Tuesday, May 13, 2008
“These are exceptional times”
On 10 May éirígí held its second Ard Fheis. In a mere two years it has grown greatly beyond the original six members based in Dublin.
For those interested in following developments, you can read and view the new rúnaí ginearálta Rab Jackson’s address to the Ard Fheis here.
Tommy McKearney’s and Brian Lesson’s orations at the Connolly commemoration are also available.
Mark McGregor @ 10:53 AM
ah, the alternative to the partitionist and right of centre politics of Provisional Sinn Fein.
Good!!
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 11:46 AMAnd not an Armani suit in sight.
Long may it be so.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 12:34 PMAs long as socialism remains an integral part of any Republican agenda the results will remain the same. Marginal. In order to get a majority of the modern working class behind the cause, socialism must be rejected. Imho.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 12:57 PMTo Mark McGregor - perhaps you and your friends would like to make a proper comment regarding this act of violence.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 02:17 PM“So I’ll finish with the words of James Connolly who said: “We believe in constitutional action in normal times; we believe in revolutionary action in exceptional times. These are exceptional times.”
So you’re preaching revolutionary not constitutional action? Is that armed revolution?
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 02:18 PMThe Fermanagh Beagle Fanciers Club held it’s AGM in Pettigo last night.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 04:38 PMIf at first you you don’t succeed by all means try again but don’t become bloody stupid about it . The world moves on and the ‘objective’ of an Irish Socialist Republic while of interest to the small numbers of those in ‘Eirigi’ is of little or no interest to the 99% plus of the people actually living in Ireland in the here and now .
Time for Eirigi to ‘Imigi led do thoil’ by the left quick march down the path towards the political and economic grave that history has dug for them.
That said there is political room in Ireland for a radical left but not a whole lot .There is no political room for a new generation of ‘bombers’. Connolly was a brave man but also a man of his time and even though some his words resonate across the decades the fact is that most Irish people distinguish between past justifiable struggle and present economic and political realities .
Revolutions are not made by fat people who drink lots of beer in pubs and spend their time lying on a sofa with a remote control while pondering Dustin the Turkey’s chances in eurovision !
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 04:42 PMThis group will have no impact.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 04:49 PMThis group has about as much relevance to modern Ireland as those who believe the Giant’s Causeway was formed c.4000 years ago. Both groups deserve to be put out of their misery.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 04:59 PMdublinsfsupporter,
I refer you to Cathy Jackson’s reply to Liam Duggan in the Irish News on this topic.
There is now new hope for republican idealists
Liam Duggan (April 25) used the famous James Connolly quotation, “We believe in constitutional action in normal times; we believe in revolutionary action in exceptional times”, to bolster his own analysis of the contemporary political landscape.
His usage goes to the heart of the challenge facing republicanism in Ireland today. For those who believe we live in ‘normal’ times the only avenue open to them is that of ‘constitutional’ action – or perhaps, more accurately, ‘institutional’ action (or inaction) – within Stormont. For those of use who believe there is nothing normal about partition; nothing normal about a ‘permanent’ garrison of 5,000 British soldiers; nothing normal about a heavily armed colonial police force; nothing normal about MI5 spy rings and nothing normal about discrimination, exploitation and poverty the only action open to us is revolutionary action.
Republicanism is now in a state of flux as republicans all across Ireland come to terms with the new political landscape. For many there has been bitter disappointment with how little has been achieved over the last 40 years.
For some that disappointment has turned to disillusionment with the entire concept of organised political struggle. For others, however, that disappointment has been replaced by hope and by a renewed commitment to the long-fought-for objectives of Irish republicanism.
For myself, and others in south Derry, Dublin, Belfast, Armagh and elsewhere, éirígí now represents the best vehicle for the achievement of an Irish Socialist Republic.
Is éirígí the ‘credible alternative’ that Liam refers to in his letter? Perhaps not yet, but to quote another father of Irish Republicanism, Fintan Lalor, “Somewhere and somehow, and by somebody, a beginning must be made.”
In my opinion that beginning was made two years ago when a group of republican activists in Dublin launched éirígí as an alternative not only to Sinn Féin but also to Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the SDLP and all the other establishment political parties on this island.
CATHY JACKSON
Leas Chathaoirleach
Éirígí, Doire TheasPosted by on May 13, 2008 @ 05:30 PMmark mcgregor ,
‘Republicanism is now in a state of flux as republicans all across Ireland come to terms with the new political landscape. ‘
Not entirely true. Some few Republicans have yet to come to terms with the new political landscape but the vast majority have already done so.
‘For many there has been bitter disappointment with how little has been achieved over the last 40 years.’
Do you mean as a reward for the 4,000 dead and the billions of pounds worth of property damage or just in general terms re the NI economy -it’s political party make up or the continuing sectarian nature of this ‘artificial ‘ State? or the fact that there is no UI or prospect of one on the horizon?
To quote an earlier thread
‘There are no clean wars nor intelligent deaths’
Update
‘There are no guarantees in politics’ People are and can be fickle and never forget the great power of inertia nor that every ‘revolution’ is soon enough followed by the scum of a new bureaucracy .
Put it down to human nature .
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 06:02 PMRab Jackson,
“I believe we have the ability to win and if we apply our minds and our energies we can reduce the time it will take to drive the Brits from Ireland.”
This statement in itself reflects the lack of thought and the tragic lack of vision for any form of republic that could hope to survive without the Brits who post here.
Boredom is the worst death of all.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 06:22 PMMark McGregor [ref Cathy Jackson’s reply to Liam Duggan in the Irish News]
“Liam Duggan (April 25) used the famous James Connolly quotation, ‘We believe in constitutional action in normal times; we believe in revolutionary action in exceptional times’, to bolster his own analysis of the contemporary political landscape.
For those of use who believe there is nothing normal about partition ... the only action open to us is revolutionary action.”
Instead of hiding behind the words of someone else, do you or do you not support the use of violence? Your post above implies that you do.
Any comments for the policeman seriously injured in Spamount village?
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 06:24 PMIt would be interesting to know if, going beyond the rhetoric and flimsy posters and flags in places like the Toome rounabouts, Mark and Co are ready and willing to kill or be killed for “the Republic”?
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 06:32 PMAnd what programme does this self-defined socialist, revolutionary group offer to the masses aside from self serving and hollow rhetoric? None that I can discern.
Merely saying that James Connolly was. like, really cool and that socialism is, like, dead cool as well so let’s go and annoy the Queen at Armagh Cathedral and get up the begrudgers’ noses by flying flags and pissing people off seems to me hardly to equate with serious mindedness. I envision that the best of those attracted to it will soon realise its futility and drift away and the more weak minded will gravitate towards whatever remains of the Truly, Madly, Deeply Republican nasty little bombers.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 06:53 PMIt seems to me that eirigi are putting an alternative to Republicans across ireland who do not agree with the direction of Sinn Fein, i support this and think alot of the posts left are a bit pathetic, seems like the same few people complaining about everything that happens in politics these days, dont dare disrupt the political farce at stormont.
Sounds like most of the posts are saying know one has the right to disagree or put forward an alternative? thats Fascism.Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 08:25 PMWhat a waste of time and effort. Revolution’t NEVER happen when people are fat and happy.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 08:31 PMIs Éirígí going to contest elections and will it be operating advice centres where it can engage the public?
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 08:51 PM‘What a waste of time and effort. Revolution NEVER happen when people are fat and happy. ‘
In the 20th century the major revolutions ONLY appeared to happen as a deliberate manufactured programme of ensuring the starvation and misery of the people.
Do words like peasants, centralisation, Mao and Stalin ring a bell?
So I take it you advocate revolution (for whatever noble ends) by means of inflicting a noble and necessary misery ?
It has already been tried and tested.
Here.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 09:02 PMIf this new republican group is such a waste of time why do so many sluggerites who come from the unionist tradition bother to comment,
Rory
Instead of posting ill informed comment, why not live up to the reputation you have built at slugger, as a well informed commentator and check out éirígí web site. You may not end up agreeing with éirígí, but I think you will find them a serious organization.
comradely regards.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 09:13 PMMick Hall - “I think you will find them a serious organization”
The implication from Mark McGregor’s earlier post is that the organisation supports violence. Like Mark McGregor you don’t seem to have anything to say about the policeman seriously injured in Spamount village.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 10:36 PMEirigi - even their name is designed to alienate the prods - never mind the flag flying and parades (when the orange order does that it’s called - rightly - intimidation).
This is not a socialist group, it is a lurch to the right and into xenophobia. Saying “Brits out” when some 5% of the population is English is akin to Londoners putting up signs saying “No irish” and then claiming they were only referring to the criminal element. Bunch of racists. Connolly would be embarrssed.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 10:38 PMIn conclusion we say to our fellow delegates with all solemnity that we believe that there are no real Nationalists in Ireland outside of the Irish Labour movement. All others merely reject one part or another of the British Conquest, the Labour movement alone rejects it in its entirety, and sets itself the Re-conquest of Ireland as its aim. - James Connolly
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 10:58 PMYes, thank you, Mark for reporting the platform’s quotation of Connolly by which use they would attempt to infer that there are no true nationalists save those in éirígí, no true socialists save those in éirígí,, no true republicans save those in éirígí. And indeed it must be true for éirígí has assured us that indeed it is so and called James Connolly himself from beyond the grave to confirm it.
Unfortunately their juvenile, divisive actions give the lie to their rhetoric and I am not alone in being unconvinced. Rather we can view it as merely another exercise in left wing infantalism and we all know to where such movements are inexorably driven - into the arms of the ultra-right.
Posted by on May 13, 2008 @ 11:52 PMTure republicans are internationlists anyway :)
Posted by on May 14, 2008 @ 12:04 AM
