Léargas: A Podcast By Gerry Adams podcast

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All About Change

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Gary Sinise: Doing More for Our veterans with the Gary Sinise Foundation 27:29

vor 11 Tagen27:29

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Gary Sinise is an award winning actor, on the stage, TV and big screen. He is best known for playing Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. Inspired by this role and his family members, Gary is now the head of the Gary Sinise Foundation, which offers support for service members who need help with mental wellness, trauma, physical recovery, and loss. He Also plays concerts worldwide for our nation’s defenders and their families, boosting morale and offering gratitude for their sacrifices as part of the Lt. Dan Band. Jay and Gary discuss the changing needs of American service members and their families, the many services the Gary Sinise Foundation provides, how Gary’s work helped him through personal loss and much more. Today's episode was produced by Tani Levitt and Mijon Zulu. To check out more episodes or to learn more about the show, you can visit our website Allaboutchangepodcast.com. If you like our show, spread the word, tell a friend or family member, or leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app. We really appreciate it. All About Change is produced by the Ruderman Family Foundation. Episode Chapters (0:00) intro (1:11) Veterans’ changing needs over the past half century (7:57) Veterans’ appreciation of Gary’s portrayal of Lt. Dan (10:25) By helping others, we step out of ourselves (11:46) The Lt. Dan Band (15:29) How the death of Gary’s son Mac impacts his activism (17:33) Bringing services to American heroes wherever they are (19:45) Accurate portrayals of veterans in film and TV (20:58) How can people get involved with the Gary Sinise foundation (24:24) Goodbye For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation Stay in touch: X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/ Looking for more insights into the world of activism? Be sure to check out Jay’s brand new book, Find Your Fight , in which Jay teaches the next generation of activists and advocates how to step up and bring about lasting change. You can find Find Your Fight wherever you buy your books, and you can learn more about it at ⁠⁠www.jayruderman.com⁠⁠ .…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Current Affairs, Politics, Irish Unity, History and Culture.

252 Episoden

#Gerry Adams #Society #Politics #Conversations #News #History

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

35 subscribers

updated vor 6 Tagen

Serie-Home•Feed

Current Affairs, Politics, Irish Unity, History and Culture.

252 Episoden

#Gerry Adams #Society #Politics #Conversations #News #History

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Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Mothers Against Genocide | ‘If I Must Die’ | Give the vote to 16-year-old citizens | Health & Care in a New Ireland 18:02

vor 6 Tagen18:02

18:02

Mothers Against Genocide This column makes no apologies for writing so much about the genocide in Palestine and the urgent need for ceasefires and a peace process. At least 14,000 babies face imminent death from starvation. Over 60,000 Palestinian children, women, men have been killed, including more than 4,000 since Israel ended its ceasefire in March. One especially harrowing example of Israel’s murder machine at work was the deliberate targeting last Friday of the family home of Hamdi and Walaa al-Najjar, two doctors who work at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. As Hamdi was at work nine of her ten children were killed. Her husband and a 10th child was left critically ill. Mothers Against Genocide have stood up against this savagery and for the rights of the Palestinian people. Sue Pentel and Martine McCullough are active in this campaign. Sue has been a political activist all her life. My earliest memory of her is as a member of Women against Imperialism over 40 years ago. Sue is a Gaeilgeoir who has worked for decades promoting the education of our young people through the medium of Irish. She is also a committed advocate for the rights of the people of Palestine and last weekend she and her friend Martine were arrested by the PSNI and charged with ‘criminal damage’ to an ATM at Barclays Bank in Castle Place in Belfast City Centre. The so-called criminal damage was the placing of a sticker on the machine as a reminder of Barclays role in selling Israeli war bonds. ‘If I Must Die’ There will be a public event this Saturday – 31 May - about the ongoing genocide. The venue is St Comgalls/Ionad Eileen Howell and it starts at 7.30pm. Chairing the meeting, which is sponsored by the Bobby Sands Trust, will be Dr Brendan Ciaran Browne, Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution. The main speaker will be Yousef M. Aljamal On the International Wall in Belfast there is a poem by Refaat Alareer, ‘If I Must Die’ which he wrote for his daughter, Shaymaa, who would grow up to be an accomplished illustrator. It is very poignant because the Israelis went on to kill Refaat, along with his sister, brother and four of nephews and nieces, eighteen months ago. Give the vote to 16-year-old citizens. The debate on reducing the voting age to 16 is gathering momentum. Twice in the last decade the Assembly – minus the DUP - has endorsed the call for the vote to be reduced in the North from 18 to 16. Several years ago Sinn Féin introduced a Bill in the Oireachtas to allow for this in southern elections and last week An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that he had an “open mind” on such a proposition and would give it “serious consideration.” The Commission on the Future of Ireland are hosting 'Health & Care in a New Ireland' on the 6th of June, 1pm at St Comgalls, Belfast. Register here : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/health-care-in-a-new-ireland-tickets-1354804690299…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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A Ballymurphy Man | Verbal Disorder | The Floodgates of Horror | The Catastrophe – Nakba 12:26

vor 13 Tagen12:26

12:26

San Francisco – A Ballymurphy Man/A Work in Progress If you live in the San Francisco area go along to the Vogue Theatre on 1st June to see a sneak preview of Trisha Ziff’s film – A Ballymurphy Man. It’s me telling my story, talking about the influences in my life and of our efforts to build the peace process. Trisha is still working on the final cut and The World Premier of her documentary film will take place in the Galway Film Festival on 12 July. But this is an opportunity for people in San Francisco to see the current work in progress. Tickets are available through the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival at sfdocfest2025.eventive.org/schedule or you can pay in person. The film begins at 7.30 pm and Trisha Ziff, the Director will be there for a Question and Answer. Verbal Disorder When I was younger I used to have a stammer. I don’t know what age I was. Somewhere between seven and ten perhaps. A youngster! I grew out of my speech impediment, and I have very little recollection of my stammering phase but I was reminded of it when I was on the phone to a friend in Ard Oifig in Dublin last week. The Floodgates of Horror Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D Higgins does not mince his words when it comes to Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people. Last weekend he addressed the annual commemoration of Ireland’s An Gorta Mór – The Great Hunger - of the 1840s. The commemoration is a reminder of our colonial experience and of a potato plight which became a genocide because of the policies of the British government. Over a million died and millions more fled. The Catastrophe – Nakba Last week Palestinians across the world commemorated the Nakba – The Catastrophe. In 1948 almost a million Palestinians fled as refugees from their homes as the Israeli state was forcibly carved out of Palestine.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Presidential Vote is a constitutional requirement | Donnacha 15:54

vor 20 Tagen15:54

15:54

PRESIDENTIAL VOTING RIGHTS In a historic vote in the Assembly last week its members overwhelmingly passed by 46 votes to 25 - a motion calling on the Irish government to implement the recommendation of the 2013 Constitutional Convention on the Constitution to extend “the right to vote in elections for President of Ireland to all Irish citizens on the island of Ireland.” The reality of course is that successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments have deliberately refused to implement this recommendation despite having 12 years to do so. DONNACHA RYNNE Donnacha died last week. I had planned to visit him in July. Unfortunately, that will not be. Donnacha loved West Belfast. And West Clare. He loved life. He lived in the nowness. Donnacha remains an inspiration.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Swinger | Israel’s reign of terror | Commission on the Future of Ireland 14:35

vor 27 Tagen14:35

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Swinger I spent the last week in Dublin in the Four Courts as part of the outworking of my case against the BBC’s Spotlight programme nine years ago. But more of that when it’s over which could take another fortnight. On the morning that the case started our Gearóid phoned me to say that his father-in-law Paddy ‘Swinger’ McBride was dead. The news was a great shock. I had spent a half hour or more a few days before chatting with Paddy in his home. He was just out after a spell in hospital, and although he was ill his spirit was strong and he was full of craic and talk about the current politics, his son Patrick’s Man of the Match performance for Antrim against Armagh, the need to build Casement and how a son of Tony Benn could behave the way Hillary Benn does. Israel’s reign of terror As this column goes to press the Israeli government is calling up tens of thousands of army reservists for a full scale military invasion, subjugation and occupation of the Gaza Strip. After almost 20 months of genocide against the Palestinian people the Israeli state is now embarking on its final solution – the displacement of two million people and the mass murder of more Palestinians. Last Saturday was World Press Freedom Day – but not in Gaza. In the year and a half of this current reign of terror by Israel at least 211 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip while the international press corps is denied access to report on events in that huge concentration camp. Britain and most western and European states are silent on this. They are silent also on the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war against two million people, many of them children, who live in Gaza. According to UNICEF over three hundred thousand children under the age of five are suffering severe malnutrition. Commission on the Future of Ireland As momentum in the demand for Irish Unity grows the work of Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland continues to expand. In the last two months the Commission has held a Mid Ulster Peoples Assembly in the Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy; a Tionól Pobail Bhaile Ghib in County Meath; a climate crisis conference - One Island, One Environment – in Dublin and an EU & Irish Unity- What next?- event in the European Parliament in Brussels.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Statue of Bobby Sands to be unveiled | The Refugees | Pope Francis 16:34

vor 5 weeks16:34

16:34

Statue of Bobby Sands to be unveiled On May 4 at 3pm, a statue of Bobby Sands will be unveiled in the Republican Memorial Garden in Twinbrook, where Bobby lived. The organisers of the event, all local republican activists and all inspired by the courage and self-sacrifice of Bobby and his comrades, have worked hard over recent years to raise the funds for the statue. Former hunger striker Pat Sheehan who spent 55 days on the 1981 hunger strike will speak about Bobby and his comrades who died. There will also be a Bobby Sands Mountain Walk that morning and the annual Bobby Sands lecture will be given that evening by Pat Sheehan in the Andersonstown Social Club. Bobby was the first of ten republican hunger strikers to die during the H-Block hunger strike of 1981. He died on May 5. The others were: Francis Hughes; Raymond McCreesh; Patsy O’Hara; Joe McDonnell; Kieran Doherty TD; Kevin Lynch; Martin Hurson; Tom McElwee; and Mickey Devine. Nor should we forget Michael Gaughan 1974 and Frank Stagg 1976 who died on hunger strike in prisons in England. I knew Bobby and Francie Hughes, Kieran Doherty and Joe McDonnell. I also met Tom McElwee and Mickey Devine on a visit to the prison hospital in July 1981. They were all ordinary young working class men. Joe McDonnell at 30 was the eldest. The rest were all in their 20s. In extraordinary times they revealed a depth of resolve that few are ever called upon to demonstrate. The Refugees A hurried worried people, a human stampede to God knows where, Were spat out from the back streets, for God knows who to care. Their little kitchen houses lit up the night around about ‘For God and Ulster’ was the reason that the refugees were driven out. Oh little humble homes where the people hugged the open fire, Oil-clothed floors and little ornamented cabinets that the neighbours would admire, The little backyard havens where the youngsters would play And in the hall the little font of holy water to bless you on your way! Pope Francis The funeral last Saturday of Pope Francis was an occasion to mourn the passing of a leader who championed progressive causes, stood up for those most marginalised and vulnerable while opening the door to reform within the Church. There is much more to be done to make the Church democratic. I am among those who are alienated by the deep absence of equality in the Church’s structures. Banning women from the priesthood is totally unacceptable as is the opulence of some institutions and the unaccountability of church leaders, particularly over the treatment of children and vulnerable people. But still there are good priests and nuns and many decent people doing their best to make amends. They include Pope Francis. The many stories of his deep sense of compassion for the sick and vulnerable and those who are victim of abuse and violence have filled the airwaves and social media since his death. His loss is a huge blow to the institutional Church which often seems aloof to the trials and tribulations of ordinary people while being less than open about the sins of some within its own ranks.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Kathleen Lynn – a Rebel Woman | Finding their place in a new Ireland | A Barren Landscape of Death | All that Fuss 15:04

vor 6 weeks15:04

15:04

Kathleen Lynn – a Rebel Woman I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter. Across the island and further afield commemorations were held at countless locations to remember those who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and in all of the generations of the freedom struggle. The Belfast turnout was big and Pearse Doherty, who made an exceptional speech, was given a very warm welcome. I saw no mention of his remarks or those of other republican speakers on RTE, BBC or other broadcasters. So much for public service broadcasting! The story of Easter 1916 reverberates with many remarkable accounts of courage as a small band of Irish Republicans took on the largest Empire ever to have existed in human history. They include many women. Among these are Julia Grenan, Winifred Carney and Elizabeth O’Farrell who were in the GPO and in Moore St. when the decision to surrender was taken. Winifred Carney’s statue now stands proudly in front of Belfast City Hall. Finding their place in a new Ireland In his Easter remarks at the Republican Plot in Milltown Cemetery Teachta Pearse Doherty referenced the fact that the “momentum for Irish Unity grows stronger every day…. it is fast becoming the defining political project of our generation.” Pearse also addressed the importance of preparing for unity and in doing so the imperative of engaging with the unionist section of our people. He said: “There are many issues for republicans and unionists to talk about. We need to address the genuine fears and concerns of unionists in a meaningful way.” That means examining what they mean when they say they are British. We must be willing he said; “to explore and be open to new ideas. We need to look at ways in which the unionist people can find their place in a new Ireland.” A Barren Landscape of Death The Gaza Strip is one eighth the size of County Antrim and has a population three times larger. Imagine if Belfast north of the River Lagan and including Mallusk and Newtownabbey were levelled to the ground. No schools, no hospitals, no homes – just tents – no churches, no shops, no transport system, no sewage system. A barren levelled landscape of death. Gaza City has been under strict Israeli siege for seven weeks. No bread, no water, no fuel, no medicines have been allowed to enter the area. The people – the children – are starving. And all the time the international community with a few honourable exceptions does nothing – is complicit in this genocide. All that Fuss A friend of mine in County Tyrone was taking her seven year old daughter to her local Gael Scoil when the child drew her attention to the road sign for Londonderry. Someone had drawn a line through the London bit. ‘Why is that like that Mammy?’ She asked. So Mammy gave a children’s explanation. ‘But they are both wrong’ the child replied ‘It’s not Londonderry or Derry. Its Doire.’ And that dear readers is why there is all that fuss about Irish or bilingual signage.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Wear an Easter Lilly | Micheál Martin and Moore St. | Two different Voices on Unity 13:55

vor 7 weeks13:55

13:55

Wear an Easter Lilly I did not think Easter is almost upon us. It has crept up on me. For Irish republicans Easter holds a special significance. It is synonymous with the 1916 Easter Rising and the heroism over a century ago of those who rose up against the British Empire and declared for a Republic. It is also a time when we remember all of those women and men – over countless generations – who gave their lives in pursuit of Irish sovereignty and independence. In the course of my activism I have travelled widely. I have visited many countries. Time and again I have been struck by the determination of nations to honour the patriots and freedom fighters who gave meaning to their desire for freedom and self-determination. Across the world there are countless memorials to those who fought in wars against colonialism. National ceremonies of remembrance are held. Buildings or lands and even prisons associated with struggles for freedom are protected and used as aids to teach young people the value of citizenship and the importance of freedom and democracy. Across this island and beyond there are many such monuments to Irish patriots. Next Sunday tens of thousands of people in towns, villages and cities, at country crossroads and at lonely hillside graveyards across the country, will gather for commemorations. They will gather also in Britain, Australia, Canada, the USA and many other places. Most will wear an Easter Lily. This is a symbol of our enduring commitment to the ideals of 1916 and of the Proclamation of the Republic and is a mark of respect for all those, from every generation, who paid with their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. Micheál Martin and Moore St. Micheál Martin visited 14-17 Moore St. last week. Number 16 is where the leaders of the Rising held their last meeting before their execution. Numbers 14-17 are the planned location for a National Monument to those who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and who evacuated to that street as the GPO was in flames. Martin’s visit comes 12 years after he called for the "protection and enhancement" of Moore Street. It comes 19 years after the Fianna Fáil government of Bertie Ahern designated 14-17 Moore St. as a National Monument. During that time the buildings lay derelict and have fallen into a dangerous state of disrepair Now almost two decades later Martin takes an interest, on the cusp of Easter, in a site that his government has starved of funding. Moreover, Martin has backed the plan by the London based developer Hammerson to obliterate the Moore St. Battlefield site, including historic buildings that are part of that period. The rumour was that he was to make a public statement about this. Representatives of the Moore Street Preservation Trust were there to respond, including the grandson of James Connolly, James Connolly Heron. James presented An Taoiseach with the Trusts plan for a 1916 historic and Cultural Quarter. This encompasses the preservation, restoration and management of the Moore Street Battlefield Area, as designated by the High Court in 2016 “the lands, buildings, streets and lanes within an area including Moore Street, Henry Place, O’Rahilly Parade and Moore Lane, in which the 1916 Rising Volunteers travelled after evacuating the GPO”. Two different Voices on Unity Speaking of Micheál Martin, the Fianna Fáil leader was interviewed for the Belfast Telegraph last week. I was disappointed but not surprised by his assertion that he wasn’t even thinking of a ‘border poll’. When pushed about the constitutional future of Ireland in 50 years-time he couldn’t even bring himself to utter the words ‘united Ireland.’ In the 15 years he has been leader of Fianna Fáil Martin has engaged in a deliberate strategy of obfuscation when it comes to unity. His current excuse for not pursu…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Protecting our environment | Build Casement Now | International Palestinian Child Day | Trade War Demands United response 22:34

vor 8 weeks22:34

22:34

Protecting our environment The blue skies and warm weather of recent days is a reminder that spring will soon give way to summer. Everywhere the trees and flowers are coming into bloom and the dark evenings are retreating as our daylight hours increase. Regrettably, this change in weather also brings with it acts of vandalism, in particular the setting of wildfires that present a real danger to hill walkers, animals, local wildlife and the natural fauna. Build Casement Now The delay in building the new Casement Park is totally unacceptable. Like many Gaels of my age I grew up with Casement. I played there for our school teams and enjoyed sports days as well. I have watched umpteen games over the decades. Until 2013. That was the last time Casement Park hosted a game. On 10 June 2013. International Palestinian Child Day First, let me congratulate Francesca Albanese who despite a despicable campaign by Israel and its allies to have her sacked, will continue in her role as UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories until 2028. She has been a champion for the people of Palestine as Israel’s genocide continues to kill and wound hundreds every day. Trade War Demands United response The U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated the most dangerous trade war of modern times. His widespread imposition of tariffs threatens untold damage to the world’s economies. In the USA the stock market has declined sharply and senior economists are warning of a deep recession. These too will adversely impact world economies. There is no indication that President Trump intends to change direction. On the contrary he appears to be digging in. Campaign for Moore Street Continues.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Protect the Assembly Rooms | Calls for Kurdish peace process welcomed | Time for Unity | Free Palestine 15:12

vor 9 weeks15:12

15:12

The North began, the North held on, The strife for native land; When Ireland rose to smite her foes God bless the Northern land Thomas Davis In the 1790s Belfast was the centre of an Irish political movement which linked Antrim and Down with the Republics of France and America, and Belfast citizens celebrated the Fall of the Bastille, drank toasts to Mirabeau and Lafayette and studied Payne’s great book, The Rights of Man . Presbyterians formed the Society of United Irishmen and declared for Catholic emancipation, for the abolition of church establishments and tithes, for resistance to rack rents and for sweeping agrarian reforms. They gave a cordial welcome to Mary Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the Rights of Women and joined with their Catholic neigbours in the struggle for national independence and political democracy. Calls for Kurdish peace process welcomed Following World War 1 the European colonial states divided the Middle East into British and French zones of interest. An initial commitment to a Kurdish state was ignored and the Kurdish people were forcibly partitioned between Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Winston Churchill, who was Colonial Secretary in 1920 and helped draw up the state boundaries of that region, cleared the use of poison gas against the Kurdish people in Iraq. The renowned writer and historian Noam Chomsky writes that Churchill favoured the use of poison gas "against recalcitrant Arabs as an experiment" and cleared their use on the basis that; "I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes." Since then the region has been convulsed with conflict. Not least has been the centuries long struggle of the Kurdish people to self-determination. Time for Unity The Spring budget statement from the British Chancellor last week exemplifies much that is wrong in the current union between the North and England. It was a statement that Margaret Thatcher would have approved of. It directly attacks the most vulnerable in society and promises more cuts to public services, including welfare provision. It commits Labour to the implementation of policies that will cause significant difficulties for the North. It will significantly increase poverty, particularly for children and people with disabilities. At the same time Labour intends spending more money on weapons for war. Free Palestine This column salutes Mothers Against Genocide for their Protest on Mother’s Day against the genocidal war by the Zionists against the people of Palestine. Mothers Against Genocide are an inspirational group of women who campaign assertively and imaginatively for peace and self-determination for the people of Palestine. Their overnight vigil at the gates of Leinster House was forcibly cleared by An Garda Síochána and eight protesters were arrested.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Martin Mc Guinness. A Reflection. | A Courageous Advocate for Palestinian | The only answer is Unity 17:46

vor 10 weeks17:46

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Martin Mc Guinness. A Reflection. Friday the 21 March was the eighth anniversary of the death of our friend and leader Martin McGuinness. Like many others, I am sure, I was perplexed as it dawned on me that eight years had passed since we lost him. In my head I thought it was five or six years ago. But as we people of a certain age should now know time waits for no one. I remember as if it was yesterday dashing to the hospital. Even though we were anticipating his death there was nonetheless a numbness, a shock to be told that Martin was gone. A Courageous Advocate for Palestinian Ms. Francesca Albanese is the Special Rapporteur for the United Nations in the Palestinian territories. She is a remarkable champion for human rights and international law whose moral integrity and deep rooted humanity are an inspiration. Her leadership on Palestinian rights, her unremitting and courageous criticism of Israel’s decades long illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories, is an example for all of us who seek a just peace between the peoples of Palestine and of Israel. Last week Ms. Albanese was in the South of Ireland addressing Universities, giving interviews, attending the massive pro-Palestinian march in Dublin on Saturday and meeting a wide range of individuals and groups. The only answer is Unity There are at least 50,000 people in Belfast reliant on PIP (Personal Independence Payment). Given that levels of disadvantage and poor health indicators are higher in west Belfast it is safe to assume that many thousands of families in that part of the city are especially vulnerable to British government cuts to the PIP system. Over the years Labour governments have shown scant regard for their socialist roots. Often they are just a pale imitation of the Tories who care even less. They especially show no empathy when it comes to the North. Year after year the British block grant fails to meet our basic public service requirements whether in the provision of health, education, housing, agriculture or the environment. The Executive scrambles to stretch a finite budget.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Defend Neutrality | Support the Occupied Territories Bill | Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig 16:43

vor 11 weeks16:43

16:43

Defend Neutrality. If truth be told the long standing claim of neutrality by the southern Irish state is not all its made out to be. It is a fact that successive Irish governments have turned a blind eye to American war planes using Shannon as a stopping off point for attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as carrying munitions to Israel for its genocidal war against the people of Palestine. US planes carrying political prisoners to interrogation and detention sites, where they were tortured, stopped at Shannon to refuel. A breach of international law. The government did nothing. In recent months a significant and increasing number of articles have been published in the mainstream Dublin based media claiming that neutrality was fine in the past but is not fit for purpose in the world today. It is ‘morally degenerate’ wrote one writer. Getting rid of neutrality would make the Irish state appear more ‘grown-up’ said another. The language has become increasingly belligerent as the demand is made for a substantial increase in spending on weapons and for the Irish government to join the NATO alliance. Support the Occupied Territories Bill Last week An Taoiseach Micheál Martin is reported to have told an Israeli lobby group in New York that the Occupied Territories Bill is not on the legislative calendar. He is sticking rigidly to the line that there are constitutional difficulties that require the Bill to be significantly redrafted. The end result of this prevarication is that the Occupied Territories Bill remains in limbo. While Micheál Martin stonewalls meaningful action against Israel that state’s genocide against the Palestinian people is unrelenting. Israel has clearly breached the January ceasefire multiple times. Since 15 January Israeli forces have killed over 150 civilians in the Gaza Strip, including women and children, charity workers and journalists. For almost three weeks now Israel has imposed a blockade on desperately needed aid from entering the devastated region. It has also turned off Gaza’s electricity preventing the desalination plants from providing water for the besieged residents. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for the Irish people and diaspora to celebrate being Irish. In some parts of the world St. Patrick’s Day morphs into a week of celebrations. I hope you enjoyed your St. Patrick’s Day/week wherever you are. This year Friends of Sinn Féin published an advertisement in several US based newspapers, including the New York Times urging Irish America to speak out on the right of the diaspora to vote in Irish Presidential elections and called on the Irish government to prepare for Irish Unity.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Let's Welcome the World | Na Mná Abú | Opening the Gates of Hell 17:04

vor 12 weeks17:04

17:04

Let’s welcome the World It has been a very busy and eventful couple of weeks for all of those who speak and enjoy the Irish language and who have campaigned for decades against government policies of institutionalised exclusion, inequality and discrimination. Two weeks ago, and after years of prevarication by successive British governments, the British Secretary of State finally commenced the legal process by which the last penal law – the Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737 - will finally be repealed. This is an important milestone in the long struggle to ensure equality of language rights for gaeilgeoirí in the North. There is now an onus on the Justice Minister Naomi Long to bring forward effective guidelines in the courts that reflect the increasing numbers of citizens using Irish in their daily lives in our society. Na Mná Abú. I have been a life-long supporter of Antrim’s footballers and hurlers. And the Camógs as well. Colette played county back in the day. Back in another day I had a dream that I too might make the grade. But wee boy dreams faded into reality and alas it was not to be. I sometimes reflect on how different my Gaelic sporting life might have been in a different political dispensation. If only? So, I have followed our county’s fortunes and misfortunes from the side-lines for over seventy years now. That’s a long time. I am one among many. Not all of us can be county stars. But we kept the faith on tough days out as well as on heady days in Casement and other county grounds and occasionally in Croke. Opening the Gates of Hell Late last week war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he was blocking humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip. His Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich applauded this decision and called for the cutting off of electricity and water. Within hours this was done. Smotrich went further and demanded the "opening the gates of hell on Gaza with a powerful, deadly and quick attack.” UN Human rights experts accused Israel of "weaponised starvation" after the decision to block humanitarian aid. They asserted that Israel as the occupying power is obliged to ensure sufficient food, medical supplies and other relief services reached the people of Gaza and the west Bank. They accused Israel of weaponising aid by deliberately cutting vital supplies.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

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Seachtain na Gaeilge | Death of Dafyyd Elis-Thomas 12:37

vor 13 weeks12:37

12:37

Seachtain na Gaeilge Seachtain na Gaeilge used to run for one week but because it was so popular it was extended. It now runs annually from 1 March to 17 March – St. Patrick’s Day. Is í Seachtain na Gaeilge an ceiliúradh is mó den Ghaeilge agus Cultúr na hÉireann ar domhan. Bhí an oiread sin ráchairt uirthi gur síneodh amach chuig coicís í. Bíonn sí ar siúl ó 1 Márta go dtí 17 Márta - Lá Fhéile Pádraig, achan bhliain. Seachtain na Gaeilge was founded in 1902 by Conradh na Gaeilge as part the Gaelic revival of that time. Initially Seachtain na Gaeilge was limited to the island of Ireland but today it is now a global phenomenon and the largest celebration of our language and culture here and overseas. Seachtain is an opportunity to celebrate our native language and culture and to enjoy it all. I was lucky to attend the Belfast launch in An Cultúrlann on the Falls Road last week. I certainly enjoyed it. It was a great event. Bia blasta agus ceol milis. You could tell a new generation is here to take the language movement forward with confidence. To read what's on in the festival, go to Seachtain na Gaelige le energia or cnag.ie Death of Dafyyd Elis-Thomas Next week the funeral will take place in Cardiff of Dafyyd Elis-Thomas the former leader of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh independence party, who died in February. Forty-four years ago Dafyyd was an MP in the British Parliament where he played a pivotal role in the 1981 hunger strike. Bobby Sands commenced his hunger strike on 1 March 1981. He was to be followed in the weeks and months that followed by other blanket men. Five days after Bobby first refused food Frank Maguire, the Independent Republican MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone suddenly died of a heart attack. Following days of intense discussion, it was decided by Sinn Féin to stand Bobby Sands in the by-election. Harry West was the Unionist candidate. When the result was announced on the 9 April in Enniskillen’s Technical College - “Sands, Bobby – Anti H-Block/Armagh Political Prisoner – 30,492; West, Harry – Unionist – 29,046” – history was made and the political landscape on the island of Ireland changed forever. Bobby was elected with a majority of 1447 on an 87% turnout.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Brendan McFarlane | Taking a Stand | Fáilte abhaile Leonard 14:26

vor 14 weeks14:26

14:26

Brendan McFarlane On Tuesday we buried our friend and comrade Brendan McFarlane. Bik texted me just over 2 weeks or so ago to say he was back in hospital. He had been battling cancer for some time. A few days later the medics stopped his treatment. There was nothing else they could do for him. Suddenly and unexpectedly he was gone. He died peacefully surrounded by his loving family. My solidarity and sympathy to Lene, a mighty woman, and to their children Emma, Tomás and Tina, his brother Gerard and the wider family circle. His loss for them is immeasurable. For his countless friends and comrades his death is a deep blow. Fáilte abhaile Leonard Leonard Peltier was finally released from prison in Florida last week. The 80-year-old political prisoner had spent almost the last 50 years in prison protesting his innocence. Leonard is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and he now on his reservation in North Dakota. His family and friends gathered to welcome him home. After his release he said: “They may have imprisoned me but they never took my spirit!” and he thanked “all my supporters throughout the world who fought for my freedom.” Fáilte abhaile Leonard. Taking A Stand. The decision by Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald and Leas Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill not to attend the St. Patrick’s Day events in the White House and the Speakers lunch on Capitol Hill, will undoubtedly upset some of our friends across Irish America. This is very understandable. Sinn Féin’s access to successive US administrations was won after decades of very hard work by many people across North America. Understandably they do not want to jeopardise or lose that influence. It is worth noting that in the past Sinn Féin has always attended White House events when invited, including during President Trump’s first term in office. So the Sinn Féin decision was taken after much deliberation. The catalyst for this was the recent statements from President Trump in which he calls for the expulsion of over two million Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip, his refusal to countenance their return and his proposal that the United States of America will take over the region. The decision would have been the same had a democratic President called for the expulsion of two million Palestinians.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
The Re-interment of Frank Stagg. | Slán Brendan 14:38

vor 15 weeks14:38

14:38

The Re-interment of Frank Stagg. Last week we remembered Frank Stagg who died on hunger strike in an English prison in February 1976. Frank began his fourth and final hunger strike in December 1975. He died 62 days later. He last request was "to be buried next to my republican colleagues and my comrade, Michael Gaughan" who died on hunger strike two years earlier. Michael had been buried in Ballina with republican honours. Faced with the prospect of another high-profile funeral of a republican hunger striker the plane carrying Frank Stagg’s coffin was diverted by the Irish Government from Dublin, where the Stagg family and friends were waiting, to Shannon. Frank’s body was hijacked and taken by helicopter to Ballina, where it was buried. A 24-hour guard was put in place and concrete was poured over it to prevent the family from exhuming the coffin. Frank’s brother George later described how, when he took his mother to visit the grave, Special Branch officers took photographs of her as she knelt and prayed. Slán Brendan. This week came with the death of our comrade and friend, Bik McFarlane.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
My Internment by Roseleen Walsh | Climate Crisis |The World Stands at a Tipping Point 16:26

vor 16 weeks16:26

16:26

My Internment by Roseleen Walsh Roseleen Walsh is one of 36 women who were interned in the early 1970s. Her latest book – My Internment – tells the very personal story of her life as a young woman in west Belfast in the late 60s and early 70s. Of the constant pressure and danger of living under British occupation and of her time as an internee in Armagh Women’s Prison. Roseleen has been writing for many years, including during her time in Armagh Prison. She is a writer of great skill including of poetry, plays and books. She is also a very determined individual as her account of her first days in Armagh makes clear. When her cell door was opened for the first time she remembers that “there before me was, not a mess, but a blank canvass. Immediately I knew white walls would suit me best for I intended making those walls a work of art! I would surround myself within the comfort of my own words. Since I was young, I had found it hard to express myself to others until I discovered that poetry was a wonderful way to articulate what I meant… The walls were to become like pages of a diary.” Climate Crisis January was a month of climate opposites. Storm Éowyn is now believed to have been one of the worst to ever hit the island of Ireland. It broke wind-speed records; forced the cancellation of flights and ferries; and within hours had cut power supplies to over one million households and businesses north and south. Tens of thousands were also left without water as treatment plants lost power. Although last month Ireland was colder than usual January was still the hottest month ever recorded across the world. More worrying it is the 18th month out of the last 19 when the average global temperature was greater than that set by the world’s governments. The World Stands at a Tipping Point In the months leading up to the invasion of Iraq by American and British forces and others in March 2003 Martin McGuinness and I warned Tony Blair and President Bush not to invade. We pointed out that it would be a breach of international law. At one particular meeting in Mr. Blair’s office in Downing Street Martin and I urged the British PM to learn the lessons of British involvement in Ireland and in other conflicts. We told him and his officials they were living in cloud cuckoo land; “if you go into Iraq it will be another Vietnam and it will be a huge mistake.” One British official told us that it would all be over in a matter of months. Martin told him “... given the previous history of successive British military expeditions to Ireland, that certainly would not be my view of how the situation in Iraq is going to move in the next short while." The Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip and the pogroms against Palestinian towns and villages in the west Bank strike a similar note today and a lesson for the international community. The support of the British Government and the White House for the Zionist assaults on the Palestinian people is shameful. It is also, like the war in Iraq, short sighted and counter-productive. Over 60,000 Gazans have been killed – mostly women and children and 80% of the infrastructure of Gaza has been destroyed; a thousand are dead in the west Bank; south Lebanon is ablaze; Israeli forces have moved deeper into Syria, and the US President is seeking to expel the Palestinian people of Gaza from their homeland. The world stands at a tipping point amid the real risk of a possible wider conflagration.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Partitionism Rules | International support grows for Palestinian Struggle | OFF LINE. 13:32

vor 17 weeks13:32

13:32

Partitionism Rules. Simon Harris has said that Irish unity is not a priority for him. That is self-evident. But for him to say so is at odds with the stated position of most senior Irish politicians including An Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Their position is one of verbalised adherence to the constitutional objective of unity. In other words, they are verbalised republicans. Rhetorical United Irelanders. Mr Harris doesn't even pay lip service to this. Some may think this clarity from him is good for the unity debate. And they have a point. Simon Harris words reflect the reality of the position of successive governments. Thus far no Irish government has a strategy or a plan for unity. So unity is not only not a priority for Simon Harris. It is clearly not a government priority either. The truth is he reflects a deep-rooted view within the southern establishment which sees partition as acceptable. For 100 years Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have run the southern state – in their own interests. One led the government. The other led the opposition. And every so often they would walk across the floor of Leinster House, play musical chairs and change places. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. Now they are Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dum. International support grows for Palestinian Struggle As the Israeli state’s brutal assault on the rights of the Palestinian people continues in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank nine countries came together last Friday at The Hague, in the Netherlands, to inaugurate a new international alliance in support of Palestinians. ‘The Hague Group’ supports South Africa’s genocide case against the Israeli state at the International Court of Justice, and also seeks to maximise international diplomatic and legal action in support of Palestinian national and human rights. OFF LINE. I ordered a pair of jeans on line recently. Why, by the way, do we say a pair of jeans? It’s the same with trousers. A pair of trousers is what we say. That means literally two trousers. Or does it? Maybe it’s a generational thing. Do younger people just say jeans? Or trousers? And why is it plural? Maybe because most jeans and trousers have two legs? A pair of them. So maybe that’s the answer to my question.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Starmer Waiving The Rules | Leonard Peltier - Going Home 13:18

vor 18 weeks13:18

13:18

Starmer Waiving The Rules. According to the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer his government is looking at "every conceivable way" to prevent me and at least 300 other people from receiving compensation for wrongful arrest and imprisonment in the 1970s. This issue of compensation arises from the decision by the British Supreme Court in May 2020 that the Interim Custody Order (ICO) or internment order issued against me was unlawful. Internment was demanded by the Unionist government in 1971 and imposed by the British on 9 August that year. It had been used in every decade since partition in 1920. Internment saw thousands of armed troops smash their way into nationalist homes to arrest 342 men and boys. They were dragged from their beds and many were beaten. Fourteen – the Hooded Men - were subjected to days of sustained torture. 25 people were killed in the following four days. In Ballymurphy in west Belfast eleven local citizens, including a priest and mother of eight, were killed by the Paras in the Ballymurphy Massacre. Five months later the Paras attacked an anti-internment march in Derry and killed 14 people. Bloody Sunday was another of many dark days in the conflict. In July 1972 another five citizens, this time in Springhill, were killed by the British Army. They included another priest and a thirteen-year-old girl. Leonard Peltier - Going Home Leonard Peltier is a native American activist. He has spent almost 50 years in prison in the USA for a crime he has always denied and which many, including some involved in jailing him, have long believed he was innocent of. A short time before he left office US President Joe Biden commuted Leonard’s life sentence to one of home confinement in his tribal homeland in North Dakota. Leonard is due to be released on 18 February.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Dublin Lacks Ambition | Presidential Vote | Solidarity with the people of Palestine 18:46

vor 19 weeks18:46

18:46

Dublin Lacks Ambition Last week Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, supported by the regional independents, published their Programme for Government 2025. This contains the objectives set by the government parties for the next five years. In my ten years in the Oireachtas as the TD for Louth and East Meath I worked through two such Programmes. First in 2011 and then again in 2016. Neither Programme for Government matched the rhetoric or the commitments contained within them. The Programme for Government 2025 is no different. It is as Pearse Doherty aptly described it “a copy and paste job from five years ago … a tired and stale document that is completely devoid of the ambition and big ideas our people need and deserve.” Presidential Vote A further example of the lack of ambition by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can be found in their refusal to honour the commitment both made in 2020’s Programme for Government to hold a referendum on the extension of Presidential voting rights to Irish citizens living in the North and outside the island of Ireland. Solidarity with the people of Palestine As I write this column the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is less than 24 hours old. Already thousands of displaced Palestinians driven from their homes by Israel’s genocidal war are starting to slowly make their way back into Gaza City and northern Gaza. Most carry on their backs the entirety of their possessions. Their very few clothes and personal belongs and for some the tents that will provide them with shelter among the rubble that was once their homes. Some have donkeys to help while a few of the more fortunate have motor vehicles.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
A Good Start To 2025 | Let the Music Keep the Spirits High | A Ceasefire 18:04

vor 20 weeks18:04

18:04

A Good Start To 2025. On Saturday last leading trade union activists from across the island of Ireland came together in Newry for a packed Ireland’s Future event in the Thomas Davis Hub. It was a wet winter morning and i was pleasantly uplifted by the turn out. The panel included ICTU assistant general secretary Gerry Murphy, Unison regional general secretary Patricia McKeown, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, general secretary of the Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Katie Morgan of FORSA, Greg Ennis of SIPTU and Gerry McCormack of the ICTU. It was a lively and informative debate which pointed to a much better future for workers in a united Ireland. Ireland’s Future is for holding the referendums by 2030 and Saturday’s public sectoral meeting is part of a consultation for what it believes is the ‘crucial five-year period’ ahead of us. Niall Murphy, who is the secretary of Ireland’s Future explained that it seeks “to continue to inform, educate and stimulate the conversation on constitutional change in the years preceding a referendum. The pace of change has quickened and we are firmly of a belief that a referendum will take place around the year 2030, therefore it is incumbent upon the political administrations in Dublin, Belfast and London to prepare, and it is also imperative that civil society, including the trade union movement, recognises the constitutional space we are now entering.” Let the Music Keep Your Spirits High I am not a big watcher of television. When I have my way – which is usually when everyone else is out – the TV goes on only when there is something I want to watch. Other times it is a constant background noise. An intrusion. Like white noise. Sometimes I just like the silence. Or some good music. Alexia and I have become friends. I like to listen to music when I’m writing. So Radio Na Gaeltachta, Radio Fáilte, Lyric, Radio Ulster and RTE Radio1 are my broadcasters of choice. I also have tons of tunes on my phone. And an IPod loaded up with thousands of songs from Seamus Drumm who has the most expansive reservoir of ceol of anyone I know. My ambition is to listen to all Seamie’s collection before I die. Listening to music on these various devices wraps me in a melodious comfort blanket of uplifting sounds. Sometimes I will even join in. A Ceasefire The ceasefire in Gaza is only a step in a long process. It is about justice, peace, and the right of the Palestinian people to have self determination.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Ted Howell: A successful Irish revolutionary. 19:39

vor 21 weeks19:39

19:39

Nollaig na mBan Monday 6 January is traditionally the date on which the Christmas decorations are taken down. In the Christian calendar it marks the end of the Christmas season and the visit of the Magi – the three wise men – to Jesus. In Ireland the 6 January is also Nollaig na mBan - Women’s Christmas or Little Christmas. It’s a day set aside to celebrate the role of women who did all the work catering for and making Christmas a success for everyone else. On 6 January the women rested, although in many rural parts of Ireland it was also an occasion for women to come together and socialise. Ted Howell – Republican Ted Howell was 77 when he died last Friday. On Tuesday we buried him in Milltown Cemetery in the grave of the love of his life Eileen Duffy. The two of them were devoted to each other. They were married on the 9 October 1972. That night Ted was arrested. Fortunately, his false ID held up and he was released the following morning. Eileen was a formidable republican also. She was a hard worker and a champion of west Belfast. Ted and she had two fine sons Eamonn and Proinsias. Sadly, Eileen died in June 2004. Ted visited her grave, sometimes on a daily basis, in the twenty years since her death. Francesca Albanese – a champion for truth 2025 begins in the Gaza Strip as it ended in 2024 with the continuation of Israel’s savage assault on a civilian population. One result of Israel’s genocidal war is that 258 United Nations staffers have been killed. PassBlue is an independent, women-led non-profit multimedia news company. It covers stories and events relating to the United Nations, to women’s issues, human rights, peacekeeping and other urgent global matters. It reports from the UN press corps in the New York City and is widely read for its informative insights into UN operations and activities world-wide.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Ted Howell - Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. 18:28

vor 22 weeks18:28

18:28

ONE FLU OVER? I have the flu. It’s a sign of my loyalty to you dear reader, that I write this column in my sick bed. Bathed in sweat. I’ve changed my T shirt four times since Saint Stephen’s Day. I ran out of paper hankies and turned to kitchen roll for nose cleaning duties. The snatters are tripping me. I’ve changed my sheets as well. Three times. Everyone else is away so I phoned Richard. Gearóid Ó Cairealláin – the definitive activist Lots has already been written about Gearóid Ó Cairealláin who died a fortnight ago. He was such a vital part of the Irish language community in west Belfast over so many years, and as someone I knew and greatly respected him, I cannot allow his passing to go without a wee personal tribute. I sraeli barbarity knows no boundaries We begin the new year as we ended the old one in the Middle East. The Israeli military - its ground forces, and air force - continue their expansionist war in southern Lebanon, Syria, the west Bank, the Gaza Strip and in the Yemen. In pursuit of its land grab Israeli soldiers last weekend forcibly invaded Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and gave the staff 15 minutes to leave. The Israeli forces then stripped the doctors, nurses and other medical staff and forced the semi naked medics and gravely injured patients out on to the cold and rubble strewn streets. There were 350 people in the hospital, including 180 medical workers and 75 wounded people. Many of the medics were taken away by the Israeli forces their plight uncertain.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Nollag Shona Daoibhse. 14:17

vor 23 weeks14:17

14:17

Nollag Shona Daoibhse. I enjoy Christmas time. It a time for family and friends and for relaxation. For children and Dadaí na Nollaig and presents. For visiting family. For good food – often too much good food - good craic and sitting at home watching a movie, listening to music and reading a good book. It’s a time for remembering those who are no longer with us or for visiting those sick or in hospital. 60 Years A Growing. As this year draws to a close it strikes me that I first became an activist sixty years ago. It was in September 1964. I was a student in St. Mary’s Grammar School in Barrack Street at the bottom of Divis Street. On my way to school I noticed that a shop front in Divis Street was plastered with election posters for the upcoming British General Election. Liam McMillan, a local republican had his election office there. He displayed the Irish national flag in the shop window. The flag was illegal and the RUC, at the behest of Ian Paisley, an up and coming demagogue, using crowbars and pickaxes smashed their way into the election office and seized the flag. The republicans replaced it and there were a few days of street disturbances. The Divis Street Riots. 2024 – A defining year for Unity Last February the North’s political institutions were re-established. This was an important development but more crucially Michelle O’Neill was elected as First Minister of the Executive. This was a historic moment in the constitutional transformation that commenced with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Release Leonard Peltier 18:38

vor 24 weeks18:38

18:38

Release Leonard Peltier Last week I posted a Christmas card to Leonard Peltier. I dont know if he will receive it. Or the numerous other notes and cards I have sent over the years. At 80 years of age Leonard, a native American rights activist and victim of a miscarriage of justice; has been imprisoned for 48 years. This makes him one of the longest serving political prisoners in the world. Hunger for Justice Well done to all of those – 1600 at the last count – who last week participated in the Hunger for Justice fast - Troscadh ar son na Córa – in support of the people of Palestine. Over €100,000 has been raised. As well as individual contributions scores of vigils and protests were held across the island of Ireland. People want to talk about Unity On Monday Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald TD joined National Party Chairperson Declan Kearney, in publishing the report of the work of the party’s Commission on the Future of Ireland. The Commission was established to undertake a grassroots engagement by providing citizens with a space in which they can have their say on the future of Ireland.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Hunger for Justice. 20:38

vor 25 weeks20:38

20:38

Protecting our environment Last week the Northern Executive took welcome and decisive action to protect our environment, our health and jobs by committing to a ban on all forms of onshore petroleum exploration and production, including fracking. This decision is part of the Executive’s commitment to tackle our dependence on fossil fuels. Conor Murphy, the Economy Minister announced that, following drafting and consultation, he will be introducing legislation next year to block licensing applications. Palestinians treated as subhuman – Amnesty Report Last week Amnesty International published a landmark and damning report on Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip. The report entitled, ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza , documents how the Israeli state has “carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.” Hunger for Justice I want to ask your support for an important initiative aimed at drawing attention to the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people and also to raise much needed funds for UNWRA. This columnist is committing to join the Hunger for Justice - Troscadh ar son na Córa initiative. This is a 24-hour fast taking place across Ireland on the 12th December, 2024. The event is being organised by former republican hunger strikers, including Laurence McKeown and Jackie McMullan, in conjunction with Nenagh Friends Of Palestine. All funds raised will go to UNRWA. The aim is to get at least 1,000 people across the island of Ireland to participate. Anyone wishing to donate to it can do so at: gofundme.com/f/hunger-for-justice-gaza…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
The Numbers Game. 21:36

vor 26 weeks21:36

21:36

The Numbers Game. As I pen these lines it is too soon to attempt a deep analysis of the Leinster House election. Not all the counts have concluded although there is enough to form general impressions of the outcome. I outline them in no particular order. Christmas in Long Kesh 1976 It’s three weeks to Christmas. The decorations, inside and outside of the houses and shops. and the Christmas trees in all of their finery are everywhere as we prepare for the festive season. It puts me in mind of another Christmas which was not so jolly but where the spirt of friendship and family rose above the place we were in. Solidarity with the Palestinian People Last Friday – 29 November – was the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It was a day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in 1977 to mark the date in 1947 when the United Nations Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II)) . The 1977 resolution was intended to encourage UN member states to give the widest support and publicity as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The United Nations designates such days as a means of raising issues of concern and to mobilise political will and resources to address global problems.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Sinn Féin can win this election. 21:43

vor 27 weeks21:43

21:43

SINN FÉIN CAN WIN THIS ELECTION. During the General Election campaign I have been in several constituencies. In Dublin, in Drogheda, Dundalk, and Donegal and some other places in between. People are clearly fed up with the cost of living, the crisis in public services, especially in health and housing, childcare and disability services. Sanctions urgently needed against Israel Last Wednesday was World Children’s Day. It was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. It is also the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child . It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child . Solidarity and Condolences to the family of Pat Donaghy As I finish this column I got the sad news that Pat Donaghy has died. Originally from Tremoge near Carrickmore in County Tyrone Pat emigrated to the United States in the 1950s. Like many others he went looking for work because work was sparse for northern nationalists in unionism’s apartheid northern state. He was in his late teens. His older sister Nora sponsored him. Pat was the sixth of fifteen children. Phyllis, Peggy and Bella along with Nora had already emigrated. Other siblings born after Pat and the older sisters also emigrated.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
The local & the national, mind your language & Lá breithe Richard. 14:19

vor 28 weeks14:19

14:19

The local and the national I have been doing a wee bit of canvassing in the General Election in the South. The response has been positive. There are clearly some who see election campaigns, including this one, as opportunities to write Sinn Féin’s obituary. Sorry to disappoint. Like all parties fighting elections there will be moments of gain and moments of pain. That is in the nature of electoral politics especially in volatile times. However, if your political ideology and the leaderships connection with the base is strong then all challenges can be overcome. That’s one of Sinn Féin’s strengths. Mind Your Language. Throughout Israel’s genocidal war on the Palestinians countless social media posts by Israeli politicians, officials and its occupying forces have highlighted the racism that underpins Zionism and that is being used to dehumanise the Palestinian people. Lá breithe Richard Richard is seventy-two. He reached that lofty age on Sunday. If he lasts for a few more months he will have lived longer than any of his ancestors in his branch of the historic clann of McAuley. That’s quite an achievement. Congratulations RG. I hope you live forever.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Time for a Change of Government. 20:04

vor 29 weeks20:04

20:04

Time for a Change of Government. The southern general election was called last Friday. In just over two weeks’ time 174 Teachtaí Dála (TDs) will be elected to the Dáil – an increase of 14 over the number elected in the 2020 general election. On Sunday I was in Dublin for the Save Moore Street rally but afterwards I was in Caledon Road and St. Mary’s Road in East Wall with a Sinn Féin canvas team urging voters to give their number 1 vote to Mary Lou McDonald and their number 2 vote to Janice Boylan. The response was very good. Judicial Review lodged in defence of Moore Street The battle to save the 1916 Moore Street Battlefield site has entered a new and critical phase with the decision by the Moore Street Preservation Trust to seek leave for a judicial review of the decision by An Bord Pleanála to allow the developer’s plan to proceed. Almost two decades after the campaign to protect this important historic part of the Easter 1916 revolutionary story the campaign has reached a decisive moment. New Mural in support of Palestinians At the weekend a new mural was unveiled in Andersonstown in west Belfast highlighting the shared experience of struggle and solidarity between the peoples of Ireland and Palestine. Well done to Marty Lyons and Michael Doherty and the organisers.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Defend Moore Street. 17:30

vor 30 weeks17:30

17:30

Prison Poems by Bobby Sands In a recent interview Christy Moore remarked that the death of Bobby Sands robbed us of a great writing talent. Christy was praising the quality of the work Bobby created in the harsh conditions he endured. He was making the point that you can only imagine what Bobby might have gone on to produce in different circumstances where his creative imagination could have been nurtured and not repressed. But of course this was not to be. Bobby led the second hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and he was the first of the ten men who fasted to death in that awful summer of 1981. Rally to Defend Moore St this weekend The campaign to protect the 1916 Moore St Battlefield site from demolition is moving up a gear. As regular readers will know An Bord Pleanála - the planning authority in the South – gave the go ahead recently for the Hammerson development plan which will see much of this historic site reduced to rubble. Irish government fails Palestinians More massacres. More children dead and maimed. More civilians killed by the Israeli government in a series of deadly assaults in Gaza and Lebanon. Health workers, journalists, and children continue to be the preferred targets for a right wing Israeli government that is being armed, funded and empowered by its western allies.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Sanctions Now. 26:43

vor 31 weeks26:43

26:43

Cage Eleven. This coming weekend O’Brien Press are republishing my book – Cage 11 - about my experience of life in Long Kesh between August 1975 and February 1977. Available from most good bookshops including from www.sinnfeinbookshop.com and An Fhuiseog 55 Falls Road www.thelarkstore.ie No Parking remember Father Des Wilson many moons ago lamenting the narrowness of streets in Turf Lodge and Ballymurphy. “The City Planners don’t think the working class should have motor cars” he said one day as we tried to manoeuvre our way by tightly packed vehicles in Ballymurphy Drive. Sanctions Now In April 2009 as part of a Sinn Féin delegation I entered the Gaza Strip. The blockade of the area by Israel was two years old at that point. The UNWRA staff, school teachers, doctors, university students, elected representatives and workers we met were dignified and courageous, quiet but resolute. They were the survivors of an Israeli siege and a military incursion in 2008/09 that had left many dead and key facilities devastated. From the minute we passed through the Erez Crossing into Gaza under the gaze of Israeli watchtowers and the huge security wall that surrounds the enclave my overwhelming sense was of entering into a huge open air prison. Today I am horrified at what continues to unfold each day in that place. The Gaza City I saw 15 years ago is gone.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Celebration of a unique social movement 18:25

vor 32 weeks18:25

18:25

ON Saturday night I was privileged to attend the oíche mhór Ghlór na Móna in Belfast’s City Hall. The event was to celebrate twenty years of this amazing Irish language initiative made up mostly of and aimed at young people in the Upper Springfield area. It was a great night. Packed out with young Gaeilgeoirí. But there was also a good clatter of veteran campaigners. The pioneers who gave us the Shaws Road Gaeltacht, An Chultúrlann, Lá, Raidió Fáilte, An Meánscoil (now Coláiste Feirste), an Cheathrú Ghaeltachta and many other wonderful cultural and communal creations, including a thriving Irish medium education sector.Protest and book launch Moore St THE threat by English developer Hammerson to demolish much of the 1916 Moore Street Battlefield site in Dublin was given the green light by An Bord Pleanála several weeks ago. The Moore Street Preservation Trust, which is led by the relatives of the signatories to the 1916 Proclamation, is currently discussing the legal options available to it to challenge this decision.Roy remained unbowed and unbroken Roy Walsh ROY Walsh was born on November 1, 1948. He died on October 16 after a long illness, which he faced with the same grit and humour that he had faced life.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Irish America for Irish Unity 15:33

vor 33 weeks15:33

15:33

Ethel Kennedy It was with sadness I heard last week of the death of Ethel Kennedy, the wife of assassinated US Senator Robert Kennedy. She was aged 96. Ethel Kennedy was with her husband in Los Angeles in 1968 when he was shot and killed. She was left to rear 11 children. It was a huge blow to her and to the family. Ethel’s response was to found the Robert F. Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights, along with her brother-in-law Sen. Teddy Kennedy. The Centre advocates for gun control and human rights. She was also active in the Special Olympics, and in her eighties she took part in 2016 in a demonstration in support of higher pay for farmworkers in Florida. Irish America’s role in Irish Unity Last week Friends of Sinn Féin in the USA organised the first of a planned series of public discussions on Irish Unity and the role of Irish America and the USA in achieving that objective. The American events – and those in Canada that will come later – are mirrored on the People’s Assemblies organised by Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland. They are intended to engage with the diaspora and others in North America and to help inform the work of the Commission and of Sinn Féin.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Unity | Future | It didn't start a year ago 13:44

vor 34 weeks13:44

13:44

Leo’s unity words are welcome Irish Unity is the big idea that will positively transform society on this island. Its popularity is growing and the economic, political, and social arguments in support of it are advancing each day. The recent interventions by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are an example of this. In June at the Ireland’s Future event in Belfast he said that the goal of a united Ireland had to be more than a “political aspiration.” It needed to become a “political objective.” Seeds For The Future. This is the season for tree planting. That is for planting bare root trees. Any month with an ‘R’ in it is the general rule for tree planters, though there is always a debate on whether planting should happen before or after the risk of frost. As an ad hoc tree planter who struggles to get free time I think September or October are fairly safe even in these muddled climate changing times. I try to plant native broad leaf species though some like the Beech or Horse Chestnut are here for so long that they are probably naturalised by now. It didn’t begin a year ago At the weekend millions of people across the world took to the streets in solidarity with the people of Palestine and those of Lebanon. The decision by the governments of the USA, Germany, Britain and the EU to back Israel has unleashed a vicious war on the Middle East. Monday marked one year since the 7 October attack by Hamas. The nature of that attack was and remains unacceptable. But the viciousness and brutality of the Israeli response has been unparalleled in modern times.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Win | South Africa 18:12

vor 35 weeks18:12

18:12

WIN. This year’s Sinn Féin Ard Fheis last weekend was full of enthusiasm and passion with great speeches covering every issue imaginable and the delegates voting through policy motions that will help shape Sinn Féin politics in the time ahead. The speeches, particularly from Michelle O’Neill and other national leaders demonstrated the strength and relevance of the party across our island. South Africa Supports Irish Unity. Irish Republicans have had a long and enduring relationship with the African National Congress. In 1995 I travelled to South Africa to meet its senior team of negotiators who successfully achieved an end to apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as President. In the midst of the negotiations around the Good Friday Agreement some of those senior figures travelled to Ireland to hold public meetings and go into the prisons to talk about their experience of negotiations. That relationship has remained strong over the years thanks in part to the hard work of Declan Kearney, Sinn Fein Party Chairperson .Irish government must take a stand against Israel Last week most of the governments of the world turned their back on Israel as Benjamin Netanyahu took to the rostrum at the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York. Netanyahu claimed that “no army has done what Israel is doing to minimise civilian casualties” and as he described the United Nations as an “anti-semitic swamp” and an “anti-Israel Flat Earth Society,” scores of UN delegates got up and walked out. Regrettably, the Irish government representatives stayed.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Moore Street | Máire Ferguson 22:24

vor 36 weeks22:24

22:24

Moore St. Demolition Gets Green Light The battle to save the iconic 1916 Moore Street Battlefield site has been ongoing for over 20 years. During that time there have been a series of plans by developers, appeals against those plans, court cases, protests and sit-ins. Last week, in an appalling decision An Bord Pleanála (ABP) – the Planning Authority in the Irish State – ruled on the remaining appeals and published its recommendations on the future development of the site. Máire Ferguson Every week seems to bring the death of the last of that generation who kept freedoms flame lit in the twilight decades of the republican struggle from the 1950s on. Emmett O Connell from the South Bronx was one of these. Tá sé ar slí an fhirrne anios. So was Máire Ferguson.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Casement | Sean Brown | Unity 18:01

vor 37 weeks18:01

18:01

Casement Must Be Built Now. British government policy toward Ireland has long been dictated by Britain’s strategic self-interests. From the conquest of Ireland nine centuries ago to partition the needs of the people of Ireland have played no meaningful part in the decision making processes of a British state that focusses primarily on the interests of England and the English economy. Consequently, Labour and Tory governments have each ensured that funding from Westminster has never been adequate to deal with the many social and economic demands of society here. The North – denied our right to our own fiscal powers - is a partitioned backwater that has consistently been at the bottom of London’s agenda. Sean Brown The refusal of the British to hold a public Inquiry into the killing of Sean Brown is also particularly reprehensible. At the inquest it was revealed that 25 people, including state agents, had been linked to Mr Brown's murder and that surveillance on a key suspect – Mark Fulton - was suspended the night before the murder and reinstated the following day. Prepare for Unity This column makes no apology for believing the people of the island of Ireland have the right to self-determination. But there is now a growing body of public opinion beyond Irish republicans who believe that the current constitutional arrangements are not working. On the contrary it is self-evident – as evidenced by the recent decisions - that the union with Britain works to our disadvantage. We therefore need to honestly, respectfully, and publicly encourage a conversation that looks beyond the current deeply flawed constitutional arrangements and examine the enormous potential that Irish Unity offers.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
The Far Right and Social Media | DeJa Vous 14:56

vor 38 weeks14:56

14:56

The Far Right and Social Media There has been a significant increase in recent times in far right racist, islamophobic and hate attacks on social media. The purpose of these has been to promote a climate of fear through a range of conspiracy theories from climate change, to migration and asylum seekers, to direct interference in elections. Sinn Féin and Friends of Sinn Féin (FoSF) in the USA have become a particular target for these social media accounts. The most consistent themes are that ‘Ireland is full’, ‘Sinn Féin are traitors’, ‘Sinn Féin favours immigrants over the Irish’, and a wide variety of islamophobic and racist comments. DeJa Vous ‘As soon as the kids go back to school the sun comes out’ your man mused. ‘It’s always the same,’ he continued, ‘Rain during the holidays and they are cooped up inside playing their devices and all the rest of it. Then school starts again and the sun is splitting the trees and the poor children can’t get out to enjoy it. Stuck in the classroom looking out at the sun.’…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Self-dertmination | Nell & Edna 17:07

vor 39 weeks17:07

17:07

Champion Palestinian Self-determination In less than five weeks the genocidal war by the Israel government against the Palestinian people will enter his second year. Having ruthlessly and cruelly waged war against the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip for 11 months Israel’s war machine has now shifted to a full blown pogrom against the Palestinian people in the occupied territory of the west Bank. Violence from the Israeli military, and from settlers eager to steal Palestinian land and water, had already seen over 600 Palestinians killed in the west Bank since last October. Six hostages died also executed, it appears, in Gaza hours before Israeli forces reached them. All this must be brought to an end. That means dialogue. Two Good Women Gone The recent deaths of Nell McCafferty and Edna O’Brien sparked a period of deserved and fulsome praise across the media for these two outstanding Irish women. I am sure this was a consolation for their families and friends and I extend my condolences and sympathy to them all.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Cease Fire | Féile | James Woods 15:59

vor 40 weeks15:59

15:59

The 94 Cessation The IRA cessation is 30 years old this Saturday. That Wednesday morning on 31 August 1994 two journalists – Barney Rowan from the BBC and Eamon Mallie from Downtown Radio – arrived at The Patio Restaurant in the Kennedy Centre. It’s where 26 West is now. They met a woman republican activist who took from her pocket a small scrap of paper – a comm – on which was written the IRA statement announcing a “complete cessation of all military operations”. While there had been significant speculation over the previous months of the possibility of a ceasefire the enormity of what was being read to them - very slowly because Mallie doesn’t have shorthand - was not lost on both. Another Look Back at Féile 24 Last week’s column reviewed aspects of West Belfasts Féile An Phobail - Féile24. In particular, the Debates and Discussions elements. It also foolishly committed me to looking back at other aspects of this year’s events. I say foolishly with good reason. The Féile has so many dimensions it is impossible to do justice to them all. Six Hundred and thirty six events in 11 days. Events for families, youth, communities, women. Including Art, Tours and Walks, Theatre, Classes, Irish Language gigs, Comedy, Food and Drink, Sport, Health and International Affairs. Literary events, the Environment. There were also Trad sessions and loads of music. So mindful of the multifarious get togethers that are omitted in this piece I am going to conclude my Féile retrospective by dealing only with music in the park. Opinions, Interviews Life Stories by James Woods Seamus Woods is a gifted writer. This is his second book His first one, Hard Times. Good Times And The Celtic Tiger was published in 2011. I enjoyed it immensely. James brings his own unique style and insights to his writing. He is a natural story teller. He is also a long time dedicated writer of letters to the papers. Particularly on political affairs of the day. That’s how he started. In London. In 1987. Those were turbulent days in Anglo Irish history.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Féile 24 | Irish Unity 16:52

vor 41 weeks16:52

16:52

Féile 24 I thought I would reflect on some aspects of Féile 24 in this week’s column. In particular the debates and discussions. First of all I’m sure all Féile enthusiasts agree that this was an outstanding Féile. The debates and discussions in particular were of a very high standard and variety and audiences and speakers had a very special treat this year at their Saint Mary's mecca on the Falls Road. Advancing the case for Irish Unity Lá breithe shona do Choimisiún Shinn Féin ar Thodhchaí na hÉireann - Happy birthday to Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland. In the summer of 2022 Sinn Féin established the Commission to advance Irish Unity through a grassroots consultation process nationally and internationally. The strap line for all of the events – Have Your Say – highlights the core aim of the Commission. It is about people having their say on the shape and composition of a new Ireland. Declan Kearney MLA is Chair of the Commission and Lynn Boylan MEP is the Vice Chair.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Kneecap | Maureen Wilson | Gaza 13:46

vor 42 weeks13:46

13:46

Kneecap I’m a big fan of Kneecap. From the time they were called NÍ CEAPAINN – a clever use of the Irish phrase and a play on the English words Kneecapping. Ní Ceapainn means ‘I don’t reckon’ or ‘I don’t think so’. For example, in ‘An ceapainn tú go bhfuil seo ceart?’ – ‘Do you reckon this is right? Ní ceapainn. ‘I don’t reckon’. Or ‘I don’t think so.’ Anyway it soon morphed into KNEECAP. As part of a clever and provocative name recognition ploy. That’s my recollection anyway of the origin of the name of this trio of Rappers and I’m sticking by this wee bit of musical history. Maureen Wilson – a formidable woman Maureen Wilson was 93 when she died in July. She was one of those countless women and men who over seven decades was a stalwart supporter and activist of Irish republicanism. It was a part of her DNA. When she died Maureen was a member of the Andersonstown Martyrs Sinn Féin Cumann. Gaza – Don’t Avert your eyes As I write this week’s column the merciless Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian people of Gaza continues unabated. A new order from the Israeli military this Monday morning instructs thousands of Palestinians in the city of Hamad in West Khan Younis to evacuate. They have no food and no water and nowhere to go that is safe.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
No Pasarán | Rita 16:39

vor 43 weeks16:39

16:39

No to racists and fascists - No Pasarán! I was delighted to attend Féile An Phobail’s Carnival Parade last Saturday as it meandered its colourful, inclusive and vibrant way from the Dunville Park to An Sportlann on Bothar na bhFal. Underage representatives of local GAA clubs, other sporting organisations, community groups and numerous street artistes joined ethnic groups as they danced their way up the road. Led by a battalion of motor bikers and more sedate Lambretta scooterists, Palestinian flags were on display the length of the walk. It was brilliant, noisy, cheerful and uplifting. Rita O’Hare – friend and patriot Rita O’Hare is probably one of best known Irish Republican activists of the last six decades. She was a close friend and a comrade, as well as a wife and mother, grandmother and great grandmother and someone who worked tirelessly in pursuit of Irish freedom and self-determination. More stories from the Grave I have known Tom Hartley for almost 60 years. During that time he has been the consummate political activist as a leader of Sinn Féin in Belfast and nationally. He is an archivist and a collector who has done more than anyone else to ensure that the Ulster Museum and Linen Hall Library have a range of artefacts and materials that tell the story of Irish republicanism.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Moore Street | End Israel’s genocidal war | Féile Aris 17:10

vor 44 weeks17:10

17:10

Moore Street – Rising to our Future The campaign to save the 1916 Moore Street Battlefield site and those iconic buildings and streetscape that are forever linked to the most important historic event in modern Irish history has reached another potentially decisive moment. In May, An Taoiseach Simon Harris announced the establishment of “a Taskforce to take a holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre, north and south”. The stated objective is to make Dublin City Centre “a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape; and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit.” The Taskforce is expected to report this month (August). International solidarity needed to end Israel’s genocidal war By the end of this week more than 40,000 people, mostly children and women, will have been slaughtered by Israel in the Gaza Strip. The Strip has been reduced to rubble and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been left without shelter, food, clean water and sanitation. This is an Israeli made humanitarian disaster. Day after day courageous journalists living under constant threat from Israeli snipers, drones and bombs continue to report Israel’s targeted bombing of refugees; the massacre of families living in tents; and of children starving because Israel is preventing food and medical aid from entering Gaza. In recent days Israeli soldiers deliberately destroyed a water treatment plant in the Tel Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah and an MRI machine at the Turkish hospital in Gaza. This is genocide. Féile Aris It is Féile An Phobail time again. Well done to Kevin Gamble and all the Féile team for once again bringing us a truly outstanding Féile programme. There was a time, now receding in memory for many people and never in the memory of countless more who weren’t born in those troubled times, when August, and the anniversary of Internment, was marked by incursions of British troops and RUC into republican neighbourhoods and days of rioting and deaths and injuries. Féile An Phobail has replaced all that. It started following the killing in Gibraltar of three local people, IRA Volunteers Dan McCann, Seán Savage and Mairead Farrell at the behest of Margaret Thatcher in March 1988 and the deaths of others at their funerals. Our community was demonised in a tsunami of invective by the establishment media and our political opponents. Féile was a communal response to that.…

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

1
Unity Referendum | Any Tickets 19:35

vor 45 weeks19:35

19:35

Significant boost for Unity Referendum This summer the momentum behind the demand for constitutional change and for the Good Friday Agreement commitment to a unity referendum has dramatically increased. The very successful Ireland’s Future event in Belfast several weeks ago, the all-island economic conference by Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland, the emergence of a small but resolute grouping of United Irelanders from within Northern Protestantism and the positive soundings from an increasingly vocal pro-uniting Ireland lobby in the 26 counties, including from some within the political establishment, means that hardly a day passes without the issue of Irish Unity being raised in the political discourse.…

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