Springhill Massacre | Playing The Orange Card
The Springhill Massacre families are to be commended – like those hundreds of others in similar circumstances - for their courage and resilience in the face of British government intransigence. Last weekend the families of many of those killed by British state agencies took part in protests across the North against the PPS decision. Among them were relatives of those killed in the Ballymurphy Massacre in August 1971. Only weeks ago the Coroner concluded after a lengthy inquest that nine...
11 Juli 202116min
Time Running out – Save Moore St | The Aghadavoyle Train Ambush
Time Running out – Save Moore St At the beginning of June the British-based property company Hammerson lodged three planning applications for major developments on and around Moore Street. The applications will effectively destroy much of the 1916 Rising Heritage of the site. Some of the buildings in the terrace that runs for 10-25 Moore Street and where the last meeting of the 1916 leaders was held, and scores of those evacuated from the burning GPO took shelter, will be demolished under th...
4 Juli 202119min
Memories of my wee sister Frances
MY sister Frances died last week. Death is part of the story of life. Is é seo ar sceal. Sibling grief is a very special grief. Brothers and sisters usually know each other for the whole of their lives. So during these sad days Margaret and Paddy and Anne and Seán and Maura and Deirdre and Dominic and me are reflecting, no doubt in our own ways, on childhood memories and all the good times and bad times of lives bound up together.
27 Juni 202117min
Boris is a Chancer | Nor Meekly Serve my time | The biggest Cuban Flag in the World
Boris is a Chancer: Last week was not a good week for Boris Johnson. Even before the weekend’s G7 summit began in Cornwall the news agenda was already dominated by reports that the US government had issued a démarche to the British in advance of President Biden’s arrival. I must admit I had never heard of a démarche. During my years of negotiations with the Irish, British, US and other governments it was not a piece of diplomatic speak I had ever come across. Nor Meekly Serve my time:&...
20 Juni 202123min
Master Plan for Moore Street Unveiled | A fine day, thank God | Frederick Douglass
Master Plan for Moore Street Unveiled Most readers know that Moore Street in Dublin City Centre holds a special place in the history of Ireland. It was in Moore Street and the surrounding streets and laneways and at the nearby GPO that a fierce battle was fought between the 1916 republican forces and the British Army. Number 16 Moore Street was where five of the seven signatories of the Proclamation held their last meeting before the surrender. A fine day, thank God. We are launching a Celeb...
13 Juni 202115min
Preparing for Unity | Well done to those within loyalism who are trying to keep the peace:
Preparing for Unity: Hardly a week goes passed without some new aspect or commentary emerging on the issue of Irish Unity. When will the unity referendum by held? What criteria should the British Secretary of State apply when deciding on the date? What is the role of the Irish government? What will the question/s be that will be asked of citizens? How will the referendums be structured and what new laws might be needed to facilitate them. Well done to loyalists trying to keep the peace: They...
6 Juni 202121min
Belfast tribute to two remarkable women | Blues legend - Rab McCullough | Mountain memories
Belfast tribute to two remarkable women: Two Belfast women, Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney, will soon have statues commemorating their heroism, leadership and commitment to social justice and freedom erected in the grounds of Belfast City Hall Blues legend- Rab McCullough: Recently I asked Rab if he would join Tomboy, BikMcFarlane and other exprisoner musicans, post the Covid restrictions, in a session of music from the 60s and 70s that they played together with Bobby in the Cr...
29 Maj 202126min
Ballymurphy came out of familiar playbook | Poots faces a big challenge
Ballymurphy came out of familiar playbook: The response of the Tory government of Boris Johnson, like that of Cameron and of every British and Unionist government for 50 years, has been to cover up the culpability of their forces in the killing and wounding of citizens. On the day that a Coroner found that nine innocent citizens were murdered by the Paras. Downing Street issued a statement in which it said that the British Government intends introducing “a legacy package that delivers better ...
23 Maj 202122min
