Léargas

There is a long affinity between Irish republicans and the Basque people. Each year, especially in August, large numbers of Basque activists travel to Ireland to meet republican activists and to discuss the situation here and in the Basque country. This Blog has been there several times. There was huge excitement and expectation during the period of the ETA cessation in 2006. This Blog witnessed that during a visit in June of that year to the region. The collapse of the cessation in December 2006 after only 9 months was a huge disappointment. Since then there have been behind the scenes efforts to restore the opportunity and hope that the cessation had created. These have included work by this Blog and other senior Sinn Féin activists who have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with Batasuna and others in an effort to help create new momentum in the stalled Basque peace process. Rufino Exteberria is a leader of Batasuna, the Basque political party which was banned 7 years ago by the Spanis

Aontroim beat Sligo in a cracking game in Casement a fortnight ago and although they kept us hanging on until the final whistle before the victory was sealed this blog went home happy and vindicated by the success of our senior footballers. Then not long after that came news of the win against Cabhán. Two in a row! What bliss. Long journeys home after defeat after defeat after defeat. For years and years and years. Then to add to my glee there came news of Doire’s dismal display. In a totally non-partisan, non-triumphalistic and absolutely comradely way, I dropped a suitably comforting text to my leader, the deputy First Minister. His answer was illuminating. ‘Too many injuries, the grass was too long, the cows were in the wrong corner of the fields around Swatragh and the away jersey doesn’t work. But all will be sorted come the Championship.’ Scéal about Tír Éoghain going down to Maigh Eo prompted another one of my consoling texts to Mark McLarnon, an occasional Tír Eoghain man and a

Most men when they do housework like to draw attention to it. So, washing the bathroom, mopping the floors, doing the shopping, emptying the washing machine becomes a matter of great macho pride worthy of universal acknowledgement and acclaim. This Blog has to confess to tilting slightly in that direction. Not as far in that direction as your man but a sneaking regarder nonetheless. Most women who do housework – just do it. Along with numerous other multi-tasks which they perform on a daily basis. Including child minding and men humouring. This Blog has been immersed in housework for the last wee while, while the house maker in this family is sick. It’s been an interesting experience for everyone involved. There’s nothing more sickening, when you’ve just cleaned out the bathroom to discover someone going in to destroy your good work by having a pee in the place. So too with window cleaning. And food shopping. Some people just don’t appreciate the effort involved in all of this. But any

For those of you who are interested Channel 4 is broadcasting a programme presented by this Blog on Sunday evening at 6.55pm. The programme is called ‘The Bible: A History – Jesus’. For reasons beyond me my role as presenter is causing a little controversy among the great and the good. And that’s even before the programme is broadcast. It’s a bit like condemning a book you’ve never read. For my part it was an interesting project. The technical and artistic side of film making, and all the others bits and bobs that go with that, was educational. But the opportunity to immerse myself with the Jesus message and to visit places that he had lived in, as well as the access to scholars was mighty. So, I am happy with the programme. And I thank everyone who was involved in putting it together. I learned a lot about the historical figure of Jesus during this project and also about the Jesus message of peace, love, forgiveness and repentance. One of the interesting little side issues was that so

Feb 14th 2010 Sinn Féin is serious about the Irish language. Even our political opponents acknowledge this. That means on a day to day basis that in councils across Ireland, in Teach Laighean, in the Assembly and in the European Parliament we are doing our best by the language. Sinn Féin has fought, marched, argued and cajoled for the rights of Irish speakers. We have spent hours and hours with both governments and the unionists explaining why we believe that those who wish to live their lives through the medium of Irish should be free to do so unencumbered by legislation dating back to the Penal Laws or prejudices imposed by outdated notions of colonial superiority. We have pointed out that this is a serious life-choice and it cries out for the same recognition and protection under law as any other section of Irish society. What will make the defining difference in our society will be an increase in the numbers of people who choose to live their lives through the medium of Irish.

Feb 11th 10 “Our struggle has reached a decisive moment. We call on our people to seize this moment so that the process towards democracy is rapid and uninterrupted. We have waited too long for our freedom. We can no longer wait… Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way.” These are some of the historic words Nelson Mandela spoke to a jubilant crowd of tens of thousands in his first public address to the people of South Africa, and of the world, in Cape Town several hours after his release from prison. 20 years ago today Madiba stepped out of Victor-Verster prison in Paarl. Like millions of others around the world this Blog watched his long walk away from those gates with his wife Winnie. It was a hugely emotional moment as the two walked hand in hand through throngs of people cheering and clapping his release after 27 years of imprisonment. This Blog sat alone, weeping and applauding and cheering with pride and delight. And several hours later wh

Feb 9th 10 Sometime when I get a chance this Blog intends to have a look at the SDLP and its role in politics on this island. For now on a sunny Tuesday afternoon such an enterprise is beyond me. It is suffice to say that the SDLP is a party in search of a role. The weekend saw Mark Durkan retiring as party leader. I wish him and his family well. If he gets elected at the next Westminster election he has signaled his intention to retire from Irish politics. There is no other explanation for his announcement that he intends to work only as an MP. In other words Mark has made a career choice. The political trajectory here is increasingly about moving all decisions and decision making process effecting this island, onto the island – and away from politicians in Britain. Mark is opting out of this. Unless of course he fails to retain the Foyle Westminster seat. Whereupon it is clearly his intention to retain his Assembly seat. Such inconsistencies are nothing new. Some time ago the SDLP si

Feb 7th 10 This Blog watched as Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson joined the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister to set out the final piece of the jig-saw which saw agreement between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party on the transfer of policing and justice powers and other outstanding matters arising from the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements. It was another good Friday in the peace process. Many had thought it wouldn’t, couldn’t happen. That the respective positions of the Shinners and the DUP were too far apart. But it did and it was achieved primarily as a result of very intense discussions between the two parties. This was a hugely important, as well as symbolic moment. The DUP rejected the Good Friday Agreement. They have an a la carte attitude to the St. Andrews Agreement. But this agreement at Hillsborough Castle is a different creature. It is theirs. And ours. And hopefully before long the other parties will come on board. This marks a new phase in the p

Feb 3rd 10 It's 1 o'clock on Wednesday morning. At Hillsborough. Sinn Féin has just concluded our discussions with the DUP. A week is a long time in politics. This week, and a wee bit more, has been a long time coming. Last year Martin McGuinness pointed out what no one in high places in London and Dublin would acknowledge publicly or tackle privately. That is that the political institutions were not sustainable in the longer term because they were not functioning on the basis of equality and partnership. In particular he said that the refusal to agree the transfer of policing and justice powers by Christmas would mean that they would not be transferred before the Westminster elections. This Blog told the British Secretary of State over twelve months ago that the political process was heading into huge difficulties not least because he had not discouraged the notion that pre conditions could be introduced into the transfer or devolution issue. In fact the NIO had actively enco