Comments on The Pensive Quill: Remembering The Dark in the Cooley Mountains

Mackers, don't believe Adams looks back, don&#...

2010-07-03T19:40:22.894+01:00

Mackers, don't believe Adams looks back, don't think he would dare.
He might end up like Lot's wife a pillar of stone, although there are people who would argue he is that already.

Keeps moving us forward to the great whatever? You would need a compass or a psychic to pin him down.
I'm away to join my son to celebrate the Germany win, Albert is gutted he had his lot on Argentina.

Remembering The Dark in the Cooley Mountains"...

2010-07-01T21:31:07.520+01:00

Remembering The Dark in the Cooley Mountains":

Nuala,

I guess Orwell and all that is an embarrassment to them now. I sometimes wonder what he thinks when he looks back on it and looks at where he is at.

Westie,

It is important not to turn it into a clash of the dead. Shroud waving is distasteful. I think, like yourself, it is wholesome to see them as serving something wider than a narrow band. You obviously don’t have a problem with republicans who do not support SF but far too many in SF have a serious problem. They view Peter Robinson as a comrade of sorts but not Micky McKevitt. Robinson is patriot and McKevitt a traitor. Something just not right there.

Westie, do not think the Brits will ever leave our...

2010-06-27T12:34:22.902+01:00

Westie, do not think the Brits will ever leave our country, not now!
Why would they?
Sinn Fein, have helped ensure we never get them out.
All this clap trap about unity, is just that.

Westie, there a lot of very decent people who still align themselves with Sinn Fein.
However, although they are happy to say they vote for a republican party. In essence they do not. Sinn Fein are nothing more than a re-vamped SDLP.

Where ever Seando and the 'Dark' are today, bet they're cheering on the Germans.

Westie a cara there are many republicans myself in...

2010-06-26T21:09:16.140+01:00

Westie a cara there are many republicans myself included who have no problem with people who do not support sinn fein, mmm do you mean here a cara S.D.L.P.supporters or perhaps Alliance, or maybe Unionist, or could be the sticks, I kinda think you mean republicans who havent been conned or bought off like the comrades in psf . you mention that an increasing number of your friends are moving away from psf those friends have probably seen the light and hopefully soon yourself and the rest will see that what masquerades as a republican party is nothing more that a group of individualists seeking to serve nothing more than their own selfish interests ,I believe your a sound enough person a cara and I think you,ll find out for yourself sooner than later,just like your friends.

Fionnuala I think there are many Republicans, mys...

2010-06-26T16:23:25.355+01:00

Fionnuala

I think there are many Republicans, myself included, who have no problem with people who do not su[pport Sinn Féin.

There is an increasing number of my own friends who have moved away from the party, but they are still my friends, and I am still theirs - at least I hope so!

Seando, like Brendan, was a great man, who gave so much and asked for so little in return. There are many such men and women, albeit the 2 in question are exceptional, who me us all proud and I hope that some day, their efforts, and sacrafice will be rewarded when the brits finally leave this country of ours!

I do live in genuine hope.

Slán

Westie

Westie, totally agree with you about Seando. Howe...

2010-06-25T12:25:41.310+01:00

Westie, totally agree with you about Seando.
However, how Seando conducted himself with 'alternative thinking republicans' would have been the exception rather than the rule.

The fact that the 'Dark'was a hero did not protect him from the wrath of 'mainstream republicanism'
Brendan Hughes was demoralised and ostracized for daring to speaking out.

People have had their lives and their homes threatened for daring to challenege Sinn Fein.
People like Anthony Mc Intyre and Tommy Gorman, no longer found the North of Ireland a safe place to live because they dared to voice their concerns at the direction the movement was being taken in.

I too attended Seando's funeral and I watched some of the people who had given the 'Dark' such a hard time turned out in full regelia.

The difference between the majority of them people and Brendan is, he paid dearly and they were just extremely well paid.

Good piece and Brendan Hughes is very deserving of...

2010-06-24T20:55:50.989+01:00

Good piece and Brendan Hughes is very deserving of all the tributes he receives for his heroic life as an Irish Republican.

But it isn't true to think that there are not people who also dedicated their life to Irish Republicanism and the quest for unity, who didn't necessarily fall out or move away from the 'mainstream'.

Seando Moore from Beechmount who sadly lost a long and courageous battle with cancer just two weeks back is one such man - gave his life to his country and influenced so many others to make their contribution also. His funeral was a fitting tribute and he too will be remembered long after he has gone - just like the Dark will be.

no-one should be worried about honouring Ireland's dead - and genuinely, I don't believe anyone would think anything negative of them for doing so.

Slán

Westie

ps C'mon the germans

Noone believes more firmly than comrade Napoleon t...

2010-06-23T21:35:59.104+01:00

Noone believes more firmly than comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal,he would only be to happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves,but sometimes you might make the wrong decisions,comrades and then where should we be?thats why psf have the bearded one to make all their decisions for them are,nt they lucky!

Mackers, the more we observe the shinners the mor...

2010-06-23T12:57:40.101+01:00

Mackers,
the more we observe the shinners the more relevant Orwell becomes.

I wonder how many people Gerry Kelly would be recommending it to now? no doubt he would prefer if it was banned!

Beautifully written. Real and raw - sort of took y...

2010-06-23T12:55:10.414+01:00

Beautifully written. Real and raw - sort of took you there. Grma Whenever I hear the name Brendan Hughes i always think of authenticity and humbleness. That is his forever mantle.

Helen, so right. When parties anywhere in the wor...

2010-06-23T06:40:52.127+01:00

Helen,
so right. When parties anywhere in the world organise these things they do not go to venerate the dead but bring the dead to venerate themselves.
Nuala,
Always found Orwell so rich in insight. In 1978 Gerry Kelly suggested I read Animal Farm and 1984. They were great. Managed to just get 1984 finished before being swallowed up by the blanket protest. Animal Farm had been read to us at primary school but the significance went right over my head. Brendan liked the Orwell insights.

Marty, I really don't believe we had too...

2010-06-22T22:27:26.312+01:00

Marty,
I really don't believe we had too many of him when it counted!

If there had of been more people like Brendan Hughes in the higher echelons from 86 onwards, I think we would have seen a very different outcome to the struggle.

Maybe the people who say, so what are right?
The world cup seems to have generated more interest.

A lovely and fitting tribute Dixie, Nuala who says...

2010-06-22T17:49:14.495+01:00

A lovely and fitting tribute Dixie, Nuala who says we havent,

Dixie, would truly love to believe that my son wou...

2010-06-21T23:21:27.076+01:00

Dixie, would truly love to believe that my son would be inspired by someone like Brendan Hughes.

I think you highlighted something very important when you said he was a socialist first and foremost.

According to his testimony in the Ed Moloney book, socialism was certainly a big dictate in his life.

Just wonder how it all might of ended if we had of had a few more Brendans on our side?

Helen, could not agree with you more and to be hon...

2010-06-21T13:58:54.329+01:00

Helen, could not agree with you more and to be honest there is no more deserving of tributes than Brenadan Hughes.

However, that is in theory, in practice here things are very different.
People are very dubious about attending anything outside of the 'Mainstream' remit. I am not saying it is right but that is how things work here.

Many of those people in the photograph have already paid dearly for speaking out. Most ordinary people do not want to be perceived as taking sides, therefore the veiled threat becomes effective.

Very nice read. I thought it was uplifting to see...

2010-06-21T13:10:48.119+01:00

Very nice read. I thought it was uplifting to see the Dark’s family and friends continue to pay tribute to him.

Although time marches on, I believe it is very important to continue to publicly commemorate those unique men and women who were part of an unselfish struggle for Irish self-determination not only recently but throughout Irish history. It is one of the few things the Brits can’t take away. Although some, now with the help of Sinn Fein, are trying to re-write the history of Ireland.

As for any remembrance or commemoration having to be “sanctioned by the ‘Mainstream Movement’…those who died for the cause of Irish freedom belong to the Irish people not Sinn Fein, not Republican Sinn Fein, not the Real IRA, or the INLA, etc., etc., etc. To me there is more honesty, sympathy and dignity in the remembrance/commemoration when it stems from the people of Ireland themselves both north and south. When it is organized by a political party, it seems to me to take on no more significance then just another venue opportunity for a bunch of self-absorbed pompous-arse politicians to “seize the day”.

Mackers, Orwell's perception on revolution was...

2010-06-20T20:24:55.462+01:00

Mackers, Orwell's perception on revolution was unique.

In many ways however, his analysis of most revolutionaries being social climbers with bombs makes people like 'The Dark' appear unique.

When you think of the prestige Brendan Hughes could have enjoyed.
If he had of relinquished his beliefs and joined the ever growing army of republican social climbers.

Albert, it is an open event. The first year real...

2010-06-20T20:11:06.325+01:00

Albert,

it is an open event. The first year really was one for family and close friends. It has grown since then. Dixie did a great piece. Dancing and revolutions - not for me either on the same grounds. So I just read and watch soccer!! My view on revolutionaries is taken from Orwell - nine out of ten are social climbers with bombs.

Mackers, Albert here, have to write under Nuala...

2010-06-20T19:59:04.518+01:00

Mackers, Albert here, have to write under Nuala's name as she does not allow me one of my own.

Just to reiterate some of the things she said, in relation to the remeberance of The Dark on his birthday.

Very people knew about the celebration, and many of those who did believed it was private.

Great piece by Dixie. Glad the sun shone on you all and on his memory.

Speaking of dancing and revolutions. Must confess these days I am not too good at either.

What a very fitting and lovely tribute. You wrote ...

2010-06-20T18:46:05.334+01:00

What a very fitting and lovely tribute.
You wrote this piece brilliantly. Reading it was almost like taking the journey up the Cooley Mountains.

Personally I had no idea that people could just show up. I thought it was an annual event intended for family and close friends.

I would also like to say, while so many people agree with your sentiments. There remains an atmosphere that almost borders on fear in relation to turning up at any type of rememberance which is not sanctioned by the 'Mainstream Movement'

Having said that, people who went and remember Brendan as a hero and a friend can only be commended.

Dixie, great piece.You captured the atmosphere so ...

2010-06-20T17:55:43.605+01:00

Dixie, great piece.You captured the atmosphere so well.