Posted by Jim on February 27, 2016
from The Road to Rebellion by Mike McCormack
In the yard behind O’Hanlon’s shop at 20 Moore Street, MacDiarmada informed the men of the decision to surrender. They were stunned and insisted on fighting to the end, but Connolly was adamant: his boys would not be killed. The act of carrying the surrender decision to the British was entrusted to the courageous nurse, Elizabeth O’Farrell.
With part of a sheet tied to a stick, she left 15 Moore Street (some claim it was 21) and walked the street of the slain to the barricade. She told an officer, The commandant of the Irish Republican Army wishes to treat with the British forces in Ireland. The officer replied, The Irish Republican Army? The Sinn Feiners, you mean! She replied, The Irish Republican Army they call themselves and I think that’s a very good name too! The officer tore the Red Cross emblems from her arm and apron saying, Search her, she’s a spy! She was taken to Tom Clarke’s tobacco shop at 75a Parnell Street (of all places) until General Lowe arrived. Lowe sent her back to tell Pearse that he must surrender unconditionally! She gave Lowe’s message to Pearse who sent her back seeking terms for his men. Lowe sent her back with a note penned by his son, Major John Lowe, demanding that within half an hour she must return with Pearse and the only terms acceptable were unconditional surrender. Pearse agreed to the terms and in view of the civilian atrocities most of the leaders agreed.
At 3:30 PM, Pearse marched to the barricade with nurse O’Farrell where they were met by General Lowe and his son. Pearse handed General Lowe his sword, pistol, ammunition and tin canteen. At that time, a photo was taken and later doctored to remove O’Farrell’s feet making it appear that Pearse was standing alone. He was not! In front of Byrne’s shop at Moore Street corner, a bench was brought out and Pearse bent down to sign the surrender document thereon.
NOTE
General Lowe’s son, Major John Lowe, later became a Hollywood actor under the name John Loder. He married Hedy Lamarr and appeared in How Green Was My Valley with former GPO Volunteer Arthur Shields and his brother Barry Fitzgerald!
Nurse O’Farrell agreed to their joint request to bring the surrender document to the other outposts. The one taken to the men in Moore Street read: Carrying a white flag, proceed down Moore Street, turn into Moore Lane and Henry Place, out into Henry Street and around the pillar to the right side of O’Connell Street, march up to 100 yards of the military drawn up at the Parnell Statue, halt, advance five paces and lay down arms. With sloped arms, the first group marched off under Captain O’Reilly picking up any stragglers on the way. Next, Willie Pearse led the main body waving a white flag. Close behind him walked Tom Clarke and towards the rear walked Seán MacDiamada and Joseph Plunkett, supported by Julia Grennan and Winifred Carney.
For the next two days, accompanied by a priest, Nurse O’Farrell was sent to secure the surrender of the various outposts. Dodging sniper fire and trying to convince the leaders it was not a hoax were among her biggest tasks. At Arbor Hill Detention Barracks, Pearse was visited by two IRA leaders from Wexford, who refused to believe the surrender order until they heard it from Pearse himself. British General French brought them to see Pearse and one recalled, Pearse looked, physically exhausted but spiritually exulted. He told us that the Dublin Brigade had done splendidly. Why surrender, one asked and Pearse answered, because they were shooting women and children in the streets. I saw them myself.
The remaining garrisons surrendered one by one. The men from the Moore Street garrison were marched up to the Rotunda Gardens where for two cold and damp days they were kept wet and uncovered on the grassy lawn as troops and loyalist citizens jeered and taunted them. In my interview with Volunteer, Sam O’Reilly, he said, We were lying on top of one another. I was quite near Collins and Joe Plunkett. I remember the British officer threatening to shoot the whole lot of us, and Collins saying to this officer, ‘this is a very sick man; leave him alone’ or words to that effect. He was, of course, referring to Joe Plunkett. Men and women were piled together and when they had to relieve themselves, they had to do it in front of their comrades adding to their shameful treatment. Sam also recalled a British officer, Captain Percival Lea-Wilson, taking Tom Clarke out of the group and publicly disrobing him in front of everyone and mocking the quality of these Irish rebels. It infuriated everyone who witnessed the spectacle and who had the utmost respect for Clarke. Sam happily added that in 1920, Michael Collins, who witnessed the insulting behavior, sought out Lea-Wilson and had him shot dead!
Sadly, more civilians were killed and wounded than all the military on both sides combined. Casualties in Dublin were 64 IRA killed and 120 Wounded; 132 British Army were killed and 397 wounded; and 254 civilians were killed and 2,217 wounded. At Ashbourne, Co Meath, 116 military were killed, 368 wounded and 9 went missing. The Police lost 16 killed and 29 wounded. The British press told the world that as the prisoners were marched away, they were vilified by the citizens of Dublin, but never mentioned that they had been deliberately marched by unionists and Anglo sympathizers. Many Dubliners were in no way hostile. At Boland’s Bakery and the South Dublin Union, the patriots were cheered during the Rising and sympathy had grown during the week. Rising participant, Florence O’Donohue later said, the military failure of the rising proved to be less significant than its impact on the nation’s mind; the historic Irish nation was reborn.
Posted by Jim on
https://www.facebook.com/events/174420502934617/
Osclóidh Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill craobh úr den Chonradh ag Rocky Sullivan’s, oíche Aoine, 4ú Márta. Bígí linn agus glacaigí páirt in obair an Chonartha!
8:30 i.n., Oíche hAoine, 4ú Márta, 2016,
Gaelic League President Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill will open a new branch of the League at Rocky Sullivan’s on Friday night, March 4th. Join us and take part in the work of the League!
8:30 p.m., Friday night, March 4th, 2016
https://www.facebook.com/CumannUiCheirigh
http://www.rockysullivansredhook.com
https://cnag.ie
Posted by Jim on February 25, 2016
Concerned Members of the Affiliated Organizations of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Feb 24, 2016 — The Concerned Members of the Affiliated Organizations began this past fall with a petition protesting bylaw changes to the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade. The proposed changes would have replaced the elected voice of the Affiliated Organizations with an “executive committee” accountable to an unelected board, and removed from the mission statement of the parade that it is to honor St. Patrick as Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York. Members of the Affiliated Organizations were, and still are, concerned that this signaled the intention of Dr. Lahey and the board to transform this venerable celebration of faith and heritage into a green-tinged politically correct Mardi Gras in order to placate government officials and sponsors.
Chairman Dr. Lahey has been adamant since our petition garnered over 5,000 signatures, and has repeated numerous times, that it is not the board’s intention to deprecate St. Patrick and the Archdiocese in the parade. He characterized this claim as “misinformation”, despite the fact that removing the name of St. Patrick is documented on a written agenda. The CMAO believes that actions carry more weight than words.
We sadly note that at the recent Grand Marshal Reception, an event second only to the Parade itself in importance, and despite the fact that there were numerous Chaplains in attendance, there was no invocation nor other formal recognition of the Patron Saint who is the reason for the parade. Despite many empty seats at the reception, there seemed to be no room for the Apostle of Ireland.
As exiled children of Ireland, born of famine and anti-Catholic sentiment, we are concerned. If there is no room for a Catholic recognition of God’s blessings or a faithful recognition of St. Patrick at the Grand Marshal’s reception, then we believe our concerns regarding St. Patrick’s future presence in the parade that bears his name seem warranted. We are gravely distressed that the statements and assurances of Dr. Lahey and the Board are continually contradicted by their actions.
Posted by Jim on February 23, 2016
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin this morning Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness has said;
“The last week has seen Fine Gael resort to the politics of fear, Sinn Féin are for the politics of hope. Next Friday, the people will have the opportunity to change things for the better, and Sinn Féin want to be part of that change.”
Martin McGuinness said:
“For the first time, in all our lifetimes, we have the opportunity to have Sinn Féin in government north and south. Governments that will stand up for equality. Governments that will deliver a fair recovery. Governments with a plan for unity and reconciliation. Governments with a plan to sustain the peace process. Governments that will act in the national interest.
“The events of last year showed just how important it is to have a government acting in the national interest. During critical talks, the leader of Fine Gael reduced his role to that of a by-stander and the Fianna Fáil leader intervened to call for the suspension of the institutions. This was highly reckless and clearly done for short term political opportunism. The peace process is far too important for that to happen ever again.
“We are now delivering on the Fresh Start agreement and making progress. We need to do more.
“The electorate now has the choice. Do they stick with the parties of boom, bust and broken promises or seize this moment in time, to elect a progressive republican government.
“Sinn Féin has a plan to deliver a fair recovery, we have demonstrated in the north that Sinn Féin in government secures public services and delivers jobs.
“Fine Gael might be into the politics of fear, we are for the politics of hope.
“On Friday, the people of this state have the opportunity to change it for the better, and Sinn Féin will be part of that change.”
Posted by Jim on
In a statement issued on the 22 of February 2016, Sinn Féin Poblachtach National PRO, Seán Ó Dubhláin commented on the harassment RSF members had to face as they left a republican ballad night in Dublin;
“Republican Sinn Féin wish to bring to attention the harassment of our members after their successful ballad night held on Saturday 20, 2016 in Dublin.
Whilst leaving the premises of the function four members of RSF were subject to the usual special branch harassment, names and addresses were taken by two heavily armed members of An Garda Síochana who had nothing better to be doing with tax payers money than to sit outside a bar all night trying to intimidate people for their political believes.
All members gave names and addresses in Irish, one member refused to speak any English as is his right, the Gardaí who could barely speak any Irish became quite aggressive and threatened arrest before the scenario was eventually defused. This hostility towards the Irish language from the Gardaí and Political Police of the Special Branch is typical of the rotten neo-colonial imperialist state we live in. These Special Branch officers later quickly drove off when supporters and members of RSF came on the scene and challenged them as to why they were harassing peaceful republicans.
Back in April 2015, a member of Republican Sinn Féin in the midlands gave his name and address in Irish, it was demanded in English, when this was refused the Garda became aggressive and our member was arrested, he was later released once the Free State police confirmed his identity.
Republican Sinn Féin will not be intimidated by this harassment, we will continue to promote the traditional republican message in defiance of imperialism, one hundred years since the Rising of ’16 it is a disgrace that such bigotry exists in a so-called Irish state against the Irish language, the very core and soul of our nation.”