Don’t Let The Old Man In | Failure of Leadership

Fra McCann's amazing life of struggleI have known Fra McCann for almost 50 years. Even as he battles prostate cancer Fra continues to live his life as a republican activist – an MLA representing the people of the Falls, an area and a people he loves. Like many others it was the pogrom of August 1969 that changed Fra’s life. The barricades went up in Belfast and local people stepped forward to defend their community. Among them was a very young Fra. Several years later, aged 18, he...

31 Jan 202117min

Des Wilson – A Voice for the Poor and Oppressed by Joe McVeigh Fr. Joe McVeigh was a close friend and colleague of Des Wilson. It wasn’t just that both were priests. They both shared a passionate believe in justice and were committed to standing up for the rights of citizens against a British state apparatus which was oppressive and violent. The ANC and the 1981 hunger strikers The year after the 1994 election I had the honour and pleasure to meet Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu. In June 19...

17 Jan 202116min

Singing and climbing in 2021 A Chairde, a very happy 2021 to you all. Here are ten personal things I want to do in this bright new year. · Survive the pandemic. Stay alive and stay healthy. That means following the health advice and getting the vaccine as soon as I can. · Climb Errigal again. I used to do that regularly but the pandemic and travel restrictions intruded. Ewan McColl wrote ‘The Joy Of Living’, a very fine s...

3 Jan 20219min

The Government of Ireland Act was signed into British Law by a British King on 23 December 1920. In 1998 Sinn Féin succeeded in having this act scrapped - I will write about that process and its implications in the New Year. Partition was born out of violence and the threat of greater violence by unionism supported by the British government. In July 1920 nearly five thousand Catholics who were working in the two Belfast shipyards were expelled from their jobs. Over the following days more Cat...

21 Dec 202034min

Nollaig Shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibhse go leir. I know it’s going to be a strange Christmas. It’s always poignant as we think of absent friends and family but this year especially we think of those who fell victim to the Pandemic. It’s very important that we do the best we can to stay safe, to keep our families and our friends safe and to follow the basic health advice and rules. It’s also close to the time when the British government has to make its mind up on Brexit. ...

20 Dec 202014min

This week's Podcast has its roots in a conversation with Danny D; Rab; & Tomboy. We were all in Cage 11 with Bobby Sands and recalled his learning the guitar. I also reflect on the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people.

6 Dec 202020min

Its Gerry Adams here again. And a very big welcome to you all to this Podcast. On Friday Sinn Féin published its discussion paper the Economic Benefits of a United Ireland. It is an exciting contribution to the growing conversation about the future, about a new Ireland – a shared, agreed Ireland. The big question that some people put up who are against the ending of the union and self-government or who just aren’t sure, is can we afford it? This discussion document reveals an isla...

22 Nov 202014min

071120 It’s Gerry Adams and in this podcast I want to deal with a number of issues: a hunger strike by a Palestinian prisoner Maher al-Akhras and the success of Breanndán O Beaglaoich First of all I want to welcome, after 103 days, the end of the hunger strike by Palestinian prisoner Maher al Akhras. It is a testimony to his courage and fortitude and determination to highlight a grave injustice by the Israeli authorities. There is a close affinity between the people of Ireland and the p...

7 Nov 202010min