IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP
http://irlnet.com/rmlist/
Wednesday-Friday, 16-18 August, 2000
PART 2
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>>>>>> Feature: From the spiritual to the mundane
"Two strangers looked up upon the self same star
In a maze
Confused Bemused
One prisoner waits for the lark again to sing
The other a prisoner of an engagement ring....
One enraged imprisoned by her own beauty
One encaged because he'd done his duty"
'Prisoners', Tom Hodgins
On Friday 28 July, the final prisoners walked out of Long Kesh as
it closed its gates for the last time, signalling the end to that
particular chapter in the history of conflict upon this island.
The significance of the occasion was not lost amongst those
gathered at the Dublin City Arts Centre that night, the audience
including former H-Block prisoners, as poet Tom Hodgins read the
above lines. The familiar theme is recalled of a prisoner seeking
solace in some eternal object or in the relative struggles of
nature's surroundings. One is reminded of the tale from "Before
the Dawn" of Gerry Adams drawing strength from determination of a
wild bird outside his cage. The poem brilliantly equates the
relative situations of a cellblock inmate with the entrapment of
a prisoner of life. In an emotional introduction, Tom dedicated
his poem to "all the prisoners, not just on this island, nor just
prisoners of physical surroundings but all who are prisoners of a
kind; prisoners of hatred, prisoners of the past and prisoners of
circumstance".
"Prisoners" was by no means the only dramatic moment nor topical
reflection in an evening at the centre to launch a new collection
by Drogheda poets Stephen Downes and Tom Hodgins as they read
from their joint work, "Celtic Echoes". A very enjoyable and
colourful night it was, as the large crowd, consisting of family,
friends and interested parties were treated to an evening of
music, poetry and song. The centre is attractive, vibrant and
welcoming, with warm colours and an unusually structured
interior. The remnants of a beautiful summer's evening hung in
the air as the evening got underway with a haunting musical
rendition by a female three-piece not unlike Clannad in style.
Stephen Downes was the first filiocht to take the stage as he
introduced himself and his work. "Ghosts" is Stephen's second
published work; he debuted with "The Pagan Field" in 1997.
Working as a playwright for the past seven years, he is currently
studying anthropology in St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.
Stephen's poetry took a varied and innovative look at life and
explored many of the dilemmas affecting modern youth in a manner
that was at times both poignant and humorous. In his "advert for
man of the Nineties" he seeks a companion for "intellectual
conversations, artistic outin, dinner parties and stimulating
political debate" but concludes with the essential requirement,
"must have large breasts"!
Other poems dwelled upon more serious subject matter, as themes
of unemployment, artistic disaffection and labours of love were
explored. He laments the travails of the artistic life "Rich as
poetry...but poor as shit...if only it paid...minimum wage".
Many of his poems are constructed in a pictorial fashion -
appearance on the printed page was almost as striking as the
content.
Another poem addresses his confusion - "Can't work for Commune -
I'm a free spirit; Can't work for Capitalist - I'm a lazy sod".
Some quite sombre moments interspersed a collection where humour
went hand in hand with despair - I was reminded of another work
on life's trials, John Drennan's "Dole Diaries". As Stephen says
himself that his work covers "everything from laughter to love
and death, from mundane works to spiritual fears".
The second half of the book consists of Tom Hodgins' collection,
"Macalla". Tom graduated with an MA from UCD and is currently on
the staff of the University of California, Irvine, USA, where he
lectures in English and Comparative Literature.
Tom's work includes poems in both English and Irish and he began
with a poem he was inspired to pen after the Good Friday
Agreement in 1998 dedicated to US President Bill Clinton. Indeed,
as Tom informed us, the reading that night was actually being
filmed for the White House at the special request of the US
ambassador.
Tom wished for a time when "Paddy's day will whistle a new tune
of Orange and Green". He ended with a wish that "the lilies...can
grow beside the poppies...not just another requiem for the
croppies".
The republican struggle featured prominently through Tom's work;
another poem was entitled "Bloodly Sunday", cleverly subtitled
"Para normal". He spoke of "plastic journalists in Dublin
4..Peddling justice like a whore".
In "What might have been", he remembers the way he "cried the
night Bobby Sands died", also honouring Kevin Brady and Pat
McGeown in his lyric.
He longs for the time when "war is over, peace has come at last;
When Blushirt, Tory and Westbrit..stop living in the past". (I've
a feeling he's in for a long wait.)
Tom's poetry also explored other themes. On school and
adolescence - "teacher shows us videos..thinks it's cool..sleeper
at the back wakes up 'did somebody mention sex?' ..and who the
hell are U2.'Who wrote the poem anyway?' 'I did'. Exit stage
left. My cue."
The two artists were treated to great applause at the finale.
Copies of the book were in high demand as the pair, obviously
pleased at the night's success, mingled and signed their book
before all retreated to O'Neills on Pearse Street for some well
deserved drinks and a chance to unwind.
"Celtic Echoes" is published by "Pagan Publications" and retailed
on the night for #6. It may be ordered from all good bookshops.
BY SEAMUS O'LAIGHLEIS
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>>>>>> Analysis: Will the real economic indicators please stand up
BY ROBBIE MacGABHANN
Good news, Ireland has an economy "displaying spectacular
economic growth" that is "well placed to continue to perform
strongly in the future". This analysis comes to us courtesy of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which believes that the
26-County economy will grow by 8% this year.
Goodbody Stockbrokers believe that the level of growth will be
upwards of 10%. Their view is matched by other economic analysts
in NCB and ABN Ambro, who also believe that the economy is
growing at a double digit rate.
So what does that really mean? Is everyone enjoying a 10%
increase in income this year? No they are not. Many unionised
workers have committed themselves to wage increases of only 5%
this year.
Does it mean that house prices are decreasing, or that more
affordable houses will be on sale? No. Does it mean that hospital
waiting lists will decrease? No. Does it mean that primary and
secondary schools will have more teachers, more resources and
better quality buildings? No.
Does it mean that more unemployed people returning to education
and work will get access to proper training and achieve the
necessary qualifications to earn adequate incomes to enjoy a
dignified standard of living? No.
None of these things were included in the measures of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP) used by
the economic analysts who have been studying the 26-County
economy to calculate economic wealth.
GNP measures the total amount of consumption, investment,
government spending and the difference between imports and
exports in an economy. The 26 Counties has, for the past decade,
been in a position where exports are significantly greater than
imports into the economy. This is a reflection of the changing
structure of the economy, where more and more transnational
businesses site their operations here to export produce into
Europe and beyond. Intel, Apple, Hewlett Packard, Dell, Xerox,
Coca Cola and Compaq are all examples of companies which have
either come to Ireland over the past 15 years or significantly
expanded their operations in Ireland.
GDP measures all that GNP does plus the amount of income and
profits generated in the economy which either enter or leave the
26-County economy. In the 26 Counties, a significant amount of
wealth created here every year is siphoned out of the economy,
usually to other international financial services centres. It
used to be believed that most of these monies were from
transnational companies taking the profits home, but the
McCracken and Moriarty tribunals have uncovered a systematic and
substantial number of Irish citizens illegally moving their money
out of the Irish economy to avoid income tax. In 1998, the
Central Bank estimated that nearly #7 billion had been taken out
the economy this way.
Both these measures are a crude gauge of how the whole economy is
performing. They don't really measure the standard of living of
the workers who actually produce the wealth of the economy. The
IMF report tells how the 26 Counties is now in its seventh year
of spectacular growth. It also says that there has been a rapid
growth in employment and disposable incomes.
It is true that thousands more people are at work. However, it is
also true that many of these new workers are only marginally
better off in their new low paid jobs and that there is little
access for tens of thousands of workers to the high tech high
paid jobs about which we witness so much media hype.
The real question arising from all of these economic studies is
why don't they produce an economic measure that takes account of
the real indicators of economic well being and tell us clearly
answers to the questions of how many people enjoy an adequate
standard of living with proper access to education, health and
housing.
Why can't the economic experts tell us the comparison between the
average increase in wages and profitability rather than the crude
measures of wealth creation they harp on about in these newly
released reports?
Colin Hunt is head of research at Goodbody stockbrokers and
author of one of the economic reports that describes the
26-County economy as being one where we had a first world economy
with a third world infrastructure. Hunt was talking about
transport and telecommunications, but many thousands of Irish
people are also the victims of a third world social, educational
and health service infrastructure.
It leaves you wondering will the real Irish economy ever be
allowed stand up and be counted.
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>>>>>> Events in Ireland and Britain
VOLUNTEER COMMEMORATION: Annual Volunteer Sean Russell
commemoration. Assemble Saturday 19 August, (note date change)
Five Lamps, North Strand, DUBLIN. SF speaker and RFB in
attendance. Ballad session afterwards in White Sands Hotel
featuring Spailpin
REPUBLICAN COMMEMORATIVE ACTIVITIES DAY: 3pm Saturday 19 August,
West End Car Park, BUNDORAN, County Donegal. Trad music, and
dancing, RFBs, Strabane RFB, Fintona Pipe Band. Speaker: Martin
Ferris. 9pm Sat/Sun 18/19 August music in the Bird's Nest by
Spirit of Freedom
MARCH AND RALLY: Support the Aldi Strikers. Assemble 2pm Saturday
19 August, GPO and march to Aldi Store, Parnell Street, DUBLIN.
Promient speaker. Social afterwards in Eamon Doran's, Temple Bar
8.30pm. Tickets #3, available from 087-6730187
REPUBLICAN FUNCTION: Featuring the Wolfe Tones. 8pm Friday 25
August, CIE Club, ARCADIA, Cork City. Taille #12. Tickets from SF
office, Barrack Street, tel 021-4311 389. Organised by the Cork
Republican Commemoration Committee
JOHN JOE McGIRL COMMEMORATIVE WEEKEND: John Joe McGirl Memorial
Lecture, 9.30pm Friday 25 August, the Commercial Hotel,
BALLINAMORE, County Leitrim. Speaker: Brian Keenan (ex-POW).
Followed by function featuring Village Folk; John Joe McGirl
Parade: Assemble 8.30pm Saturday 26 August, top of Ballinamore to
McGirl Monument. Speaker: John Kelly MLA. Followed by function in
McGirl's bar
SF BALLAD SESSION: Featuring Just Green and Cuchulainn. Friday 1
September, The Abbey Room, Grand Hotel, WICKLOW. Taille #6,
raffle and guest speaker. Organised by Wicklow SF
SF ELECTION SOCIAL: Featuring Sean Nos. Friday 1 September,
Valley Inn, DUNLEER, County Louth. Taille #3
SF FUNCTION: Featuring Clare Celts. 9pm Friday 1 September, Grave
Bar, ATHLONE, County Westmeath. Taille #2
OSF EDUCATION WEEKEND: 1-3 September, South Armagh. Workshops on
Publicity, Group Organisation, Banner making, election work and
Campaigns. Also included are Demilitarisation, tour of South
Armagh, Political briefing and function on Saturday night. all
ages welcome. Contact: 26 Counties, Damian on 01-8726100, Matt on
042-9663579. Six Counties, Sean Pol, 077-191 27704. email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
REPUBLICAN FUNCTION: Featuring Sean Nos. 9pm Friday 8 September,
Stewart's pub, BALLYCUMBER, County Offaly. Taille #3. All
welcome. Organised by the Liam Dignam Sinn Fein Cumann
SF FUNCTION: Featuring Justice. Saturday 23 September, Widow
Scallan's, Pearse Street, DUBLIN. Taille #5. Organised by the
Jackie Griffith/Mairead Farrell Sinn Fein Cumann
MARCH/RALLY: 3rd Annual James Larkin Commemoration March & Rally.
Assemble 12 noon Saturday 30 September, Mount Pleasant,
LIVERPOOL, England. City Centre Route. Bands in attendance.
Prominent Speakers. Rally followed by social. For more
information contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
PRESENTATION: To Veteran Republican Rody Boland. 9pm Saturday 14
October, the Abbey Court Hotel, NENAGH, County Tipperay. Music by
Erin's Fury. Taille #5
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>>>>>> Twelfth Desmond Greaves Summer School
Friday-Sunday, August 25 - 27, 2000
Irish Labour History Museum, Beggars Bush Barracks, Haddington Road,
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
____________
TOPICS
Irish Republicanism in the new Century; Ireland's Constitution and the EU
Superstate; Neutrality and the militarization of the EU; Women in Ireland
Today
___________
Friday 25 August, 7.30 pm: IRELAND AND THE EU,THE CHALLENGE TO OUR
CONSTITUTON AND OUR RIGHTS
Paul Callan SC, counsel in the Crotty, McKenna and Coughlan Supreme Court
constitutional cases
____________
Saturday 26 August, 2.30 pm: WOMEN IN IRELAND TODAY
- Ann Speed,trade union official with SIPTU, on women as employees;
- Breda O' Brien, Irish Times columnist, on women, children and the family;
- Patricia McKenna MEP, on Irish women in politics and public affairs
____________
Sunday 27 August
11.00 am: THE ASSAULT ON IRISH NEUTRALITY - MILITARIZING THE EU
Prof.John Maguire, Dept.of Sociology, UCC
2.30 pm: IRISH REPUBLICANISM IN THE NEW CENTURY
Caoimghin O Caolain TD, Sinn Fein
__________
Full School: #10
Individual sessions: #3
______________________________________
C.Desmond Greaves(1913-1988), whose work and writings inspired
the foundation of this Summer School, was one of Ireland's
leading labour historians. He was author of The Life and Times of
James Connolly, Liam Mellows and the Irish Revolution, Sean
O'Casey-Politics and Art, Wolfe Tone and the Irish Nation,
History of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, The
Irish Crisis, Four Letter Verses and the Mountbatten Award
(verse). His comic epic poem Elephants Against Rome is being
posthumously published in November next.
Desmond Greaves held that the peaceful way to end the partition
of Ireland was to secure maximum equality between Protestants and
Catholics in the Six Counties, thereby removing any rational
basis for Unionism as an ideology that justified domination over
Catholics, and opening a way for Northern Protestants to
rediscover in time the political implications of the common
Irishness they share with their non-Protestant fellow countrymen.
As an activist in the Connolly Association, London, and editor
from 1948 to 1988 of its monthly newspaper The Irish Democrat, he
pioneered the idea of a campaign for civil rights as the way to
shatter Unionist political domination, which was taken up by the
l960s Northern Civil Rights Movement.
He held that it was essential for Ireland to win allies
internationally for any moves to end partition and that organised
British public opinion, especially as embodied in the British
Labour and trade union movement, which the Irish community in
Britain could significantly influence,was the most important such
potential ally.
Desmond Greaves believed that in the era of the EU, European
'integration' and the near-global dominance of Transnational
Capital, the most important political task for democrats and the
Labour Movement was to join in an international campaign in
defence of the Nation State as the fundamental locus of political
democracy and the only mechanism history has devised for imposing
social control on private capital.
c. RM Distribution and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit.
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