Comments on The Pensive Quill: Brendan Hughes: A Life In Themes

Dixie ‘In regards PSF's commemorations/party ...

2011-06-11T10:25:22.085+01:00

Dixie

‘In regards PSF's commemorations/party political broadcasts, I think many former members of PIRA/SF have caught on to them. I know thats the case in Derry where they have taken in recent years to dressing up members of the party as former prisoners. That is wearing white shirts black ties. In fact some of these 'ex-prisoners' only in recent years joined the
shinners.’

Yet it makes little difference. The one good thing is that those who have realised no longer have to look foolish by keeping up the pretence. When I have talked to unionists or those on the British side the fact that they treat it with contempt speaks volumes. I have been at more conferences where in the hallways and at the dinner tables and in the bars the real views are expressed. Stephen King once said to me that unionism’s biggest problem was that it could never understand why republicanism had settled for so little – there had to be a grand plan there. As they now know there was nothing.

PFTrumbore, I think the bulk of families back t...

2011-05-21T19:42:11.746+01:00

PFTrumbore,

I think the bulk of families back the SF line. I am making that observation as a result of the response to the Richard O'Rawe narrative. While it is by far more persuasive and internally consistent than the Morrison narrative the majority of the families still opt for the latter,

Anthony, I am late in posting this brief comment,...

2011-05-16T17:27:33.739+01:00

Anthony,

I am late in posting this brief comment, but I did want to commend you on a thoughtful and masterfully written post. Something else as well struck me in reading it, and that's the point you make about commemorations.

You write: "It is the weaving of the republican dead into a narrative that they neither knew nor anticipated that devalues commemorations. The dead are not being remembered but used."

I attended the Hunger Strike commemoration last year in Bellaghy, and had the chance to talk with and march alongside some of the family members. I didn't think it appropriate to ask at the time, but I do wonder what they thought of the very politicized proceedings.

Do you have any insights on where the families stand?

Worthy reading! Appreciate the well rounded insigh...

2011-05-15T09:44:59.004+01:00

Worthy reading! Appreciate the well rounded insights and such. His humaneness and lack of deify me stance make Brendan Hughes all the more a man who was for and of the people. I think u are right re the risk of deifying significant individuals of integrity/courage to the point where they are no longer recognisable as the person they were flaws and all. For those who knew Brendan Hughes as a comrade and personal friend they were enriched. The rest of us are too from a distance just reading it all.

Are the PSNI trying to get Brendans and Dolours co...

2011-05-14T19:27:52.488+01:00

Are the PSNI trying to get Brendans and Dolours contributions to the Boston College archives to get at Dolours or are they after bigger fish.Are they looking to prosecute other memebers of the Republican Movement in much the same manner of Gerry McGeough.Whats the chances that the would be looking to get the leadership of Sinn Fein eh ? Are Gerry and Martin squirming now that their beloved PSNI may be after them? Imagine the irony that they could be brought down by the very animal they demanded was created.

AM, "One prevails to the degree that it silen...

2011-05-11T21:41:10.985+01:00

AM,
"One prevails to the degree that it silences another"
And in the end the truth will always prevail. Maybe I should have said "History should be recorded by those who participated, not 'just' by those who propagated." I like your way of thinking, opened my mind.

Papa waka, I think it should be recorded by every...

2011-05-11T20:39:07.666+01:00

Papa waka,

I think it should be recorded by everybody. There are histories rather than history. One prevails to the degree that it silences another. The accounts of people like Brendan are vital if understanding is to be enhanced.

History should be recorded by those who participat...

2011-05-11T20:29:42.488+01:00

History should be recorded by those who participated, not by those who propagated.

Dixie, 'But when these commemorations aren...

2011-05-10T21:18:34.686+01:00

Dixie,

'But when these commemorations aren't remembering the courage of those who died but using their sacrifices to sell something they never would have died for, then they such be avoided at all costs.'

Couldn't agree more.

Papa Waka,

appreciated.

Larry,

he has given them up for slippers and a pipe

Finally managed to read that. Terriffic that there...

2011-05-10T13:47:11.093+01:00

Finally managed to read that. Terriffic that there is a lasting record to contradict the propoganda that SF ever needed to get anywhere near so low on their belly to be where thay are today.

Does Tommy Gorman still wear his wee polished/shiny red doc martins mackers!!

Great piece, Anthony.It takes great courage to sta...

2011-05-10T01:22:11.604+01:00

Great piece, Anthony.It takes great courage to stand up for one's self and speak out, knowing that the friends and comrades one has dedicated their life around can smear them into outcasts. The same goes to Gerry Bradley R.I.P, Richard O Rawe, and yourself. The pen is mightier than the sinn fein sword. R.I.P Dorcha-Mac Soisialachas, fada beo oibrithe an domhain.

The last line should read...then they 'should&...

2011-05-09T00:16:49.483+01:00

The last line should read...then they 'should' be avoided at all costs.

Another well written piece Mackers. It's not...

2011-05-08T23:50:56.206+01:00

Another well written piece Mackers.

It's not the here and now that Adams, McGuinness and their inner circle have to worry about.
It's the years after they stop being useful to the Brits that just might be causing them to have sleepless nights, when reporters or authors go digging really deep.

They, as well as ourselves, might well be dead by then but at least we don't have to worry about what we've hidden that just might be found.

In regards PSF's commemorations/party political broadcasts, I think many former members of PIRA/SF have caught on to them. I know thats the case in Derry where they have taken in recent years to dressing up members of the party as former prisoners. That is wearing white shirts black ties.

In fact some of these 'ex-prisoners' only in recent years joined the shinners.

The recent PSF Easter Commemoration and Hunger Strike 30th anniversary marches in Derry were badly attended. In fact I was surprised at just how badly attended they where, even though the Derry Journal had carried articles in the weeks leading up to the Hunger Strike commemoration in which people connected to PSF who were involved in the Hunger Strike period asked Republicans to turn out in their thousands.

On the day of the Hunger Strike commemoration The Sunday Journal carried a piece by Patsy O'Hara's family saying they wouldn't be attending because it was being used as an electioneering tool.

They also told how Patsy and Micky had been beaten and threatened by members of the IRA and had to acquire weapons and were arrested as a result.

However the Journal being the Journal added that 'members of Micky Devine's family publicly announced their support for the rally.'

It didn't say the family members were nieces and not the actual son and daughter of Micky.

Of course the so called commemoration was used as a call to come out and vote.

I think it's a shame that as Republicans we should gloat over attendances being so bad at commemorations that people who never seen the inside of prisons are told to pretend to be ex-prisoners.

But when these commemorations aren't remembering the courage of those who died but using their sacrifices to sell something they never would have died for, then they such be avoided at all costs.