Comments on The Pensive Quill: Brendan Hughes Memorial Lecture 2013

Seán, Sorry Seán, but currently I really don’t con...

2013-05-16T11:27:35.933+01:00

Seán,
Sorry Seán, but currently I really don’t conceive the Societies, acting in isolation as so many other political groupings are doing, as a means of achieving significant change - real change. To me, all the strands need to be pulled in to a rope – their strength lies in their unity but unfortunately that presently seems to be an unassailable objective.

What I did take heart from is that some comments have mentioned that the old leadership of the Derry Brigade (bar one or two!!!!) were at the meeting which to me sends out a very powerful signal and should be grasped and built upon. I’m sure there are those of similar ilk and in similar numbers from other brigades who feel just as dissatisfied with the current politics of the SF leadership.
There is an opportunity facing us all here and for some reason we’re not just grasping it, we’re letting it slip past us. There is a lot of discontent at the grass roots level but there is no actual single structure to direct that discontent in the right direction. Multiple Societies or political groups are not very appealing to people in an ordered society as they tend to present a chaotic ensemble of common views and can present a confusing choice that discourages support. We need to concentrate on bringing all these strands together and giving a single voice for the people to listen to and follow of course. Let’s stop with the meetings stating the obvious and let’s start with the meetings about removing the obvious.

And what do I mean by change – the removal of the current leadership of SF/MI5 and their policies and couple this with their replacement with an eclectic political leadership….we don’t want to replace touts with robots, now do we? The moment is ripe to have them removed. Their treachery over the hunger strikers is paramount to all else and the grass roots is really beginning to grasp such treachery. Let’s build upon that.

Niall the only advice I can give you is to get inv...

2013-05-15T19:12:24.996+01:00

Niall the only advice I can give you is to get involved with the 1916 Societies

Saddened and Seán Bres, Unfortunately I was unable...

2013-05-15T16:22:41.652+01:00

Saddened and Seán Bres,
Unfortunately I was unable to attend due to distance and work commitments…..I’m a ‘blue-ribbon’ republican and so only make a physical appearance when there is something monumental about to happen…and from that some could actually conclude I have never physically attended anything!!!!!!!
More events like this is fine Seán but to what intents and purposes? After a while even your own voice can start grating on you! Saddened – there is always a way forward but discussing, planning and executing (need to be careful with that concept boys!!!) it on an open forum such as this is not an option.
A meeting, I know, I know, I appear to be contradicting myself here, should be held not to discuss the merits and virtues of past Republicans or the dereliction and improprieties of those current ( I’m damned if I’ll address them as Republicans) but to move forward away from the repetitive stating of the obvious to actually putting ideas down, coalescing and channelling these ideas in a unvarying force that will actually DO SOMETHING. It’s time all the anti-establishment ‘isms’ put their own ‘isms’ to the side and stood together – each ‘ism’ manifests its own particular weakness, if they stand together their strength will out play all their weaknesses.
Alone, very little if anything will be achieved.

If a film was to be made about the political journ...

2013-05-08T11:38:10.906+01:00

If a film was to be made about the political journey here for the last 40 years based on Animal Farm then we could have alternate endings.

the first could be where Sunningdale Mark II ends up in the re-introduction of Stormont Rule (aka the re-naming of Manor Farm) and Marty is Napoleon.

Alternatively, Stormont could be likened to the 'Windmill Project' and Marty is akin to 'Snowey' and left in the proverbial mire and Napoleon (aka Adams) heads of to the Dáil (Manor farm) only to find:

"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

Take your pick, same sad outcome of history repeating itself solely because of the inherent weaknesses of the human condition - there have been, are, and always will be pigs in Irish society, and they will always put the quest for power to the fore!!

psf are master revisionists. it is the only thing ...

2013-05-08T05:01:36.395+01:00

psf are master revisionists. it is the only thing they can do well, not counting administering british rule and sacrificing the lives of others for their own gains.

now i think of it, animal farm probably wouldn't even get a look-in with that lot.

the quote you put at the bottom there sums it all up.

Mazzie - I am well aware of MH's 'hit &...

2013-05-07T16:00:35.729+01:00

Mazzie - I am well aware of MH's 'hit & run' tactics when it comes to asking for political clarity on his party's policies up @ Stormont HQ (Manor Farm).

As for Animal Farm analogy, MH's statement on another thread that the '81 Hunger Strikers 'HELPED' Sinn Fein's political rise actually confirms that the 40 year 'Struggle' is basically a re-enactment of the book with the same sad conclusion where, as long as the animals cannot remember the past, because it is being continually altered, they will have no control over the present and hence over the future.

"Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

i am actually speechless. i promised myself long a...

2013-05-07T13:01:48.710+01:00

i am actually speechless. i promised myself long ago that i would stop getting into it with you, mh. and i've made good on that for some time now but to not pick you up on the most absurd statement you've made in awhile, i can't stop myself. are you seriously, and i mean SERIOUSLY, comparing the response of dixie to animal farm? you, of all people, who continue to bully your way into political discussions when you haven't an original thought to express -only what gerry and marty tell you to say- and make the weakest attempts to defend your party's unending betrayals, you actually accuse someone else of animal farm behaviour?? ffs, psf are the bloody REPLICA of animal farm.

once again you spout shite online cause you've nothing better to do. i feel the most sympathy for your constituents, do they know all you do with your time is go on the internet to wind people up? and btw, you and your ilk couldn't lace the boots of dixie and the people at the lecture who actually work for change in ireland.

i admit i am disappointed with myself for giving in to the urge to respond to your ridiculous accusations when i said i wouldn't anymore but i'm not perfect and never claimed to be, unlike your leadership.

oh right, speaking of your leadership, can you enlighten us as to why they have refused to debate with richard o'rawe tonight on primetime? i'm telling you this, their refusal to face their opponent (who is obviously in the right and has been since day 1) is speaking volumes. VOLUMES!! have they something to hide? of course they do and every day that passes more & more of your grassroots are waking up to the reality of the level of treachery in psf. i wouldn't be surprised to see more jumping ship all the time and soon you lot will be consigned to the books as the biggest traitors in the history of the irish struggle.

fenian, mh *never* answers any questions that get put to him. just responds with insults and groundless accusations.

MH- U woke up in fine point scoring mood this m...

2013-05-07T10:27:28.657+01:00

MH-

U woke up in fine point scoring mood this morning.. Since U R in such fine fettle maybe U can answer my question on the other thread which I am sure U have read??

Dixie- " I for one didn't see any and ha...

2013-05-06T22:40:56.809+01:00

Dixie-

" I for one didn't see any and had it been pointed out to me i would have pulled them "

Spoken there like a true Pig out of Animal farm Dixie- so this was not the open and free meeting like it was advertised-must let the youth members know what way they would be treated if they ever went to those kind of meetings-keep writing Dixie-keep losing-

Saddened, JN is the member of a well known SF fami...

2013-05-06T21:19:17.747+01:00

Saddened, JN is the member of a well known SF family whom I mentioned who had descented years ago.

I know for a fact that he is no more a shinner than I am and in fact I spoke to him before the meeting.

As for the other boyo. If he's who I think you are referring to - O Green- then enough said lol.

I didn't see him though.

Dixie do you think JN was there to past the night ...

2013-05-06T16:37:25.544+01:00

Dixie do you think JN was there to past the night the other lives in the galliagh area not sure of name put wont be hard to find out he was someone who was never in the forefront of anything

saddened, I would appreciate if you could enlighte...

2013-05-06T14:58:27.556+01:00

saddened, I would appreciate if you could enlightened us as to who these two shinners were.

I for one didn't see any and had it been pointed out to me I would have pulled them. In fact had there been I'm we certain would have heard yet yours was the 1st mention I heard of shinners being present on the night.

There was a member of a well known SF family in attendance but I know that person has descented many years ago...

Saddened - Our ancestors have witnessed much darke...

2013-05-06T13:40:24.467+01:00

Saddened -
Our ancestors have witnessed much darker days than these during the course of our embattled history.
I will agree with you to a certain extent that we do seem to be an ideological quagmire.
Though this is due in no small part to the current politcally elected figure heads of Irish Republicanism, PSF, bull dog attitude in maintaining that their current strategy is still bullet proof. Couple this with the difficulties that 'dissidents' are having with incorporating traditional principles into a coherent modern day counter argument and we have our current 'never the twain shall meet' scenario within the Republican collective.

'The darkest hour is just before the dawn'!'

I would really like to hear a plan how we can move...

2013-05-06T12:05:10.784+01:00

I would really like to hear a plan how we can move forward,for the life of me i can't see one.I also attended the lecture it was a through back to the 70s /80s. The brits and shinners have done their job well, with two shinners in attendance sitting in different parts of the room, listening and watching intently.I would say they where the happiest leaving that night.

I for one thought the night was a great event.To s...

2013-05-05T23:15:03.466+01:00

I for one thought the night was a great event.To see so many shades of Republicanism under one roof.More importantly clapping in agreement, was great to see. It shows that unity can be reached and that as small pockets of resistance you provide no threat. i am not saying that everyone should hold hands and retire from their respective organisation, because that will never happen. But if we were able able to march next easter with an agreed easter message,with an all inclusive colour party.With everyone falling in behind an independant banner with their own respective banners, we would out number the provisionals and send out a clear message that we will not be ignored, that would be some achievement on our part. The only reason that I am suggesting the independant banner,is because there are still alot of people who haven't found a home yet within the reborn Republican family. I strongly believe that the idea is worth consideration.

Dixie Feargal and myself couldn't make it but...

2013-05-05T22:29:55.701+01:00

Dixie

Feargal and myself couldn't make it but heard from family members that it was excellent. Great work all involved.

The Derry Journal gave the numbers attending as be...

2013-05-05T20:58:12.020+01:00

The Derry Journal gave the numbers attending as being 300 which was a surprise for them.

Hodgies talk was great and afterwards the questions came hot and heavy.

The loudest cheer of the night came when it was announced that practically the whole Derry Brigade leadership over the years had attended (which they had) except for two -McGuinness and another - who were administering British rule.

Unfortunately, the Derry Journal changed this to 'representatives from various areas' which made it sound a lot different.

Also the Lecture was chaired by Doctor Ann McCloskey a former member of Derry SF. In fact she was so recently a member that the shinners would have been quite shocked to not only hear that she was left but was also chairing it.

I was also glad to see The Dark's daughter Josephine as well as Ivor Bell and Paddy Joe from D Company.

The young people in attendance proved that there is hope yet.

sean bres It was a decent event and a good turnou...

2013-05-05T15:17:13.500+01:00

sean bres

It was a decent event and a good turnout. Menace is correct, one man of integrity talking about another one.

Quite a few 'old' heads knocking about and there were some valid points made. But for me it was really just an opportunity for people to vent their angst.

I really don't see what's coming from it. I must admit I'm not sure if the majority in the hall shouldn't be thinking of pension plans rather than revolution. Myself included.

It does bring home to all the scale of the judas SF have engaged in and also just how long it was going on whilst the sheep baaaaa'd like the fools we all were.

As for areas such as Tyrone and S. Armagh.... they can't wash their hands of this judas mess, they sat back and let Adams and co. do it. They are still exacting zero penalty from them today.

If and when it flares up again, the next generation may be more Al Quaeda like with less pussy fucking about. Lets hope they warm up with SF like mel gibson in braveheart killing old bastards in their beds.

I thought I wouldn't make this event due to wo...

2013-05-05T11:25:27.440+01:00

I thought I wouldn't make this event due to work commitments but despite being late home that evening I beat down the road to Derry with my son and got there in time for the end of Hodgie's talk. Would love to have got the whole thing but thanks Anthony for reproducing it anseo. I got the opportunity to have a quick word with him after in the cue for the tae and sarnies so, given the respect I've had for Gerard since hearing of him when interviewed by Peter Taylor years ago, it was worth the journey down despite being so late on it.

There was a lively question and answer session afterwards which demonstrated to me the extent of the feelings of betrayal among Derry republicans. The room was jam-packed with people - young and old. And the number of young people there in particular, a few of whom were willing to ask questions themselves, was very impressive and speaks volumes about how this struggle has not quite been finished off just yet.

I enjoyed how Gerard framed his political logic in an international context and tied it into notions of finance and all that which we don't usually hear much of in republican discourse. But for me the most important thing he touched on was something I heard from yourself Anthony years ago, that the British had actually 'moulded' a leadership they could make an agreement with. Today republicans in Tyrone prepare to honour the Loughall Martyrs as their anniversary approaches at a monument for two of the most ferocious warriors of the East Tyrone Brigade, Jim Lynagh and Paraig McKearney. But were these men removed because they were an obstacle to peace and was this the real motive behind the barbaric assault on Tyrone republicanism by both British Special Forces and their allies in Loyalist paramilitary groups during the 80's and 90's? To hear that notion repeated again brought it all home and tells us quite clearly who has been pulling the strings all along and just where republicanism has ended up as a result.

All-in-all it was a brilliant event and I was glad to be there, Brendan Hughes himself would no doubt have been humbled by the numbers and the calibre of those in attendance and of course by the subject matter of the lecture itself. I was looking out for Marty and the others but sure I'd know way of telling who was who! An old man from the Lower Falls 'D' company spoke up at one stage and got me wondering but I wouldn't have bothered him to be told 'no son, you've got the wrong fella!' As I say great event, well done the organisers and this is the type of the thing that can bring us together and hopefully lead somewhere. We should encourage far, far more of this sort of thing because once a year is fine yeah but there's potential in this for do much more

Great lecture. Plenty to think about. Rory

2013-05-05T07:15:24.230+01:00

Great lecture. Plenty to think about.

Rory

One man of integrity talking about another.

2013-05-04T21:07:19.935+01:00

One man of integrity talking about another.

There is so much herebut this is the line that jum...

2013-05-04T08:58:31.436+01:00

There is so much herebut this is the line that jumps out at me:

The imperfect peace we settled for is one which allows for the British state to selectively nit-pick the past and persecute those they could not break in youth but now can rob them of their latter years in a final act of vengeance.

How it just sums them up with such biting accuracy