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Once again, the world of academia delivers another sterling
book on the conflict that examines an angle never fully explored by those knee
deep in reporting: the role of dissident and dissenters in republicanism.
With this book, Paddy Hoey takes a look at how republican
media (from DIY magazines, through to An
Phoblacht/Republican News, the early days of the internet and social media)
has not only shaped the republican message but also fits into a long strand of
alternative thinking in the media (also known as "mosquito press).
Over 224 pages, Hoey goes through the major dissident/dissenter
groups and demonstrates how republicanism is (to misquote Steve Bruce and
Gareth Mulvenna) a central reservation which cut through various and often
transient political, military, intellectual and emotional journeys. How else
could you have people like Gerry McGeough and Tommy McKearney in the same
movement (the section involving McGeough's own publication, The Hibernian, did give me a good
laugh)?
The chapter which incorporates Fourthwrite and The Blanket (an earlier version appeared on this very site in 2012 http://thepensivequill.am/2012/09/the-bell-and-blanket-journals-of-irish.html)
gives both organs the respect they deserve for allowing republicans to
articulate their viewpoints without fear of censorship and for being a thorn in
the side of the mainstream republican media.
Tracing their beginning to the early online message boards
and guest books recalls a time when the internet was not the corporate behemoth
it is today, but a collection of dissenting views on anything from UFO's to
sexual deviancy. Reading it made me strangely nostalgic for this period, and
made me realise how much we've given up in the way of privacy for the
conveniences of modern life.
One thing Hoey is convinced of is
his belief that, for all the great work Fourthwrite and The Blanket did, none of the contributors were able to offer a
genuine alternative. He quotes Brendan Hughes to emphasise this point: “I don’t
have an alternative, people keep saying to me if your (sic) going to criticize
put up an alternative. I don’t have an alternative, the alternative is within
the republican movement.”
This has already been rejected on
this very blog http://thepensivequill.am/2012/09/some-bones-to-pick.html, and
to me, Hoey overlooks the fact that the period 1998-2008 was a time when
republicans had the carpet pulled from under their feet. Everything they
thought they had been fighting for and who they believed in was now up for
debate. Under the circumstances, is it really any wonder that the focus turned
inward?
Similarly, he notes that The Blanket had an ambivalent
relationship with dissident groups, condemning the violence but carrying their
statements. Unfortunately, Hoey is reluctant to not only put this down to The Blanket's policy of allowing people
to speak their mind, but he also doesn't allow for the thought that, by
carrying such statements, the discussions around them centred around the
futility of what they were doing. So, by carrying such statements, The Blanket (it could be argued) did
their bit in dissuading people to take up arms.
The examination of both the political fortunes and social
activism of Eirigi and Republican Network for Unity are concise and
demonstrates just how vast the scope of republicanism can be if applied
correctly. The influence of punk rock on Eirigi's Situationalist type stunts
and it's media exposure is something that I would have welcomed more of (as an
aside, the revelation that Carrie McIntyre was influenced by the legendary Flipside fanzine made me smile, even
though I'm more of a Maximumrocknroll
and Forced Exposure man myself), but
the coverage is still insightful enough. Interestingly, there's no reference to
both organisations seemingly being moribund these days, although Hoey does write
about their difficulties at the polls and on the streets.
His attitude towards Sinn Fein focuses more on their
political adventures in the south, and how their campaigning fits into the
traditional left dissenting voice (despite implementing Tory cuts in the North)
is quite a contrast from Matt Treacy's view of them in 'A Tunnel to the Moon'
as a politically promiscuous party, willing to jump on whatever bandwagon there
is in order to further votes. Although Hoey acknowledges the contradiction,
he's still a little too in thrall to SF for my liking. However, since the party
are now the largest nationalist party in the North, and making significant
progress in the south, he can easily make the point that the party have
succeeded where others have failed. Of course, that leads into another
argument, and maybe outside of the scope of the book.
At £75 for 224 pages is hard to justify, but it is an
excellent read that is not only entertaining, but thought provoking and
informative. Long may these strands of books continue to hit the shelf.
Paddy Hoey, Shinners, Dissos and Dissenters: Irish
Republican Media Activism Since the Good Friday Agreement Manchester
University Press ISBN-13: 978-1526114242
Christopher Owens reviews for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland.
Follow Christopher Owens on Twitter @MrOwens212
William Crawley interviews Patrick Hoey (starts 45mins in....)
ReplyDeleteGood interview. It's a topic that was long overdue a book and I'm glad Hoey stepped up to the plate and gave us this.
ReplyDelete