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Ceasefires Now
Should we have been surprised by the decision of the US
President Donald Trump to attack Iran? No. Shocked maybe but not surprised. The
weapons of mass destruction spin, that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq
two decades ago, was already in wide usage by some western governments and
sections of the media before B 2’s dropped so-called ‘bunker buster’ bombs on
Iran. And we all remember what a disaster the Iraq war was for the people of
that nation and for world politics. An estimated million Iraqi citizens died.
The attack on Iran was an act of aggression against a state
that had not attacked the USA. It was in clear breach of international law and
it almost certainly broke US domestic and constitutional law. Moreover, two
nuclear powers – Israel and the USA – have attacked a nation that does not have
nuclear weapons. And applauding in the wings are Britain, France and Germany
and others who are colluding in the genocide of the Palestinian people.
Presidents Trump and Netanyahu have embarked on a course of
military belligerence that has significantly raised the likelihood of a wider
conflict and potentially worse. In the meantime, the slaughter of Palestinians
continues. Now moved down the headlines by other imperial actions. This is the
time when nothing else seems to matter to stick by our principles. Let’s keep
demanding an end to this war. Let’s keep demanding freedom for Palestine and
peace for everyone.
Mol an Óige
The boys and girls of Rang A Seacht graduated from Bunscoil
an tSléibhe Dhuibh last Friday. I was there in my capacity as a Daideo to one
of the scholars. Our oldest lad’s oldest lad. It was a wonderful
event. The Assembly Hall was filled with parents and grandparents,
brothers and sisters, teachers and classroom assistants. Pilib said a few words
as a céad míle fáilte.
He reminded us all that we are Gaels. Part of Gaelic society
in Belfast. Part of the Irish language community here and across Ireland.
Living our lives through Irish. Bringing our language with us wherever we go.
This was a big day for him and Niamh Nic Ionnrachtaigh and
the other teachers. A big day for the school. This was the last day in Sléibhe
Dhuibh for Rang A Seacht. Seven years of schooling through the medium of Irish.
The line of gangly boys and girls was escorted into the Assembly Hall by this
year’s Naíscoil pupils. The great wheel of school life slowly turning.
I remember well the oldest lad’s oldest lad’s first day. The
day he started. He was following his three sisters. Now he is a big boy.
Moving on. Then he was a new boy. Now the new boys and girls are seeing
him off with the rest of the older ones. They did so with a song. A cheeky
defiant Slán, Slán, Slán song.
Pilib was as pleased as Punch.
Ann Kavanagh speaking on behalf of the parents cried
the whole way through her remarks. Tears of pride and gratitude. Then each of
our young group of pupils were presented with their Rang a Seacht 2025 geansaí
before going over to Niamh who then spoke directly to each of them as they
stood beside her. She was amazing. She retraced their individual school
journey. Reminded each of them of how their involvement in hurling or camogie
or football or handball or music or drama or art took them out of themselves.
How their confidence grew. How they cared for their classmates. How they became
leaders. How all the pupils of Rang A Seacht grew individually and
collectively during their seven years together. All through the medium of
Irish.
And then Rang A Seacht gave us two songs before exiting to
thunderous applause.
The future is bright. These young citizens are a credit to
the visionaries from Ballymurphy who founded their school in an old chalet
behind Whiterock Leisure Centre. They are a credit to their families and our
community. And their teachers and their school. They are a credit to Ireland.
But most of all they are a credit to themselves. Well done. And míle
buíochas daoibhse.
Family Album
When Frankie Quinn was sixteen his father gave him a
camera and sent him along to the newly formed Camera Club in the McAirt
Community Centre. The club was focussed on recording life locally in the Short
Strand/Ballymacarrett district which was being redeveloped.
It was 1982. Large parts of the area had already been
demolished when Frankie set to work. All of us who are interested in our local
history have benefitted from this initiative by his father and from Frankie’s
work. Over the decades he has produced photographic treasures for us to
contemplate and remember how things once were particularly in working class
Belfast communities two generations ago.
Frankie has won many awards and produced fine exhibitions of
his work along with a number of publications. Family Album is the latest of
these. It is about his home place. The tiny nationalist district of Short
Strand and Ballymacarrett in East Belfast.
In 1997 Frankie sent a selection of his images to his friend
Gilles Peres in New York with a request for him to write a few words. They form
the Foreword of this book. Gilles is also an award winning international
photographer. He too has contributed to the photographic history of the decades
of conflict here. His Foreword is worth quoting. He praises Frankie’s
photographic skills and writes warmly of the people of The Strand.
He remembers the fancy dress party in the LESA social club
as “the best party in Europe.” He describes the people as having a “serious
tendency to accept with an open heart anyone who is not trying to harm them. A
warm love comes from the knowledge of this womb which is the Short Strand.”
Well said Gilles. Well done Frankie. That’s what your photos
in Family Album capture. The womb which is your home place and the people who
make it what it is.
Family Album is available from info@belfastarchiveproject.com;
An Culturlann, 216 Bóthar na bhFál, BT12 6AH; ; An Fhuisseog, 55 Bóthar na
bhFál, BT12 4PD; and Wards shop The Short Strand.
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