Last
Updated
05/09/2023
Hunger
Strikes Remembered
Take me home to Mayo -- the 70s
Both the hunger-strike deaths of the seventies took place in prisons
in England. The first, on Monday 3rd June 1974, was Michael Gaughan
of Ballina, County Mayo, followed almost two years later by another
Mayo man, Frank Stagg of Hollymount, on Thursday 12th February 1976.
Michael Gaughan was one of the earliest IRA Volunteers to be
imprisoned in England in this phase of the struggle, being sentenced
to seven years at the Old Bailey in London, in December 1971, for
his part in a bank raid. He spent the first two years of his prison
sentence in Wormwood Scrubs in London and then was moved to the Isle
of Wight's top security prisons first, Albany, and then, in 1974, to
Parkhurst. Among the other Irish political prisoners there at that
time was Frank Stagg, sentenced with other IRA Volunteers in
Coventry the previous November, to ten years' imprisonment, on the
vacuous charge of conspiracy to cause explosions
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The Easter Rising
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Easter Rising Commemoration and Flannery Testimonial
Report
On an initially rainy Sunday, April 23, 2023 Irish
Republicans gathered to commemorate the 107th
anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising at the grave of
modern Fenian and Cumann na Saoırse Náısıúnta co-founder
Joe Stynes in Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.
Master of ceremonies Jane Enright opened the program by
inviting Michael Costello to read Forógra na Poblachta.
A reading of the Easter Statement from the Republican
Movement in Ireland followed by Suzanne Heller.
Joe Flaherty gave a stirring rendition of Padraig
Pearse’s 1915 Oration at the grave of Ó Donavon Rossa
followed by John Fletcher who recited the Proclamation
in English.
Martin Costello delivered the Easter Statement from the
Irish Republican Movement in America, followed by Byron
Heller who closed out the graveside program by reading
the late Brıan Mor’s “The Fenian Faith.”
The group reconvened at nearby Keane’s restaurant for
the Flannery Testimonial portion of the program. The
late Michael and Juliana “Julie” Williams of Linden, New
Jersey were honored with the 2023 Michael and Pearl
Flannery Spirit of Freedom Award for their lifetime
commitment and support for Republican ideals. The award
was accepted by their children Patrick (CnSN executive
committee member), Joseph and Siobhán.
Members and supporters of Cumann na Saoırse Náısıúnta
finished the morning program by enjoying a traditional
Irish breakfast buffet and camaraderie.
Críoch
The 2023 Cabhair Honorees
CABHAIR, The Irish Republican Prisoners’ Dependent’s
Fund, will recognize Liam Murphy from Irvington, New
York, as the 2023 honoree from the United States. The
Testimonial event will take place in Wynn’s Hotel,
Middle Abbey Street, Dublin on Saturday, May 20, 2023,
1-6pm, where presentations will be made to the honorees.
Each of the five awards will celebrate the lives and
contributions to the Irish Republican movement by
honorees from each of the four Irish provinces and one
from the United States.
Many of you have supported the families of Irish POWs in
the past, and for that, we and they are most grateful.
Over 100 years after the Easter Rising, there are still
Irish Republicans at risk of harassment and prison
sentences in British and Irish jails; They and their
dependents need our support. Please help us support them
by taking an ad in the 2023 CABHAIR journal. 100% of
your donation goes to support the families of Irish
POWs.
Attached is an ad form for CABHAIR 2023 Journal. Ads
must be received no later than May 8th. You can send
your payment later but we need your ad copy by May 8th.
Please email your ads to Joe Flaherty at
irelandfirst04@gmail.com. If you are unable to email
your ad, please mail it to the Bronx address (see
above). Checks can be sent to either of the addresses
listed on the ad form (checks sent to Ireland should be
made payable to Irish Republican Prisoners Dependents
Fund). Everyone who places an ad in the journal will
receive a copy of this year’s journal.
If you need assistance in writing your ad or have
questions, please contact Joe Flaherty at 203-206-7199
or Jane or Maggie at the phone numbers below. Thank you
for your support. We and the dependents of Irish
political prisoners are very grateful for your support.
Jane Enright ,
enrightnyc@gmail.com,
718-683-6903
Maggie Trainor ,
nymayo@earthlink.net,
845-492-7198
Chick
HERE
for ad form
Provisionals serve King and Kaiser
Provisional leaders Alex Maskey and Michelle 0’Neill
confirmed today (April 26) that they will be travelling
to the coronation of the new British King, Charles
Windsor, the new head of the British State and the
Commander-in-Chief of the British Crown Forces,
responsible for the murders of so many people in the Six
Counties; the world knows the pain and suffering caused
by the Crown Forces in Ireland.
They will be joining with other world elites in banquets
etc, enjoying lavish surroundings as they embrace their
paymaster just a short time after the anniversaries of
our fallen comrades Bobby Sands and Francis Hughes;
standing shoulder to shoulder with medal-bearing
generals of the British army, toasting the coronation of
the invaders’ king.
Supporters of Provisional Sinn Féin online have defended
the news stating it is part of the ‘politics game’. The
only thing the ‘politics game’ has achieved in the past
twenty-five years is to further strengthen Britain’s
occupation of the Six Counties. Those who claim to
oppose the British occupation are now servants of the
Crown who act as protectors of the Union.
Republicanism is opposed to colonialism and imperialism
and the very principle of Republicanism is a socialist
republic which the Provisionals have long abandoned as
they administer British rule in Ireland on behalf of the
British State. The very principle of Republicanism is in
opposition to monarchy.
Sinn Féin Poblachtach calls once again for the
Provisionals to give up the honourable name “Sinn Féin”.
With Wolfe Tone we call for the breaking of the
connection with England, “the never-failing source of
all our political evils”.
Sinn Fein Poblachtach is the only Republican
organisation that has a green paper on Irish unity under
the Éire Nua program and stands firm on the principles
set out in 1916.
Sinn Féin Poblachtach calls on all Republicans to join
us today and stand up for the republican ideals set out
by our forefathers.
We call on voters in the May local elections in the
Occupied Six Counties to spoil their vote or abstain as
all of the parties participating are part of the British
establishment in Ireland.
Críoch
2022 Cabhaır Christmas
Swim Appeal
A cháırde,
Thank you for your support for Irish Political
Prisoners and the National Irish Freedom Committee
throughout the years. The past several years have been
difficult for all of us due to the effects from
Covid-19.
Christmas is a very important holiday for celebrating
together with our families. This Christmas morning, a
number of people will give up time away from their
families and warm homes in order to help assist the
families of Irish Republican political prisoners and to
demonstrate their solidarity and support for political
prisoners. These men and women will be taking part in
sponsored swims in Dublin and Wexford to raise funds in
support of Cabhair, the long standing Irish charitable
organization dedicated to supporting the dependents of
Irish Republican prisoners. The Swim was first organized
in Dublin in 1976. This year will mark the 45th
anniversary of the Christmas Swim.
Your gift, no matter the amount - even a few dollars -
will be greatly appreciated by needy families. Make your
check payable to NIFC and mail to: NIFC, P.O. Box 358,
Bronx, New York, 10470. 100% of your donation will be
sent to Cabhair in Ireland.
We thank you for your support and wish you and your
family a very Merry Christmas. Please also remember to
bookmark our website,
www.irishfreedom.net, which will feature a report
with photos of the Christmas Swim. God bless you for
your support.
Below are a few photos of the swim in Dublin on
Christmas Day over the years in aid of CABHAIR. Big
thanks to those who took part and all those who have
supported the swimmers. We are grateful to those who
took part over the years.
Jane Enright, National Irish Freedom Committee
Annual Fenian Commemoration Report 2022
On a blustery Sunday, November 13, 2022 Cumann Na Saoirse Náisiúnta
(National Irish Freedom Committee) held its annual Fenian
Commemoration at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York. The theme of
this year’s event was The Fenians in America:
The Founding of the Fenian Brotherhood.
The Fenian Brotherhood was founded in 1858 by Irish immigrants,
co-founders Colonel John O’Mahony and Colonel Michael Doheny.
Although Colonel O’Mahony was buried in Ireland (Glasnevin
Cemetery), Colonel Doheny was buried in New York in Calvary
Cemetery.
The morning began with emcee Maggie Trainor welcoming all gathered
at the base of the majestic Fenian monument which was erected in
1907 by the IRB Veterans’ Association of New York and is dedicated
to the Fenians of 1865 to 1867 period. She then called Suzanne Heller forward to read the 'The
Proclamation of the Irish Republic (in English) followed by Michael
Costello who delivered it as Gaelige.
Joe Flaherty read the Fenian Proclamation of 1867 in which the
Fenians “appealed in vain to the reason and sense of justice of the
dominant powers” advocating that armed struggle was the only way to
achieve a nation free from British rule. Tom Costello spoke about the Fenian Graves Project in “Who were the
Fenians?” The project tells the story of Ireland’s and Irish
America’s sons and daughters who battled the odds to advance
Ireland’s journey to freedom (see feniangraves.net).
Next, Vic Sackett read the “Fenian Faith” which was written by NIFC
Executive Committee member, the late Brian Mor, just prior to his
death in 2012.
Maggie spoke of those who had passed since we had last gathered,
mentioning longtime NIFC supporters Mike Williams and Gary Delaney.
Sympathies were extended to their families and the crowd recited in
unison an Sé do Bheatha A Mhuire.
In closing the ceremony, Maggie thanked all who had attended,
several of whom had traveled a great distance. The group disbursed
for brunch at a local Irish restaurant.
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“The Rare Ould Times” From The Irish People newspaper, Feb. 9, 1991
By the late Joe Stynes
It was the year 1922, and the IRA was split in two. The Company I belonged to, C Company of the 2nd Battalion, had several of its members go over to the Free State Army. Several became neutral, and the rest remained in the IRA, loyal to their oath of allegiance to defend the Republic against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The IRA had taken over the Four Courts when they established their headquarters.
On June 27,1922, C Company of the 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, meeting at 42 North Great George's Street, were ordered to remain for the night. Next morning, on orders from Lloyd George, Prime Minister of England, the Free State Army with British cannon attacked the Four Courts and the fight was on between the Free State and the IRA. The 2nd Battalion took over O'Connell Street and Parnell Street.
Our Company C was assigned to Healy's Public House in Parnell Street, where we set up barricades inside and outside the building. Before we left 42 N. Great George's Street, I cycled home to get two Lee-Enfield rifles. Our equipment was very poor; we had only five or six rifles, seven revolvers and one machine gun. The first night we were attacked by the Domestic Enemy with two armored cars. We withstood the attack, but not before they had blown away the barricade on one of the windows. We began boring holes in the walls connecting the building. When there was sufficient opening, I went into the next house, and crouched up in the corner was a young woman and her children. I assumed nothing would happen and brought her food and milk. She was so grateful she gave me a piece of caul (it's something that comes with the birth of a baby) and told me it would keep me safe. I still have it. . --- continue
Saoirse Newspaper
Saoirse – Irish Freedom is the voice of the Irish Republican Movement.
The monthly newspaper of the Republican Movement, it takes its name from
Irish Freedom – Saoirse, a Fenian paper which first appeared in November
1910 and continued as a monthly publication until December 1914 when it
was suppressed by the British authorities. Among the contributors to
that paper were Bulmer Hobson, PS Hegerty, Terence McSwiney, Pádraig
Pearse, Ernest Blythe, Piaras Beaslaí, Pat Devlin, Fred Cogley, JW Good
and Roger Casement.
Irish Republicans have always attempted to produce a newspaper, as a
means of speaking to the people. As revolutionaries we have had to rely
on our own resources to counter-act the status quo message promoted by
the Establishment media.
More than 200 years ago, on January 4, 1792, the first number of the
Northern Star appeared. The paper, produced by the Belfast Society of
United Irishmen, promoted unity among Irish people of all religions. It
was a popular target for the opponents of Irish unity and freedom. The
proprietors of the Northern Star and its printer, John Rabb, were
charged with sedition in January, 1793. Its offices were again raided on
September 16, 1796 in a general clamp-down on the United Irishmen in
Belfast. The presses of the Northern Star were smashed by a pro-British
militia on May 19, 1797.
A new paper, The Press, appeared on September 28, 1797.
In a short article in the first issue of The Republic, on December 13,
1906, produced by the Dungannon Clubs, Bulmer Hobson wrote:
Ireland today claims her place among the free peoples of the earth. She
has never surrendered that claim, nor will ever surrender it; and today
forces are working in Ireland that will not be still until her claim is
acknowledged and her voice heard in the councils of the nations.
To that end The Republic has been started. It has not been brought into
existence to make a party among the political parties of Ireland, nor to
carry on a party propaganda nor to waste time quarreling with any
political party. It has been started to gather together all that is best
and greatest, most progressive and far-seeing in Ireland round the
Republican banner and to build up, not a Republican party, but an
independent Irish Republic.
We stand for an Irish Republic because we see that no compromise with
England, no repeal of the Union, no concession of Home Rule or
Devolution will satisfy the national aspiration of the Irish people nor
allow the unrestricted mental, moral and material development of our
country. National independence is our right; we ask no more and we will
accept no less.
An independent Irish Republic, then, is our aim – governed by the whole
people of Ireland in the interests of the whole people, without let or
hindrance, supervision or interference on the part of any other power
under heaven. We owe allegiance to no country save Ireland, and we will
yield none to any other.
The old hate and the old bigotry that have kept Catholic and Protestant
divided – the old grovelling spirit of Toadyism must be killed and
forgotten by the people. The ineffective and outward political
movements, Unionist and Nationalist, must be superseded and silenced
and, in their place, a national movement, virile and militant, that
recognises no creed save that of Irishman, and no party save the nation,
must be established.
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