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| RTÉ |
Though the movement generally denies sending funds to arm the ‘Irish Republican Army’ NORAID was the largest contributor to the Provisional movement, giving rise to many of my early suspicions about Sinn Fein being substantiated by this mini-documentary series. I did not believe for one second the Sinn Fein claim to be fighting for a “32 County Democratic Socialist Republic” as was the boast of their paper; An Phoblacht/Republican News. There was a notion Sinn Fein had two versions of the weekly publication which I suspected to be true back in the early days and was advised by a senior Member of the IRSP this was the case - and this documentary proved that to be correct.
In the first programme Danny Morrison former editor of APRN and Director of Publicity for Sinn Fein said of the paper:
when sending An Phoblacht over to the Irish People (another Irish American newspaper based in New York) we would remove anything of a left-wing nature, anything which might cut across US foreign policy.
Put plainly we did not want to upset the US establishment some of whom gave us money by writing anything supportive of left-wing struggles in the world like, at the time, Nicaragua. This unprincipled stance is an antithesis to revolutionary politics and upholds the advice I was given by the IRSP Ard Chomhairle Member and my own strong suspicions about Sinn Fein's duplicity. Morrison was unapologetic in his boast of having two versions of AP/RN, one which was sold in Britain and Ireland chiefly and the sanitised version for the USA. The issues sold over here would be aimed in essence at the British and Irish left-wing groups and the copies sold in the US aimed at gathering support and, above all money, from the US right-wing, the likes of Donald Trump.
There was much talk and showing of Thatcher’s response to the 1981 hunger strikes resulting in seven IRA volunteers dying and three volunteers of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) doing likewise. The NORAID people publicised, rightly so, the bravery and “dedication” shown by Bobby Sands and other IRA hunger strikers but not once did they mention the equally dedicated INLA prisoners who also lost their lives due to Thatcher’s intransigence. NORAID's response, again all those years ago when I once asked about the Irish Republican Socialist Movement was, “we don’t give money to commies with guns”.
There was much talk and showing of Thatcher’s response to the 1981 hunger strikes resulting in seven IRA volunteers dying and three volunteers of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) doing likewise. The NORAID people publicised, rightly so, the bravery and “dedication” shown by Bobby Sands and other IRA hunger strikers but not once did they mention the equally dedicated INLA prisoners who also lost their lives due to Thatcher’s intransigence. NORAID's response, again all those years ago when I once asked about the Irish Republican Socialist Movement was, “we don’t give money to commies with guns”.
Sinn Fein shift their policies around to suit their audience, sometimes giving the appearance of perhaps being - which would alienate NORAID - ‘commies with guns’ while at other times presenting a very conservative face. In the USA a centre right position was and is taken while in Europe they sometimes pretend to show a centre to far-left political position leading to inconsistencies and lies. They are now an unprincipled parliamentary party along with the rest of the fucking liars who masquerade as politicians sitting in these various ‘Pandora’s Boxes’. They should not feel on their own though because the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, once boasted; he did not “care about principles” they will not get me “elected”. “All I care about is getting elected, not principles”. This is pretty much what the modern variant of Sinn Fein is saying. Getting elected is all that matters. They would argue, no doubt, if they are not elected, they cannot deliver which is a fair argument if it were not so misleading. It suggests governments hold real power which is not really the case as real power is outside parliament in the coffers of the ruling classes. Private money who governments shy away from in case the owners of this money “leave the country”!
There was also much criticism of NORAID and a left-wing leaning person pointed out that “the Americans have enough problems in the South with the blacks and the mistreatment of these people” suggesting strongly skin colour to be a cause of discrimination. “They come over here after treating black people disgustingly to free the Leprechauns” and it just reeks of “double standards”.
There was also much criticism of NORAID and a left-wing leaning person pointed out that “the Americans have enough problems in the South with the blacks and the mistreatment of these people” suggesting strongly skin colour to be a cause of discrimination. “They come over here after treating black people disgustingly to free the Leprechauns” and it just reeks of “double standards”.
One of the better known NORAID activists of the day, Martin Galvin, back in 1984 was a guest of Sinn Fein even though he was banned from entering the Six Counties. Gerry Adams was determined the self-publicist would speak or at least make an appearance at Connolly House even though the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) were itching for a fight that day as were the occupying crown forces. Galvin, on behalf of NORAID, made an appearance as Gerry Adams told everybody to “sit down and stay calm”, easier said than done with the RUC opening fire with plastic bullets. The net result of this mayhem was the death of a young West Belfast man, Sean Downes, which left a young wife, Brenda, along with a young daughter Claire without a husband and father. Still, not to worry, Galvin and NORAID had their publicity and Adams and Sinn Fein took another step closer to entering the Dail, though this policy was not yet known to the wider Provisional membership.
Another former IRA Volunteer, John Crawley, an American ex-Marine and author of the book The Yank, also spoke of NORAID. “I would always try to avoid them because they were too much in the public eye”. I did not want “the publicity which they would bring”, perhaps shinning on the task he was there for. A fair position John, whatever you were doing publicity I would imagine was the last thing on the menu! John also revealed the less savoury side of Irish American aid, which appeared not to involve NORAID, and that was something he did “not feel comfortable with” in procuring arms and that was meeting gangsters. One leading gangster, James Whitey Bulger, “asked if I could teach him how to make a booby-trap car bomb.” John, as a Volunteer in the IRA, did not feel easy with this request and declined, claiming he “did not know how to make one, but would send somebody from their engineering department who may be able to help”. A wise and tactful move John! John Crawley voiced his concern about working with gangsters to Martin McGuinness who replied; “little old ladies do not buy rifles”, meaning the collections gathered by NORAID among Irish Americans many of them ‘little old ladies’ concerned about the conditions people in the occupied territories have to live and wanted their money to go to help and not, perhaps, buy weapons!
This is not to say NORAID did not involve themselves with gunrunning for the IRA. NORAID was what could be described as a broad-church membership some of whom, like Michael Flannery and George Harrison in 1981, involved themselves with the gunrunning side of things. Flannery had as a very young man fought in the Easter Rising 1916 so did not lack credibility. Although this was not official NORAID policy neither was it frowned upon. The organisation provided money for IRA prisoners' families and through their general fundraising made much for Sinn Fein probably their parliamentary election war chest. When President Bill Clinton granted a temporary visa for then Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams (who was never in the IRA!), to enter the US he was shown at a NORAID fund raiser publicly shaking hands with a much younger multi-billionaire, Donald Trump! Now we do not get much more duplicity than that because even back then Trump was well known for his right-wing political position and sexist views of women along with anti-immigration policies.
Today NORAID are a shadow of their former selves as Sinn Fein are now a respectable political party. Perhaps they no longer wish to be associated with an organisation which was connected, as in the case of Flannery and Harrison, with IRA gunrunning. Today Sinn Fein receive funds from an organisation in the US titled ‘Friends of Sinn Fein’ and NORAID appear to be seldomly mentioned. Once again, a case of used, abused and binned like a child with a new toy at Christmas, by Saint Stephen’s day that same toy usually ends up in the rubbish bin! Friends of Sinn Fein appear to be the organisation's new toy!
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
I thought it made for great viewing. It highlighted the stripping away of SF faux radicalism as it made its move into establishment politics.
ReplyDeleteI felt the review was unfair on Martin Galvin in particular. as it repeats the SF whispers that it was all self promotion. I thought the show brought out the effort for very little reward that people like Martin Galvin and John McDonagh put into supporting those on the receiving end of British state repression. Galvin didn't even want to appear at the rally where Sean Downes was killed: he was bounced into and handed the poison chalice by the SF leadership. He could hardly refuse to turn up after that.
I actually liked Morrison's contribution which I found revealing.
Ultimately the show was a very well researched and presented narrative of non corporate Irish America voluntarily digging away at the coal face and then being sidelined.
The point I was making, Anthony, that it was Gerry Adams who was "determined" Martin Galvin would make an appearance. I feel having reread the piece this point I could perhaps have been a little clearer on.
DeleteI certainly found Danny Morrison's contribution, in a way, disappointingly revealing because the two AP/RN editions, one for the US and the other chiefly for Britain and Ireland, the duplicity saddened me because, to me, it betrayed all revolutionary principles. From a Marxist point of view, which granted SF are not and never have been, the object is to build a better more honest society. If revolutionary groups, as Sinn Fein were at the time, will stoop to the depths of those who run our affairs at the moment just to collect money (there are plenty of other ways of acquiring funds) by omitting certain facts and denying them when asked makes them little better than those presently in charge. It was disappointing to find out, straight from the horses mouth, something I did not at the time want to be true. Republicans, I naively believed, were above that.
Caoimhin O'Muraile
"I actually liked Morrison's contribution which I found revealing."
DeleteHold on a sec while I check that Hell hasn't frozen over!
Steve - as Caoimhin pointed, out it helped nailed the duplicity of what was going on: pretending to the deluded left in their own ranks and in Britain that they had socialist leanings while shedding them for the US. I suppose we can see the tactical benefit in such a strategy but as their current state today shows the real 'them' was what the US was getting. The fictional 'them' was what allowed the Left at home and in the British Labour Party (which they were courting) to carry on pretending that they were radical. Cell 26 in each H Block wing was packed with Marxist books - not one made it back to the movement - they all ended up in the metaphorical skip.
DeleteMartin Galvin comments
ReplyDeleteI would like to correct something that is complete fiction. and I regard as personally offensive.
"The NORAID people publicised, rightly so, the bravery and “dedication” shown by Bobby Sands and other IRA hunger strikers but not once did they mention the equally dedicated INLA prisoners who also lost their lives due to Thatcher’s intransigence".
Noraid worked for and after their deaths commemorated each of the Hunger Striker martyrs.
As one example, Elizabeth O'Hara, Patsy's sister was one of the speakers at the massive rally at Lincoln Center against Britain's then Prince Charles.
She was on the platform along with Bobby Sands' brother Sean, Joe McDonnell's sister Maura, and Ray McCreesh's brother Malachy and myself.
I will never forget her holding photos of Patsy, which showed Brits had marked his face by putting out cigarette buts on his face
We highlighted this across the country.
Elizabeth came to America putting aside her great personal grief to try to save the lives of other Hunger Strikers
I personally organized her tour and that of the other family members and can assure you that she and all speakers at all Noraid rallies mentioned all 10 of our Hunger Strike martyrs equally.
May I suggest the reviewer or anyone interested, check the IRISH PEOPLE Newspaper Indiana University archive online and see the tremendous work done across the United States for each of the Hunger Strikers.
I would like to clarify what was meant by my comments. They were not intended to be an attack on Martin Galvin and if Martin feels "personally" offended I apologise. That was not the intention and, in my defense, I could only comment on what was said in the documentary which made no reference to the INLA hunger strikers. This does not mean I was casting doubts on what NORAID policies not highlighted in the documentary were. I have no doubt NORAID rallies "mentioned all 10 of our Hunger Strike martyrs equally". The point I was making this position was not made even vaguely clear in this documentary, certainly regarding INLA prisoners and Hunger Strikers.
DeleteI have no need to "check the IRISH PEOPLE Newspaper" to clarify because the review was not about the paper merely the documentary. I would not have room in the blog to examine each broadsheet and red top but I have no doubt "tremendous work" is done "across the United States for each of the Hunger Strikers".
Caoimhin O'Muraile
Having watched both parts, I've come to see that NORAID played a far more significant role than simply fundraising. Their involvement demonstrates the immense influence of diaspora politics, and I now recognize how integral NORAID was in empowering and enabling nationalists to resist everything the British state imposed on us. I know firsthand that INLA prisoners received weekly financial support, just as IRA prisoners did. In fact, I can attest that even though I wasn't a member of either organization, but still a victim of the Diplock system, I too received the same support. The author’s perspective is coloured by Sinn Féin’s dominance and its close connections to NORAID. Still, in my experience, NORAID treated all political prisoners equally regarding assistance.
ReplyDeleteChristy, I can only comment, as I have tried to do answering Martin, that my comments were about the information given in the documentary. The producers did not suggest or mention INLA prisoners or the Irish Republican Socialist Movement as a whole. I was not implying NORAID did not give aid to INLA prisoners but this was not made an even passing issue in the documentary, unless I missed something and if I did please feel free to say.
DeleteCaoimhin O'Muraile
Irish Northern Aid contributed more than raise funds for prisoner’s dependents. Toys For Derry was another herculean effort to assist the people experiencing hardship.
ReplyDeleteIn every American city where INA had a unit, INA supported the development of Irish sports, music, theater, and language.
GAA sports thrived and INA members contributed generously to clubs jerseys and premises.
Newly arrived emigrants from all 4 green fields found employment and living accommodation from INA members.
Whilst castigated by media and many misinformed Irish people, as being ignorant, plastic Paddies, the opposite was the case.
Many new arrivals stayed clear for their own reasons, but others from all 32 counties joined INA and brought their unique experiences and analysis to already well informed Irish American activists.
True, the ‘socialist’ perspective of the movement was barely mooted in the US, to ensure a broad support across all political affiliations in the USA.
Americans are passionate about their political ideologies.
No reason to splinter support for INA’s broader goals.
As INA was primarily encouraged by the Provisional movement, INA units were mostly empathetic to the IRA, but I concur with Mr. Galvin’s commentary, that all Irish Republican prisoners and Hunger Strikers were enormously respected.
Many other political activists across the broad US political spectrum came to INA meetings with their own agendas, seeking support, financial or otherwise.
They left soon after they understood that INA’s only function was the support of prisoner’s families, Irish freedom, justice and peace.
The need for INA ceased after access to the US political process and big money American’s was granted to Sinn Fein.
Prisoners were being relessed,
What need for INA?
In retrospect, the Sinn Fein leadership did not abruptly cast INA aside.
We were kept informed of many of the important decisions being made.
Encouraged to engage with Friends of Sinn Fein.
Just like in Ireland, many INA members feel abandoned over what has transpired in the political process and the Irish Republican trajectory.
Other’s like myself are just glad to have just done a wee bit.
Hopefully we helped someone in need.