Irish Republican News: Archives

February 28, 2018

Stormont on hold as EU draft includes North in trade zone

The European Union has published its fallback plan to effectively keep the north of Ireland in the single market and customs union after Brexit, in a 120-page draft withdrawal agreement.

February 24, 2018

‘Action needed’ from British as DUP dump process

Details of a draft talks agreement on the restoration of powersharing between Sinn Fein and the DUP have exposed the opposition of powerful unionist hardliners to even the most moderate accommodation with nationalism.

US urged to defend Good Friday Agreement

A concerted attack by British ‘Brexiteers’ to end Ireland’s famous 1998 peace deal may have motivated a US decision to appoint a new envoy to the north of Ireland.

Spy device found at former home of IRA figure

There have been calls for an independent investigation after an elaborate listening device was found at the former home of a senior republican. The bug was discovered by a relative of Brian Keenan, who died from cancer in 2008.

Crown Force operations in Armagh, Belfast

Tensions are high in north Armagh following a three-day British Army and PSNI assault against the republican community in the area.

McAnespie family betrayed by Dublin government

On the 30th anniversary of his death, an announcement by the 26 County Minister for Justice that he will not release a report into the killing of a Sinn Fein election worker has hurt the family.

Anti-Irish racism in focus

The defacement of a bilingual road sign in Fermanagh has symptomised a new wave of anti-Gaelic and anti-Irish hate in the wake of the collapsed Stormont talks.

Black 47

Variety, a leader among Hollywood publications, has given Black 47, the first ever movie set in Famine times in Ireland, a rave review.

No-one admits to being a bigot

The collapse of talks to restore the power sharing arrangement in the North of Ireland has come as no surprise to many.

February 17, 2018

DUP can’t tolerate Irish

There is mounting concern that unionists in the north of Ireland are incapable of treating nationalists with respect after the DUP suddenly backed away from a deal which would have legislated for the rights for Irish language speakers.

Media accused of fanning anti-Gaelic hate

An element of sectarianism has surfaced in the mainstream media as extreme unionism rallied in opposition to the Irish language this week.

Judge backs Hegarty internment

A community association in Derry have called for the immediate release of republican Neil Hegarty, who was interned in Maghaberry prison in December just one day after he had been released after five years in prison.

McDonald promises new leadership, clamps down on dissent

The new Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has been stamping her authority on the party in the wake of being selected as the successor to Gerry Adams, who quit the post last week.

MI5 tried to recruit Saoradh member in France

A former republican prisoner and political activist has said there was an attempt by British military agents to recruit him at an airport in France.

1916 Relatives battle developer over Moore St plans

Dublin city councillors have condemned a British property company’s efforts to have buildings around a national monument site opened for development.

Arlene does a Paisley

Arlene Foster has dipped deep into her political bag of tricks and produced a very old, tried-and-trusted Paisley technique.

Right to remember our fallen comrades

Easter 2017 saw thousands of Irish Republicans march defiant and proud behind an impressive colour party in Derry at the Unfinished Revolution Easter commemoration. Many members of the colour party have since been arrested, detained and interrogated.

February 14, 2018

Talks collapse as DUP block Irish Language Act

The current phase of political talks in Belfast has ended after unionist hardliners in the DUP rejected measures to increase recognition for the Irish language in the north of Ireland.

February 10, 2018

Mary Lou McDonald becomes new Sinn Fein President

Mary Lou McDonald today officially replaced Gerry Adams as Uachtaran Shinn Fein [President of Sinn Fein] at a special party conference in Dublin. The following is the full text of her acceptance speech.

Adams: ‘I did my best’

As he hands over the reins to Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has been giving interviews and facing a welter of last-minute criticism from his political opponents.

EU could rescue Six Counties from hard Brexit

With no sign of a British government solution to the issue of the Irish border, the European Union is reportedly preparing a draft of the British withdrawal treaty with the North of Ireland effectively having status within the EU.

Sharp improvement in Stormont talks outlook

The latest attempts to restore local power-sharing government in Belfast have made progress and should conclude next week, according to Sinn Fein.

Sinister agenda of prison authorities

Republican prisoners have condemned the authorities in Maghaberry prison over a new clampdown on educational and historical materials at the jail.

Gardai raid homes of republicans

In a series of early morning raids in Dublin this week, eight republicans and their families were subjected to armed police forcing entry to their homes.

Teacup storms continue

The political vacuum in the North continues to be filled by unionist anger at Sinn Fein over bizarre incidents and minor issues.

The Civil Rights Association

Contrasting views of the North’s Civil Rights Association and how it relates to where we are as we approach the 50th anniversary of its first campaign.

A new chapter

I’m sure that there is a little nervousness within Sinn Fein as Gerry Adams steps down as president of the party, having led it to great electoral success across Ireland, and having been, along with the late Martin McGuinness, at the forefront of the republican struggle for decades.

February 3, 2018

Haggarty to go free in brazen cover-up

There was widespread shock this week after it was confirmed that loyalist Special Branch double agent Gary Haggarty could be freed within weeks despite pleading guilty to five murders, five attempted murders and hundreds of other crimes.

Prisoners endorse ONH suspension of armed action

A group of republican prisoners at Maghaberry jail has said the suspension of armed actions by the breakaway IRA group known as Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) last week will allow a “period of consolidation, expansion and preparation”.

Fight for civil rights continues

Fifty years on from the launch of the civil rights movement, nationalists are contining to battle for equality in the face of systematic and opportunistic discrimination.

Strong support urged for ‘March for Truth’

Victims of the conflict have announced plans for a mass march in Belfast to demand action on efforts to deal with the legacy of the conflict.

Varadkar blunders into abortion maelstrom

The Dublin government has paved the way for a referendum on abortion next May which has already provoked unanswered questions as to what is actually being proposed.

British Army schools promotion ‘endangered children’

A former republican prisoner has accused his daughters’ Catholic school of becoming a tool of oppression after British Army soldiers were allowed to make a presentation.

The legacy of Connolly, 150 years after his birth

An article written by Jim Slaven of the James Connolly Society to mark the 150th year since the birth of the Irish patriot.

‘It is never too late’

A diverse gathering of republicans took place this week at St Mary’s Cemetery Navan to commemorate the 6th anniversary of Volunteer Martin Rattigan and his brother Joe, whose 4th anniversary occurs later this year. North Armagh republican Cait Trainor delivered the following oration.