The late Brendan Hughes famously described the Good Friday Agreement as the “Got F*** All” agreement. He had a point in relation to the Republican objective: The Republican War was concluded by the IRA with Northern Ireland still part of the British State and Sinn Fein administering British rule within a new Stormont. The Good Friday Agreement did, of course, achieve an … Continue reading Good Friday Agreement: “Got F*** All”?
Northern-Ireland
Red Eddy—Gusty’s Brother
Reading Brendan Clifford’s article about the BICO in the August issue of the Irish Political Review jogged a few memories. I was a comrade of Eddy Spence in the Sixties: He was a member of the Communist Party of Northern Ireland (CPNI) and I was in its youth wing the Communist Youth League (CYL). As Brendan Clifford points out, Eddy … Continue reading Red Eddy—Gusty’s Brother
Béal na Bláthair
David McCullough, the radio journalist, was the chief speaker at the Béal na Bláth celebration of Michael Collins' War against opponents of the 1921 'Treaty' this year. However, according to the Irish Times report (24 August), he did not actually mention that War. But that was the one big thing for which Collins had definite … Continue reading Béal na Bláthair
Profile Of Robert Barton
(1905-74) Became A Nationalist At Oxford The IRISH PRESS Archive: No. 1 The IRISH PRESS Archive (We are indebted to Jack Lane for this look into the past! Editor) Robert Barton Became A Nationalist At Oxford At first sight a man like Robert Barton seems out of place in the First Dáil. … Continue reading Profile Of Robert Barton
The Power And The Gory!
Britain came close to governing the world in 1918, when Ireland decided to part company with it. Britain's only rational purpose in making war on the German, Hapsburg and Ottoman Empires and destroying them was to establish itself in World dominance. For a moment in 1918/19 it thought it had done so. Winston Churchill was … Continue reading The Power And The Gory!
The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
The Evolution Of British Policy And The Emergence Of A Sinn Fein Publicity Department In The Years After The Easter Rising. Mss notes, Part 27 Gallagher and Childers The killing of [Alan] Bell had a direct and immediate effect on the Irish Bulletin for it led to the arrest of Frank Gallagher on 27th … Continue reading The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
When Special Branch Tried To ‘Do A Casement’ On Me !
Reading John Minahane's account of the targeting of Roger Casement put me in mind of an incident which happened to me in November 1985. It was an attempt to discredit me, to put me 'beyond the pale'—and it was because I helped to promote political views which conflicted with a core objective of the British … Continue reading When Special Branch Tried To ‘Do A Casement’ On Me !
The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
The Evolution Of British Policy And The Emergence Of a Sinn Fein Publicity Department In The Years After The Easter Rising. Mss notes, Part 25 On his return to Dublin, Childers immediately visited the Sinn Fein propaganda staff and showed them a letter written by Robert Barton about his prison experience. Although Brennan wished to … Continue reading The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
LABOUR COMMENT
Aims of Fianna Fail: Press Statement – April 17, 1926 THE new Republican organisation, Fianna Fail, has for its purpose the re-uniting of the Irish people and the binding of them together for the tenacious pursuit of the following ultimate aims, using at every moment such means as are rightfully available: 1. Securing the political independence … Continue reading LABOUR COMMENT
Labour Comment
The Northern Standard ceases publication! THE Northern Standard, a regional weekly newspaper in Monaghan, ceased publication on 18th December 2025, after 186 years. THE weekly publication struggled to sustain its long-term viability in the face of what it called the "steady decline in readership and advertising in recent years", the publisher stated. Adding that, as … Continue reading Labour Comment
