Remember 1609!

We are never too far away from one commemoration or another in the North. One that did pass me by – until now – was the beginning of the Plantation of Ulster in 1609. The McCracken Cultural Society, who aim to promote the Irish language, history, music, drama and dance irrespective of creed, class, background or ability, will host a lecture entitled “1609: remembering a turbulent year which left its mark on Ulster” on Friday, 8th May, at 7pm in the William Conor Lecture Hall, University of Ulster, York Street, Belfast.

The talk will be in Irish and will be given by Dr Éamonn Ó Ciardha, a history lecturer at the University of Ulster. He is an expert on this period and will look at how the Plantation affected every aspect of the Gaelic way of life in Ireland.

This is the second annual Robert Mac Adam memorial lecture. Certainly, last year’s talk by Fionntán de Brún on Patrick Pearse was well worth hearing and this year’s topic is definitely of interest. Indeed, this is the first public event I have noticed on 1609 which is quite strange given how the events of that year still echo today. The talk will be followed by a session in McCracken’s Bar, Joy’s Entry, Belfast. Info: www.ccmr156.com

FYI

The current issue of the Dublin Review of Books is on line at http://www.drb.ie/ Amongst the many interesting articles, I will mention two: one on Seamus Heaney by Barra Ó Seaghda and one by Tom Wall on “Southern Loyalists in the War of Independence”.

Ó Seaghda is a marvellous critic and his piece on Heaney is well worth reading for its insight. I have never met Ó Seaghda but never cease to be amazed by his ability. I first came across him a lifetime ago when he was writing for the magazine Graph. (Now there is a blast from the past for some of you!) It’s great to see that he is a regular contributor with DRB. No more hunting through the bookshops to enjoy his work.

Tom Wall’s article is a must for anyone with an interest in contemporary Irish politics. Taking the book, Coolacrease: the true story of the Pearson executions – an incident in the Irish War of Independence, by Paddy Heaney (not the Irish News Paddy Heaney), as his starting point, Wall looks at the very contentious issue of how Protestants in the South fared at the hands of the IRA during the War of Independence. Wall offers a nuanced and balanced look at those terrible years – and many of the events recalled are still harrowing despite the passage of time.

Wall writes: “As in all countries, there is an uncomfortable side to national history and the time is right for honest and balanced telling. It is a story that was, for most, “a forgotten history”: nationalists for long ignored or denied it (some still do) and southern Protestants kept quiet for fear of re-igniting the awful passions of the past. In the telling, some may have lost perspective and balance. It is a mistake to exaggerate the extent of the injustice or to romanticise the southern Protestant story – they had their share of sectarians and diehards – or to use the excesses of a few to denigrate the courage and idealism of the many involved in the struggle for independence. We all, descendants of victors and victims, Protestant, Catholic and freethinkers alike, deserve the truth about our history, warts and all. But the issues needs to be researched and debated calmly and not as a continuation of the, now hopefully redundant, conflict.”

Carrying on the blogging theme, Fergus O’Donoghue, SJ, editor of the journal, Studies, is now blogging himself and very good he is too on religion, contemporary Ireland and its travails. Fergus is a wonderful writer and a very understanding man who does not get angry when some of his reviewers (ahem!) don’t file on time. (I promise I will make the deadline this time!)
His blog is to be found at http://www.studiesirishreview.ie/

Plenty of learning out there and, I am told, it is lightly carried.

Adams’ education

It seems entirely appropriate that Gerry Adams’ political education should continue at a university. Addressing a meeting at Saint Mary’s University College in West Belfast, the Sinn Féin president, local MP and MLA – he has some collection of titles – said that the economic situation was the party’s “biggest challenge”. How else could one phrase that? Wait, I know – you can’t eat a flag. Former Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Bertie Ahern, once characterised himself as being a socialist, it must only be a matter of time before Gerry Adams calls himself a “social democrat”.

That said, I am not sure that Mister Adams can expect to gain a history degree anytime soon. Condemning dissident republicans, ie non-subscribing Provos, Mr Adams said: “There is no way that the individuals involved in these groups can match the capability, determination and ingenuity or have the popular support that the IRA had over 30 years of armed struggle.”

If Adams defines “capability, determination and ingenuity” as an ability to kill wantonly, then the dissidents have done that. And what “popular support” did the PIRA enjoy during their campaign? They did not stand for elections – just like the dissidents.

‘Militant rhetoric’

Tom Kelly in his Monday Irish News column addresses the issue of violence and militant rhetoric. Writing of his time on the Policing Board, he says that he, his home and his car were attacked and that the threats came “in the main” from Sinn Féin supporters and members. He was labelled a “traitor” by one SF politician who has since been discarded by his own party.

Kelly speaks of a “wry pleasure” in watching those who once led the charge against him now taking their places on the district policing partnerships. On a more serious note he also condemns the threats made by dissident republicans against Martin McGuinness and his family, calling them “deplorable and despicable”. That human and natural sympathy does not stop Kelly however from tracing how republicans used rhetoric to wind their supporters up and to intimidate their political opponents. Kelly concludes that he hopes that “reason routs the legacy of redundant militant rhetoric”.

It does not seem likely, though. The Irish News reports that another deplorable attack has been made on SF MLA, Mitchell McLaughlin. His home in Derry was targeted in a hoax bomb alert. It is the second attack on his home this month. If memory serves me correctly, McLaughlin remarked after the last such incident that such things happen here in politics. (Ironically, one of his party colleagues condemns the attackers and their supporters for their “irresponsible rhetoric”.)

However, such incidents should not happen. There is no excuse for this kind of behaviour. Physical intimidation and threats have no part to play in political discourse and, if we are to have a healthy democracy, we need to constantly oppose the idea of local politics as being a step away from a street fight – or worse.

Gerry Conlon To Join Breege Quinn At Newry Event

Gerry Conlon is set to join Breege Quinn at an SDLP event in Newry on Wednesday evening called ‘Justice Denied: A Public Discussion’.

Mr Conlon, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years, will join the panel alongside Mrs Quinn from Cullyhanna, whose son was beaten to death 18 months ago. Also speaking will be Anne Morgan, whose brother Seamus Ruddy is one of the Disappeared, and justice campaigner Raymond McCord. SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness will address the gathering too.

The meeting will offer an opportunity to hear the personal experiences of people who have suffered from miscarriages of justice or have had justice denied to them.

Speaking ahead of the event, Gerry Conlon said: “Thankfully we are now living in more peaceful times. However, for many people, the events of the past still cast a shadow over their lives, and more needs to be done to correct wrongs and bring closure.

“I’d encourage people to come along to this meeting to hear from the experiences of people who have been denied justice, and to share their own stories. This will be a powerful, yet very interesting event.”

Breege Quinn added: “We intend to keep our campaign going until we get justice for Paul, so we welcome every opportunity to speak on any platform to get that message across, especially to his murderers. We have a lot in common and a lot to learn from other families that have lost members by murder.”

The public meeting will take place in the Canal Court Hotel at 7.30pm on Wednesday 22 April. Admission is free and anyone can attend.

I had the honour of attending a similar such discussion at the SDLP conference in January and it was certainly one of the most talked about events of recent years and I'd definitely encourage anyone who can possibly make it to head down to the Canal Court to hear first-hand the stories of these people.

Paddy O'Hanlon RIP

I was saddened to hear of the death of former SDLP representative Paddy O'Hanlon at the age of 65. He was a founder member of the party in 1970 and represented south Armagh. Paddy had been ill for some time.

One of the most prominent incidents in which he was involved was helping to uncover the details of the murder of 12-year-old Kevin Heatley in Derrybeg in Newry in 1973. A soldier fired a shot that killed Kevin. He claimed that he was returning fire against the IRA, but this was proven to be untrue.

Paddy O'Hanlon may be dead, but as an arch-exponent of peaceful protest, his influence lives on.

He proved that the placard is more powerful that the bullet.

Rest in Peace.

Shocking Footage Of G20 Police Assault On Ian Tomlinson

When a man died of a heart attack at the G20 protests in London last week, word had it that he had died of natural causes. However, the Guardian has been handed shocking footage of the person in question, Ian Tomlinson, being assaulted from behind by a police officer as he walked along with his hands in his pockets.

Mr Tomlinson is seen to fall to the ground. Minutes later he had a heart attack and died.

Now I don't think there's any question that the police in London had a tough job last week, but there is absolutely no call for this kind of brutality. It only came to light because Mr Tomlinson died. How much more violence like this is meted out by the police?

The Met's reputation is already bad enough given the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes and problems with racism. Now they can add being RUC-lite to their list.

Clare Balding: The Pot Calling The Kettle Black?

The BBC's horse racing presenter Clare Balding has had to apologise to Grand National winner Liam Treadwell after she made fun of his teeth.

In a post-race interview, Balding urged the jockey to show his teeth, saying: "just give us a big grin to the camera."

When he smiled, keeping his lips firmly closed, she told him: "No, no, let's see your teeth. He hasn't got the best teeth in the world, but you can afford to go and get them done now if you like."

Treadwell, replied: "Well I could do, but I ain't complaining. It might be bringing on bad luck if I do that, though."

Hmm. Well at least he doesn't look like Mon Mome.