Comments on The Pensive Quill: Insider: Lurking Misgivings

Feargal, I was talking with a guy yesterday who i...

2011-09-14T11:46:33.165+01:00

Feargal,

I was talking with a guy yesterday who is doing a re-read of the book and said it has even more meaning for him this time around. It is a very readable book. It was a disgrace that he was hounded for it by people who decided to go Stick.

'exasperated, dejected, sold out, let down.'

That to me was palpable throughout. And it is that sentiment that the powers that be do not want out. They will keep suppressing it if they can at every turn.

'He walked the walk, and in the end left us with a book, that in years to come, will be seen as an important historical contribution.'

Sums up how many feel.

I've just finished Gerrys (whitey's)book, ...

2011-09-13T22:43:34.842+01:00

I've just finished Gerrys (whitey's)book, could'nt put it down.
Always on my mind while reading it, was the fact that whitey was no longer with us, and the circumstances of his death. One thing that struck me about the book was its sense of total honesty, and in someway a window into whiteys soul...the naked person. Every thing good and bad stripped bare. This,for me, kind of showed where whitey was in his life, at the time of writting...exasperated,dejected, sold out, let down. His life was the republican movement, and in the end..he couldnt have been farther removed from it. Its a personal journey, told without airs or graces. He walked the walk, and in the end left us with a book, that in years to come, will be seen as an important historical contribution. RIP Gerry Bradley..

I am that much out of the loop that I had only gli...

2010-11-14T19:47:34.676Z

I am that much out of the loop that I had only glimpsed Gerry's book on my few and far between ventures onto Amazon to actually buy topical books.

I earned my first $30 from Helium for writing some dross about Chin-up bars, so hopefully it will be enough to purchase a copy of Gerry's book tonight. All being well I will have it in my possession by this time next week and I will know more of Gerry Bradley's story.

Brendan ‘he was simply trying to portray how life...

2010-10-19T21:33:22.454+01:00

Brendan

‘he was simply trying to portray how life was for
a combatant on the ground and i think he portrayed that day to day
existence quite well’

Portrayed it brilliantly

Brendan ‘he was simply trying to portray how life...

2010-10-19T21:33:21.430+01:00

Brendan

‘he was simply trying to portray how life was for
a combatant on the ground and i think he portrayed that day to day
existence quite well’

Portrayed it brilliantly

why shouldnt whitey write a book,adams has written...

2010-10-06T00:51:55.501+01:00

why shouldnt whitey write a book,adams has written plenty of books and named quite a few people,does this mean adams is a tout.whitey is no tout and thats a fact.he was simply trying to portray how life was for a combatant on the ground and i think he portrayed that day to day existence quite well.

I just picked this book up at IrishFest in Milwauk...

2010-08-24T15:31:40.819+01:00

I just picked this book up at IrishFest in Milwaukee! Nearly fainted when I looked at some of the photographs! Great to see something coming out of North Belfast, in particular Unity Flats and the New Lodge. So much of the "History" is focused on the Falls and the Adamistas. Some days the Falls Rd felt like a different planet to what was happening on the New Lodge/Unity Flats. Interesting point Gerry made about the internal prejudice that North Belfast volunteers were "too sectarian". You don't say Jamesy...Great read.

Ardoyne Republican, I don't see how Gerry Br...

2010-08-23T20:39:51.850+01:00

Ardoyne Republican,

I don't see how Gerry Bradley can be criticised on this point and I appreciate that you are making it in the most observational of tones nad not with any rancour.

If we are talking about the same republican he was a well known acitvist from the 1970s, had escaped from custody and was high on the wanted list. I know when he was killed there was a lof of republican anguish because of his past. The New Lodge activists were under no illusions and the RUC gave some of them abuse about the UVF killiing a former comrade.

Gerry Bradley did not name the guy in a way that anybody would be ashamed of. He identified him as a former IRA volunteer now deceased. What better could Gerry Bradley have gave the clan?

I know there is no one right way to handle these issues. I think Michaelhenry pointed out some of the complexities and nuances involved. For me Gerry Bradley was not at fault.

As a former Combatant and POW myself, I found Whit...

2010-08-22T23:34:37.548+01:00

As a former Combatant and POW myself, I found Whitey's book interesting and it helped shine a light on life as a Volunteer in Belfast.

The only issue I had with the book, was the naming and identifying a New Lodge Republican without his Clann's knowledge was very hurtful to them. After all, they'd lost their Dad violently and in my opinion deserved better chara.

Although in saying that, I hope to see more books about the War from former Oglaigh.

Mick 'I feel we would all benefit from more ...

2010-08-22T17:26:38.112+01:00

Mick

'I feel we would all benefit from more of this type of book, for the first time in history you have a generation of working class republicans who fought a long war. We need, no history demands their
experiences are published for all to read and placed in the public record.'

I think this frames the issue very well. What sort of history would be recorded if it was left to the official historians? If for no other reason, an understanding of the past might help people do things differently in the future.

Ryan, I think its lack of pretentiousness adds ...

2010-08-19T21:42:25.991+01:00

Ryan,

I think its lack of pretentiousness adds to its quality.

Michaelhenry,

some good points there on the type of mosaic that is a family make up. Like you I love to read. 'Means a lot' is a good way to put it.

I know Mick but thats how it ended up, those conne...

2010-08-18T15:18:41.804+01:00

I know Mick but thats how it ended up, those connected and loyal to Adams got either elected as mla,s or cushy community jobs, those whoe spoke out or walked away were/are demonised,and no help forthcoming from ex prisoners groups whatsoever,it really is a rerun of Animal farm.P.S good to hear from you again hope your well a cara.

marty ;)

2010-08-18T13:29:41.637+01:00

marty

;)

No probs Mick I happen to have a copy ,here it is ...

2010-08-17T19:48:17.774+01:00

No probs Mick I happen to have a copy ,here it is quoted in verbatim,Army council of pira,"Can I have a holiday home and loadsa dosh?"" "me to""me to""and me to""mise fosta""aye me as well""here boys me to"Govt negotiator"I must say you chaps really do put up a united front in pushing for what you want,I shall foward your demands to the cabinet ,and I,d be hopefull we can accomidate you gentlemen"P O Neill then breaks out the jammy dodgers biscuits and passes them out.

I agree, I enjoyed this book too, it stood on my b...

2010-08-17T18:54:35.261+01:00

I agree, I enjoyed this book too, it stood on my book shelf for some months unread, as I had prejudged it as not being up to much. I was wrong about that and both Gerry Bradley and Brian Feeney deserve much credit for this, they must have built a good relationship.

I understand Marty's point about not remembering much of what was in the book, but could this be because what the book got across so well, was the hours of sheer boredom of life in the IRA. Endless hours of hanging about and then being stood down. Sitting for days in a safe house, or often only escaping the clutches of a British patrol, by some quirk of fate. The minutes of exhilaration when a job goes well seem a very poor return.

I feel we would all benefit from more of this type of book, for the first time in history you have a generation of working class republicans who fought a long war. We need, no history demands their experiences are published for all to read and placed in the public record.

All history is subjective, sadly to date the history of the fighting men and women of the PIRA has mainly been propaganda slanted to the leaderships advantage, or it has been used as a weapon to expose that leaderships perceived treachery.

It is time for the simply truth and Bradley and Feeney's book falls into that category.

(By the way, it is a scandal the Adams leadership have not published the fine detail of all the negotiations the Provo leaderships had with the representatives of the UK State during the long war.)

There has to be sufficient material out there at t...

2010-08-17T15:43:32.307+01:00

There has to be sufficient material out there at this stage for a researcher to compile a solid work on life in the 'RA. Not the sanitised we believe our own propoganda type of thing that masks the rubbish going on at Stormont at present.

reading means a lot to me, i can not go against an...

2010-08-17T00:47:01.899+01:00

reading means a lot to me, i can not go against anyone putting a book togeather- no mean feat, if
people are opposed for some reason then they should not buy or read the book, but the book should be wrote, a book is about life and how ones cope with there life, i
some times think that know all's
buy certain books just to be offended, know all's know fcuk all.

take your point on familys am, i don't know any family that agrees
100% on anything, be it football
teams, politics or what X factor
person to support,
when volunteers died some family members wanted a military funeral
others did not, their was one fellow who said that there would be no flag on his brothers coffin
in case it offended his work mates,
his parents went ahead with the military funeral.
so if 2 family members were for the book and 3 were against it, who
does the author follow, always write, the more to read the better,
reading the associate by john crisham, back now for another couple of chapters.

I actually really liked the book and feel it was m...

2010-08-16T23:44:43.233+01:00

I actually really liked the book and feel it was much needed. I always wanted to read a book about a little known volunteer and about the on the ground operations, cells, ASUs etc. Nothing worse for an outsider like me to read a book on the war and have to go through endless details on framework documents, hume-adams talks, mitchell principles, downing st declarations and all that other sleep inducing crap. This book had great action, operations and the like. Definitely a must read for anyone looking to get an understanding of the Belfast IRA.

Marty, I am never sure what can be achieved by c...

2010-08-16T22:23:02.319+01:00

Marty,

I am never sure what can be achieved by consulting the families. It seems to give families a certain veto which defeats the purpose of the book and which can also be manipulated by elements who do not want their role questioned. I understand the sensitivities but feel it is something that little can be done about if people are intent on writing. In this book it is hard to see what Gerry Bradley actually did that harmed the families.

I read this book when it first came out a few year...

2010-08-16T21:56:38.366+01:00

I read this book when it first came out a few years ago Anthony,I dont have any lasting memories of it,other than comments from friends and republicans from the New lodge area,some people who know Gerry say he should have consulted with the families of people mentioned in the book,it probably would have been the decent thing to do,I think in the upcoming years we are going to be seeing a lot more of these books.I wasnt that impressed if truth and memory be told Anthony.