Republican News · Thursday 9 January 1996
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War and Words: The Northern Ireland Media Reader
The media war
War and Words: The Northern Ireland Media Reader
Edited by Bill Rolston and David Miller
Published by Beyond the Pale Publications
Price £12.95When I was given this to review, my first thought was: ``I wish this had been around when I was doing my MA.''
It is a collection of articles taken from already published works and arranged under five headings. The first of these - Broadcasting Struggles - explores the structure of the BBC and IBA, which in effect censor what can be broadcast even before the direct intervention of the British government. This section really exposes the myth that the British media holds the ring to allow all points of view to be heard.
Section two deals with the propaganda war and looks closely at the role of the British army in the production of misinformation as part of the British war effort.
The third section dealing with censorship in the 26 Counties as well as Britain clearly outlines the history of this denial of the right to hear/see and be informed and the effects this has in preventing real debate on the future of Ireland.
Representing the Struggles is the fourth section and examines how the visual language as well as the verbal work together to represent Ireland in a way which is part of the British ideological war in Ireland. We are all familiar with the range of images of IRA ``terrorism'' broadcast by the British media - psychopaths, godfathers, gangsters etc. And we are also familiar with how the term ``violence'' is used to denigrate the Republican struggle. The section has a very useful collection of articles to illustrate this.
The last section would have been unheard of when I was a student: ``Reporting the Peace''. It is a very interesting article, giving a detailed overview of how the British government through the media managed the popular view of the ``Peace''.
All of the authors are well known to students of the media, particularly in relation to the media and Ireland. But I think this book appeals to a much wider readership than students of the media and contrary republicans.
yone who tells you that the British media is ``the best in the world'' or that journalists in the quality press are objective and fair should be given a copy of this and made read it.
BY MONAICA Nic MAOLAINN
O'Neill and the big picture
Hugh O'Neill, Prince of Ulster
By Micheline Kearney Walsh
Published by Four Court Press
Price £6.95``Look at the big picture'' was advice given to me to dispel my doubts regarding events during the peace process.
It is advice as relevant now as it was 400 years ago. That is, events outside our control can often dictate the pace of change.
The life of Aodh O'Neill (The O'Neill) displays all of the complexities of what's known as high-politics. The intrigue, diplomacy; alliances, heroism, double-dealing, English disinformation, dirty tricks, assassinations and treachery of early 17th Century Europe. The Irish chieftains who fled Ireland to seek aid for the re-conquest of their territories from the Spanish king became pawns in the power struggles of the European monarchs.
This book begins where Seán O Faoláin's The Great O'Neill left off, that unfortunate defeat at Kinsale in 1602. Based on the letters of the exiled leaders it shows that far from being defeated, the Irish wished only to return to Ireland with even 100 soldiers to carry on the war.
interesting, though sometimes difficult read, it shows the lengths the English went to to ensure the old Irish order would be no more.
BY AENGUS O SNODAIGH
Challenging the status quo
The Clann: The Story of Clann na Poblachta
By Kevin Rafter
Published by Mercier Press
Price £9.99Established in Dublin in July 1946, Clann na Poblachta (People or Family of the Republic) was one of the few small political parties set up after partition to really make an impact on the political set-up in the 26 Counties, and in particular on Fianna Fáil's stranglehold on power.
Clann na Poblachta was formed in the aftermath of what in Ireland was called the `Emergency', the ending of which did not bring any great improvements in living standards. Discontent in urban and rural areas increased, and it was this discontent that the Clann hoped to tap into.
Led by such figures as former IRA Chief of Staff Seán MacBride and Noel Browne, it attracted many republicans disillusioned with Fianna Fáil's approach to the national question, as well as other progressives who wanted the country's socio-economic problems tackled.
Success shortly followed with the winning of two by-elections in 1947, seeing MacBride enter Leinster House. This success prompted De Valera to call a snap General Election in 1948. The Clann won ten seats. It joined the 26 Counties' first inter-party coalition government.
The party had some success in government, with MacBride becoming Minister for External Affairs and Noel Browne in Health. Reforms and achievements under Clann ministers included maternity care (the controversial `Mother and Child Scheme') which brought Browne into conflict with the Medical Board and Catholic hierarchy, and the successful eradication of TB. Conflict and splits followed within the party (Browne had not been supported by McBride on the issue) leading to Browne's resignation, and precipitating a General Election in 1951, won by Fianna Fáil. The Clann won only two seats. It won three in 1954 and again supported the coalition government, but did not participate in it, and again caused the government to fall in 1957 over measures taken against the IRA.
Thereafter followed the years of decline and demise, with only one Leinster House seat being won in 1961. The Clann was eventually dissolved in 1965.
Overall the book is interesting enough, but not the most riveting account you will ever read of a political party.
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY
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