Left Archive: Norwich Clann na h’Eireann, Official Sinn Féin, c.1975

To download the above please click on the following link. NORWICHCLANN

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Many thanks to the person who forwarded this to the Archive.

This unusual and short document is a handwritten, copied double sided leaflet that was issued during the 1970s on behalf of the Norwich cumann of Clann na h’Eireann. Clann na h’Eireann was the UK based support group for Official Sinn Féin and the Official Republican Movement. Their main publication was Rosc Catha (an example of which can be found in the Archive here).

The introductory paragraph notes that fact, as when it says:

Clann na h’Eireann is the political support group in this country of the Official Republicn Movement in Ireland. As such we are often approached by people who whilst they might not completely agree with us politically, ask us if there is any way in which they can help us.

It further notes issues that it campaigned against that elicited some support during the period, The Jenkins Anti-Terrorist Act, British Troop, Internment & Bill of Rights, Press Bias. On the latter it argues that:

Our two best weapons in this flight are two newspapers ‘the United Irishman’ and ‘Rosc Catha’. A copy of the latter is being posted in the Archive over the Summer. In relation to Rosc Catha the leaflet notes ‘it has had a lot of harassment etc and a subsequent loss of finance so any donations even pennies would be appreciated.

It also mentions Political Prisoners and lists those in English jails.

The mention of the poor finances of Rosc Catha perhaps also accounts for the hand-rendered quality of this document which is quite unlike other material emanating from OSF or OSF related formations during this period.