Lá Mór Dearg
This column was written before the huge weekend march in Belfast in support of Lá Dearg - more on that next week.
However, a few words on the Irish language. Every day I learn a little bit more Irish. An extra word or two. For me there is a great joy in being able to speak and to read Irish. And to write a wee bit. I especially take great pleasure in speaking in Irish to the growing number of young people I meet every day. They use Gaeilge fluently and naturally. And they correct me when necessary.
Two weeks ago scores of children,
parents and staff from Gaelscoil an Lonnáin on the Falls Road held a noisy and
joyful protest outside their school in support of Lá Mór Dearg and an Acht na
Gaeilge. We heard them from the office. Full of craic and fun. And
Gaeilge.
On Saturday – 21 May – thousands
more joined with An Dream Dearg for a march and rally in Belfast in support
of Acht na Gaeilge and for the rights of Irish language speakers. More on that next week.
The growth in the Irish language and in Irish medium education has been phenomenal over recent years. Despite significant efforts by past British and Unionist governments to suppress the language and indifference by successive Irish governments, the revival of Irish in recent years has gone from strength to strength. Thousands of young Gaels are being educated every day through the medium of Irish.
In 2006 the British government
committed to an Acht na Gaeilge. In the 16 years since then successive British
governments have failed to deliver on this commitment. Nothing surprising about
that. Mr Johnson won’t be here at the weekend but I appeal to everyone who
supports the right of citizens to respect and equality to join with us. March
in support of the rights of Irish speakers. See you on Saturday. And
remember use whatever Irish you have whenever you can.
Employers must talk to workers
Several trade unions are involved in
industrial action in the public and private sectors in an effort to get
employers to increase wages and improve conditions for workers. With inflation
heading toward 10% some current pay rates are clearly inadequate, especially
given the cost of living crisis and huge increases in
fuel, food and energy costs.
Some public service workers have been
striking since late March resulting in disruption to waste collection services,
schools, further education colleges, youth services, the Housing Executive and
public transport.
Inevitably, trade union action can
have a negative impact on those who rely on their services, and there has been
a particular adverse affect on parents with children at special schools. There
is an onus therefore on the employers to acknowledge the challenges facing
workers and to do all within their power to ensure a sufficient outcome for
their employees. They should talk to the workers.
Murder of Shireen Abu Akleh
On Wednesday 11 May Israeli
forces in the occupied west Bank deliberately targeted and murdered a
Palestinian journalist. Shireen Abu Akleh was a well respected
Palestinian/American reporter working for Al Jazeera. The 51 year old veteran
journalist was wearing a clearly visible press vest and helmet. She was in the
Jenin refugee camp covering an attack by Israeli forces when she was shot in
the face by a single shot from an Israeli sniper. A second Palestinian
journalist, Ali al-Samoudi was also wounded.
A video covering the minutes around
Shireen Abu Akleh’s murder was widely broadcast. The Israeli authorities then
published a video which they claimed showed a Palestinian fighter firing at
Israeli troops. Their claim is that it was he who killed Shireen. This claim
was quickly rubbished by other media outlets.
In addition a researcher for B'Tselem
- the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories -
filmed the locality and “documented the exact locations in which the
Palestinian gunman depicted in a video distributed by the Israeli army, fired,
as well as the exact location in which Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was
killed.” Their video is available at:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1524346246743396355
It proved that the Israeli claim is
bogus.
Subsequently, in horrifying scenes
reminiscent of RUC attacks on Republican funerals in the North during the
period known as the Battle of the Funerals, Israeli forces raided Shireen Abu
Akleh’s home during the wake and then launched a major attack on the funeral.
Israeli troops viciously assaulted mourners, some of whom were carrying the
coffin. There was widespread international condemnation of the assassination
and the attack on the funeral.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon
Coveney said: “No self-respecting
democracy could stand over this treatment of people.”
He’s right. And no self-respecting
democracy can stand back and fail to take action against such behaviour. In the
week that the Palestinian people commemorate Nakba – the time when more than
700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from their homes as Israel
declared its independence - the Irish government should now move to positively
use its position on the United Nations Security Council in support of
Palestinian rights; recognise the State of Palestine
Moore St raffle winner presented with 1914 Mauser rifle
The iconic Mauser rifle, generously
donated by collector Pat O’Hagan, was recently presented to Conor Downes who
won it in the raffle held by the Moore Street Preservation Trust. The historic
Mauser rifle was part of the shipment smuggled into Howth in July 1914 which
armed the Irish Volunteers for the 1916 Rising.
The raffle raised over twelve
thousand euro to help fund the battle to save the 1916 Moore Street Battlefield
site from destruction by a London based developer.
Micheál MacDonncha, Secretary of the
Trust, and Proinsias Ó Rathaille, grandson of The O’Rahilly who helped to
organise the gunrunning in 1914, and who was killed on Moore Street in 1916
leading a charge of Volunteers against a British Army barricade ,presented
Conor Downes with his prize.
I want to thank all of those who
bought tickets and supported the draw. The decision by the planners to accept
the developers’ proposal, and the refusal of an oral hearing by An Bord
Pleanála, mean that the battle to save Moore Street is set to significantly
increase in the months ahead. The Moore Street Preservation Trust is determined
to oppose the Hammerson plans for the area and if necessary take the case to
court. This is an expensive process and this column appeals again for people to
donate to the Trust’s appeal.
If you wish to contribute to
the #SaveMooreStreet campaign, you can do so here:
https://pay-payzone.easypaymentsplus.com/fund.../campaign/26
Míle buíochas le gach duine a
thacaigh leis an chrannchur. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile.
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