Irish Republican News: Archives

April 30, 2016

First steps to ‘Fianna Gael’ coalition deal

Two months after the general election, the two largest parties in the 26 Counties have reached a potentially historic agreement to form a minority government.

Rising commemorations mark centenary date

A large 1916 Rising commemoration parade took place through Belfast city centre without major incident on Sunday despite efforts by loyalists to disrupt the event.

Stormont politicians seek endorsement

Nationalist politicians in the north of Ireland have expressed concern over voter apathy ahead of next week’s election to the Belfast Assembly.

Internees demand answers

British authorities being sued by a prominent republican are trying to hide behind private court hearings in a bid to prevent evidence being revealed.

Death of hunger-strike author David Beresford

An award-winning journalist credited with writing the definitive account of the 1981 Hunger Strike has died in South Africa.

Collapse of Hillsborough cover-up felt in Ireland

A statement by the Bloody Sunday March Committee in response to the judgement this week that 96 Liverpool FC supporters were unlawfully killed at Hillsborough in 1989.

My homeless family

An account by Dublin mother Erica Fleming of her attempts to cope after her family were suddenly left homeless as a result of the housing crisis.

Stormont elections - a mandate for British rule

Sean Bresnahan looks at the upcoming elections in the North. Sean Bresnahan is a member of the Thomas Ashe Society in Omagh and National PRO of the 1916 Societies.

April 25, 2016

A morse code message written by Irish rebel James Connolly and transmitted by Marconi operator David Burke was broadcast 100 years ago today. It was Ireland’s first and one of the world’s first radio broadcasts.

April 23, 2016

Ard Fheis targets coalition talks

The Sinn Fein annual conference is taking place this weekend with the party facing an election to the Belfast Assembly early next month and a potential second general election to the Leinster House parliament in Dublin. Over 2,500 delegates are attending the annual conference in the Convention Centre in Dublin.

Martin condemns political ‘stranglehold’ at Stormont

With just weeks to go before an election in the Six Counties, the Stormont Assembly has come under a surprise attack from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who urged the Dublin and London governments to directly intervene to end the “stranglehold” at Stormont.

Tensions high after north Belfast killing

A north Belfast priest has warned the PSNI police against making “arrests for the sake of arrests” after the death of a local man following a punishment shooting.

Protests as politicians ignore Maghaberry abuses

Republican prisoners on Roe 4 wing of Maghaberry high-security prison have been subjected to repeated raids by a riot squad in which educational resources have been removed, according to reports this week.

Infamous Crown force handed victims’ funding

Former members of the B-Specials in the north of Ireland have been funded by a victims’ support group, even though the notoriously sectarian paramilitary organisation was disbanded just months after the recent conflict began.

Centenary Rising events commemorated

Irish President Michael D Higgins has led a day of commemorations for republican martyr Roger Casement by describing him as a great patriot and one of the 20th century’s great humanitarians.

Charlie Monahan’s fateful journey

Charles Monahan was the first Belfast casualty of 1916, dying in the aborted Irish Republican Brotherhood mission to seize key British wireless radio equipment in Caherciveen.

Micheal Martin could play a role in Irish unity

A Micheal Martin speech at Bodenstown or in the Dail or at Arbour Hill would not be complete without an attack on Sinn Fein. I suppose we should take some comfort from this, writes Gerry Adams.

April 16, 2016

Family walks out of inquest over delays, secrecy

The family of the Sinn Fein official turned informer, Denis Donaldson, have walked out of the inquest process after police stalling tactics led to his inquest being adjourned for the 19th time.

Industrial chaos looms while coalition clings to power

After an indeterminate election and seven weeks of fruitless talks on government formation, the decimated outgoing coalition in Dublin are still clinging to power and seeking support for a second term.

Political policing of individuals and communities

A PSNI campaign of harassment in the Newry and Mourne area has been exposed after it was revealed that almost 4,000 stop and searches have been carried out by the force across the area since 2009.

Loyalists to protest on Rising centenary day

A parade through Belfast city centre to mark the calendar anniversary of the Easter Rising next weekend will face two separate loyalist protests.

‘Cynical’ Bobby Sands electoral billboard slated

A controversy has erupted in Derry after Sinn Fein election candidate Raymond McCartney, called on people to vote for his party while unveiling a billboard commemorating the 35th anniversary of 1981 hunger striker Bobby Sands’ election to parliament last weekend.

Tories seen ready to bring back border checks

Sinn Fein has expressed alarm after both sides of the Brexit debate in the British government accepted that border controls will be introduced along the Irish border in the event of a vote by Britain to leave the European Union.

Seamus McElwain remembered

A graveside oration by Monaghan Republican and Ex-PoW John Crawley for ‘The Bold McElwain’ in Scotstown ahead of his 30th anniversary commemoration.

Eoin MacNeill and the Irish Volunteers

Eoin MacNeill contributed directly to the 1916 Easter Rising by establishing, arming and training the Irish Volunteers. His last-minute intervention to call off the Rising continues to fuel historical debate.

April 9, 2016

The uncivil war

After weeks of shadow-boxing and pretence, a blistering row between the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael leaderships suggests that it is unlikely that any pact will be agreed soon to form a new government in Dublin.

Legal trickery in effort to jail republicans

After almost five years in solitary confinement, republican political prisoner Gavin Coyle has been freed on bail, despite a last-minute drama when two weeks were mysteriously added onto his sentence over an alleged non-payment of a fine.

Protest at unveiling of Rising memorial listing British troops

There were clashes between protesters and police at the unveiling of a 1916 Easter Rising memorial at Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin which includes British soldiers alongside the Irish rebels and civilians who died.

Gaelic League takes Sinn Fein minister to court

Caral Ni Chuilin, Sinn Fein’s Minister for Culture in the Six Counties, is to be sued over her administration’s failure to introduce laws to promote the Irish language.

Villiers silent on British cabinet support for torture

The British Direct Ruler in the north of Ireland, Theresa Villiers, has been accused of withholding information in the case of a group of Irish torture victims known as the ‘Hooded Men’.

Political move to prevent US deportation

US Congressmen will introduce and support a Bill in the House of Congress next week aimed at postponing the deportation of a former Irish republican prisoner from the US.

Glasnevin’s 1916 wall of shame

Incredibly the modern state of Ireland has now paid tribute to perpetrators of the North King Street Massacre, to the murderers of Irish men and boys, by adding their names to the newly erected Glasnevin 1916 Remembrance Wall.

Sir Bob and the f***ing martyrs

Some time back there was a fashionable notion called the Tipping Point. In the old days we’d have called it the straw that broke the camel’s back. Well, I’ve reached that point with Sir Bob Geldof.

April 2, 2016

Spirit of 1916 reclaimed?

In a remarkable weekend of events to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising, Irish president Michael D Higgins called for Irish people to take responsibility for building ‘a true Republic’. However, republican commemorations heard condemnations of the 26 County state for continuing to ‘turn its back’ on the people of the Six Counties.