to persuade his party to go back into the Executive or, as Michelle O’Neill pondered at last week’s meeting of the Assembly, have we seen the final sitting of the Assembly? Irish government must recognise Palestinian State The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a post-war peace process that would lead to the establishment of a sovere...

28 Tammi 202424min

WCNSFs – Wounded Child No Surviving Family Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the west Bank passed the 100 day mark at the weekend. By the time this column is published the number of dead at the hands of Israel’s war machine is likely to have passed 25,000, mostly women and children. That’s almost equivalent to the entire population of Newry wiped out. Irish Unity Summit for New York This week the tickets became available for a major public event on Irish Unity to...

21 Tammi 202415min

Death of a Hero Just before Christmas my colleague Greg O'Loughlin, the Executive Director of Friends of Sinn Féin in the USA , gave me the sad news that veteran American Civil Rights leader King Hollands had died. I had the honour of meeting King and his fellow activists Rip Patton and Richard Dinkins during a visit to Nashville in November 2018. Frank Kitson. Richard has insisted that I write a little bit about the death of Frank Kitson. Kitson, British Army general and leadi...

14 Tammi 202412min

This Land Is Your Land. I am a long time fan of Woody Guthrie. He is one of the worlds great song writers in the English language and many of his words are as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. He was also an American activist who agitated and educated and sang for social equality, immigration reform, peace and fairness. He stood against fascism, racism, war, corruption and for a clean environment. He sang about love, for workers rights and a better life ...

7 Tammi 202410min

So, 2023 was a very busy year. Lots of activism. 2024 is already shaping up to be even busier. So, join the campaigns for a Citizens’ Assembly and for the unity referendums. Have your say on the future and help shape the new Ireland. A New Year Wish Bbliain Úr Faoi Mhaise Daoibhse Go Leir. I received this verse in a Christmas card. Very appropriate.

31 Joulu 202314min

A Boy named Jay I did a book signing for Christmas at An Fhuiseog’s stand in the Kennedy Centre. It was a pleasant hour of banter and craic, meeting old friends and making new ones. Gerry Kelly was there just before me but he escaped when I arrived. So it was just me and the punters. And RG and Maggie who was selling all matter of gifts for An Fhuiseog. 2024 – Momentum toward Unity Polls set to increase After weeks, months, of public and private negotiations it is still not clear as ...

24 Joulu 202313min

Shane: Last Friday I travelled to Nenagh for the funeral of Shane MacGowan. It was a sad and yet joyous event with family and friends lifting their voices and their hearts as a succession of musicians played some of Shane’s best known songs, including the exuberant Fairytale of New York, Cór Cúil Aodha, including Seán O’Sé and Seán O’Riada’s son Peadar also did what they do best. The de-humanising of the Palestinians: Last Sunday was the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Hum...

17 Joulu 202313min

Slán Shane Shane MacGowan was a friend of West Belfast. Back in 1988 in the wake of the killings of IRA Volunteers Mairead Farrell, Dan McCann and Sean Savage in Gibraltar, and the killing of other citizens at their funerals and the killing also of IRA Volunteer Kevin McCracken in Turf Lodge this community was subjected to a vicious full frontal tsunami of vilification on the back of decades of demonisation and discrimination. Connolly House - End of an Era. Sinn Féin’ Connolly House in An...

10 Joulu 202313min