Current Affairs, Politics, Irish Unity, History and Culture.
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Pádraic Fiacc | United Ireland | Danny D | Gaels Against Genocide
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Pádraic Fiacc The first book I wrote was Falls Memories. Brandon Books led by the late Steve Mac Donagh was my publisher. I asked Steve if we could include drawings by Michael McKernon. I didn’t know Michael but I was familiar with his fine line drawings. Steve indulged me, Michael obliged and Falls Memories was produced, enhanced by his artistry. …
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A show case for Irish Unity
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A Great Showcase for Unity The SSE Arena in Belfast was buzzing with positivity last Saturday as several thousand people participated in one of the largest public discussions held recently on constitutional change and the potential for Irish Unity. Over ten thousand more joined online. The organisers did a remarkable job in bringing together a firs…
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This will Pass | Sactions Now | Ella
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This Too Will Pass All of this is grist to the mill of our opponents. But we do not begrudge them that. One of our political achievements is to expose the sameness of these parties interests and policies. We now have to create an alternative. So we have to play our own game regardless of what the naysayers claim. Unlike the southern parties Sinn Fé…
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Pathway to Change | Elections
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IRELAND'S Future has an event in the SSE Arena in Belfast on Saturday, June 15. Entitled Pathway to Change, it has all the makings of a seminal moment in our discussions about the future. It will be the largest gathering by Ireland’s Future since its enormously successful, ground-breaking meeting in the 3 Arena in Dublin in October 2022.…
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Irish Unity | Gaza | A better world
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Irish Unity makes economic sense Last month a report by the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) caught the headlines with the claim that Irish Unity could cost the South up to €20 billion annually. The analysis was quickly challenged by other economists and last week those with different opinions had their opportunity to address …
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Say no to London | Nakba
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Dublin Needs To Say No To London. Last week Mr Justice Humphreys, sitting in the High Court in Belfast, in his summary of judgement ordered the “disapplication of provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 in Northern Ireland and declared others to be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.” Tips For Aging. I intend to include …
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Immigrants are not the enemy | Recognise the State of Palestine
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Immigrants are not the enemy. Divide and conquer is an age old tactic. It is often utilised by conservative elements to advance their regressive agendas. This is true of the Irish as it is of any other nation. In fact historically some Irish people have acted against the interests of Ireland and supported imperialistic and other colonial or domesti…
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Student Protests | Captive Columns | Rights in a New Ireland
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Solidarity to Student Protesters In the late 1960s the major national and international issues of the day that helped shape my politics were the anti-Vietnam War movement, the anti-apartheid struggle against the racist South African government and the civil rights movement in the North. In all three the activism of students was central to raising p…
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Moore Street | Mass Graves | The Falls
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A successful conference in support of Moore St. Last week The Moore Street Preservation Trust and Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald organised a conference to support the development of a Historical 1916 Cultural Quarter in Dublin City centre with Moore Street at its heart. Mass graves an act of barbarism At the weekend Leas Uachtarán Michelle …
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Palestine | Sean Mackel | Rights in a New Ireland
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It time to recognise the State of Palestine In 2014 Sinn Féin brought forward a Dáil motion calling on the government to “officially recognise the State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital …” I was part of this initiative. It got support from other TDs from other parties and none. It was not opposed by …
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Unity | 100 Years | Keep supporting Palestinian people
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Expanding the debate on Unity A recent report - "Northern Ireland Subvention: Possible Unification Effects" - published by the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) caught the headlines. It contained the startling claim that Irish Unity could cost the South up to €20 billion annually. It was grist to the mill of those who oppose un…
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Antrim | Six Months of Hell
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Up Antrim! 24 years ago I wrote a short piece for Antrim 2000. I discovered it this week when I was clearingout three decades of accumulated books, newspaper clippings and assorted pamphlets. The 2000 reflection on Gaelic games is reproduced below. Since then much has changed in the Gaeldom. The most important change is probably the growth of women…
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Special Rapporteur criticises Irish government on Gaza
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Special Rapporteur criticises Irish government on Gaza Fifteen years ago this month I led a Sinn Féin delegation on a visit to the occupied Palestinian territories. Our visit took place seven weeks after Israel’s assault on Gaza between 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009. In that attack Israeli forces killed 1400 Palestinians, including more than…
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Leo made the right call | Gaza Heart Break | Moore Street
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Leo finally made the right call LEO Varadkar’s resignation from the office of An Taoiseach and as leader of Fine Gael caught observers by surprise. On reflection, however, it is very much in keeping with his personality. A bit petulant. Awkward. Impulsive. He had done his best by his own lights. And his best had not been good enough, by his own adm…
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Easter Lily | Moore St. Raffle | Clíodhna
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Wear An Easter Lily I did not think Easter is almost upon us. It was our oldest lad’s oldest lad who remarked to me that Easter was early this year. I was bemused that a nine - almost ten - year old would know this and describe it in these words. Of course he is probably thinking of Easter eggs. For many people Easter also marks an important date i…
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International Women’s Day | Two formidable Belfast Women
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International Women’s Day Last Friday was International Women’s Day – a day when around the world humankind celebrates the work of women who are active in their communities, in trade unions, voluntary organisations, business, politics, their families and across every facet of our society. Two formidable Belfast Women On International Women’s Day hi…
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Irish Unity Hope & Change | Palestine | International Women's Day
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The Commission on the Future of Ireland held successful public meetings in Fermanagh and West Tyrone on Irish Unity. Friends of Sinn Féin USA and various other Irish organisations held a successful summit in New York. Ireland’s Future released its ‘Ireland 2030’ proposals. Mary Lou McDonald & Pearse Doherty addressed the Irish Unity Summit in Coope…
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Casement | Starvation in Gaza
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Casement I have spent many enjoyable afternoons in Casement Park watching countless football and hurling games and playing in some of them. I have lost count of my man of the match triumphs. Especially for St. Marys or Belfast Schools in hurling. Or on Sports Days. In the past the stand and terraces or raised mounds around the pitch provided a wond…
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Respect | Window on the Past | Ceasefire Now
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Respect On Sunday last I spoke at the 40th Anniversary Commemoration of the killing by the SAS of IRA Volunteers Henry Hogan and Declan Martin in Dunloy County Antrim. Declan was 18. Henry was 20. I was also the speaker at the funerals in February 1984. At that time hundreds of RUC and scores of landrovers surrounded Henry Hogans wake house and mys…
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Information Appeal | Israel’s War against Children | Moore Street
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An appeal for Information In the 1970s the IRA shot dead and secretly buried a number of people. This is a terrible legacy of that period of our history. The families of those killed have suffered a grievous injustice. Republicans, including the IRA, recognise and have acknowledged this fact. What happened was wrong and unjustifiable. Israel’s War …
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Historic Change | Alex Maskey | Ivor Browne
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Historic Change The restoration last Saturday of the political institutions and the election of Michelle O'Neill as First Minister marks an extraordinary turning point in the process of constitutional change for the North and for the island of Ireland. It is a significant new chapter in the transitional process of change that began with the peace p…
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Kneecap | South Africa | Áras Uí Chonghaile
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Comhghairdeas Kneecap Comhghairdeas Kneecap as an rath a bhí ar bhur scannán ag féile scannán Sundance. Last August I travelled over to a studio close to Queen’s University to meet with Kneecap. The three west Belfast lads were busy putting the final touches to their movie which recounts – mostly i nGaeilge - how they were formed. That night they w…
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Time for Clarity | Irish Government & Palestine
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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 S…
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Gaza | Irish Unity NYC | Fermanagh Blackbird
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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 …
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Death of a hero | Kitson | Nollaig na mBan
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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. …
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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 again…
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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…
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A Boy Named Jay | 2024 Momentum towards Unity
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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 Fhui…
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Shane | Dehumanising Palestinians | Christian Ceol
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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 Pe…
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Slán Shane | Connolly House | Lies of War
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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 ts…
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Where to for Loyalism? | Peace requires respect for Palestinian rights | The Far Right must be challenged
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Where to for Loyalism? I have met many loyalists over a very long time. In prison. Out of prison. In secret or in private talks going back to the 1970s. And many times since then. I like to think that some of us became friends. Or at least we became friendly. Some loyalist leaders played a crucial role in the negotiations which led to the Good Frid…
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Strength to strength | Seán Harte | Palestine
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strength to strength Regular readers will know that Ionad Eileen Howell/St. Comgall’s was formally opened in June by the US Economic Envoy Joe Kennedy. It came after many years of fundraising, planning and hard work by all involved – not least Eileen Howell who the centre is named after. The project is designed to promote economic, educational, soc…
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Fr Alec Reid | Ard Fheis
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Fr. Alec Reid Next Wednesday – 22 November – will mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Father Alec Reid. It is a matter of wonderment that a decade has passed since he left us. Students of the Irish peace process will know that Alec was a central figure in our search for peace. He and Fr. Des Wilson were key to the beginning of that process. …
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Unity | Ethnic Cleansing | Crann Na Saoirse
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The Unity Debate Seven key Irish-American organisations have announced an ‘Irish Unity Summit – For a New and United Ireland’ to be held in New York on 1st March next year. This major initiative – coming as it will just before St. Patrick’s Day and the visit to the USA of political leaders from Ireland – is being organised by the Ancient Order of H…
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Wolfe Tone | Ceasefires Now | Pulse
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Wolfe Tone’s Cordial Union Last week I attended an event in Parliament Buildings at Stormont, hosted by US Special Economic Envoy Joe Kennedy. There was a panel discussion on the impact of the Good Friday Agreement which involved myself, former DUP leader Peter Robinson; former Alliance Assembly Speaker Eileen Bell; Lady Daphne Trimble, President o…
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We are all Palestinians | Peacemakers | Tír Chonaill Thuaidh
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We are all Palestinians As I write this week’s column all of the scéal coming from the Israeli government and its international allies indicate that a ground invasion of Gaza is imminent. It will, according to some be a ‘surgical strike against Hamas’. From British government Ministers, to political pundits, to international allies of the Israeli g…
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Irish Peace Initiative | People's Assembly | Moore Street Tour
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Ireland Should Launch A Middle East Peace Initiative. Like many of you I have been shocked and distressed by the appalling events in the Middle East. The attack by Hamas fighters which targeted civilians cannot be defended. Mary Lou McDonald spoke for all of us when she unreservedly condemned these actions and called for the release of all hostages…
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It's Time for Peace | 75 | 1916 walking tour
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Peace Talks Now The scale of the assault by Palestinian fighters into Israel last weekend is unparalleled. The scenes of death and destruction on both sides are heart breaking. But shock and despair at more violence in that region is not the answer. On Being Seventy Five. I published a version of this reflection when I was seventy two.Following my …
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David Ervine | Street Art | Mól An Óige
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David Ervine - The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary Anyone who knew David Ervine or knows of him will appreciate the title of Bobby Niblock’s play - The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary. In its humorous description of David’s style of speaking and wordiness it reminds us of a political leader who was an able and determined advocate for working class lo…
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We must listen to each other Efforts by the British government and the unionist parties to stymie the conversation on future constitutional change has actually brought a greater focus on the growing momentum around the upcoming unity referendum. The criticism of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar by the British Secretary of State and a range of unionist voi…
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Lough Neagh | Tories & Pinochet | Martin
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Lough Neagh Seamus Heaney’s poem, published in 1969, captures much of what makes Lough Neagh unique. It has long been a place of myth and fable, where the palace of the Tuatha Dé Danann is supposed to lie beneath its waves. It is said that Lough Neagh was created by the giant Finn McCool who legend claims scooped out a huge chunk of earth and threw…
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Palestine | Sepsis | Sláinte
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Palestinian State Last week the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin visited Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. It was an opportunity for the Irish government to take a firm stand against Israeli aggression and its apartheid system of governance. Instead Mr. Martin became little more than a commentator on the ongoing and worsenin…
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Moore Street | Never Alone | Walking with my mother
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Unique Robert Ballagh Moore Street Print As regular readers of this column know I have been involved for a very long time in the campaign to protect and develop as a historic and cultural quarter the Moore St. Terrace and its environs in Dublin. The entire terrace 10-25 Moore Street was occupied by the evacuated GPO garrison at the end of Easter We…
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Cork | X | Seamus Heaney
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The Road To Cork. In 1986 I gave a talk at a Sinn Féin conference which became known by activists of my vintage as The Road to Cork or The Bus to Cork. More of that at another time. Suffice for now to say that I made the journey to Cork a metaphor for the journey to the new republic. I am minded of that now as our car speeds south and I sit in the …
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Visiting the Hunger Strikers This column will be in Cork, le cuidiu Dia, to attend the National Hunger Strike Commemoration on Sunday. It’s the first time that this annual event will be held in Cork. It will remember the ten 1981 hunger strikers and Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg who both died in English prisons and those Cork republicans - Terenc…
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John Joe McGirl | Campaigning
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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 c…
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Activism | Rita | Internment
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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…
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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.Von Gerry Adams
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Frederick Douglass | Hunger Strike Commemoration | Pen Behind The Wire
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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 o…
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Tony Bennett | Jessie Jackson | Partitionist mindset of RTE
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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 Anythin…
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