Des Wilson – A Voice for the Poor and Oppressed by Joe McVeigh; The ANC and the 1981 hunger strikers; The storming of the Capitol
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
My 2021 list and the Unity Conversation
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 and Time to end Partition
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
Gunboat Diplomacy and the DUP dup-ed again
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
Danny D's new book and 'The Session'
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
The Economic Benefits of a United Ireland; Remembering Danny Groves; and the Pat Finucane case
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
Solidarity with Palestinian Hunger Striker Remembering Pat McGivern and well done Breanndán O Beaglaoich
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
'Hold and stick to the Republic' The Story of Kevin Barry
Few names from the Tan War 100 years ago are as well known that of Kevin Barry. His torture and execution by the British at the age of 18 generated huge national and international attention. His name evokes a deep rooted emotional connection to a young man who heroically fought for Irish freedom and lost his life at the end of a hangman’s rope. The song was written a few months after his death. No one knows who wrote the lyrics but there are few songs of Ireland’s long struggle fo...
25 Okt 202017min
