Death of Brian Keenan

[Donagh]

Leading IRA figure Brian Keenan has died

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The leading Belfast republican and IRA leader, Brian Keenan, has died after a long illness.

Mr. Keenan was a pivotal figure in the Republican movement during the Northern Troubles.

Tony Blair's chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, described him in his recent autobiography as "the greatest single threat to the British state".

An apprentice electrical engineer, he joined the IRA in 1968.

He spent 25 years on the run and 16 years in jails across England.

Sinn F€in President Gerry Adams has described Brian Keenan as having been crucial in securing IRA support for the peace process.

[EC Unique]

RIP...

Que the debait 

[Bacon]

Sinn F€in President Gerry Adams

Why do you spell Sinn Fein with a Euro sign Donagh?

[thebandit]

I'd say he tried to put in a fada

[Donagh]

Why do you spell Sinn Fein with a Euro sign Donagh?

Copied that from a Belfast Tele (now owned by Independent Media Group) report this morning Bacon.

No matter about ones personal opinions on the man there's no doubting he was a sincere and dedicated republican, socialist and patriot. There's also no doubt that Adams wouldn't have been able to carry the movement as far as he did without the support of Keenan. While Bertie and Blair have been happy to hog the headlines and take the plaudits of the 'success' of the peace process it was men like Brian Keenan who staked most on making peace and ultimately had most to lose.

Keenan was also a great orator of whom I had the pleasure of listening to a few times. During a debate in the run-up to the SF policing Ard Fheis last year I watched him singlehandly turn a room of sceptics around to supporting the leadership motion. No matter what whispers were going around about the motivations of the politicos, there was no doubting sincerity and logic of the visibly frail Keenan, who had given most of his life to the movement, arguing for progress.

It was also very informative to hear him argue against a Dublin motion that wanted the insertion of the word 'socialist' before the word 'republican' in some side motion or other. His argument went along the lines of him being so confident in his understanding of republicanism and socialism that the two go hand in hand. Irish republicanism to him was socialist and as such there was no need to continually restate this. The Dublin motion was defeated.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

[orangeman]

Why do you spell Sinn Fein with a Euro sign Donagh?

Copied that from a Belfast Tele (now owned by Independent Media Group) report this morning Bacon.

No matter about ones personal opinions on the man there's no doubting he was a sincere and dedicated republican, socialist and patriot. There's also no doubt that Adams wouldn't have been able to carry the movement as far as he did without the support of Keenan. While Bertie and Blair have been happy to hog the headlines and take the plaudits of the 'success' of the peace process it was men like Brian Keenan who staked most on making peace and ultimately had most to lose.

Keenan was also a great orator of whom I had the pleasure of listening to a few times. During a debate in the run-up to the SF policing Ard Fheis last year I watched him singlehandly turn a room of sceptics around to supporting the leadership motion. No matter what whispers were going around about the motivations of the politicos, there was no doubting sincerity and logic of the visibly frail Keenan, who had given most of his life to the movement, arguing for progress.

It was also very informative to hear him argue against a Dublin motion that wanted the insertion of the word 'socialist' before the word 'republican' in some side motion or other. His argument went along the lines of him being so confident in his understanding of republicanism and socialism that the two go hand in hand. Irish republicanism to him was socialist and as such there was no need to continually restate this. The Dublin motion was defeated.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

I wonder what he thought as he looked back over the years - where there was a enemy who he and others tried to get out of the country by force and then seeing Deputy First Minister Martin Mc Guinness, visit an injured policeman in Castlederg last week ?? He must have had to scratch his head quite a few times as past few years as all the changes unfolded.

RIP

[pintsofguinness]

Donagh, were you ever in his company?

[Donagh]

Donagh, were you ever in his company?

Was introduced to him at a wake in Lurgan a few years back.

[Zapatista]

A true Gentleman and a quiet hero. My prayers are with his family and friends. May this man of peace now rest in peace.

[Zapatista]

I wonder what he thought as he looked back over the years - where there was a enemy who he and others tried to get out of the country by force and then seeing Deputy First Minister Martin Mc Guinness, visit an injured policeman in Castlederg last week ?? He must have had to scratch his head quite a few times as past few years as all the changes unfolded.

RIP

I doubt it OM as he had more vision than most.

[orangeman]

I wonder what he thought as he looked back over the years - where there was a enemy who he and others tried to get out of the country by force and then seeing Deputy First Minister Martin Mc Guinness, visit an injured policeman in Castlederg last week ?? He must have had to scratch his head quite a few times as past few years as all the changes unfolded.

RIP

I doubt it OM as he had more vision than most.

What was his vision for the future ?

[Donagh]

Keenan interview (Part 1)
http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/26762

(Part 2)
http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/26946

(Part 3)
http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/27259

[Zapatista]

What was his vision for the future ?

When I say he had great vision I mean he knew what the consequences of his actions and the action of others would be. More a vision of the future rahter than for the future.

These little qoutes say much about his view and it can in some way give a sence of achievement to his politics.

"Most republicans see it in terms of British troops occupying the North. I see it in those terms as well but I also apply a socialist analysis."

"Over the years I met a lot of republicans from the '40s. I don't want to be cruel to them because they were good people. They kept the struggle going in difficult times. But they relied too much on the politics of the gun.
"Their vision was a united Ireland, plain and simple. It didn't matter on whose terms as along as it was a united Ireland."

[Yes I Would]

Keenan spent the past couple of years mostly in Cullyhanna Co. Aramgh as his health deteriorated.
Very influential character who, i imagine played a very pivotal role behind the scenes in recent years!!

[orangeman]

What was his vision for the future ?

When I say he had great vision I mean he knew what the consequences of his actions and the action of others would be. More a vision of the future rahter than for the future.

These little qoutes say much about his view and it can in some way give a sence of achievement to his politics.

"Most republicans see it in terms of British troops occupying the North. I see it in those terms as well but I also apply a socialist analysis."

"Over the years I met a lot of republicans from the '40s. I don't want to be cruel to them because they were good people. They kept the struggle going in difficult times. But they relied too much on the politics of the gun.
"Their vision was a united Ireland, plain and simple. It didn't matter on whose terms as along as it was a united Ireland."

What advice would be offer the new or any future republican freedom fighters ?