I don't dwell on my time in gaol but occasionally I'll be asked to do a talk or write something about it. This morning is one of those times I'll write about food on Xmas day. I'm writing it because when I was out for a dander I met an oul comrade and we spent a couple of minutes talking about food and he suggested I write something.
I spent 15 Christmases inside, most of them in the H-Blocks. The first was 1976 in H1. I'd been on the boards for 5 days and was back on the wing on the 23rd and really looking forward to a slap up meal two days later but the wing O/C told us it was a 'tradition' for Republicans to do a 24 hour fast. I was young and naïve so just done as I was told.
In those days we could get a special parcel from outside. After my visit on the 24th I was called up to the grilles to get the parcel and couldn't believe the size of it. There was a box of Milk Tray, fruit cake, sweets, cheese, ham and fruit. I was in the cell with Joe Craven from Bawnmore - later killed by a unionist murder gang. Joe also got a big parcel and we were like two big kids. The other lads on the wing also got big parcels and someone suggested not taking anything until the fast ended at midnight on Xmas. The fast was easy especially knowing we were gonna stuff our faces that night. About 10 to 12 we heard the other lads laughing so we got our cheese, meat and other treats out and on to the table then a big cheer went up at 12 on the button. It was one of the best Christmases we had.
My next Xmas was in H-2 where we were on the blanket protest. I was in the cell with Paul McGlinchey from Bellaghy. Paul sadly died in August. The atmosphere on the wing was very good and at that stage the screws weren't beating or harassing us too much. We got a half decent breakfast of weetabix, fried soda, egg and bacon and plenty of bread, some of which we kept for that night. We went to mass and at that time most of us were practicing Catholics so took communion and at different parts of the mass we sang carols and it was good oul craic.
After mass we couldn't believe it when some of the screws offered us a cigarette. Even me and other non-smokers took one and gave to our cell mates. We got dinner earlier than usual which consisted of slices of turkey and ham, potatoes, sprouts and carrots. For dessert we got trifle. We were even more surprised when the screws let us go to into other cells. Four of us were from Lenadoon and when we were locked in the cell it was like we had won political status. After half an hour we were locked back in our cells. When the screws came back at 2pm we got our tea which was cheese, spam and a boiled egg and to our surprise a slice of fruit cake. Shortly after that the screws let us slop out and fill the containers with water then they left until unlock next morning.
The following Xmas was to be the worst. It was during one of the coldest times since records were kept. We didn't know until years later the area around Long Kesh it was -18 Celsius. Earlier that year we escalated the protest and it was the start of brutal beatings. The screws threw liquid into the cells which made us wretch so we smashed the windows to give us fresh air. With the windows out in that terrible winter it's a wonder none of us died. On Xmas morning we got a cold breakfast which was left in by smirking orderlies. Morale was very low but we never showed our fears to the screws. At mass we sang carols even though there wasn't the heart for it. Before the screws left we got a very meagre and cold dinner but because we were constantly hungry we ate it. After 2pm most of the screws came back drunk and gave us verbal abuse. One or two screws were ok but we despised most of them and people ask me if I still hate them and I tell them I most definitely do. Fuck all that liberal and Christian crap about forgiveness.
I got released from the protest in July 79 but it wasn't long until I was back in the Crum. Xmas 81 was completely different from my earlier experiences. I was on the 3s in C wing and my cellmate was Bobby Storey. Bobby died last year. We knew each other well and we got on very well during the months we were in the cell. We got parcels 2 or 3 times a week and on that particular Xmas we got special ones.
1976 happened to be the last time we went on 24 hours fast. In the morning we got a hot breakfast and we would could buy sachets of coffee from the prison tuck shop which was great. For our dinner we got vegetable soup, turkey, ham, carrots, sprouts, roast and mashed potatoes and gravy. For dessert we got Christmas pudding and custard. Bobby and I were thin then but we loved our grub and both of us were to spend different periods on remand and we always said the food in the Crum was very good.
I was to spend another 9 Christmases in the Blocks and those days were completely different from the terrible days of the blanket and no-wash protest. We ran our wings and the screws rarely harassed us. Christmases were more or less the same but the best for me was 1989. A few years before that republicans took parole so a number on our wing were away for 7 days. The wing was quiet but morale very high. A few lads made hooch which consisted of sugar, yeast (smuggled in!) and lots of jam. During the 12.30-2pm lock up a number of us went into Cell 26 - or the big cell as we called it- after our dinner. Once the screws left the wing we opened one of the plastic gallon drums full of the hooch. We were laughing like big kids as it was poured into our plastic mugs. We shouted sláinte then took a big slug of it. It was terrible but we didn't care. There was only 6 of us in the cell so we shouted out to the other lads, as gaeilge, that it was great. The more we drank the better it tasted and because we hadn't had a deoch in years it started to get us drunk. When the screws came back and unlocked the doors the other lads came down for their fill. We were supposed to go easy but some of the lads drank too much and took sick. The screws knew we were drinking something but they dared not do anything.
I spent 15 Christmases inside, most of them in the H-Blocks. The first was 1976 in H1. I'd been on the boards for 5 days and was back on the wing on the 23rd and really looking forward to a slap up meal two days later but the wing O/C told us it was a 'tradition' for Republicans to do a 24 hour fast. I was young and naïve so just done as I was told.
In those days we could get a special parcel from outside. After my visit on the 24th I was called up to the grilles to get the parcel and couldn't believe the size of it. There was a box of Milk Tray, fruit cake, sweets, cheese, ham and fruit. I was in the cell with Joe Craven from Bawnmore - later killed by a unionist murder gang. Joe also got a big parcel and we were like two big kids. The other lads on the wing also got big parcels and someone suggested not taking anything until the fast ended at midnight on Xmas. The fast was easy especially knowing we were gonna stuff our faces that night. About 10 to 12 we heard the other lads laughing so we got our cheese, meat and other treats out and on to the table then a big cheer went up at 12 on the button. It was one of the best Christmases we had.
My next Xmas was in H-2 where we were on the blanket protest. I was in the cell with Paul McGlinchey from Bellaghy. Paul sadly died in August. The atmosphere on the wing was very good and at that stage the screws weren't beating or harassing us too much. We got a half decent breakfast of weetabix, fried soda, egg and bacon and plenty of bread, some of which we kept for that night. We went to mass and at that time most of us were practicing Catholics so took communion and at different parts of the mass we sang carols and it was good oul craic.
After mass we couldn't believe it when some of the screws offered us a cigarette. Even me and other non-smokers took one and gave to our cell mates. We got dinner earlier than usual which consisted of slices of turkey and ham, potatoes, sprouts and carrots. For dessert we got trifle. We were even more surprised when the screws let us go to into other cells. Four of us were from Lenadoon and when we were locked in the cell it was like we had won political status. After half an hour we were locked back in our cells. When the screws came back at 2pm we got our tea which was cheese, spam and a boiled egg and to our surprise a slice of fruit cake. Shortly after that the screws let us slop out and fill the containers with water then they left until unlock next morning.
The following Xmas was to be the worst. It was during one of the coldest times since records were kept. We didn't know until years later the area around Long Kesh it was -18 Celsius. Earlier that year we escalated the protest and it was the start of brutal beatings. The screws threw liquid into the cells which made us wretch so we smashed the windows to give us fresh air. With the windows out in that terrible winter it's a wonder none of us died. On Xmas morning we got a cold breakfast which was left in by smirking orderlies. Morale was very low but we never showed our fears to the screws. At mass we sang carols even though there wasn't the heart for it. Before the screws left we got a very meagre and cold dinner but because we were constantly hungry we ate it. After 2pm most of the screws came back drunk and gave us verbal abuse. One or two screws were ok but we despised most of them and people ask me if I still hate them and I tell them I most definitely do. Fuck all that liberal and Christian crap about forgiveness.
I got released from the protest in July 79 but it wasn't long until I was back in the Crum. Xmas 81 was completely different from my earlier experiences. I was on the 3s in C wing and my cellmate was Bobby Storey. Bobby died last year. We knew each other well and we got on very well during the months we were in the cell. We got parcels 2 or 3 times a week and on that particular Xmas we got special ones.
1976 happened to be the last time we went on 24 hours fast. In the morning we got a hot breakfast and we would could buy sachets of coffee from the prison tuck shop which was great. For our dinner we got vegetable soup, turkey, ham, carrots, sprouts, roast and mashed potatoes and gravy. For dessert we got Christmas pudding and custard. Bobby and I were thin then but we loved our grub and both of us were to spend different periods on remand and we always said the food in the Crum was very good.
I was to spend another 9 Christmases in the Blocks and those days were completely different from the terrible days of the blanket and no-wash protest. We ran our wings and the screws rarely harassed us. Christmases were more or less the same but the best for me was 1989. A few years before that republicans took parole so a number on our wing were away for 7 days. The wing was quiet but morale very high. A few lads made hooch which consisted of sugar, yeast (smuggled in!) and lots of jam. During the 12.30-2pm lock up a number of us went into Cell 26 - or the big cell as we called it- after our dinner. Once the screws left the wing we opened one of the plastic gallon drums full of the hooch. We were laughing like big kids as it was poured into our plastic mugs. We shouted sláinte then took a big slug of it. It was terrible but we didn't care. There was only 6 of us in the cell so we shouted out to the other lads, as gaeilge, that it was great. The more we drank the better it tasted and because we hadn't had a deoch in years it started to get us drunk. When the screws came back and unlocked the doors the other lads came down for their fill. We were supposed to go easy but some of the lads drank too much and took sick. The screws knew we were drinking something but they dared not do anything.
So there are some of the Christmases I spent inside. I may have got some things mixed up but I can say I enjoyed most of my time in gaol apart from those terrible days during the blanket protest. Of course many more Irish Republican men and women spent many years in prisons here in Ireland, Britain, Europe and the US. And yes, there are Irish Republicans in gaol today and hopefully it won't be long until they get out and spend Christmas with their families and friends.
Nollaig shona daoibh agus Tiocfhaidh ar lá!. No crawling apology from me...
PS. I do have a good memory but obviously forget some things and get mixed up with events. Unlike some people out there I'll admit my mistakes and thanks to a fella I was in the Crum with Xmas 81 he pointed out to me some. He reminded me Bobby Storey and others were moved to the Blocks before Xmas - I was moved a few weeks later. I knew I was in the cell with two Fermanagh lads but thought it was January 82 but after Bobby was moved me and the lads were in the cell together. One was Séamus McIlwaine - shot dead by the SAS in April 86 - and the other was Eugene Cosgrave who died of natural causes a few years. Not just saying it because they are dead we got on very well and although we were locked in our cell most of the day and night we talked and although I loved reading I only read the papers such were the yarns we had.
I said I wouldn't mention him but I have to for putting me right. Go raibh maith agat Kieran Flynn. From now on if I'm gonna write about the Crum at that time I'll defer to you!
Nollaig shona daoibh agus Tiocfhaidh ar lá!. No crawling apology from me...
PS. I do have a good memory but obviously forget some things and get mixed up with events. Unlike some people out there I'll admit my mistakes and thanks to a fella I was in the Crum with Xmas 81 he pointed out to me some. He reminded me Bobby Storey and others were moved to the Blocks before Xmas - I was moved a few weeks later. I knew I was in the cell with two Fermanagh lads but thought it was January 82 but after Bobby was moved me and the lads were in the cell together. One was Séamus McIlwaine - shot dead by the SAS in April 86 - and the other was Eugene Cosgrave who died of natural causes a few years. Not just saying it because they are dead we got on very well and although we were locked in our cell most of the day and night we talked and although I loved reading I only read the papers such were the yarns we had.
I said I wouldn't mention him but I have to for putting me right. Go raibh maith agat Kieran Flynn. From now on if I'm gonna write about the Crum at that time I'll defer to you!
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| Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican prisoner and current political activist. |
Good piece - interesting that you follow up with the clarification on sharing the cell with Bobby. It shows you the vagaries of memory. I keep saying to people about this clear memory I have of sitting talking in the cell to Alex Murphy and Brendan Neeson about a rocket attack that had just happened in the Markets that killed a cop called Johnston Beacom. I can see replay the event in my mind. Thing is, that attack took place in 94 just over a year after I was out. It was impossible for the conversation I remember to have taken place. I wasn't in the jail. We were obviously discussing some other attack on the news but not the one I thought. So memory is fallible. You did more by revisiting the piece with the PS rather than amending it.
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