Topics

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/ira-blamed-for-kingsmill-massacre-16012691.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11641365

Read his book earlier this year, a book which resulted in him being ostracised from the republican 'family' of which he had been an active member for so long. His offence was to paint a picture of IRA life warts and all and to question what the struggle had actually achieved. Liam Clarke did a good piece on him last year.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6860162.ece

A colleague in work is raising money for one of these charity treks abroad. She's got her hands on a Tyrone football shirt signed by the 2008 Championship squad. Would Tyrone fans still think this is worth buying a raffle ticket for, or has the moment passed?

Martin Connolly, independent republican councillor, refuses to condemn an attempt to murder his niece, a PSNI officer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10902438
Hopefully Martin's brother / sister will call round and see him to explain to him why they're not too pleased that he would support the blowing to pieces of their daughter.

Is it not about time this Board had its own Ulster Rugby thread?

Top of the table derby match against Leinster at Ravenhill this Saturday with Ulster looking to bounce back from the disappointing defeat at Edinburgh last week in the HC. Should be close to a capacity crowd for this one, especially with a kick off time of 6.00pm.

Interesting tour round Dublin yesterday. Made me think about how history can turn on one decision. Walked round Kilmainham and stood in the courtyard listening to the guide describe the shooting of Pearse, Connolly and the rest. She threw out a few of the statistics around 1916 - 1,700 took part in the rising, 500 civilians killed in the fighting, etc. She also mentioned how the rebels were not viewed as heroes in the immediate aftermath, indeed they were spat on and jeered as they were marched through the streets of Dublin. For Ireland was not a seething cauldron of rebellion at this time. Over 200,000 Irishmen were off fighting in the trenches in the uniform of the British Army. Over 40,000 were to die in that slaughter, so the rebels' actions were viewed as a stab in the back by many whose sons and husbands and brothers were fighting a different war. Yet the brutality and stupidity of the British decision to execute the leaders changed all that. Irish opinion united behind the rebels as the inhumanity of their execution - particularly that of Connolly - became known. What would've happened if the rebels had simply been consigned to prison? The 1916 uprising would possibly have gone down as simply another failed rebellion by fanatics and fantasists. Those returning fron the trenches might have been viewed as Ireland's heroes instead. The shared experience of fighting together in a common cause might have softened unionists' objections to Home Rule. Ireland might have gone on to achieve Home Rule and - eventually - full independence, instead of being partitioned and hopelessly divided. Who knows. On a side note, the place where the rebels were executed is marked by a plaque on the wall, two crosses on the ground, and a huge Irish tricolour flying overhead. In contrast, the spot were 4 'diehard' republicans were executed by the Free State authorities is marked only by a plaque. No crosses, no Irish flag. It doesn't even get a mention by the guide as she leads you past it. Not all deaths in Ireland's cause are considered glorious, it seems.