Padraic Mac Coitir shares some of his thoughts on People And Politics. 
 
Bobby Storey's Funeral

Much has been written and said about Bobby Storey's funeral last June. Today Nolan on BBC radio spent Two hours interviewing cops, unionists and a couple of journalists. I listened to the whole programme and it was a disgrace-as expected.

Bobby Storey was obviously very well known and respected by many, and when he died it was inevitable it was going to be a large turnout at his funeral.

Many SF people were at it and they were right to attend but they have nothing to apologise for. Unionists and their hangers-on were always going to criticise them and they have many cheerleaders such as Nolan who loves the sound of his voice.

Today two top peelers were on because the 24 SF people who were contacted by them aren't getting charged. I'd argue that if they were charged they should fight it but we'll never know what they'll have done.

By the media, unionists and others going on about the funeral the family must be angry, as I would be.

Today the cops got their say and I imagine they'll see it nothing more than a PR stunt despite Foster et al calling for action to be taken against them. Cops are cops and those running about our streets armed to the teeth will Never change.

Bobby Sands

As expected much is going to be written about the 81 Hunger Strike and today the Irish Times published two full pages about Bobby Sands. The usual people were interviewed but some very unsavoury ones like Sheridan, Campbell and Hutchinson. Then we get that 'expert' Shirlow talking utter crap. 

People are entitled to their opinions whether it's about an event 400 or 40 years ago but I despair at times over the usual Bobby Sands quote about the laughter of our children being used so often. Bobby was a prolific writer and most of us have books of his poetry and prose, and of course there's his diary.

Did he go on hunger strike for elections? Did he go on hunger strike for a 'new Ireland'? Did his comrades go on hunger strike for the same? Of course they didn't. None of us know where each of the ten lads would be today and None have any right to say where they'd be in a political sense. 

So as you read this long article be prepared to be angry and annoyed at some of the comments. What Bobby Sands means to me: ‘The hunger strikers chose to die. Daddy didn’t’

Flags

My friend and comrade Alex McCrory posted a piece about the lack of flags outside peoples' houses and I agree with his sentiments. It's something I notice and definitely don't get obsessed with when out for a dander but it got me thinking.

I grew up in Riverdale and as a child I remember we had a flag out. Obviously I wasn't aware of the significance of it but I knew it was different from the union jacks flown from outside peelers' houses. 

I was only 9 when the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising was commemorated and my parents took us to the parade. Casement Park was literally a stone's throw away so we went to the events held. The GAA hierarchy (and not all of their members) changed their tune, especially during the 81 hunger strike.

In 67 we moved to Leana an Dúin and every Easter we put the flag out and the thing I noticed was more houses had it out than in Riverdale.

Over the years we encouraged more people to put the flag out but I understood why some didn't because of where they worked etc.

In 2001 in the run up to the 20th anniversary of the hunger strike we put a massive effort in to flags etc.  And that Easter the area was covered in flags. This wasn't a nationalist thing but simply a show of solidarity with the events of the Rising. 

Flags mean less to me than some people but as an Irish Republican I will gladly put a tricolour up and when I pop my clogs one will be put on my coffin.

Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

People & Politics ➖ Flags, Funerals, Bobby Sands

Padraic Mac Coitir shares some of his thoughts on People And Politics. 
 
Bobby Storey's Funeral

Much has been written and said about Bobby Storey's funeral last June. Today Nolan on BBC radio spent Two hours interviewing cops, unionists and a couple of journalists. I listened to the whole programme and it was a disgrace-as expected.

Bobby Storey was obviously very well known and respected by many, and when he died it was inevitable it was going to be a large turnout at his funeral.

Many SF people were at it and they were right to attend but they have nothing to apologise for. Unionists and their hangers-on were always going to criticise them and they have many cheerleaders such as Nolan who loves the sound of his voice.

Today two top peelers were on because the 24 SF people who were contacted by them aren't getting charged. I'd argue that if they were charged they should fight it but we'll never know what they'll have done.

By the media, unionists and others going on about the funeral the family must be angry, as I would be.

Today the cops got their say and I imagine they'll see it nothing more than a PR stunt despite Foster et al calling for action to be taken against them. Cops are cops and those running about our streets armed to the teeth will Never change.

Bobby Sands

As expected much is going to be written about the 81 Hunger Strike and today the Irish Times published two full pages about Bobby Sands. The usual people were interviewed but some very unsavoury ones like Sheridan, Campbell and Hutchinson. Then we get that 'expert' Shirlow talking utter crap. 

People are entitled to their opinions whether it's about an event 400 or 40 years ago but I despair at times over the usual Bobby Sands quote about the laughter of our children being used so often. Bobby was a prolific writer and most of us have books of his poetry and prose, and of course there's his diary.

Did he go on hunger strike for elections? Did he go on hunger strike for a 'new Ireland'? Did his comrades go on hunger strike for the same? Of course they didn't. None of us know where each of the ten lads would be today and None have any right to say where they'd be in a political sense. 

So as you read this long article be prepared to be angry and annoyed at some of the comments. What Bobby Sands means to me: ‘The hunger strikers chose to die. Daddy didn’t’

Flags

My friend and comrade Alex McCrory posted a piece about the lack of flags outside peoples' houses and I agree with his sentiments. It's something I notice and definitely don't get obsessed with when out for a dander but it got me thinking.

I grew up in Riverdale and as a child I remember we had a flag out. Obviously I wasn't aware of the significance of it but I knew it was different from the union jacks flown from outside peelers' houses. 

I was only 9 when the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising was commemorated and my parents took us to the parade. Casement Park was literally a stone's throw away so we went to the events held. The GAA hierarchy (and not all of their members) changed their tune, especially during the 81 hunger strike.

In 67 we moved to Leana an Dúin and every Easter we put the flag out and the thing I noticed was more houses had it out than in Riverdale.

Over the years we encouraged more people to put the flag out but I understood why some didn't because of where they worked etc.

In 2001 in the run up to the 20th anniversary of the hunger strike we put a massive effort in to flags etc.  And that Easter the area was covered in flags. This wasn't a nationalist thing but simply a show of solidarity with the events of the Rising. 

Flags mean less to me than some people but as an Irish Republican I will gladly put a tricolour up and when I pop my clogs one will be put on my coffin.

Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

4 comments:

  1. Padraic appears to forget that it was Michelle O'Neill who as DFM helped draw up the regulations on Covid-19 including social distancing which she and her party colleagues so flagrantly ignored at Bobby Storey's funeral. Many people have been unable to say goodbye to loved ones because of Covid restrictions. That is why there was such revulsion at Michelle O'Neill's Trump and Bolinasario type of behaviour and at the lack of prosecutions.

    As for flags/flegs; John Hume's earliest political lesson came from his father who said "Son, you cannot eat a flag" something which the Union flag fetishists in Boris Johnston's government would do well to remember.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think he knows about SF contradictions. His point is that people were not wrong to attend the funeral. My emphasis would be slightly different - the funeral was used by political hypocrisy to hit SF over the head while ignoring other breaches. SF fashioned a rod for its own back.
      I'll not be having a flag on my coffin - I'll not even have a coffin. Bin bag and off for direct cremation. I am not a funeral person either.
      I am not a flag person in the slightest - the only ones I have put up outside the house in decades have been a black one to mark deaths of people like Pat McGeown or Joe O'Connor, a Palestinian flag as a small gesture of solidarity with people experiencing crimes against humanity and the USA national flag which my wife puts out at Thanksgiving.

      Delete
  2. I think many Jews and Muslims have it right get the body in the ground by next day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is a cultural thing that prolongs the funerary ritual. I'm for direct cremation on the day. No waiting around until next day or later. Although all of that is determined by availability. I had considered going off to medical science but your corpse needs to be so healthy that it seems almost impossible for you to have died of anything.

      Delete