Portlaoise Prison Protest & Photos

Over 100 Republicans / Socialists were involved in a protest outside
portlaoise prison today in support of the Republican POWs who are
currently involved in a dirty protest / hunger strike on E3 landing due to
the suspension of the temporary release (TR) and compassionate release
(CR) programmes.



Bull-horns and whistles were blown by a section of the crowd which drew a
continuous honk of approval and best wishes from the continuous passing
motorists to the annoyance of the large special branch and gardai
presence.

The well attended protest which lasted for two hours was treated to a
moral boosting ballad session, where many joined in to sing along to
rousing ballads. The protest ended with an IRPWA spokesperson giving a
brief outline concerning the current status of the prison protest, and
thanked all those who attended especially those who traveled from Belfast,
Derry, Meath and Dublin. Members of Dublin IRSP were thanked for the
presence and continued support.



In a more sinister development following the protest, long-standing and
well respected Dublin IRSP member Denis Murphy and his nephew who had
earlier took photos of the protest were stopped just outside Portlaoise by
members of the special branch as they were making there way to Mayo to
take part in a Shell to Sea protest that was schedualed for this evening.





The SB demanded that the camera be handed over, and after been threatened
with arrest, it was given over. When the SB man noticed that the memory
chip was missing, he became very agitated and demanded that the memory
chip be produced immediately. He was told that the memory chip was neither
in his or his uncles possession, that a third party who was at the protest
had requested it for safe keeping.




Denis and his nephew were ordered out of there vehicle, where they were
searched at the side of a busy road, where startled motorists looked on in
bewilderment. When the SB found nothing they then spent the next twenty
minutes or so searching the vehicle for the memory chip. After finding
nothing they told them to be on there way. Both Denis and his nephew have
been advised to make a formal complaint about there illegal detention.

RADIO REBEL GAEL's Musical Brother of Another Mother

RADIO REBEL GAEL PaddyCast # 37 -- Musical Brother of Another Mother

This PaddyCast is dedicated to music from all over the world, whose music has been infuenced by Irish music, or Irish artists whose tunes have been influenced by music whose origins stem from locations far from the shores of Ireland, showing the International nature of Celtic diddly dee !



DUE TO TECHINICAL ISSUES with Server, you’ll have to listen to the show directly at the link below:

Radio Rebel Gael

Featuring all of the finest Irish Rebel Rhythm, Paddy Punk, Celtic Hip Hop and Celtic Rock & Reel by the Zyde Punks, The Tossers, Dancin’ Knuckles, Black 47, Seanchai & The Unity Squad, The Bare Knuckle Boxers, No Good Nix, Bible Code Sundays, The Popes, JD & The Longfellows, Neck, The Ballymun Bootboys, The Gentlemen, Collie, Rob Kelly, The Greenland Whalefishers and much more !

Radio Rebel Gael

Radio Rebel Gael

And to download the Show for your I-Pod , just go to this archives page and click on the link there:

Radio Rebel Gael

Report of 14th Annual FlanneryAwards Dinner

2009 Michael Flannery Testimonial Awards Dinner Report

http://irishfreedom.net/




The 14th Annual Michael Flannery Testimonial Awards Dinner, held by Cumann Na Saoirse Náisíunta (National Irish Freedom Committee) on Saturday, April 25th at Connolly’s Restaurant, was a great success. Attendees enjoyed a fine evening of traditional Irish music, plentiful hot hors d'oeuvres, open bar (including at least 15 beers on tap), a delicious buffet dinner plus inspiring speeches and lively conversation. The evening was enhanced by fabulous warm and sunny weather and a Times Square Manhattan location.

Traditional Irish music was provided by the always incredible Mary Courtney on vocals and guitar, along with Pio Ryan on banjo and Gerry Enright on bodhrán. The trio entertained the packed room with a great mix of lively reels, jigs and ballads which was enjoyed by young and old alike.

Master of Ceremonies Brian Mór Ó Baoighill gave the official welcome to the crowd. He gave get well wishes to a recuperating John McDonagh, who is typically Brian’s co-MC. Brian also spoke of Republicans who passed away during the past year and asked for a moment of silence in their honor.

Brian then introduced Darryl Levey, who read a statement from the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry Prison:

“We, the Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol wish to express our gratitude for your support over the past number of years.

Since the signing of the Stormont Agreement our former comrades in the Provos have ensured that we are denied the right to be recognised as political prisoners. This refusal has been fought for tooth and nail by Republican Prisoners, both past and present.

In 2003 Republican prisoners endured a dirty protest for segregation and political status. Segregation was eventually gained, much to the annoyance of the Prison Officers' Association in the Six Counties and the British administration. Again in 2006 Republican prisoners embarked upon a protest for better conditions. This protest was suspended in 2007 after successfully securing a number of changes.

After the protest was suspended we made it clear that the status quo would not be tolerated for another three years. With suspending the protest, we made it clear that our protest could be reactivated at a time of our choosing.

With this in mind we must ask you, the people of the United States, to continue the good work which you have conducted on our behalf to highlight our plight to the outside world. Without you – the true inheritors of the Republican ideal – the voice of the Prisoners would go unheard.

You have been a great inspiration to us all, and we send our thanks and appreciation for your work”

Mike Costello then spoke briefly about an ardent supporter, Martin Griffin, who has been a prolific contributor to our website with essays and book reviews. Martin has been ill recently and unfortunately was not able to attend the dinner. Mike thanked Martin for his hard work and commended his indomitable spirit. Martin will be presented with an official tribute from the organization in the near future.

Tiokasin Ghosthorse of the Lakota Nation spoke of the historic connection between the Gael and the Native American, mentioning the support given to the people of Ireland by the Lakota people during the great starvation. Tiokasin gave a blessing of the food in his native tongue and played a native tune on the flute.

After dinner, Jane Enright introduced Pat Sullivan who spoke passionately about our late member and friend John Costelloe, who passed away last December. Pat spoke of his long friendship and FDNY working relationship with John. He told the crowd that John was the first fireman he met on the job who was not only aware of James Connolly but could quote passages from Connolly’s Labour in Irish History. Pat spoke of John’s commitment to socialism, social justice and republicanism. It was a touching tribute to John. Pat and Jane presented a memorial plaque to John’s father, Michael Costelloe, on behalf of Cumann Na Saoirse Náısıúnta.

Next, Maggie introduced Sandy Boyer and presented him with the 2009 Sr. Sarah Clarke Human Rights Award. Sandy has been a life-long human rights activist. He has lead many campaigns to free Irish political prisoners including the Guildford 4, Birmingham 6, and Róisín McAliskey. He has taught Irish politics and history and has contributed articles on the Irish struggle to publications in Ireland and the U.S. Sandy has been co-host of Radio Free Éireann, along with John McDonagh, on WBAI radio (99.5FM) in New York City for many years.

Sandy spoke about the plight of Republican prisoners, in particular, mentioning the ongoing cases in America of the Malachy McAllister family and Pól Brennan. Sandy finished by saying “if each of us in the activist community could do just a little more, then next year we will have something to be very proud of.”

Maggie Trainor then read a statement from Bernadette Devlin McAliskey which included this stirring assessment of Sandy Boyer: “In fact, contrary to the brash egotistical and opportunistic revisionism currently writing the script of Irish- American relationships, the real history of the hard work and shared effort to raise in the USA awareness, consciousness (not the same thing) solidarity and support in the Irish progressive struggle, within the context of international progressive context, within the human rights context, within the context of anti-imperialism, anti-racism and anti-sectarianism cannot be written without Sandy Boyer’s name appearing right through it like a piece of seaside rock.” Regarding all the campaigns on which Sandy has worked, Bernadette said, “…very little happened without his quiet unassuming but steady hand on the backroom business of making it all work.”

Brian Mór then introduced Mary Costello and presented her with the 2009 Pearl Flannery Humanities Award. Mary was born in Birmingham of Irish parents who were forced to leave Belfast in the 1930’s due to the Orange Order pogroms in the British occupied six Irish counties. Mary has been prominent in the campaign to promote the Eire Nua program and with the distribution of Saoirse in the United States. Mary and her family have also been involved in campaigns to support dependants of Irish political prisoners in Long Kesh and other British prisons.

Mary spoke eloquently of her family’s experiences facing brutality, sectarianism, and pogroms in the six occupied counties. She closed by accepting her award on behalf of all the Nationalist women in the six counties who, in the face of it all, kept their families together and instilled a great grá in their culture and nation of birth.

The final award -- the 2009 Michael Flannery Spirit of Freedom Award -- was presented to Liam Ó Murchadha by Brian Mór. Liam is a long time activist in the cause of Irish freedom and is a strong proponent of the Éire Nua federal solution for Ireland. He has written many articles and essays on Irish and Irish American history, specifically, on the role of the Fenian Movement in America. Brian called Liam “the very definition of a Fenian.”

Liam spoke of his long friendship with Michael Flannery beginning at an Easter commemoration in 1966. He stated that following the Adams led abandonment of republicanism in 1986; Flannery felt it was time for a new organization to preserve -- in America -- the principles of 1916. He convened a meeting of seven men at his house, including the late George Harrison and Joe Stynes, and formed Cumann Na Saoirse Náisíunta. Liam told the crowd that Michael Flannery’s steadfast Republicanism should inspire us all to settle for no less than the full goal of a united and independent Ireland.

Des Dalton, Vice President of Republican Sinn Fein, addressed the crowd via telephone from Ireland: "Irish history since 1921 has witnessed a series of agreements culminating in the St. Andrews of 2006. The point about this is that none of them have produced a lasting settlement because none of them have addressed the cause of the conflict in Ireland which is the ongoing British occupation. What we have gotten has been a cycle of armed resistance followed by an agreement followed by yet further resistance and yet another agreement. The nature of British rule in Ireland has not changed, be it in the 21st century or in the 20th or 19th or, for that matter, for over 800 years of British occupation of Ireland.”

Dalton continued: “We believe that there is an alternative to the St Andrews Agreement. We believe that the Eire Nua proposal provides for a viable and realistic framework for building a new Ireland” and “substituting the name of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter, for the common name of Irish men.”

He also spoke about the U.S policy of visa denial to proponents of Eire Nua and the current political situation in Ireland including the abusive raids by the RUC/PSNI and the detentions of Republicans who do not support the so-called agreements imposed by the British government. Des ended his remarks by thanking those in America who continue to support true Republicanism.

Brian Wardlow then spoke about the importance of continuing to fight against the U.S. visa denial policy. Wardlow stated that “The Eire Nua program was a threat to the status quo because Eire Nua provides for real access to power all the way to the local level. He added that the Irish Republican movement in the U.S. will be shouldered by a new generation, who will seek the guidance of our predecessors in the promotion of Eire Nua.

Brian Mór thanked Tomas O Coisdealbha for his work with the popular Fenian Graves project that features memorials to former activists who took part in the Irish freedom struggle and who spent some time here in the United States (see www.irishfreedom.net). He also reminded the crowd that this weekend marks the 94th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, which occurred when two million Armenians living in Turkey were eliminated from their historic homeland through forced deportations and massacres resulting in the deaths of at least half a million Armenians.

Brian wrapped up the evening with a thank you to the crowd for attending the dinner and making it a great success.

www.irishfreedom.net
_________________
Cumann Na Saoirse Náısıúnta
National Irish Freedom Committee
http://www.irishfreedom.net/

Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee, 2009

Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee, 2009

All IRSCNA members are encouraged to attend. The 2009 IRSCNA Ard Fheis
will be the following day in Chicago. If anyone needs help with
accommodations, let me know.

Colm
------------ --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee

Colm Mistéil - Chairman
Deirdre Fennessy, Irish Freedom Committee (Chicago Cumann)
TJ O Conchúir, Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America
http://www.wemustbe united.com

CHICAGO, IL – April 20th, 2009




Twenty-eight years ago, ten brave men stunned the world by their agonizing
deaths on Hunger Strike in Long Kesh jail in Ireland. Seven political
prisoners allied to the Irish Republican Army, and three representing the
Irish National Liberation Army, sacrificed their lives to expose injustice
and brutality in British jails and to restore Political Status to their
imprisoned comrades. These ten martyrs, united in cause and principle
under different factions of Irish Republicanism, left an unfulfilled
legacy of strength in unity to Irish Republicans today

In 2009, the Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee will again
gather together in unity to pay homage to the memories of the ten H-Block
Martyrs, who gave their lives in the fight for political status in the
H-Blocks of Long Kesh 28 years ago.

Please join us on Saturday, June 6th at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W Grace,
Chicago IL. We are pleased welcome Ray Collins, formerly of Belfast, as
our guest speaker and musical performer. During the Hunger Strikes of 1980
and 1981 Ray visited the prisoners, played numerous benefit gigs, and
embarked on speaking tours in Britain and Europe to highlight the struggle
for Political Status by Irish political prisoners in the H Blocks of Long
Kesh and Armagh women's prison.

The Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee was founded in 2006 to
commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike. In the
spirit of Theobald Wolfe Tone, who sought to unite “Catholic, Protestant
and Dissenter”; in acknowledgement of the leadership of the Easter 1916
Rising, which united disparate Republican forces against the might of
Britain’s army; and most especially in the memory of the 1981 hunger
strikers, who died united in protest inside the H-Blocks of Long Kesh; The
Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee will do our part in unity to
pay respectful homage to the legacy of ten brave men who sacrificed all
for Ireland. We are a diverse group of Republicans from the Irish Freedom
Committee, Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America, as well
as independent Republicans. All involved are devoted to the pursuit of a
United and Sovereign 32 County Socialist Irish Republic, free of British
military and administrative rule; and to the support of the families of
Irish Republican political prisoners.



For more information call 708-655-2078, 312- 560-9311 or visit our website
at www.wemustbeunited.com


--
Colm Mistéil
Irish Republican Socialist Movement
North American Coordinating Committee Member
Joe McCann Cumann, Chicago
http://www.irscna. org | colm@irsm.org

Is míse le meas,
Tj O Conchúir
Irish Republican Socialist Movement
North American Coordinating Committee Member
Prison Welfare Officer
Larkin / Gallagher Cumann Coordinator
PO Box 901479 KC MO 64190
*******
The Starry Plough, newspaper of the IRSP
http://www.starrypl ough.net/
Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee
http://www.wemustbeunited.com


__._,_.___

RADIO REBEL GAEL May Day Show !

RADIO REBEL GAEL The May Day Show: PaddyCast # 36 -- In Tribute to the Working Class Hero !

Radio Rebel Gael

IF THE * SOUND ICON* UP TOP DOESN’T WORK, Just Click on the Links Below to Listen Directly

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Featuring over Two Hours of the finest Irish Rebel Rhythm, Paddy Punk, and Celtic Rock & Reel !!!

With new music by Ciaran Murphy, Terry Mostyn, Ray Collins, Pol Mac Adaim, Kevin Conlon, Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones, Brendan Loughrey, The Wakes, The Brazen Heads, Meisce, Mischeif Brew, and much more !

Radio Rebel Gael

Radio Rebel Gael

RADIO REBEL GAEL New Show : April Showers Brings May Day Whiskey Sours

RADIO REBEL GAEL April Showers Brings May Day Whiskey Sours ! PaddyCast #34

Radio Rebel Gael

IF THE * SOUND ICON* UP TOP DOESN’T WORK, Just Click on the Links Below to Listen Directly

Radio Rebel Gael

Featuring over Two Hours of the finest Fenian Rock & Reel , Paddy Punk, Celtic Hip Hop and Irish Rebel Rhythm !

New music by Kevin Conlon, Rob Kelly, Collie, Ciaran Murphy, Ray Collins, Beltaines Fire, The Ballymun Bootboys, Larkin, The Mighty Regis, The Brazen Heads, McAlpine’s Fusiliers, The Wild Colonial Bhoys, Seanchai and the Unity Squad, The Bare Knuckle Boxers,

And Old Crackin’ Classics by Belfast Andi, Neck, The Stiff Little Fingers, The Wakes, Eire Og, and tons more !

Radio Rebel Gael

The sounds of rain, hail and thunder
While a mighty surface to air musical missile,
Splits the sky asunder,
Ancient Celtic war drums echo
In the twilight,
Rousing you from your slumber
To wander towards musical delight
To the Ceilidh crossroads of your shanty heart,
To meet with Napper Tandy and dance with Caitlin Ni Houlihan
Before you must depart,
April showers, soak you to the bone,
But this cleansing rain
Brings May Day proletarian whiskey sours
So imbibe my friend, quaff this rebel beverage,
Thirst no more for musical intoxication
Throughout this Plastic Paddy Nation,
Because this Fenian brew ha ha –
Will surely be your Celtic crooner’s salvation,
The Emerald light, shining like a beacon
At the end of that dark top 40 tunnel
No matter the situation!

It’s the finest Fenian musical destination!

Radio Rebel Gael

CIARAN MURPHY - ONCE UPON A TIME IN IRELAND

Just Released - The Brand New Debut Album From Belfast Singer Songwriter Ciaran Murphy

The Brilliant Follow Up To His Debut EP, The Verbal Hand Grenade.

Ciaran Murphy is a singer-songwriter, originally from Forkhill, South Armagh but now based in Belfast. His songs touch on a wide variety of issues and topics related to both Ireland and beyond. They range from songs about modern day racism in Ireland to the war in Iraq. Ciaran has played a wide and varied array of gigs, from Palestine solidarity fundraisers, to playing for the protesters at the Hill of Tara in Meath to playing at the West Belfast Feile. His honest and unflinching lyrics have won him many fans not only in Ireland, but around the world. With the long awaited release of his debut album the future certainly looks bright for Ciaran Murphy!

‘Ciaran Murphy is a singer/songwriter/one man acoustic hand grenade from West Belfast. A protest singer in the finest tradition and politically sharp as a syringe needle hanging on razor wire. Akin to Damien Dempsey with pin pulled out.’ ShitenOnions E-Zine Review

Available At http://www.shamrocksuperstore.net

Or Through Our Ebay Store at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Lucky-Leprechaun-Store

Can Listen To His Music At http://www.myspace.com/ciaranabc

For Bookings / Gigs / Interviews please contact Shamrock Promotions on crashdvd@hotmail.co.uk
or 07746320359

RADIO REBEL GAEL Remembers Easter Week 1916 with Pride

RADIO REBEL GAEL Easter Week 1916 – We Remember With Pride ! PaddyCast #33

Radio Rebel Gael

IF THE * SOUND ICON* UP TOP DOESN’T WORK, Just Click on the Links Below to Listen Directly

Radio Rebel Gael

Featuring over 3 Hours of the finest Fenian Rock & Reel and Irish Rebel Rhythm !

Radio Rebel Gael

I write out in verse –
Mac Donagh and MacBride
And Connolly and Pearse
Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.

Radio Rebel Gael

Radio Rebel Gael

E3 Blanket Protest Portlaoise Prison

From: Concerned Group for Republican Prisoners

http://www.cgrp.info/



www.myspace.com/nadeandearmuidrpows

Date: Apr 13, 2009 7:03 AM
Subject: E3 Blanket Protest Portlaoise



As of 8 am this morning the POWs on E3 wing Portlaoise are on a Blanket Protest. 2 of the POWs started this morning and others are to follow at intervals.

They are protesting against the abuse of the TR and CL system by the govener. They are being consistenly denied TR and CL for funerals and Holy celebrations, family illnesses etc.

The POWs believe that the govenor is dening TR's due to recent upsurge in Republicanism in the 6 and this is seen to be a backlash victimising the weakest link in Republicanism so for to put pressure on external Republicans.

The two POWs who went on the protest this morning are in great spirits and they told me they are in for the long haul, as all POWs on E3 are. They are not going to be broken and if segregated will continue the protest.


These men need our support and need us to back them up fully on this. If anyone is interested in helping to organise a mass campaign please contact me ASAP via email

irishfreedomnews@gmail.com

These men have fought for their country and now they are being treated worse than prisioners in third world dictatorships. We must not let them try to break our men and as the song goes, we must stand behind the men behind the wire!

14th Annual Michael Flannery Testimonial Awards Dinner

Saturday April 25, 2009

6:00 - 9:00 PM

Connolly’s Pub & Restaurant, 121 W. 45th Street, NYC

Buffet Dinner and Open Bar


Music by Mary Courtney (Morning Star) and Friends

The 2009 honorees are:

Liam Murphy - The Michael Flannery Spirit of Freedom Award
Mary Costello - The Pearl Flannery Humanities Award
Sandy Boyer - The Sr. Sarah Clarke Human Rights Award

A tribute to John Costelloe

The theme for the Testimonial Awards Dinner will be: The First Dáil Éireann

Souvenir Journal. A Souvenir Ad Journal is being produced to mark the event. This is an ideal opportunity to place a memorial ad for the many activists and friends who have passed away having done their part here in the U.S. in the long and ongoing struggle for Irish freedom. By placing an ad in their memory in the Souvenir Journal, their memories live on and ensure that future revisionists will not mar their work. Among those who come to mind are Frank Durkan, Al Lewis, John Costelloe, Mike Skeahan, Bart Dougherty, Peter Farley, Kathy Butler Diaz, George Harrison and countless others whom you could chose to honor in this way. Proceeds from the dinner and the journal ads provide support to the growing number of Irish political prisoners and their families.

Tickets for the 2009 Testimonial are $80.00 per person. For ticket information please email at: flanneryjournal@gmail.com.

Journal ads are $100.00 for a full page and $60.00 for a half page. For more information, please email enrightnyc@hotmail.com.




Payment for tickets and/or ads can be placed by sending your check or money order to NIFC, P.O. Box 771084, Woodside, New York 11377.
Please make checks payable to Cumman na Saoirse

RAY COLLINS UPCOMING SHOWS

www.myspace.com/raycollinsmusic


www.raycollinsmusic.com

Dreams of Freedom

DREAMS OF FREEDOM

They stood amidst the carnage
Their dreams of freedom
Realized by the brutal staccato
Of an orchestra of vengeance,
A dance of rebellion
Against the prevailing tyranny
The spring winds whispered :
Rise !
Rise from your knees,
People of the Bogside
People of the ghetto
Of the Bandit Country
Farmers of the West,
Punters of Antrim, Omagh, Derry, Belfast, Donegal, Cork, Roscommon, Kerry, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Dublin
Rise ! Cast aside your shackles
And get off your knees
And look toward a new Celtic Dawn
Amidst rubble strewn streets
And burning buildings
And the ghosts of Wolfe Tone, Emmet and Henry Joy
As silent witnesses
To a beautiful resurrection
From these deaths
Shall come a glorious rebirth !
O’Connell street lays in ruins
And the GPO engulfed in flames that reach the midnight sky
But the spirit of Revolution
Has awakened a Nation
From a death-like slumber
And now our
Dreams of Freedom
Will shine like emerald diamonds
In the dark battle scarred streets of Dublin
And the world will watch in awe
As our battlecry resounds
Like the rumbling of mighty thunder
And the echoes of the Past
The voices of the Fallen
And our children’s laughter
And the worker’s smile
And the mourning mother’s tears
And the soldier’s spilled blood
Reignite a fiery passion
Love of Homeland, Brotherhood, Solidarity, Liberty, Equality,

And the Republic.

- R. Dubhdara

Radio Rebel Gael

The Subversive Sound of Celtic Rebellion & Musical Mutiny !

The Irish History of the Lily and the IRA women

Besides the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF) and the Irish Citizen Army (ICA) a third organisation, the Cumann na mBan, meaning League of Women, secured a substantial influence and considerable support in the build-up to the Easter Rising. In contrast with the other organisations the Cumann na mBan preserved its position after the Rebellion of 1916 and it is probably because of the existence of the League of Women that the struggle for independence continued after the disastrous revolt.


It is incorrect to assume that Irish women were not involved in the republican movement prior to the founding of the Cumann na mBan in 1914 by Countess Constance Markievicz, Agnes O'Farrelly and Mary MacSwiney. In the contrary, women provided shelter to rebels on the run, nursed the wounded and proved to be very suitable couriers of weapons and manifests. In the course of the years these tasks passed from mother to daughter. Irish women literally learned these tasks at their mother's knee. Despite their important role the activities of women took place in the background, far off the front stage where men occupied the traditional male areas such as politics and physical combat. The Cumann na mBan claimed a more prominent role for women in the republican movement.

Initially the Cumann na mBan was subservient to the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF), but soon the organisation gained more independence. Nevertheless at top level the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF), and at a later stage the Irish Republican Army (IRA), remained superior over the top of the Cumann na mBan.

At the same time James Connolly, who is described as a thorough feminist in every respect, attracted women and members of Cumann na mBan also joined the Irish Citizen Army (ICA) or were involved in the trade unions.


Easter Rising
The Easter Lily

In 1926 the Cumann Na mBan introduced the Easter Lily as symbol of remembrance for those who died during or were executed after the Easter Rising. The Easter Lily, used as seasonal decoration in churches, is said to sprung up where drops of Christ's sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress.


After the schism in the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which led to the founding of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (pIRA), at the end of the 1960's the Easter Lily was used by both organisations, but with a slightly different denotation.

The Official Irish Republican Army (oIRA) preserved the original meaning and attached the Easter Lily with a self-adhesive backing. Hence their nickname: Stickies.

The Provo's on the other hand used the traditional pin and expanded the meaning of the flower. These Pinheads used the Easter Lily to commemorate all those who died in the struggle for an independent Ireland.

In time the Easter Lily became more and more associated with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (pIRA) and the practise to wear a lily fell into disuse in the 1970's.


While doing some research on this subject we noticed something weird. Images with the Easter Lily as symbol actually showed the Arum Lily. Maybe the Arum Lily, which is a quite common garden plant in Ireland, simple replaced the exotic, and therewith more expensive, Easter Lily. Please contact us if you can provide us with information in this matter.

The Cumann na mBan made its first public statement in September 1914 when an overwhelming majority voted against John Redmond's appeal to enlist in the British army. This clear statement triggered the attention of the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).

Like James Connelly most other future members of the Military Council were advocates of equal rights and opportunities to all citizens, male or female. These ideas were not always welcomed or supported. While Connolly for example worked hard for participation of women into employment he met resistance from male labourers who were afraid to lose their jobs and Saint Ita's, the girls' school founded by Pádraic Pearse, almost dragged his family in bankruptcy while his boys' school, Saint Enda's, was successful.

Others took the relation between Cumann na mBan and the Military Council to a personal level. Joseph Plunkett got engaged to Grace Gifford who was Thomas MacDonagh's sister-in-law. Thomas Clarke was married with Kathleen Clarke, née Daly, one of the founders of the League of Women and Edward Daly's sister.

The profound relations between the Military Council and the Cumann na mBan are illustrated by the exceptional position of Kathleen Clarke. She was the only outsider with access to all the meeting reports and plans of the Easter Rising. If all members of the Military Council were arrested before the rising she was appointed to mobilise everyone and virtually to led the rising.


Including the Cumann na mBan in the Easter Rising was most obvious. The women were deployed at every hotspot in Dublin with the exception of the Boland's Flour Mill and the South Dublin Union, two strongholds were fierce fighting was expected.





Sometimes under severe fire the women of the Cumann na mBan performed their mainly non-combatant duties. Besides taking care of the wounded and preparing meals they also gathered intelligence, transferred arms and ammunition throughout the city and organised the evacuation of buildings.

In the completion of the surrender process the women acted as go-betweens. Under guidance of British soldiers they spread the order to surrender over Dublin.



Women of the IRA

About 70 women were arrested for their share in the Easter Rising, but most of them were released in the first week of May. Once released the women reorganised and under the impassioned leadership of Countess Constance Markievicz the Cumann na mBan became the principal vehicle of republican spirit. In the years following the Cumann na mBan made overtures to Sinn Féin and in the General Elections of 1918 Countess Markievicz was elected as member of the Dáil.

During the War of Independence the women resumed their active role and edited the Irish Bulletin, a republican newspaper. The women were seemingly determined to prove their qualities and accepted virtually every task no matter how dangerous.




In 1922 the Cumann na mBan fiercely opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and followed the Irregulars. Besides rejecting the division of Ireland, they also feared to lose their hard-won liberated position.

The organisation, by then also known as Women IRA, continued to exist until its members were integrated in the "normal" Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the early 1980's.


The commitment of the Daughters of Ireland is commemorated in the song Soldiers of Cumann na mBan.

Beyond the Pale with the Bronx Gael, Rhyme (Just in Time)

You have reached the furthest outskirts
Of Celtic Rebellion & Musical Mutiny
To enjoy the sounds of fine Irish diddly dee
Where the Fenian and the Bushranger congregate
Let’s get together lassie, it’s gonna be a hot date

Where nobody, Peeler or security guard,
Can try to silence
With malice, deception or violence
The mighty Celtic bard,
No way, Jose
Those begrudgers can’t pull our card
They know our Fenian fire
Will leave them charred.

Join us, fellow Fenians,
In the Insurgent Outback,
We’ll have a grand hooley
And the finest of craic
Beyond the Pale with the Bronx Gael
Together, brother and sister
We will never fail

Beyond the humdrum of a poxy pub without good rum
Or a jealous girlfriend who refuses to dance,
Think positive, so don’t look askance
It’s our last chance,
To take a stance, we’ll celebrate together
With Fenian romance
On that ceilidh dance floor
Shaking it to that Paddy Prole Beat,

Manouvering just beneath the radar
To avoid the Federal heat
No surrender is our musical war cry
We shall never accept defeat –

No peelers, no scabs, no West Brit or lackey
Can impede this Rebel rhythm
Not even Obama or Fat Cat Putaki
No Coppers or Federales
Can silence this music
Or Turn it into a swan song
Or a Fenian finale !

Nobody gonna tell us to pack it in and move on
No !
The only movin’ and groovin’
Gonna be on the Radio Rebel Gael dance floor
So join the Hibernian Hooley, my peoples
Don’t be another Corporate Whore
Because this soiree is gonna be of a musical nature,
A Fenian feature, an insurgent Celtic creature

So get down, get up
Rise to that Rebel rhythm
We stand for a United Ireland
Not Brit sponsored schism
So get off that sofa, don’t be a lofa
My paddy proletarian chums
Instead of marching in line
Let’s boogie woogie to that Ceilidh drum

Don’t be a corporate flunkie
Think for yourself
Don’t let the System corrupt you,
With their empty promises and ill-gained wealth,
Instead, give a big time holla
To the men and women
Who wear the blue colla
And remember the fallen
And those who sacrificed their freedom
For National Liberation

They shine like emerald gems
In the darkness of evening
No matter the place or situation
So let’s celebrate their victories
And mourn of their losses
And load the armalite and AK47
Against the Rule of Gold,
Petty Tyrants and Fraudulent Bosses

Let’s toast to the miner
To the single mother
Let’s drink to the Liberator
To the revolutionary brother
Let’s dance to a rock n’ reel revolt
And a new dawn for working peoples

To a Socialist Republic, A Nation of Equals
Where the poor aren’t thrown on the streets,
When they can’t pay their bills
(Not run by a capitalist tyrant who’s stuffed to the gills)
A just society of compassion and freedom and love
Not another Banana Republic
Governed by the Iron Fist in Velvet Glove

Let’s herald a New Glorious Fenian Dawn
Where the people aren’t automatons, glued to their TV and obsessed with their lawns
Where working class celebration is a daily routine
And discussions on revolutionary politics is never obscene
Where the songs of the street keep us all humming
And there’s always the echo of Kaitlin Houlihan’s Ceilidh croon
(beneath a full moon)
And banjo strumming

Here at the Rebel Tavern we’re imbibing intoxicating sounds
We keep our chin up
Nobody gonna get us down
We got musical featured creatures
Not many Preachers, but a few Teachers and Beseechers
So shake your money maker, Colleen
You damn heartbreaker
Let this Celtic boogie
Rouse you from those bleechers !

Radio Rebel Gael

The Subversive Sound of Celtic Rebellion & Musical Mutiny !

Radio Rebel Gael

RADIO REBEL GAEL Beyond the Pale with the Bronx Gael

RADIO REBEL GAEL PaddyCast # 32– Beyond The Pale with the Bronx Gael !

Radio Rebel Gael

IF THE * SOUND ICON* UP TOP DOESN’T WORK, Just Click on the Links Below to Listen Directly

Radio Rebel Gael

Featuring new music by The Bare Knuckle Boxers, The Ballymun Bootboys, The Wild Colonial Bhoys, Ciaran Murphy, Collie, Tanya D., Brendan Loughrey, Dancin’ Knuckles, McAlpine’s Fusliers, Beltaine’s Fire, and The Dirty Filthy Mugs

And Old Classics by The Killigans, Larkin, Jerry Mc Cusker, Kevin Conlon, Blood or Whiskey, Catgut Mary, Mutiny, The Mahones, The Wild Rovers and tons more !

Radio Rebel Gael

The Subversive Sound of Celtic Rebellion & Musical Mutiny !

Radio Rebel Gael

CIARAN MURPHY New Release ! ONCE UPON A TIME IN IRELAND

New album here. 'Once upon a time in Ireland'



About time too, anyway here it is ready to buy, im happier with this than anything ive done before, thanks to everyone who bought V,H and virtually funded this, its all yours, enjoy.

Available At http://www.shamrocksuperstore.net/

Or on ebay at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CIARAN-MURPHY-ONCE-UPON-A-TIME-IN-IRELAND-NEWCD_W0QQitemZ140310578733QQihZ004QQcategoryZ307QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262?_trksid=p1742.m153.l1262

Tracklisting:

They'll Always Be The RUC To Me
A Word To The New Irish Racist
Rebel Song
Che Guevara T-Shirts (The Promised Land)
You Cried For Ten Men Dead
State Of The Nation
Michael McIlveen
Nine Hours
Catholic Guilt
I Feel The Eyes Of British Spies
Once Upon A Time In Ireland

http://www.myspace.com/ciaranabc

RADIO REBEL GAEL Spring Break Fenian Brew

RADIO REBEL GAEL PaddyCast # 31– The SpringBreak Fenian Brew ! Lets have a pint and toast to that Fenian Spirit !

Radio Rebel Gael

IF THE * SOUND ICON* UP TOP DOESN’T WORK, Just Click on the Links Below to Listen Directly

Radio Rebel Gael

Featuring new music by The Bare Knuckle Boxers, Damien Dempsey, Collie, Ciaran Murphy, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, Bible Code Sundays, The Mighty Regis, Rob Kelly, The Tosssers, Shaymin & The Bawston Strangla, Birmingham Six, Mc Alpine’s Fusiliers, The Vandon Arms, The Gobshites, Meisce, Catgut Mary, Mutiny, and tons more !

Also lots of Old Classics and favoried Fenian hits and Paddy Punk by Wolf Hound, Barley Juice, Shebeen, Unwanted Men In Black & A Lady, Ray Collins, and The Wakes !

Radio Rebel Gael

The Subversive Sound of Celtic Rebellion & Musical Mutiny !

Radio Rebel Gael