Harry Thompson, Belfast

BY GERRY ADAMS TD, President of Sinn Féin

HARRY THOMPSON died at home on Sunday 29 January surrounded by his family and friends.

I have known wee Harry for over 40 years. We were always close.

Harry was a republican activist for most of his adult life and he was honoured at last year’s Le Chéile, which recognises those who have given special service to the... Free article

I nDíl Chuimhne

1 February 1975: Volunteer Seán BOYLE, South Armagh Brigade.
1 Feruary 1981: Volunteer Peadar MOHAN, Monaghan Brigade.
2 Feruary 1981: Volunteer Liam HANNAWAY, Belfast Brigade, 2nd Battalion.
3 February 1973: Volunteer James SLOAN, Volunteer James McCANN, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion.
3 February 1999: Volunteer Harry BURNS, Belfast Brigade, 2nd Battalion.
4... Free article

TIPPERARY

GEORGE PLANT 70th ANNIVERSARY Commemoration
Saturday 4th March. Assemble 3pm, in St Johnstown Churchyard, Fethard. Main Speaker: Ruán O’Donnell. Remembering IRA Volunteer George Plant executed by firing squad in Portlaoise prison on 5 March 1942

LIVERPOOL

Volunteer Seán Phelan Commemoration
Sunday 18th February. Assemble 12:30pm Evelyn Street, Kirkdale and march to... Free article

News snippets from around the Globe

Gregory Campbell’s watching TG4

AFTER looking like he’s endorsing an ‘all-Ireland’ approach to commemorations, it now seems that DUP MP Gregory Campbell has now taken to his native language with a vengeance.

This came to light after Campbell vented his fury over the first episode of ‘Mná an IRA’ documentary series. The first episode featured... Free article

Saturday 7 January (Belfast Media Group blog, Léargas)

Thatcher’s war policy in Ireland

BY GERRY ADAMS

THE recent publication of British government papers from 1981 have reminded many people of the negative role played by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at that time.

The papers were published coincidentally at the same as a Hollywood movie about Thatcher. I haven’t seen... Free article

The Household Charge is ‘only’ €2 a week if you live in an ivory tower

ENDA KENNY makes me mad. His claim that the Household Charge is “only” Ř2 a week had me boiling. I have no problem with taxes - my problem is with unfair taxes and the unfair distribution of the burden.
The top 5% own 40% of the wealth but everyone gets hit with a flat-rate tax of €100. It’s unjust.
“Only” €2 a... Free article

‘A duty to defend the people’

BLIAIN úr faoi mhaise daoibh go léir.
As we embark on a New Year, the Irish people face major challenges. The policy of austerity being pursued by conservative governments in Dublin and London and by the European Union is strangling the Irish economy and causing severe hardship for Irish families.
Economic circumstances have meant that thousands of... Free article

BRITISH STATE PAPERS RELEASED UNDER 30-YEAR RULE | THATCHER AND THE H-BLOCKS CRISIS

ADULTERATING their drinking water, forcibly intravenously feeding them and banning all visitors, quashing the results of the Fermanagh/South Tyrone by-election and disqualifying Bobby Sands as MP, berating the Reuters news agency for refusing to describe the IRA as ‘terrorists’ — these are just... Free article

1981 STATE PAPERS RELEASED | LAVISH GOVERNMENT SPENDING IN DUBLIN AND STREET RIOTS IN BRITAIN

BY ROBBIE SMYTH

FINE GAEL and Labour form a coalition government, the Tories are in power in London, and a summer of riots sparks off across Britain while spending cuts and stealth taxes are introduced in Ireland. Dublin’s 1981 state papers show remarkable similarities between Ireland... Free article

BUDGET 2012 INTERVIEW | PEARSE DOHERTY, SINN FÉIN DÁIL FINANCE SPOKESPERSON

BY EOIN Ó MURCHÚ

BUDGET 2012 is an austerity Budget that is bad for people and bad for the economy. That’s how Pearse Doherty summed up Michael Noonan’s and Brendan Howlin’s proposals as presented to the Dáil last month.
“We look at this Budget in two ways,” Doherty says. “It’s bad for people, for those... Free article