Top Issue 1-2024

Britain's death squads 1989

13 February 2024

THE late 1980s saw an escalation in the use of death squads by the British regime in the Six Counties. Since the start of the 1970s, the British Army and the RUC had manipulated loyalist paramilitary organisations as part of their counter-insurgency strategy. The aim was to terrorise the entire nationalist population, killing Catholics solely because of their religion or perceived political allegiances and, where possible, assassinating leading nationalists and republicans. Free article

Double blow to censorship

10 January 2024

IN JANUARY 1994, the armed conflict in the Six Counties was at a critical stage. The previous year had seen the deaths of 84 people in the war and, while there was some political movement, it was by no means clear that a peace process could be put in place to end the armed conflict and to address its root causes. Free article

Shane MacGowan: A troubadour for the Irish in London

30 November 2023

“The Pogues were also unashamedly abrasive and political, at a time when being political about Ireland in Britain was no easy task”. Joe Dwyer offers a tribute to Pogues lead singer Shane MacGowan whose death was announced today. Free article

Gerry Adams elected president of Sinn Féin

30 November 2023

We asked Jim Gibney to reflect on the 40th anniversary of Gerry Adams's election as Sinn Féin President in November 1983. He talked with two other republican veterans, Danny Morrison and Richard McAuley. Here is Jim’s personal insight, with the input of those two lifelong activists who were there for the key events over the last 40 years. Free article

Sunningdale agreement was never about equality or inclusion

30 November 2023

As we reach the 50th anniversary of the failed Sunningdale Agreement, glib soundbites detract from the wholesale failure of Sunningdale to address any of the causes of the conflict in Ireland. Joe Dwyer explores the reality of Sunningdale Agreement. Free article

Ní amháin Saor, ach Gaelach

30 November 2023

Sliocht atá san alt seo as leabhar ar stair na Gaeilge sna príosúin idir 1867 agus 1999 ‘Ní amháin Saor, ach Gaelach’ le Eoghan Mac Cormaic atá le foilsiú san earrach 2024 Free article

Bridge at Croke Park named Bloody Sunday Bridge

21 November 2023

The 14 people murdered by British crown forces on Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920, have been honoured with the naming of Bloody Sunday Bridge beside Croke Park where they were shot. Free article

Two Republicans died during mass hunger strike 100 years ago

13 November 2023

While Civil War as an armed conflict had ended in early summer 1923, the Counter-Revolution led by the Free State government continued and those who bore the worst of it were over 11,000 Republican prisoners held in jails, internment camps and other places of detention throughout the Free State. Free article

1983 - Gerry Adams elected Uachtarán Sinn Féin

9 November 2023

40 years ago this week at the 1983 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Dublin’s Mansion House, Gerry Adams was elected President of Sinn Féin. Free article

Jack McElduff - A link to our proud and noble past

19 October 2023

Lifelong Irish republican and former political prisoner, John Vincent McElduff was laid to rest in his native Loughmacrory recently. The graveside oration was delivered by Seán Hughes. Free article

The Great Escape from the H-Blocks

25 September 2023

TWO YEARS after the epic 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike in which ten young republicans died, there was another epic event at Long Kesh that dealt a huge blow to the Thatcher regime in Ireland. This was the escape of 38 IRA prisoners from H-Block 7 on Sunday 25 September 1983. Free article

Harry McEntee centenary

9 August 2023

One hundred years ago this month many families in Ireland were in mourning in the aftermath of the tragic Civil War. But even after the war officially ended more people were plunged into grief and last weekend several generations of a wide family group gathered to recall one of the less well remembered fallen of that time - Harry McEntee of the IRA’s Dublin Brigade. Free article

Thomas McElwee – Died on 8 August 1981 after 62 days on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh

7 August 2023

Thomas McElwee, at the age of 23, was the tenth man to join the 1981 Hunger Strike. From Bellaghy in south Derry, he was imprisoned in 1976 after a premature bomb explosion in which he lost an eye. Free article

Centenary of hunger striker Joseph Whitty

2 August 2023

By August 1923 there were over 11,000 Republican prisoners in Free State jails and prison camps, the vast majority of them interned without trial. The Civil War was over but the Free State government showed no sign of releasing prisoners, instead that month it passed another Emergency Powers Act to give itself more legal powers to detain citizens. Free article

Kieran Doherty TD – Died on 2 August 1981 after 73 days on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh

1 August 2023

IRA Volunteer Kieran Doherty, TD for Cavan/Monaghan, died at 7:15pm on Sunday 2 August 1981, the day after Kevin Lynch’s death. Kieran had joined the hunger strike one day before Kevin Lynch and survived one day longer. Free article

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