Comments on The Pensive Quill: From Insurrection To Parliament

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Anthony ...

2011-09-17T10:06:47.324+01:00

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Anthony and Sandy.Sober analysis in the statement "current attempts to revive the armed struggle against British rule are doomed to failure" but the "alternative to both Sinn Fein’s parliamentary strategy and the attempt to revive the armed campaign" being explicitly socialist alas is also doomed to failure in my opinion.Having said that, I will read it and have recomended it to socialists this side of the water invovled in Irish politics.

Larry, "As for courting unionist/loyalist wo...

2011-09-14T23:19:50.594+01:00

Larry,

"As for courting unionist/loyalist working class?? Wake the fuck up, they don't like 'Irish' and don't want to be loved by the Irish."

Rather than uniting Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter Republican violence and constitutional coercion is primarily responsible for alienating the former of that trinity and giving rise to much of it's belligerence towards an Irish designation. Historically Unionists did'nt have an issue with an Irish dimension. Organisations established to oppose Home Rule included the Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union (1885); Loyal Irish Union (1885), and Irish Unionist Alliance (1891).
The platform of the 1892 Irish Unionist Convention was adorned with the slogan `Erin Go Bragh'. Edward Carson was, by his own definition an Irishman. Moreover the `Irish' in the names of the Irish Guards and Royal Irish Regiment is not an issue and detracts nothing from the esteem with which they are held by Unionists.

I have read Tommy Mckearney book. I have also had...

2011-09-08T22:33:43.809+01:00

I have read Tommy Mckearney book. I have also had the chance to interview him a few times. He also answered questions by my students at the University of Sherbrooke (via Skype ) this summer. It was a interesting experience. I have learned a lot from Tommy McKearney. His book must be read and discuss. Not only for his analysis on the path taken by the provos since 1969, but also for his views on how to make republicanism still relevant in the 21th century.

Sandy, goor review. Pleased to have it. The book ...

2011-09-08T08:02:29.641+01:00

Sandy,

goor review. Pleased to have it. The book is very well written and the arguments well presented. The critique of SF is clinical, mounted from a radical rather than a traditionalist perspective. I really enjoyed the book. We could have benefitted from the type of analysis provided in this book years ago.

Have to agree with Larry, the working class unioni...

2011-09-08T06:26:01.814+01:00

Have to agree with Larry, the working class unionist/loyalist despise Ireland and all that is from it, countinued ignorance of the fundamental, or the contrived to deny it, will not lead to a settlement.

Find it hard to believe though, that there would have been much of a queue for rifles and suchlike, if a decision ever had been made to give away machineguns. Wasn't it that there was a severe shortage of volunteers to go face the Machine, that wern't already lost to it.

Kieran The more I read the more I accept your con...

2011-09-07T12:22:22.529+01:00

Kieran

The more I read the more I accept your conclusions. Wolf Tone and 1798 is a long time ago. It never worked then or since. Tired and inefective.

I will get Tommy's book and read it to see his perspective and thoughts. Not to consider joining some splinter or pressure grouping.

As for courting unionist/loyalist working class?? Wake the fuck up, they don't like 'Irish' and don't want to be loved by the Irish. Kiss my Irish ass ffs. FAILED already Tommy.

But I do agree SF Mi5/6 leadership decided to assist the brits in getting rid of weapons [ a huge amount ] rather than arm the nationalists. Deliberate pro-unionist policy decision.

Returning to kieran, what you say is the reality. Dreamers should waste only their own time.

Irish people have no interest in left wing politic...

2011-09-07T10:40:21.571+01:00

Irish people have no interest in left wing politics.Labour is the most radical of a conservative bunch,The Workers party/Democratic Left joined with labour in the early nineties.53% Of catholics in NI want to remain in the UK.The south is corrupt from top to bottom.How can a man get a 12 yr prison sentence for fiddling dole money, Dave Drumm/Fitzpatrick walk free ?! 26 failed counties.

Have,nt had a chance to read Tommy,s book yet, but...

2011-09-06T22:17:07.219+01:00

Have,nt had a chance to read Tommy,s book yet, but from Sandy,s review if Tommy,s alternative is to create a new radical republicianism,explicitly socialist and based in the working class north and south(youd hardly base it in the leafy suburbs of the Malone rd or Dalkey Tommy)he futher states it should address unemployment.poverty,access to housing ,hospitals education,and the protection of citizens, he calls out for reaching out to protestant workers to"develop cross secterian working class solidarities while putting differences on the national question to one side" this is a throw back to the early sticks and why should the national question be surrendered in favour of a british working class agenda Tommy. the working class and its here I agree with Tommy need to unite and that is the working class on this island united in a common bond and that is a democratic republic based on Tones Protestant,Catholic,and Dissenter under the one common name of Irishmen, there was once a Shankill Rd James Connolly workers republican club, so called republicans fucked that up by attacking these men ,but it can and should possible with goodwill among workers to unite once again under an Irish socialist banner,I,m not sure about this book but in fairness to Tommy I,ll get a copy and read it for myself.

Thanks for the rewiew Sandy, I will be buying or o...

2011-09-06T22:05:10.587+01:00

Thanks for the rewiew Sandy, I will be buying or ordering this book tomorrow. Tommy is a great republican socailist activist and thinker.