Politics can be a funny old game

Politics can be a funny old game. You never know from one day to the next what might turn up. But some days are even more wacky than most. Last Wednesday was one such day.

The previous Thursday, after An Taoiseach announced that the election would be on March 11th, this blog set down at a desk in the new Sinn Féin campaign office in Dundalk and scribbled a short handwritten note to the speaker of the British Parliament.

‘A chara, I hereby resign as MP for the constituency of west Belfast. Go raibh maith agat. Gerry Adams.

This was in keeping with this blogs commitment to the people of Louth and East Meath that when the election was called I would resign the west Belfast seat as a demonstration of my resolve to give that constituency 100%. No safety net.

That was that.

Wednesday started early. Meetings and more meetings and a plan for later in the day to visit a Pharmaceutical Conference in the Institute of Technology in Dundalk.

And then David Cameron stood up in the British House of Commons and the schedule went out the window. He was being baited by Nigel Dodds of the DUP. Nigel whose no Sammy Wilson when it comes to jokes, succeeded in raising a chuckle from this blog when he asked Cameron was he aware that ‘one of the Members elected to this House has decided to emigrate’.

The British Prime Minister then told his audience that this blog had agreed to accept an ‘office of profit under the crown’ by taking up the position of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

What had up to then been a rather boring newsday for the media suddenly took on a new dimension. I should have known something was up when your man genuflected before me.

‘Sire’ he said ‘Methinks I should assemble the peasants in your honour’.

I ignored him but then the phones started buzzing as the media wanted to know was it true? Had this blog suddenly become a feudal baron? Would they now have to tug the forelock and bend the knee when meeting me?

The fact is Mr. Cameron’s claim was untrue. This blog had simply resigned. There was no other contact with the Brits on any of this. There was no consultation and no one in the Brit system had asked would this blog be even remotely interested in taking up such an offer.

Perhaps they already knew what my answer would be!

So, instead of asking this blog for his opinion the British Chancellor of the Exchequer decided to presume that my resignation was a request for such an office.

The Brits frequently presume that they know what’s best for others without asking first, hence their invasion of Iraq, their presence in Afghanistan and of course their occupation of this island.

This blog has been an Irish republican all my adult life and has refused to have any truck whatsoever with these antiquated and quite bizarre aspects of the British parliamentary system. The burghers of the Manor of Northstead must be as bemused as me and your man at this strange turn of events. He was now behaving like Baldric out of Blackadder. Meantime I contacted Downing Street to demand to know what was going on. There were several coversations with David Cameron’s Private Secretary and he apologised for what had happened.

While I respect the right of British parliamentarians to have their own protocols and systems, no matter how odd these may appear to the rest of the world in general and Irish people in particular, the Prime Minister should not make claims which are untrue and inaccurate.

I am proud to have represented the people of west Belfast for almost three decades and to have done so without pledging allegiance to the English Queen or accepting British parliamentary claims to jurisdiction in my country.

My first election contest was in west Belfast in 1982 for the Assembly elections. And from then until last week, with a short break in between, this blog was proud to represent the people of that fine constituency. I felt a real wrench as I posted my letter of resignation.

I am very grateful to all those citizens who worked and voted for Sinn Fein through good times and bad times in defiance of the British government and its allies in Ireland.

The onus is now on the Westminster parties to call a bi-election as soon as possible in the West Belfast constituency. In the meantime let me assure the people of West Belfast that the Sinn Fein party will continue to provide our first class constituency service and representation.

Dramatic Times

Your man reckons these are exciting – ‘dramatic times’ – in the politics of our small island.

Especially in the south. Flann O Brien couldn’t have written the script. The political and economic crisis has been variously described as a ‘circus’, a ‘comedy of errors’, ‘a farce’ and some other things that this blog could not post.

The Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government has been a disaster for the Irish people. And however much they may now try to distance themselves each and every Fianna Fáil Minister and TD went along with what Fianna Fáil did in government.

Politics is a rough trade. I’m sure Brian Cowen’s family are feeling sore and on a personal level I empathise with them and with the hundreds of thousands of other families who have been impoverished and traumatised by this bad government.
The budget which the Coalition government introduced in December and which Fine and Labour have said they will implement, this month stripped over a million people, or a quarter of the state’s population, of significant income as the government’s social welfare cuts and increased tax took effect.

Almost 900,000 carers, people with disabilities, including those who receive a blind allowance, lone parents, widows, women who are pregnant and the unemployed will suffer cuts in their benefits. People earning the minimum wage, who were already living in poverty, have taken further cuts, so that this government can fund a private banking debt.

Tens of thousands of citizens, mainly young people, will emigrate in the next year, some to the USA, many to Australia and other far flung places.
Cutting child benefit and social welfare payments will not magically create jobs or fix the deficit.

In other words the poorest and most vulnerable are being hardest hit, while those who caused the mess are allowed to get off scot-free. Ordinary working people are being punished to save Fianna Fáil’s friends in the banks.

There is a palpable public anger at the Irish government made worse in recent days by the shambolic fashion in which Ministers resigned to be followed by the Taoiseach being forced to stand down as leader of Fianna Fáil.

The general election, and it is now likely to be held before the end of February, provides an opportunity for fundamental political reform. It could begin the process to change the face of Irish society for people across the island of Ireland – North, South, East and West.

For Irish republicans it will be an exciting and an exhausting and daunting time. The general election in the south will be followed almost immediately by Assembly and local elections in the Six Counties, both of which will take place on the same day - May 5th – the 30th anniversary of the death on hunger strike of Bobby Sands.

When the votes are counted after the election Sinn Féin could be in a strengthened and pivotal position on both sides of the border. A critical mass of Sinn Féin TDs would complement our strength in the Six Counties and advance the all-Ireland project immeasurably.

However, unlike the Establishment parties, republicans have never taken election results or voters for granted. And we are very mindful of the fact that there are many families, who are being economically squeezed by the efforts of Fianna Fáil and the Green Party to bail out the bankers and the speculators, who are becoming increasingly wary and cynical of political parties.

That is why republicans have to try all that much harder to make sure that the message is taken into every city, town, village and housing estate – into every home – that Sinn Féin is different.

This blog has already spent a lot of time talking to the media about the current political situation and setting out Sinn Féin’s alternative strategy for tackling the economic crisis. One of the most frequent questions asked is around the issue of coalition. Who will Sinn Féin go into government with?

The fact is that Sinn Féin has no intention of putting either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael back into power. No party that claims to be different to the failed conservative policies of the past should think of putting Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael back into power. The leaders of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael may or may not change but their ideologies and political directions have not.

The message for Labour voters is equally stark. Read the Fine Gael manifesto because that’s what the Labour leadership has tied their future to. A vote for Labour will be a vote for Fine Gael.

The reality is that this election will be one of the most important since partition and the foundation of the state. There is an opportunity to bring in fundamental political change and transform the political landscape on the island.

When taken with the May 5th elections in their north there is a huge opportunity to advance the all-Ireland objectives of Irish republicans.

United in Grief

Last Monday was a bright brittle morning, full of promise, watery winter sunshine and frosty fields. In Ballymcilroy, above Ballygawley in the county of Tír Éoghan a huge crowd was gathering. Further up the road a large sad funeral cortege made its slow heartbroken way towards us. This is Michaela Harte’s homeland. It is where she grew up. Where she went to school. The chapel is where she and John Mc Areavey were married two short weeks ago. Now they were back. For Michaela’s funeral mass.

No words can describe the sadness of it all. Or the quiet grace and dignity with which the Harte and Mc Areavy clanns carried themselves. Michaela’s mother Marian, and her sons, Michaela’s husband John, her father Mickey surrounded by neighbours and friends and John’s family. Together, yet alone, in a human sea – an emotional ocean - of support.

As far as the eye could see crowds stretched on every side. Tír Éoghan’s Gaelic athletes stewarded the crowds and shepherded the visitors. Iconic sporting figures, heroes from the county’s senior football panel, formed a guard of honour.

Senior politicians, church leaders and sports men and women gathered inside the chapel and its precincts. And the local people, breathing love and solidarity and gentle kindly support stood in silence and united in communion with Michaela’s folks.

It had been like this since the sad news of Michaela’s murder during her honeymoon in Mauritius. Errigal Ciaran, the local club was the spine of community support for the family. In a huge spontaneous but well organised act of solidarity they provided parking spaces for visitors, a ferry service of mini buses to and from the wake house, stewards at every road junction, tea and scones and sandwiches for visitors.

The catholic church also played its part. Local priests and Bishop John McAreavey, John’s uncle who married the couple, in particular gave spiritual comfort and thoughtful words of redemption and thanks for Michaela’s life.

A life well lived. A happy, beautiful much loved young gael. A daughter, sister, wife, friend. It will take forever for those closest to Michaela to come to terms with the unfairness of it all. Grief is like that. And sometimes coming to terms with what has happened is impossible. There is a hole in our lives which cannot be filled. It is too big. So we work around it. And try as best we can to keep going.

At the grave A Song For Ireland was sung. Ireland needed Michaela Harte. We need her values. We need her family and John’s family. We need all the young people, her peers, who gathered in fun to enjoy the cráic and joy of her wedding. And we need all that love and commitment and kindness that is part of us all and that was so obvious in TÍr Éoghan and Ballymcilroy this week.

Mickey Harte and his family have made a huge contribution to gaelic games, to Tír Éoghan and to Ireland. So have players like John McAreavey. They are part of, and they have made us, what we are. We are grateful to them. And proud of them.
Go ndeanfaidh Dia trocaire ar anam Michaela. Beannachtai ar John agus a chlann. Agus ar Marian, Mickey, Michael, Matthew agus Mark.

Brian Cowen and Co – should go

Padraig and Pearse were there. At the Radisson Hotel in Letterkenny on Sunday for the selection convention for Donegal North East. Pearse Doherty has already made history by winning the by-election in Donegal South West before Christmas. The selection convention for North East chose Padraig MacLochlainn as the party’s standard bearer.

It was standing room only in the packed out conference room. The mood in the hall matching the public mood – it is time to send this bad government packing and to return two Sinn Féin TDs for Donegal!

The craic was mighty and it is clear that Padraig is hugely popular with the party activists.



The same cannot be said for Brian Cowen within his own party or with the public. This blog is always mindful not to pay too much attention to opinion polls – but there is a consistency in the antipathy toward the government parties, and in particular Fianna Fáil for some time now.

The question of who leads Fianna Fail is a matter for Fianna Fail but the question of who governs the state should be for citizens to decide.

The obvious divisions within Dublin government – now evident with Michael Martin’s challenge against Cowen - the failure of leadership by the Taoiseach and Cabinet, and the bad decisions and policies being pushed through in the Finance Bill, have stripped this government of any authority.

The longer it stays in power the more it damages the economy.

This government should go. But it won’t. It is determined to protect its friends in the banks and handcuff the next government to its bad policies.

And as Fianna Fáil seeks to defend its indefensible policy choices it lashes out. Last week the Minister for Finance – the architect of the austerity strategy that is punishing citizens – attacked this blog. He claimed that I know nothing about the economy. It was a harking back to the 2007 election when the FFers and others accused the Shinners of being ‘economic illiterates’.

The trouble for Lenihan and co. is that the Shinners were right and the detractors wrong – and the evidence of that is apparent in the current economic mess. It is the policies of the FFers and their desire to enrich and protect the golden circle of bankers and developers that has brought the state to its knees.

It is true that this blog is not an economist but neither is the Minister. If Brian Lenihan’s handling of the economy was a leaving cert he would be given a huge F for fail.

He and his party leader and colleagues have presided over the destruction of the economy, the imposition of huge cuts to public services and benefits, and the handing over of what remained of our economic sovereignty to the EU and IMF.

His criticism of this blog came in the same week that the state drew down the first €5 billion of loans from the EU and IMF. This loan and its punitive rate will be paid for by Irish taxpayers and citizens whose interests are not being served by Brian Lenihan and this government. This money is to pay for private bankers greed.
Moreover, it is the policies that the Minister and the Fianna Fáil leadership have implemented which have forced 450,000 out of work, are destroying the health service and pushing thousands of people back into emigration.

And it was Brian Lenihan and Fianna Fáil who brought the IMF to these shores.
December’s budget, which the Finance Minister is directly responsible for, last week stripped over a million people, or a quarter of the state’s population, of significant income as the government’s social welfare cuts took effect.

Almost 900,000 carers, people with disabilities, including those who receive a blind allowance, lone parents, widows, women who are pregnant and the unemployed will suffer cuts in their benefits. People earning minimum wage who were already living in poverty have taken further cuts, so that this government can fund a private banking debt.

In other words the poorest and most vulnerable are being hardest hit, while those who caused the mess are allowed get off scot-free.

This is economic insanity. Government policy is cutting the disposable income of those who spend the most in the real economy. Every cut Lenihan has inflicted will be felt in the local shops and services. It means less tax revenue coming in, more jobs being lost and ultimately, a deficit that continues to widen.

Ordinary working people are being punished to save Fianna Fáil’s friends in the banks.

Sinn Féin has laid out clear proposals to fix this crisis. Sinn Féin believes there is a better way, built upon burning the banking bondholders, introducing a stimulus package that will create jobs, building the all-Ireland economy, overhauling the taxation system and eliminating wasteful spending to ensure an economic system grounded in principles of equality.

This state can no longer afford this government. The political choices made by Brian Lenihan and Fianna Fáil have been a disaster.

Councillor Paddy Wright - An Appreciation

Councillor Paddy Wright

Regular readers will know that earlier this week this blog attended the funeral of Sinn Féin Councillor Paddy Wright in Athy. A friend of his Frank Corr wrote a wonderful appreciation of Paddy which he emailed to me a few days ago. This blog would like to share it with you.

Paddy Wright
An Appreciation

In the early hours of Friday the 7th of January Paddy Wright, Urban Councillor for thirty one years, Kildare County Councillor for five, and Sinn Fein activist for over 50 years, died suddenly at the age of 72.

The town of Athy chilled with disbelief as word of Paddy Wrights death seeped into its early morning consciousness. Paddy Wright dead! Those words somehow felt counterintuitive. Had not everybody just seen him only yesterday or the day before in his usual vigorous fettle, bursting with bonhomie? They probably did. Paddy was as much a part of the fabric of Athy as its Town Hall, Squares or the Barrow River that flows through it. The rolling gait – the product of botched hip operations - the carefully positioned newspaper, the wave and shout across the street at passers-by or just sitting in his ‘constituency office’ by the window in Bradbury’s restaurant, Paddy was one of those reassuring constants that gave a sense of permanence to our town.

I was in London’s Camden Town and coincidently passing near the famous ‘Working Men’s College’ when I got the call. It was at this institute that the young Paddy, who had left school at 13, attended evening classes on history and politics in his quest for an education. It must have been an excellent college because Paddy’s remarkable grasp of Irish history went beyond the great national figures or landmarks events down to the very core of the ordinary people’s condition over the last two centuries.

Like many provincial towns, the Athy he was born into was a bustling centre of many trades. It was then making its first tentative steps to stretch beyond its core, but a large number of its inhabitants still lived over the shop or in the little homes that huddled up behind its main streets. The horse and cart was still just about holding its own. Country people came in and ‘dealt’ in the many pub/groceries, and there was an apparent permanence to the cast of familiars who acted out their daily routines in the theatre of its street and markets.

Reared in the heart of all this, in the Town Hall where his father was caretaker, the flame haired youth quickly established himself as a town character. Raucous, combative and notable strong, he developed into a superb athlete, pounding out the miles along the banks of the Barrow as a daily routine. He played Gaelic, first with Athy and then Castlemitchel, the club he would ever be associated with, gaining a place on the county team while still in his teens and playing in the 1957 senior league final.

Joining the republican movement at an early age added to his mystique. He was on the town most Saturday nights with his friend, and fellow Castlemitchel and Kildare county player, Mossy Reilly selling the United Irishman. He attended many of the protest meetings of the fifties and sixties as well as engaging in other complementary functions.



A period of emigration followed when he worked in Birmingham, London (where he attended the above mentioned college) and in Scotland erecting electrical pylons. Back in Athy, Paddy worked on various building sites as a steel fixer, including the iconic Dominican Church, until eventually becoming the town’s last official grave digger.

In the mid seventies he led a successful campaign to get Mossy Riley elected as the first Sinn Fein member of the urban council since the twenties. At the time Mossy was an absentee from the town and the slogan used was “Put him in to get him back”. In the event Mossy did not take his seat and Paddy ran successfully in the 1979 Local elections. After the most recent local elections Paddy was very proud of the fact that he stormed in without the use of posters and that his total election expenses amounted to 67 cents per vote garnered. I had to remind him that during the ‘79 election he actually sold his election literature at 10p a leaflet which must be unique in politics anywhere.

If Paddy was good at national history, his knowledge of the history of Athy and its people was truly phenomenal. It encompassed all the seed and breed varieties down to the chemical constitution of the dirt beneath our fingernails. He understood the make-up of our town, the bitter schisms that existed after the First World War between the Kaki faction and republicans, whom the former considered traitors. He acknowledged these influences in his own family having had two grand uncles who had enlisted and also spoke of a grand aunt who would sing with gusto the Queen of the Sweet Shruleen. The queen in question was Queen Victoria. The town eventually healed, probably because of shared poverty. Paddy, however was nurtured on republican influences and able to garner votes from all quarters, but most gratifyingly, and to use one of his favourite phrases, “ironical and paradoxical” that his most ardent support came from the same areas and families whose forbearers had fought for the imperial cause.

I once asked Paddy how he had such a clear memory of events that happened before he was born, he told me that when he was young he had listened intently to old people and made their memories his memories and since he had a “photogenic memory” the events of the past was safely under his cap.

The photographic memory was quite evident, but the idea that this impulsive and spontaneous character ever listened or took advice from anyone was harder to swallow. During the local elections last year his election address consisted of rather long letter. One evening a hand written copy of it was shoved through my letter box with an urgent request that I review it and give my opinion on it. Paddy wrote as he spoke, in torrents, and in truth, I thought it too long and rambling. I set about modifying it and wondered how I could tactfully suggest the changes. I needn’t have flattered myself. Next morning bright and early I got a call from him; what did I think of the letter? Before I had a chance to say ‘well’, he continued “I got 3000 printed yesterday”. What could I say? “It’s brilliant Paddy”. “Good”, he replied. “I’m glad you liked it. Your opinion is very important to me”. Yeah right! Go on you ould scoundrel you.

Strangely, enough people later quoted some particular bits of the letter that had a special resonance with their own circumstance or feelings. I ask you, who reads election literature? Yet somehow Paddy had the happy knack of touching people’s sentiments, while other’s literature touched inside of litter bins.



Everybody in Athy has a Paddy Wright story. My own favourite is about the short strike he led during the building of the Dominican Church when the lovely ladies who frequented the old Dublin Bar took time from out their profession to chant ‘communist’ at him for picketing consecrated ground. It has a delicious twist to it but not for this obituary. He loved the pubs and spread his custom wide but bemoaned the “decline of public bar repartee” by which he meant slagging, an art at which, I know to my own cost, he was a master.

He was quick witted and could be devastatingly acerbic. A councillor who was over effusive in apologising for missing some meeting or other was told in his most facetious tone “It might console you to know that you were not conspicuous by your absence. But then you’re never very conspicuous by your presence either”.

Like other politicians, Paddy loved popularity but totally eschewed any effort to court it. No matter how ill favoured his views might be he would remain steadfast by them. He also had a way of disarming even hostile meetings. A few years ago he attended an IFA sponsored meeting on transport issues. There was several hundred in attendance and when contributions were asked from the floor Paddy popped up. He began by reminding them of his past distaste for the IFA even though he himself had been born on a farm. The radio mike he was using suddenly went dead. “Have you cut me off” he demanded. The apologetic operator assured him it was only a glitch and the sound was restored. “Well it wouldn’t have been the first time I was cut off you know…..Section 31”. The house came down.

He was also capable of the most profound insights into the human condition. Once during the hunger strikes someone spoke to him about the great sacrifices the strikers were making dying for Ireland. I expected him to go into a rant, which he was fully capable of. But he just raised a silencing finger and simply said “No!” “No, they are not dying for Ireland; they have reached the highest state of comradeship possible. They are dying for each other”.

Apart from his family, Paddy had three passions in his life, Athy Town, football and Sinn Fein, and remained constant to them all. He was a true Sinn Feiner, he believed in service to the people. He would be out in the early hours checking on paths and potholes or anti social dumping. He was a constant warrior for the social needs of the poor and disadvantaged. Something that epitomised this commitment happened early last year. The council had reneged on its promise to remove grit from the footpaths which was causing great difficulties for older people after last winters snows. But, while others slept, this seventy one year old man went out on a Sunday morning, with brush and shovel, to ensure that his promise to his elderly neighbours was kept.

He was a man who carried the full suite of social attributes. He was by turn combative, argumentative and aggressive, the characteristics that made him a great sportsman. He was also loyal, committed and honest, those that made him a formidable politician. He could also be hilariously funny, and equipped with a spellbinding smile, he could overwhelm you with charm. He was a man who loved words, the bigger the better. He was also an engaging storyteller and had no time at all for mindless chit-chat. ‘I have to go and meet a man’ was code for ‘this conversation is over’, and with a decisive abruptness he’d be gone. Somewhere in the depths of last Friday morning he went to ‘meet a man’ for the last time and left us with that customary abruptness. We might have expected no less. Athy is somehow incomplete without him. So let his epithet be his most repeated mantra; “I love this ould Town”

Paddy is survived by his sister Annie, brothers Noel, John and Brendan.

May god be good to his valiant soul.


Ps. an interview with paddy after the 2009 local election can be seen on 'Youtube'. Type in ‘Councillor Paddy Wright’.


Francis Corr



Paddy and Martin Kelly

Grasp the opportunity

The statement by ETA on Monday that it is committed to ‘a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community’ has the potential to propel the efforts for peace in that region significantly forward. But it will require political will by all of the main political players, in particular the Spanish government, if the opportunity that now exists is to be grasped.

This week’s statement is the latest in what has been a difficult process to create the right political conditions for meaningful negotiations and a new beginning in the relationship between the Basque country and the Spanish state.

Along with others in the international community Sinn Féin has been involved in ongoing conversations with Basque representatives. These have taken place in Ireland and Europe.

Many in the Basque country have taken a close interest in the peace process in Ireland. They hope to learn from the Irish experience in an effort to advance their own peace process.

The collapse of the ETA cessation in 2006 led to caution in some quarters about the new cessation declared in September last year. While that may be understandable it is no justification for preconditions to dialogue.

In my view a failure to grab opportunities and to build on initiatives led to the Irish peace process taking much longer to make progress than it should have. At times arguments over words and their interpretation were elevated to pre-conditions which in some instances almost led to the destruction of the process.

This should be avoided in the Basque situation.

Monday’s statement follows ETA’s announcement on September 5th that it had taken a decision to halt “offensive military action”. On that occasion ETA said that new political conditions existed and that it was time to build a democratic framework for the Basque country.

ETA reaffirmed its commitment to a democratic solution that would allow the Basque people, through dialogue and negotiation, to decide their own future.

A few days later ETA issued a second statement aimed primarily at the international community. In its statement ETA acknowledged the positive contribution of many international figures in helping to move the situation forward. ETA called on the international community to continue to be engaged in the process and committed itself to take further steps to enhance a democratic process that could lead to a just and lasting solution of the conflict.

All of these developments did not happen by chance. They came at the end of a long process of internal sstrategising among Basque parties, trade unionists and political activists. Thousands of activists were involved.

Last February a conference of the Abertzale Regional Assemblies (Abertazle Left), which includes the banned Basque party Batasuna, agreed a new broad front approach. This too draws heavily from the Irish experience.

The new strategy commits Basque participants to ‘exclusively political and democratic means’ and seeks to achieve political change ‘in a complete absence of violence and without interference’ and ‘conducted in accordance with the Mitchell Principles.’ This strategy finds its echo in the statements by ETA since September.

And two weeks ago the imprisoned leader of the banned Basque party Batasuna told the Wall Street Journal that Batasuna rejects violence as a means of attaining political objectives.

So, the ETA statement should not be judged in isolation. It is part of a long and significant process of discussion and debate among Basque activists. It is a serious effort to make progress through peaceful and democratic means and should be encouraged.

It is now vital that the Spanish government respond positively to this statement and quickly establish inclusive political negotiations.

There is also a need for confidence building measures from the Spanish government to create a better climate for progress. For example, Arnaldo Ortegi should be released. Arnaldo is a key leader of the Basque independence movement. He is a committed supporter of the need to develop a democratic process in the Basque Country. His continued imprisonment is unjust. It is also an obstacle to the development of a process for peace making and positive change.

The Spanish government should also immediately lift the restrictions imposed upon political activists in the Basque Country and in particular the ban on the political party Batasuna. This is the time for encouraging democratic politics.

And it would be important that the government end the harsh prison regimes imposed upon imprisoned Basque activists and initiate a programme to address all of the issues of concern to prisoners and their families.

Peace processes are challenging. Especially for governments. But they are better than war. And as the Irish peace process proves, against all the odds, they can succeed.


Death of Paddy Wright

On Monday morning this blog travelled to Athy in County Kildare to attend the funeral of Sinn Féin Councillor Paddy Wright.

There was a very large turnout which was a testimony to the great love and affection in which Paddy was held.

This blog had known Paddy Wright for many years. He was a stalwart republican activist who was Sinn Féin's longest serving elected representative.

Paddy was elected as a Councillor in 1979 and was a well known and respected representative.

On one famous occasion Paddy, who was a gravedigger, ran in the election under the slogan ‘Vote Paddy Wright - the last man to let you down.’

Paddy’s death is a huge blow to his family and to his friends and comrades in Sinn Féin. He was a sound republican, a wonderful representative of Sinn Féin and a stalwart supporter of the peace process.

He was also a great arguer and his craic and insights will be sadly missed. Go ndeanfaidh Dia trocaire ar a n’anam dilse.

The ’81 hunger strike

On Christmas Eve 1980 this blogs good friend and comrade, former blanket man Fra also known as ‘cuddles’ McCann, returned home after being deported from the USA.

Fra had just spent a gruelling four and a half months campaigning in the USA in support of the republican prisons on protest in the H Blocks and Armagh prisons. He had been denied a visa to enter the USA but like other ex-prisoners and republican activists who travelled to the states at that time, he entered the country illegally during the summer.

With the help of Noraid activists he travelled back and forth across the USA, from the east coast to the west coast and all places in between, talking to Irish American organisations, politicians, councils, trade unions and any media willing to listen. He did hundreds of meetings and interviews.

Fra’s courage and tenacity was uniquely recognised when he was awarded a ‘citation for bravery’ by the Massachusetts State legislature. It was the first of six states that year to support the prisoner’s five demands.

The British government was outraged at Fra’s success and at the effectiveness of the lobbying campaign. London urged the US authorities to arrest and deport him. On October 1st, a few weeks before the first hunger strike commenced, Fra and Dessie Mackin were arrested. They were held in solitary confinement and on lock-up for 23 hours each day.

Noraid succeeded in raising $30,000 in bail money and Fra was released to go back on the road. This blog thinks Desi was not so lucky. He stayed in detention. Eventually Fra was told that he was to be deported. Fra immediately applied for political asylum, a move which delayed the deportation. He continued his work until the first hunger strike ended. Fra then told the US immigration authorities that he wished to return to Ireland and on December 23rd he was put on a plane and arrived home on Christmas Eve.

Meanwhile Dessie, who was facing extradition by the British back to the north, was held for a further 18 months. He eventually won his extradition case and was deported to Dublin.

Meanwhile the first hunger strike had ended on December 18th. But by the end of the first week of January the omens were not good. At the start of the new year the prisoners had issued a statement calling for pressure on the British government to ‘ensure the speedy resolution of the blanket/no-wash protest and the defusion of the H-Block Armagh crisis’.

The prisoners warned that should the British remain intransigent ‘we will be forced to fall upon our own resources...If the British cling to the forlorn hope that they can yet break the men and women of the H-Blocks and Armagh they have but to look at their failures during the last four and a half years of our protest. We will not be found lacking in illustrating our ability and will to escalate our protest if necessary.’

So, the stark deadline in the first edition of 1981’s An Phoblacht/Republican News was one none of us wished to read – ‘Hunger-strike threatens’.

The tension escalated over the following weeks. Efforts by the prisoners to test the willingness of the prison system to implement a new regime were rebuffed. Prisoners were assaulted and personal clothes which families handed in for the prisoners were refused by prison staff. One governor told prisoners that ‘not until there is a strict conformity and you agree to wear prison issue clothes and do prison work will you get your own clothes.’

On January 16th Bernadette McAliskey and her husband Michael were shot and seriously wounded at their home by a unionist death squad. A week later this blog and hundreds more attended a major conference by the National H-Block Armagh Committee that was held in Dublin’s Liberty Hall with a view to rebuilding the public protest campaign.

On February 5th the prisoners issued a lengthy statement setting out the context for their decision and announcing that ‘hunger strikes to the death if necessary, will begin commencing from March 1st 1981, the fifth anniversary of the withdrawal of political status in the H Blocks and in Armagh jail.’

The scene was set for one of the most pivotal periods in recent Irish history.

2011 will be an interesting year.

For those of us who write, the tradition at this time of the year is to
write about the old year that has passed. Analyse it; dissect it; and generally focus on the events and issues that captured the public or the writer’s attention.

2010 had lots of those in Ireland. The agreement between Sinn Féin and the
DUP on the transfer of powers on policing and justice; the Saville report into the Bloody Sunday massacre; the Orange marching season; the Westminster election and the count in Fermanagh South Tyrone that became a recount, that became another recount, until Michelle triumphed by four votes! Never was there a better example of how every vote counts!

And there were the international stories too. The Israeli attack on the Freedom flotilla and the ongoing siege of Gaza were brutal reminders of the unrelenting conflict in that region.

But for many the big story was the deteriorating state of the economy in
the south and the mess the Fianna Fáil/Green Party coalition is making of
trying to right the economic wrongs they are largely responsible for.

This included inviting in the European Union and the International
Monetary Fund to take over the running of the state’s economy.

The Irish government’s December budget was a missed opportunity by a government which seeks to protect its wealthy banking and developer friends at the expense of those less well off and disadvantaged.

This week, over a million people, or a quarter of the state’s population, will lose significant income as the government’s social welfare cuts take effect.

Almost 900,000 carers, people with disabilities, including those who
receive a blind allowance, lone parents, widows, women who are pregnant and the unemployed will suffer cuts in their benefits.

In other words those less well organised, the vulnerable and the needy are
being forced to pay for the corrupt practices of big bankers and the failure of
government to police and regulate the banking sector.

It didn’t need to be like this. There are alternative policies which can
effectively tackle the economic deficit and the billions owed by the bankers. But the Fianna Fáil/Green Party government wasn’t and isn’t for listening.

So, while looking back at the year that has just passed is important, it is more important now to focus on the new year ahead. 2011 is shaping up to be one of those pivotal political years which can reshape the life of a people for many years to come.

On May 5th the 30th anniversary of Bobby Sands death there will be elections in the north to the power sharing institutions and to local councils. The Assembly and Executive will be completing their first ever full term. This is evidence of the political advances made since 1981 in the north.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing. How could it be given the history of conflict, inequality and division, and the diversity of parties in the Executive. But progress has been and is being made. Local politicians are now responsible and accountable where once fly-in Brit direct rule Ministers made exclusive decisions with no notice given to or concern for the rights and welfare of communities and citizens.

There will also be a general election in the south. The Green Party said
they wanted it for January but they have now u turned on that in the hope that they and their government partners can buy some time to minimise what is likely to be a damaging election result. The election date therefore could be back to late March or maybe April.

Just before Christmas this blog was formally selected to be Sinn Féin’s General Election candidate in Louth and East Meath.

So 2011 is an important year for me also but the general election, when it comes, will be the most important in recent decades. It is clear that people want change. And change is possible. Look at the peace process, imperfect though it is, and the positive change that it has brought about.

So, making change in both parts of this island in 2011 is both desirable and achievable. It is also necessary.

BLIAIN ÚR FAOI MHAISE DAOIBH.

‘So what are you going to do for the New Year?
‘Me?’
‘Yes you. Who else is here?’
‘Why are you asking that. Nobody else is here. You know that. That’s typical of you. Who else is here? Why do you jump in like that before I have even a chance to answer? ’
‘You don’t need to be so cranky. I asked you a simple question. You as usual didn’t give a straight answer. Me you said! That’s why I asked you who else is here. Because you asked me’.
‘I didn’t ask you anything. You are the one asking all the questions.’
‘I don’t mean you asked me’.
‘Well that’s what you said.’
‘I know rightly what I said. Listen to what I mean. You answered my question by saying ‘me’. That’s why I asked you who else is here’.
‘ What is it you want to know anyway?’
‘What are you going to do for the New Year?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean are you making any New Year resolutions?’
‘I haven’t given it much thought. And another thing ....I’m not being cranky.’
‘Oh yes you are. Very cranky indeed.’
‘Why do you want to know what I’m doing for the New Year?’
‘Why do you always answer a question with a question?’
‘Why don’t you ever answer a question?’
‘I’m sorry I asked in the first place. I was just making conversation. It is the New Year after all and most people make resolutions so I was just asking what you are going to do. But of course you are an ignoramus so you don’t appreciate conversation or communication between people. You just want to be a latchico, an oul fuddy duddy.’
‘You’re one to talk! An ignoramus? Me? Better than being a bloody dictator. That’s what you are. A bloody dictator. You won’t let anyone be. We don’t all have to be talking machines you know. The least said, the soonest mended. You and your stupid questions. That’s what I’m going to do for the New Year’.
‘I don’t care what you’re going to do’.
‘What? You don’t care. You don’t care!! That’s a good one. Well why then did you start this silly stupid row? Especially just before the New Year!’

‘Are you saying I started this row?’ Is that what you’re saying?’

‘There you go again. Same old story. Answering a question with a question.’

‘And that whether you like to hear it or not is what I’m giving up. Answering your silly questions. That’s what!’

‘Well it’s good to know you are going to do something. That’ll make a change from your usual oul malarkey. A happy New year to you’.
‘You bloody too. Bliain úr faoi mhaise duit. 2011 here we come’
‘Ha bloody ha’.