Left Archive: Starry Plough, from Official Sinn Féin, 1973 March 15, 2010
Posted by irishonlineleftarchive in Irish Left Online Document Archive, Official Sinn Féin.trackback
The Starry Plough was the newspaper of Official Sinn Féin in Derry ‘Derry’s own Republican newspaper’ as the subheading had it. This edition is of particular importance since it dates from just after the OIRA ceasefire of 1972. The front page is entitled Army Council Sees Growing Danger of Civil War: Why Officials Called A Halt.
The leading article argues that “The decision by the Official IRA to suspend offensive military activity was taken after weeks of consultation with the Executive of the Republican Clubs. it was not influenced in any way by the hypocrites of the ‘peace at any price’ bandwagon. it was clear to us that the violence in the North, if it continued as it had been doing, could lead only to a sectarian war, a war between Catholics and Protestants which would be of no benefit whatever to the working class. That was the single most important reason for the decision”.
Despite the ceasefire the paper takes a combative tone throughout, from a photograph on the front cover alleging that a soldier is ‘Soldier F’ from the Widgery Report on Bloody Sunday to the general approach of articles.
The editorial argues that ‘we will fight repression whether it is in the north or the south’, but it is clear that this will be on political grounds.
The problems of pursuing such a purely political approach are highlighted by a small piece on the back page: The Derry Official Republican Movement regrets the deaths of Vol. John Starrs and young Manus Deery, murdered by the forces of British repression. We tender our sincerest sympathy to their family and friends.
Perhaps of particular interest is the centre spread, with an accompanying photograph of Cathal Goulding in Free Derry, which has an article on ‘Communism, the Church and the IRA’ and seeks to counter charges from some clergy that the Official IRA ‘are not really the IRA at all. They are just communists putting themselves forward as the IRA…’ And the article continues later ‘We have no intention of running away from these allegations. There are Marxists in the Official Republican Movement. We DO want to overthrow capitalism. If, because of that people want to call us ‘Reds’ then so be it. As an Irish Socialist put it some years ago ‘I’d rather be called a Red by a rat, than a rat by a Red’. Connolly was a Marxist. He said so’.
[...] * Official Sinn Féin: Starry Plough, 1972/1973 [...]
I liked the fact the SP called their letters page “Sticky
Soapbox”.
Yep…
I really like the centre page photo. Goulding is tucking into a cup of tea… it’s very evocative.
You sure it’s a cup if tea?
I remember Goulding saying that if the Protestsnt workingclass got involved in conflict with the RUC the IRA would intervene on their side. How naieve
It would be better to be naieve than a British agent ie like some in the Provo leadership.
I accept people take divergent views on all these issues, but couldn’t we keep that sort of stuff off the site? It’s not going to change peoples preconceived notions one way or another and there are better things for us all to be doing.
The Provos
Some thought they were republican
But in reality they were not
They are but Brit’ auxiliaries
And a part of the unionist lot.
Of course there were sincere ones
Alas, sacrificed from the top
By some power seeking egos
And Brit’ agents from the start.
Oh to those who formed the Provos
Look at the mess our country’s in
The foreign grip has been reinforced
By Gerry and Martin…
But the cause itself is unbreakable
And in time we shall overcome
To see our beloved people
Sharing the vision of Wolfe Tone.
This really rocks if you sing it to the tune of Can You Feel The Love Tonight by Elton John.
This was the original Starry Plough as produced by the Official Republican Movement in Derry.
When we in the Irish Republican Socialist Party launched our publication in 1975, we had a discussion on the paper. The decision to call it The Starry Plough was taken unanimously.
This had absolutely nothing to do with the presence of Derry Socialist-Republicans like the late Johnny White, Terry Robson, Tommy McCourt, Kitty O’Kane, Seamus O’Kane and the late Red Micky Doherty among us on the Ard Comhairle.
When it came to the colour of the flag Seamus Costello mischievously proposed green to the horror of most. Someone then proposed red before all agreed on the original blue.
Nice to see the Derry paper. Hello to Liam O’Comain.
Mick
A friend of mine is writing a history of the IRSP. I wonder if you would be willing to talk to him.
Regards
Jim Monaghan
We had a few discussions during the H-Block period
Hello Mick.
Your a part of my past-a good part.I wish you the best and if ever in Derry please call
Jim,
I remember you well and your commitment to socialism and socialist history.
I’ll be in touch shortly!
Le dea ghui,
Mick
The Man With the Planter Name
Liam O Comain
The person whom I have in mind is Mr. Gerry Adams of Belfast (the birthplace of Irish Republicanism) who is the President of Provisional Sinn Fein. Now I am of half planter stock and many of that ethnic reality like myself became Irish Revolutionary Republicans so there is nothing wrong with having a planter name. Even our subject may at one time have been a revolutionary republican. But if he was to be asked if he once was would he acknowledge it or deny it just as he denies ever being a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
Whatever we may think of him however Mr Adams has wrought a place in Irish history. A place to be proud of as some declare especially his Bogside ally Mr. Martin McGuinness who is there at Mr. Adams beck and call. History of course will confirm whether Gerry Adams warrants to be spoken of in the same vein as Michael Collins or Cathal Brugha. The latter of course are miles apart for Brugha died bravely in defence of the Republic established in the early years of the last century and Collins helped to drive that Republic underground. Not alone a crime against the will of Irish Democracy but a bloody crime against Irish National Self- Determination! For as I have expressed in past writings the fruit of national self- determination is authentic democracy. The tree of national self- determination was blowing at the beginning of the last century in the wind that also shakes the barley and in the turbulence democracy came forth but unfortunately defeat came because some leaders sought a step forward rather than the final step which they had made. Of course there were the usual shrieks from Britain’s leaders and war lords at the time of threats of terrible bloodshed and perhaps national genocide but that should not of warranted surrender via a republican split. The people had spoken- they had delivered the Republic proclaimed in 1916 and it should have been defended. For no group of representatives however powerful had the right to declare the will of the Irish people as expressed in the 1918 all Ireland election null and void. Alas this was done by the Irish representatives during the then Anglo- Irish Treaty negotiations.
Interestingly history has since revealed that Michael Collins was apparently in touch with the British invader and occupier some time before the coming republican split materialized. So is, what has happened in recent years, a case of history repeating itself. Bobby Sands defending the Republic and Gerry Adams declaring perhaps the greatest struggle in our history for Irish freedom null and void. For as modern history also reveals Mr. Adams via John Hume was in consultation in the early years of the 1980s with the present day representatives of our invader and occupier.
Now although I have some knowledge of the science of psychology I would not be adept enough to even try and understand the mentality of Mr. Adams. An opening of the door so to speak into the reason for the greatest act of surrender in the history of Irish republicanism. Perhaps revealing the existence of 2 or many more Mr. Adams for inspite of the verification of those in the same guerilla cell as himself our subject denies ever being a para- military. Yes, that could be the answer but if so it would be interesting to discover for historical reasons what Gerry Adams met the Brits prior to surrender, a surrender confirmed by weapon decommissioning.
However it is interesting to be aware when one considers the mentality of Mr. Adams that mystery still surrounds the mentality of Michael Collins. Yes, there are historians of that period of our history who finds the general’s behaviour mystifying. Now admittedly as human beings we are all a bit of a mystery, a complexity of forces, a complex of reasoning and unreasoning. In fact that’s what makes us so interesting and is the basis of Freud’s system of psychoanalysis. For what a mystery is man! For example, at the 2006 Casement Park Hunger Strike Memorial gathering our man with the planter surname sincerely expressed the opinion that we would experience a united Ireland in our lifetime. Now I’m in my mid 60s and I don’t see any sign of it. Partly because Gerry’s Provos have become part of the Brit Machine and reinforced partition. But then our subject maybe a Methuselah type and he is talking in terms of his life span not ours. The Bible character is said to have lived to 969 years.
Of course on that occasion the faithful accepted everything Mr. Adams expressed- lock, stock and barrel. Which leads me to see the mentalities of the Provo movement’s membership and their supporters as a more intriguing mystery than the mentality of their leader or that of Michael Collins. But I’ll not go down that road, better leave it to Ed Moloney to try and psyche them out. For after all Mr. Moloney, although not a psychologist, did a pretty good job on the West Belfast member of the British Parliament in his book on the Provisional IRA. Of course I do not believe psychoanalysis to be an exact science but like all aspects of the mystery of life there exists insights into that which we label the truth. And there is a contemporary truth which I subscribe to and that is the need for all sincere republicans to come together into a revolutionary movement. We owe that at least to Bobby Sands and his brave comrades. But still since the Provo betrayal we have this group and that group instead of unity for the purpose of achieving national unity. Which, to conclude, perhaps implies that there is some of the man with the planter name in each of us… Oh for a Cathal Brugha or a Mickey, or a Patsy!
A Deep, Deep Silence…
(For those who seek justice
For the victims of Bloody
Sunday, in Derry, who were
Deliberately murdered
By the so called forces
Of law and order in order
To destroy the non-violent
Civil Rights movement…)
As they opposed draconian law
The pulse of justice ceased to exist,
For in the wake of orders
A baker’s dozen were murdered.
Another death occurred later.
And many more were scarred for life
But not one perpetrator has faced
The courts of human justice.
Yes, there is a deep, deep silence…
No one suggesting or proposing
That the murderers within the Paras
Hands themselves in to face prosecution.
Yes, we must condemn the atrocity
At Omagh and elsewhere
But the perpetrators,
Allegedly, were not upholders
Of so called law and order
In contrast with the occupying army
Of the British Crown.
A Deep, Deep Silence…
(For those who seek justice
For the victims of Bloody
Sunday, in Derry, who were
Deliberately murdered
By the so called forces
Of law and order in order
To destroy the non-violent
Civil Rights movement…)
As they opposed draconian law
The pulse of justice ceased to exist,
For in the wake of orders
A brave dozen were murdered.
Another death occurred later.
And many more were scarred for life
But not one perpetrator has faced
The courts of human justice.
Yes, there is a deep, deep silence…
No one suggesting or proposing
That the murderers within the Paras
Hands themselves in to face prosecution.
Yes, we must condemn the atrocity
At Omagh and elsewhere
But the perpetrators,
Allegedly, were not upholders
Of so called law and order
In contrast with the occupying army
Of the British Crown.
THE REPUBLICAN DAY
I salute the republican dead
Of another generation…
Your sacrifice and your courage
Against those who would bury
Freedom in a cloud of tear- gas,
Who would beat justice with
Rubber bullets, who would dangle
Ireland from an provo noose,
Who would incarcerate in prison
The poetry of youth…
Your sacrifice becomes a scream
Entering my conscience, calling me
From apathy, calling me into action…
“The fools, the fools, the fools,
They have left us our patriot dead”
And while Ireland treasures their graves
Ireland un-free will fight for her freedom.
An Irish Revolutionary- Joe McCann
-
In the city of Belfast Joe was born
And his surname was McCann
But because of fighting qualities
He became known as ‘the bakery man’
-
And unlike Adams and McGuinness
His name will linger on
Down through Ireland’s story
An engaging victim of the crown
-
Yes,young Joe took up arms
To free his native land
Like many of his country folk
Since the British first came in
-
And like many other patriots
He made the ultimate sacrifice
So that the Irish people could
Self-determine their nation’s life
-
In time Joe became a legend
For his fearless leadership
Epitomising ‘Fight on-
For freedom is a right’
-
So lets remember ‘the bakery man’
From working class Belfast
And bravely follow in the steps
Of brave young Joe McCann.
Liam Ó Comáin,Doire,Eire.
In The Footsteps Of Tone
It once was said that from the dead there would spring living people and from the dead of ages past came children of true mettle…
I shared their enthusiasm from the age of twelve, their dream was my dream, their methods were my methods; rationally and affectively I was convinced that I was in the right- not in an ideological sense but one sanctioned by our heritage.
In pursuit of the cause all means were considered legitimate which helped to realize our objective; a course destined to brutalise the most sensitive and cultured; death was but a dream and we laughed at imprisonment.By reading the works of Pearse and ’The Wolfe Tone Annual’ we refuelled our motivation, thinking not of ourselves but that great other- ’the people’ ; yet, we treaded the minefield of possible elitism, and there were those who aspired to such an egotistical steeple.
In the 1950s we witnessed another ’glorious failure’: the odds were insurmountable, the courage and sacrifices were great; yet the failure of the campaign led to a new departure- the movement was destined for a ‘left-wing’ fate.Connolly and Marx were quoted, if not digested, at meetings; in content ’The United Irishman’ was radically transformed;even Bodenstown re-echoed to the quotes of Mao and Lenin;the bastille of imperialism was soon to be stormed.
Civil rights agitation was an aspect of the new strategy,non- violence was nurturing the revolutionary seed.But the ghosts of tradition were close in attendance to sway those who rejected the ’socialist mead’.Once more the movement for freedom and separatism shared the tradition of a political split; the ’stickies’ and ’pinheads’ were new connotations each contending that the other was not legitimate.
Both pursued their objectives with different strategies,engendering a hatred which drove them further apart.Even to the extent of mutual assassinations, a continual breaking of the republican heart.Within both strategies there were apparent weaknesses.In implementation certain aspects were premature.An under-presumption of the sectarian problem,and the attempt at populace education was poor.The phenomenon of non-violence and then of violence twisted the face of northern politics; extending beyond the confines of ’the border’ and fuelling the conviction that ’Ireland was in a fix’.In the aftermath of such historical changes: the faceless ones bade welcome to the confusion and despair; the innocent suffered at the hands of loyalist, Brit’, and republican; a community broken and perhaps beyond repair.And even some who advocated the road of the ’ballot’ neglected to serve the war-weary community; by pursuing selfish, petty, and sectarian objectives, their actions reeking of blatant dishonesty. Their behaviour similar to the hypocrisy of the southern political powers that be.
Thus within the shadow of ’Britain’s Vietnam’ I sometimes wonder are we on the path of Tone? Does our dream of dreams justify ’Teebane’ so we Irish can rule ourselves alone? No, no, no, no,…! And does the life of one brave ’hunger-striker’, weigh less than the idea of The Republic we proclaim? Can the bullet co-exist with the ballot or in our society are they equally the same?
Within a poem a poet wrote:- ’A Terrible beauty is born’, but alas that beauty is all maimed.
Is there no rose without a thorn?
Liam Ó Comáin