Historic Change 

The restoration last Saturday of the political institutions and the election of Michelle O'Neill as First Minister marks an extraordinary turning point in the process of constitutional change for the North and for the island of Ireland. It is a significant new chapter in the transitional process of change that began with the peace process. Last Saturday something  fundamental  happened.

Alex Maskey

Alex has committed himself to continuing his activism and to the goal of Irish Unity and to the principles and objectives he has dedicated his life to. So, well done Alex and well done also to Liz, an activist in her own right. She has been by his side through all of these years. Ádh mor oraibh a chairde. 

Ivor Browne

Ivor Browne died last week, aged ninety four. I admired him a lot. And I’m glad to say I met him a few times. He was one of the world’s leading and pioneering psychiatrists. As President Micheal D Higgins said he ‘…left a profound mark on the understanding and attitudes to mental health in Ireland’. A visionary and a doer Ivor dismantled mental institutions and developed community clinics. He was a revolutionary. Professor Brendan Kelly said his legacy was ‘the additional liberty enjoyed by thousands of people who avoided institutionalisation as a result of the reforms which Ivor came to represent’.

Comhghairdeas Kneecap 

Comhghairdeas Kneecap as an rath a bhí ar bhur scannán ag féile scannán Sundance. 

Last August I travelled over to a studio close to Queen’s University to meet with Kneecap. The three west Belfast lads were busy putting the final touches to their movie which recounts – mostly i nGaeilge - how they were formed. That night they were to do some work with Michael Fassbender but I was there to film a short segment. 


Irish government must join South Africa 

Many thanks and commendations to the government of South Africa for taking the case to the ICJ on behalf of the people of Palestine. 

There was widespread welcome for the decision of the International Court of Justice last week ordering Israel to:

·         Refrain from acts under the genocide convention

·         Prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide

·         Take measures to ensure humanitarian assistance to civilians

·         Preserve evidence of genocide and submit a report to the Court 

·         And submit a report to the ICJ in one month.




Áras Uí Chonghaile – A world class visitor centre 

Áras Uí Chonghaile – the James Connolly Visitor Centre on the Falls Road – was formally opened by Uachtarán Michael D Higgins in April 2019. The Áras celebrates the life and times of James Connolly, the key role he played in Irish history, the struggle for freedom and the Labour Movement. It be a world class visitor centre exploring the life of Connolly; with a unique interactive exhibition; a library of writings by and about Connolly; historical objects relating to Connolly, and an all year round programme of engagement with communities, schools and visitors and a bialann. 

Time for Clarity. 

The question – will he or won’t he – has yet to be answered. Will Jeffrey Donaldson provide the leadership needed to persuade his party to go back into the Executive or, as Michelle O’Neill pondered at last week’s meeting of the Assembly, have we seen the final sitting of the Assembly?

Irish government must recognise Palestinian State

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a post-war peace process that would lead to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state. A statement released after he had spoken to President Joe Biden last weekend said: "In his conversation with President Biden, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his policy that after Hamas is destroyed Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty."

On the same day in a post on X – formerly Twitter Netanyahu said that Israel must retain "security control over the entire area west of [River] Jordan." This is an area which also includes the Israeli-occupied West Bank territory.

WCNSFs – Wounded Child No Surviving Family

Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the west Bank passed the 100 day mark at the weekend. By the time this column is published the number of dead at the hands of Israel’s war machine is likely to have passed 25,000, mostly women and children. That’s almost equivalent to the entire population of Newry wiped out.

Irish Unity Summit for New York

This week the tickets became available for a major public event on Irish Unity to be held in New York on 1st March. Billed as an ‘Irish Unity Summit’ the event is jointly sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Brehon Law Society, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Friends of Sinn Féin USA, Irish American Unity Conference, James Connolly Labor Coalition, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.

The ‘Summit’ will be held in The Great Hall at Cooper Union. It will start at 1:00 pm on Friday 1st March and conclude at 6:00 pm. There will be keynote speakers, panel discussions, and cultural performances.

The Fermanagh Blackbird

Dónal O Connor and his family have made a long standing and continuing contribution to Irish traditional music and song. Dónal is a well known and respected musican, broadcaster and producer. We are all indebted to and enriched by the work of the O Connor and Ní Uallacháin clanns. Because of them and others like them the traditional music scene is alive and well. Many songs and tunes which might have been lost have been retained or recovered.

Death of a Hero

Just before Christmas my colleague Greg O'Loughlin, the Executive Director of Friends of Sinn Féin in the USA , gave  me the sad news that veteran American Civil Rights leader King Hollands had died. I had the honour of meeting King and his fellow activists Rip Patton and Richard Dinkins during a visit to Nashville in November 2018.

Frank Kitson. 

Richard has insisted that I write a little bit about the death of Frank Kitson. Kitson, British Army general and leading advocate of counter-insurgency operations and collusion between state forces and death squads died last week. I have written about him many times. I am sure his death will be mourned by those within the British system whom he served over many decades in defence of the Empire. He was rewarded with medals, a knighthood, and military promotions. He was for a time Commander in Chief of the UK Land Forces and from 1982 to 1985 he was Aide-de-Camp General to the British Queen.

Few if any of  his many victims who were tortured, imprisoned, killed by his counter-gangs and collusion strategies, whether in the North or in Malaya, Kenya, Aden or Cyprus, will shed tears at his passing. Nollaig na mBan

Nollaig na mBan - Women’s Christmas or Little Christmas  – was celebrated last Saturday. Traditionally, it’s the last day of the Christmas period when the role of women who did all the work preparing for and making Christmas a success for everyone else, was celebrated.  January the 6th was the day when they had the opportunity to rest and celebrate. 

This Land Is Your Land. 

I am a long time fan of Woody Guthrie. He is one of the worlds great song writers in the English language and many of his words  are as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. He was also an American activist who agitated and educated and sang for social equality,  immigration reform, peace and fairness. He stood against fascism, racism,  war, corruption and for a clean environment. He sang about love, for workers rights and a better life for all. 

So, 2023 was a very busy year. Lots of activism. 2024 is already shaping up to be even busier. So, join the campaigns for a Citizens’ Assembly and for the unity referendums. Have your say on the future and help shape the new Ireland.


A New Year Wish

Bbliain Úr Faoi Mhaise Daoibhse Go Leir.

I received this verse in a Christmas card. Very appropriate.

A Boy named Jay

I did a book signing for Christmas at An Fhuiseog’s stand in the Kennedy Centre. It was a pleasant hour of banter and craic, meeting old friends and making new ones. Gerry Kelly was there just before me but he escaped when I arrived. So it was just me and the punters. And RG and Maggie who was selling all matter of gifts for An Fhuiseog. 

2024 – Momentum toward Unity Polls set to increase

After weeks, months, of public and private negotiations it is still not clear as 2023 draws to a close what the future of the Executive and Assembly will be. The British government says it has delivered its final word on the issue. The various party positions remain as they were. We shall see what the New Year brings on this.

Shane:

Last Friday I travelled to Nenagh for the funeral of Shane MacGowan. It was a sad and yet joyous event with family and friends lifting their voices and their hearts as a succession of musicians played some of Shane’s best known songs, including the exuberant Fairytale of New York, Cór Cúil Aodha, including Seán O’Sé and Seán O’Riada’s son Peadar also did what they do best.

The de-humanising of the Palestinians:

Last Sunday was the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was a response to the horror of the Second World War, and in particular the holocaust of European Jews and murder of countless millions of trade unionists, gay people, socialists and others the Nazi regime regarded as inferior. Its first sentence encapsulation what many hoped would be the dawn of a new era – ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’

Christmas Ceol:

If you are looking for musical stocking fillers this column recommends two bits of ceol. First off is Fergus O Hare’s new CD – Deep in my Heart.

Slán Shane

Shane MacGowan was a friend of West Belfast. Back in 1988 in the wake of the killings of IRA Volunteers Mairead Farrell, Dan McCann and Sean Savage in Gibraltar, and the killing of other citizens at their funerals and the killing also of IRA Volunteer Kevin McCracken in Turf Lodge this community was subjected to a vicious full frontal tsunami of vilification on the back of decades of demonisation and discrimination.

Connolly House - End of an Era.

Sinn Féin’ Connolly House in Andersonstown is now to close. A new constituency office has been opened for Órlaithí Flynn MLA in the row of shops just below Casement Park and opposite The White Fort.

 The lies of War

Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people recommenced last week. The deliberate murder of hundreds of Palestinian civilians and the industrial scale destruction of Palestinian homes, schools, hospitals and refugee camps is about the expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.