Sinn Féin attack The Irish Independent

[sean1]

I don't vote for Sinn Féin but I got a copy of their "Dublin News" newspaper in the door today.

Below is an edited article from it.

[size=7]'The Indo's shameful record- from 1916 to today'[/size]

"When the Republicans of 1916 struch their blow for Irish freedom they were condemned by the rich and powerful in Ireland- not only by the British government but also by those who called themselves Irish and who faithfully served the British Empire.

...When the First World War started in 1914 the Irish Independent urged young Irishmen to join the British Army.

...The editorial in the first issue of the Irish Independent after the Rising was headlined 'Criminal Madness'. It said:

"No terms of denunciation would be too strong to apply to those responsible for the insane and criminal Rising of last week."

But worse was to come. By 9th May, the British had already executed 13 leaders of the Rising. James Connolly lay gravely wounded in Dublin Castle and Seán Mac Diarmada was still a prisoner. The Irish Independent called for more blood:

"If these men are treated with too much leniency they will take it as an indication of weakness on the part of the government...Let the worst of the ringleaders be singled out and dealt with as they deserve."

On 12th May the Indo said:

"Certain of the leaders remain undealt with, and the part they played was worse than that of those who have paid the extreme penalty. Are they, because of an indiscriminate demand for clemency, to get off lightly, while others who were more prominent have been executed?"

Before that paper even reached the streets the Indo got its wish- James Connolly and Seán Mac Diarmada were shot at dawn on 12th May.

Now fast forward to our own time. What group of newspapers most strongly condemned Republicans, censored their views and defended the regime of the British administration in the Six Counties? What group of newspapers denounced John Hume and Gerry Adams when they began the Peace Process in 1993/1994? It was of course the Indo group who carry on their shamefual tradition today..."

Mícheál MacDonncha

________

(At the bottom of the pages there are two information boxes- one about William Martin Murphy and one about Tony O'Reilly):

"William Martin Murphy
Owner of the Irish Independent. He led the bosses of Dublin during the Great Lockout of 1913 when they tried to starve the workers of the city into submission because they demanded the right to join a union, at one point boasting he was sure of three meals a day while they were not. Urged and pressured Irishmen to join the British Army and condemned the 1916 Rising.

'Sir' Tony O'Reilly
Multi-millionaire (Isn't he a billionaire?-Seán), owner of Independent Newspapers, chief executive of Heinz multinational food company. Lives in self-imposed tax exile to avoid making a fair contribution to the Irish people. Made a massive profit from the sell-off of the privatised Eircom in which tens of thousands of Irish shareholders lost out. Accepted knighthood from the British queen."

[CJH]

While the Indo group is no friend of nationalism, and its attitude to Hume-Adams was disgraceful (although far from a minority view amongst the commentariat), to suggest that to be anti-provo today is exactly the same as being pro-Home Rule and William Martin Murphy 80 years ago is rubbish

[iceman]

So what do you think of it? Where you living?

[duff]

Its true alright. Fair dues on the article.

[sean1]

So what do you think of it? Where you living?

I liked the article and the newspaper mostly. I don't like the way Aengus O Snodaigh referred again to "Republicans and Socialists" as though you have to see yourself as a Socialist to be a Republican. I know he is talking for SF, but you should be aware that most middle-class people don't like the word "Socialist". Hence, even the Labour Party- in Ireland and in Britain- don't use it much. Most people that vote come from middle-class areas.

Obviously, I didn't read it all as I don't support SF. But the layout is good and it has good images. Outside of the good focus on 1916 and the article on the Indo, my favourite article was the one about the street-names in Dublin like 'Wellington Quay', 'Essex Street', 'Henry Street', 'Earl Street' etc. The revolution is indeed not over.

[hiding behind a poster]

Obviously, I didn't read it all as I don't support SF. But the layout is good and it has good images. Outside of the good focus on 1916 and the article on the Indo, my favourite article was the one about the street-names in Dublin like 'Wellington Quay', 'Essex Street', 'Henry Street', 'Earl Street' etc. The revolution is indeed not over.

I haven't got the paper yet myself - the only political paper we get in the door here is Fine Gael's "Dublin First" (and no, I don't deliver it to my own house!) - even that awful "The Fenian" stopped coming in a couple of years ago.

Re the street-names, to be honest I don't see what the fuss is about. Fact is that our history has brought us to where we are today, and we shouldn't run away from it, or try to change things to make it look like our history didn't happen. And I can certainly see the companies who trade on Earl St, Henry St and particularly Grafton St having very little time for proposals to change the names - there's recognition and value in established names.

[iceman]

So what do you think of it? Where you living?

I liked the article and the newspaper mostly. I don't like the way Aengus O Snodaigh referred again to "Republicans and Socialists" as you have to see yourself as a Socialist to be a Republican. I know that the as talking about SF, but you should be aware that most middle-class people don't like the word "Socialist". Hence, even the Labour Party- in Ireland and in Britain- don't use it much. Most people that vote come from middle-class areas.

Obviously, I didn't read it all as I don't support SF. But the layout is good and it has good images. Outside of the good focus on 1916 and the article on the Indo, my favourite article was the one about the street-names in Dublin like 'Wellington Quay', 'Essex Street', 'Henry Street', 'Earl Street' etc. The revolution is indeed not over.

Fair play an honest opinion

[sean1]

Re the street-names, to be honest I don't see what the fuss is about. Fact is that our history has brought us to where we are today, and we shouldn't run away from it, or try to change things to make it look like our history didn't happen.

The article was in Irish but the there was an English synopsis above it. It sums it up for me:

"In a state thast is meant to be free and independent since challenging imperial rule 90 years ago, strong traces of colonialism still persit. In the capital city of the 26 Counties streetnames still bear the names of English monarachs; English viceroys and colonial governors; English conquistadors, generals and butchers in the service of Empire; exploitative landlords and landgrabbers; aristocratic titles; English battle victories;English placenames..."

I think some kind of review should be done by the City Council to see who exactly all these people were. Lets gets the visual remnants of the British Empire off our maps.

And I can certainly see the companies who trade on Earl St, Henry St and particularly Grafton St having very little time for proposals to change the names - there's recognition and value in established names.

They'd get use to it. They would complain alright, but there'd be no problems if they were changed.

[Rocky]

[quote=sean1]

Re the street-names, to be honest I don't see what the fuss is about. Fact is that our history has brought us to where we are today, and we shouldn't run away from it, or try to change things to make it look like our history didn't happen.

The article was in Irish but the there was an English synopsis above it. It sums it up for me:

"In a state thast is meant to be free and independent since challenging imperial rule 90 years ago, strong traces of colonialism still persit. In the capital city of the 26 Counties streetnames still bear the names of English monarachs; English viceroys and colonial governors; English conquistadors, generals and butchers in the service of Empire; exploitative landlords and landgrabbers; aristocratic titles; English battle victories;English placenames..."

I think some kind of review should be done by the City Council to see who exactly all these people were. Lets gets the visual remnants of the British Empire off our maps.

And I can certainly see the companies who trade on Earl St, Henry St and particularly Grafton St having very little time for proposals to change the names - there's recognition and value in established names.

They'd get use to it. They would complain alright, but there'd be no problems if they were changed.[/quote2llp0z6]

Sean we were part of the British Empire for a very long time and of course it had a huge impact on the country we live in today. You can't just try to forget a huge part of your history because you don't like it. One of the great things about place names is they remind you of the history of your country and that should stay.

[duff]

I think some kind of review should be done by the City Council to see who exactly all these people were. Lets gets the visual remnants of the British Empire off our maps.

Lets get them out of the country aswell as their street names....