Posted by Jim on October 20, 2016
“ Members of Congress cannot understand The Troubles in Northern Ireland if they do not grasp the fundamental truth about British Government policy that is explained in this article by Brian Feeney:
‘official documents… reveal what was going on as Britain disengaged from the empire, and how the policies employed in decolonization were transferred here[Northern Ireland]… They knew exactly what to do. In The North, as in all those previous theatres, they picked one side and armed them against the other. It wasn’t just collusion: it was collaboration.’ This article is compulsory reading for all Staffers concerned with the Irish issue.”
— Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President, Irish National Caucus.
British State of Denial is plain for all to see
Brian Feeney. Irish News (Belfast). Wednesday, October 19, 2016
At a time when the First Minister has been photographed standing beside a convicted armed robber who admitted on radio in 2013 to be the Bangor boss of a criminal conspiracy – the UDA[Ulster Defense Association] – two new books throw light on the origins and operation of government policy which made the UDA the Northern Ireland Office’s [NIO] favourite terrorist organisation and turned a blind eye to UVF[Ulster Volunteer Force] murder gangs.
Ian Cobain’s The History Thieves and Margaret Urwin’s A State of Denial both mined huge piles of official documents to reveal what was going on as Britain disengaged from the empire and how the policies employed in decolonization were transferred here.
Cobain points out that most politicians posted here in the seventies had experience of military action in World War II but were at a loss to know how to deal with what became known as ‘low intensity operations’. However, the military they looked to for advice had vast experience of exactly that in Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus and Aden. Indeed some of the senior officers had just left Aden to the Yemenis two years before arriving in The North. They knew exactly what to do. In The North, as in all those previous theatres, they picked one side and armed them against the other. It wasn’t just collusion: it was collaboration.
Both Cobain and Urwin allow the British government to condemn itself out of the mouths of its own officials in the documents they quote. When the UDR[Ulster Defense Regiment]was expanded in 1972 the Ministry of Defense knew ‘we will be largely arming one section of the community’. Then again they did that with the Turks in Cyprus and had great fun setting the Chinese and Malays against each other. In all places the group the British collaborated with did the dirty work for them.
In August 1974 after a two-hour discussion between Merlyn Rees’s Permanent Secretary and the UDA and UVF on the future of the UDR, the regiment was expanded into two full-time battalions. The NIO accepted this decision was exactly what the UDA had proposed. Why not? The UDA was carefully and deliberately kept legal until 1992. Margaret Urwin shows in NIO and Ministry of Defence documents that the British were well aware of the fact that most UDA weapons came from the UDR but saw no problem in dual membership. Furthermore a briefing document in September 1976 stated ‘the UDA…denies responsibility for sectarian murders and terrorist bombings or claims them in the name of the UFF, a proscribed and essentially fictitious organisation…’.In another document Urwin shows a senior civil servant successfully arguing for a licensed firearm for the UDA bodyguard of the UDA leader. After all, why not be consistent?
Urwin’s use of British public records shows how one-sided the military operation was throughout. Apart from the well-known one-sided use of internment – 18 months after internment was introduced before the first loyalist was interned – there was one-sided use of screening and searches. For example—in six months from September 1975 to March 1976—1,994 people were ‘screened’ (arrested and held at least four hours) of whom 118 were Protestant. Yet during this period 100 people were killed by Republicans and 78 by Loyalists.
Cobain and Urwin show that those policies, arming one side, internment, screening, mass house searches, community punishment, were all essential components of British policy as they fought colonial wars in the fifties and sixties. In a previous book Cruel Britannia, Cobain described how the interrogation methods and torture perfected in the colonies were used here in the seventies and eighties.
The big difference is that —unlike the colonies where Cobain shows civil servants, soldiers, MI5 and Special Branch in their hundreds were engaged in systematically destroying literally tons of documents describing the nefarious and inhuman actions of British troops and police—here, thankfully, the documents survive because The North was part of the UK and the government could hardly destroy its own archives.
Posted by Jim on
Address: 34 Van Dyke St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 246-8050
LAST CALL
As many of you are aware we are being forcibly removed from our current location at the end of this month.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for your patronage over the last 21 years. We would like to especially thank all of you who have offered assistance to us in our present circumstances.
Last Call will be on Thursday October 27th, if you would like to stop in one last time.
Once again, thank you.
Athrú Sceidil / Change of Schedule
Mar a deir Chris, fuair muid “barántas faoisimh ón Ghobharnóir” agus beimid ag Rocky’s seachtain amháin eile.
As Chris says, we received a “warrant of reprieve from the Governor” and we will be at Rocky’s for another week.
Beidh rang eile againn ag Rocky’s, oíche Mhairt seo chugainn, 25ú Deireadh Fómhair.
We will have another class at Rocky’s, next Tuesday night, October 25th.
Ina dhiaidh sin, ag tosú ar 1 Samhain, leanfimid ar aghaidh ag The Irish Haven (5721 4th Ave Brooklyn) ar feadh tamaill.
After that, starting on November 1st, we will continue at The Irish Haven (5721 4th Ave Brooklyn) for a while.
Le cúnamh Dé, fillfimid go dtí an “Rocky’s Nua” i gCorrán Dearg aríst roimh Lá Althaithe!
God willing, we will return to the “New Rocky’s” in Red Hook again before Thanksgiving!
Posted by Jim on
Dear Fellow Hibernians
On behalf of the Officers of the Kings County Board, I hope to find all in good spirit while serving our Saviour, Our Nation and Irish-American Community. We are getting into a very busy season with numerous events being held by various Hibernian Divisions and other Irish Heritage groups. I’m going to list what I have. I know there must be numerous of others, if you can share, that would be very appreciated. Also, it is understandable that attending all these events is an impossibility. Having said that, if you are able to attend, participate, donate, take out a journal ad if applicable or give an acknowledgement to the honorees or causes of the events, that should be accepted warmly. Attending these events is always fun, sometimes spiritual and plenty of good fellowship.
Some of these events are advertised on the www.NYAOH.Org website. Also events can be found on the AOH Facebook page(s) and some can be found on www.BrooklynIrish.com.
# October 21st, The 141st AOH Queens County Dinner Dance
Located at Russo’s on the Bay, starting at 7:00 pm. John Tully and Mary Hogan, amongst the honorees.
# November 5th, NY AOH State Meeting
Meeting starts at 10:00 am at the Albany Hilton, in Albany.
Also, Testimonial Dinner honoring State President Tim McSwiney
Mass at 4:00 pm, Cocktails at 5:00 pm and Dinner at 6:00 pm. Dinner is $100 per person. Journal ads accepted, please check State website for details for prices and deadlines.
# November 11th, AOH Yonkers Dinner Dance
Located at Westchester Manor, starting at 7:00 pm. Celebrating their 125th year. $100 per person
Contact Kevin Ellis (914) 844-4123 for attendance and journal ads. Deadline is October 28th.
# November 13th, Kings County Division 19 Dinner
Starting at noon at the Baile na nGael, $35 per person. Honoring Steve Terrwilliger on the erection of the Veteran Flag Pole, which is in front of the Baile na nGael along with the new wall. Steve spearheaded the project and saw it to fruitition with a dedication event held earlier this year.
# November 19th, AOH Peekskill Div 18 Dinner Dance
$70 per person. Journal ads accepted. Please view State website for contacts and details.
# November 20th, AOH Bronx County Dinner Dance
Located at Rory Dolan’s from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at $70 per person.
Among the Honorees is John O’Connell, the Editor of the National Hibernian Digest
Contact Bob Nolan 347-880-1403 nolanbxbp@hotmail.com
Or Martin Galvin 718-665-1800
Payments of attendees or accepted journal ads is before November 10th.
# Feb. 11th, Kings County Div 35 Dinner Dance
Located at Knight fo Columbus Columbus Council #126. $40 per person
Honoring the Hibernian of the Year, Eddie Velinskie.
Contacting me, Steve Kiernan, would be fine. Details to follow..
November 6th, Commodore Barry Club Annual Social
Located at Saint Patrick’s Auditorium in Bay Ridge from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, $30 per person
The Club is honoring member Peter Lovett
November 10th, Saint Patrick’s Society of Brooklyn meeting
Located at Dyker Park Golf Course, 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm, free for members, $50 for non-members.
Contact a member for intentions on attending and/or joining.
December 10th, Richmond County Pipes and Drums 40th Year Anniversary Dinner
Located at LiGreci’s Staaten, from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. $65 per person
Contact a member before November 1st, for attendance and/or Journal ads
NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade news:
Nothing to report. New Judge hearing case. Affiliates still haven’t been notified by Corporation or Committee with respect of updated Affiliate list and for payment. As of this newsletter, no new update to report. Next Affiliate Meeting in November.
The Kings County Officers would like to wish Marc Reilly of Division 12 congradulations on being the Kings County AOH 2017 Aide to the Grand Marshall at the Irish-American Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Park Slope. Details of Installation to follow.
Also being honored at the same Irish-American Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is County Officer James O’Leary. He will represent the Grand Council of the Emerald Society.
Well deserved recognition for both, congrats.
As always, please try and attend meetings at your Division and all are invited to the County Meetings.
Next County meeting is Monday October 24th, at the Baile na nGael with a 7:30 pm start
Division 12 meetings are normally the 3rd Thursday of the month and is held at the Leif in Bay Ridge, unless changed by President Jerry McCabe.
Division 19 meetings are normally the 4th Wednesday of the month and is held at the Baile na nGael, unless changed by President Joseph Glynn.
Division 35 meetings are normally the 3rd Tuesday of the month and is held at the Knights of Columbus Columbus Council #126, unless changed by President Eddie Murphy.
The Kings County Board
Will be selling tickets to the Brooklyn Nets Irish Heritage Night
Brooklyn Nets vs The Pelicans
Thursday January 12th, 2107
$60.00 per ticket
More to follow, contact any County Officer for tickets
Sincerely, In Our Motto
Steve Kiernan, President
AOH Kings County Board
Posted by Jim on
New City, New York – 10/19/16 – The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH)
The Ancient Order of Hibernians condemns the outrageous comments made by host Alex Trebek on the episode of “Jeopardy!” which aired on 10/18/16. During the contestant interview section, Mr. Trebek queried contestant SHANNON DILLMOREShannon Dilmore on his Irish connection given his first name of “Shannon”. Mr. Dillmore stated that he has visited all 26 Counties of the Republic of Ireland and has hill walked all of its highest peaks. It was at this point that Mr. Trebek took it upon himself to ask Mr. Dillmore “Were you sober when you did it?”
We are sure the Jeopardy research staff can provide voluminous material to Mr. Trebek and the show’s producers documenting the bigoted history behind the cliché of conflating Irishness with Drunkenness. As a show that prides itself on its educational value, specifically as regards children, we find such an insensitive and prejudiced remark by the public face of Jeopardy inexcusable. We question if Mr. Trebek would utter such a defaming remark if the target was another heritage. We note the sad irony that the show’s creator Merv Griffin was himself an Irish American; Mr. Trebek who makes a comfortable living off of Mr. Griffin’s legacy should be ashamed for defaming the heritage Mr. Griffin expressed great pride in.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians calls for Mr. Trebek and “Jeopardy!” to immediately issue a full and complete on-air apology to the Irish community for his crass, denigrating remark. We also ask our membership and members of the broader Irish American community to contact “Jeopardy!” Productions at (310) 244-8855 to express their anger at this defamation targeting people of Irish heritage and demand an on-air apology from Mr. Trebeck.
###ENDS###
About the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Founded in 1836 with some 40,000 members covering 38 states, the Ancient Order of Hibernians is the oldest and largest Irish-Catholic Organization in the United States
Contact information (press members only):
Neil F. Cosgrove, National Anti-Defamation Chairman
Ancient Order of Hibernians
(845) 499-8546 Neil.Cosgrove@AOH.com
