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Letter to the Editor
Saoradh would like to state our position ahead of Sunday's vigil in honour of IRA Volunteer Raymond McCreesh in Newry.
17 years ago in 2001, as a young republican, I participated, and took part, in the official unveiling of Raymond McCreesh Park in Newry. It was an immensely proud day for the Republican community in Newry and I was honoured to have taken part.
Since Saoradh announced that we would be holding a commemorative event this Sunday [May 20th] in Newry to mark the 37th anniversary of Ray McCreesh, Unionism has gone into what can only be described as a frenzy.
The shock of Irish Republicans having the nerve and audacity to commemorate their dead within our own communities has culminated in numerous Unionist/Loyalist commentators taking to social and mainstream media to vent their sectarian fuelled anger.
Saoradh has organised for a black flag vigil to take place this Sunday at 2pm in Raymond McCreesh Park in Newry. This will be a fitting and dignified event in which we will give the Republican community in Newry, and further afield, the opportunity to pay tribute to a revolutionary they regard as an IRA hero.
We have not asked permission from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (or anyone else for that matter) because we are not obliged to. Raymond McCreesh Park is a public park. It is owned by the people, it belongs to the public and the people are proud to have it named after Raymond McCreesh. Such gatherings do not need to seek permission.
Over the years there have been several commemorations and vigils held in Ray McCreesh Park organised by various groups, including mainstream Constitutional Nationalist parties. There were no objections to those events and no pointless demands to seek permission as none was required.
Republicans commemorating their dead in their own communities should not offend anyone. There are a plethora of monuments and streets in Newry named after numerous colonial figures, Republicans and Nationalists could very easily take offence and demand that they be renamed and removed......but We haven't.
We have chosen this location to hold this event because the local community hold Ray McCreesh in such high regard. The Republican community in Newry have nothing but the utmost respect for Raymond, the sacrifice he made and the cause for which he died.
We will not be deterred by hysterical threats of counter protests from sectarian bigots.
We will be going ahead with our event on Sunday and we urge everyone to join with us to remember and pay tribute to one of Ireland's bravest martyrs.
From
Stephen Murney, Saoradh National Secretary and Newry area representative
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Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir
A Statement by Ogra Sinn Fein recently published on your site proclaimed their support to the children’s play park on Patrick Street to be named in honour of convicted terrorist Raymond McCreesh.
On behalf of the Newry & Armagh Young Unionists, and indeed the entire Ulster Young Unionist Council I wish to put our objection to that name on record.
Ogra Sinn Fein argue that other areas and features of our town bear the names of different historical figures, like the Albert Basin Park, thus the name McCreesh Park should remain. However, this greatly exaggerates the role McCreesh had in history, which was far from positive.
There is a claim that there has been a campaign to besmirch the name of Raymond McCreesh; that's not true. There is a campaign however to whitewash exactly what he “volunteered” for. He volunteered to join a terrorist campaign, a campaign that bombed town centres killing and maiming civilians, that kidnapped civilians and forced them to become suicide bombers, that stopped a bus on a winter’s night and shot the Protestants on board. Are these the actions of a man of great conviction? Are they not examples of ruthless and barbaric oppression? Is this the example we want to set for our children?
When ratepayers money was used to glorify McCreesh this way it caused a great deal of hurt in the Unionist community. But the continued campaigning causes greater pain because it's a declaration from Sinn Fein and other sections of our city that they don't care about the minority in our city; the pain they feel, the fact that Protestants are simply not welcome here.
This is a much greater issue than how we remember our past. It's about how we treat the living and what messages we want our city to send to those who live and work here, and what message we send to the wider world.
McCreesh was arrested and had one of the weapons used in the Kingsmills Massacre in his possession. We would therefore like to ask Ogra Sinn Fein one simple question: do they condemn the slaughter of ten innocent, unarmed people?
Despite saying on this website that they want to improve community relations with Unionists, their former MP Barry McElduff certainly did not do so when he mocked the victims of that massacre only a few months ago, and Ogra Sinn Fein are not showing any now towards the victim’s families and surviving victim.
We have yet to see an ounce of respect, equality or integrity from Sinn Fein on this issue. If they really have changed their aim to promoting community cohesion with Unionists, they have a disastrous way of showing it.
Newry is a wonderful town full of culture and heritage. If Sinn Fein were serious about respect, equality and integrity, they would join Unionists in naming the park after something that did not intentionally cause offence to anyone in the community.
Of course, this is only if Sinn Fein actually want to show respect, equality and integrity.
Joshua Lowry, Chairman Ulster Young Unionist Council
Link to Ogra Sinn Fein Letter www.newry.ie
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Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor
In recent weeks, in the light of Brexit negotiations and the Conservatives’ fragile majority propped up by the Democratic Unionist party, there have been calls from various quarters for Sinn Féin MPs to abandon the Irish republican principle of abstentionism and take part in the British parliament.
Westminster does not now act – and never has acted – other than in the interests of Britain. As our difficult and troubled history tells us, the interests of the Irish people have rarely been the concern of the British government or parliament. In fact, these institutions have often acted against the interests of the Irish people – not just in the past, but as we are seeing now, through the efforts to drag us out of Europe against the democratically expressed wishes of the people in the north of Ireland.
The crucial point here is that we are not British MPs. We are Irish MPs and we believe the interests of the Irish people can only be served by democratic institutions on the island of Ireland. Sinn Féin goes to the electorate seeking a mandate for that position. We are elected as MPs by people who vote for Sinn Féin not to take seats at Westminster.
As MPs, therefore, we take no part in the Westminster parliament but in every other way we provide active representation for our constituents. We engage with British political parties, civic society and the Irish diaspora in Britain. We challenge the British government directly in our meetings with them. We lobby on constituents’ issues, and on all the political matters that affect the Irish people. We do all of this without drawing a salary from Westminster, or by taking our seats in the British parliament.
The Irish people now see a parliament that runs roughshod over the integrity of their democratically expressed decision by enforcing Brexit upon them, threatening disruption to their border communities, and to their most basic rights and livelihoods.
The people of Ireland will not find a solution to Brexit in the parliament that is imposing it. On Brexit, Irish people in the north look to Sinn Féin, to the Irish government, the Irish parliament and to Europe to defend their interests.
Westminster cannot provide the solutions when Westminster is the problem. Its role in Ireland has never been positive. Numerically, culturally and politically, the people of Ireland are inconsequential to Britain’s ambitions.
Westminster has always turned its back on the people of Ireland, so the people have turned their backs resolutely on the British parliament.
This year republicans and progressives in Ireland celebrate the election of the first female MP to the British parliament 100 years ago. Her name was Constance Markievicz.She never sat in the Westminster parliament. She was an Irish Republican , a feminist, a socialist, and a member of Sinn Féin elected on an abstentionist mandate – rejecting Britain’s claim to sovereignty over Ireland.
One hundred years later I am proud to follow in the footsteps of radical pioneers such as Markievicz.
In 2017, I and other MPs were elected on a mandate to actively abstain from Westminster. We intend to honour that mandate.
Yours
Mickey Brady MP
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Letter to the Editor
I'm getting very tired of hearing how it's indefensible or wrong or "unbelievable" or "confusing" or "shameful" that Mitchel and many other Irishmen sided with the Confederacy. Mitchel did what he thought was right, and indeed he did disagree
and quarrel with many of the Young Irelanders and other nationalists, such as O'Connell, but to make it seem as if he was doing so for love of annoying people is rather a low blow and indeed a lazy one. Mitchel quarrelled and disagreed due to his love of Ireland and the suffering and starvation he saw, the injustices and the wrongs, the evictions, the executions, transportations, emigrations and degradation of his countrymen (my ancestors included).
He didn't believe everyone was working on a direct path to justice for Ireland, and it angered Mitchel to no end. He was a good, kind man, who gave his life for his country. And this is how we repay him? By bandying words and disgracing his memory as if he was a nutter and a lunatic? Pushing him to one side and rebuking him as if he were insane? Arthur Griffith once wisely said, "the day the Irish nation needs an apology for John Mitchel, the Irish nation will need its shroud".
The Civil War was indeed an ugly thing. I say this as a descendant of an Irish Union soldier and as a descendant of a number of Irish Confederate soldiers who left Ireland to escape the famine. My ancestor in the Union army gave his life in August 1864 for the great United States of America with the Stars and Stripes fluttering above him fighting to save the Union, and his sisters and younger brothers back in Massachusetts (and one of his younger brothers, my great- great-grandfather) back in Ireland. Another of my ancestors in the Confederate army gave his life for the noble cause of the South, his brothers also served in the Army but they survived. He died with the Southern cross above him, proudly defying what they saw as a tyranny, his brother also back in Ireland (my great-great-great-grandfather). Both causes were honourable and I'll stand up for both wherever they're slighted.
Most Irish in America at the time supported slavery, and it was completely justified, I'm not afraid to say it anymore because I'm sick and tired of beating around it and trying to apologise for it when people bring it up, as if they were in the wrong somehow.
As Irishmen were starving at home, the British were able to fork up the money to free slaves in the West Indies, and prior to that they were able to feed them and clothe them. In contrast the Irish had no clothes, no food and were forcefully evicted from their homes by corrupt landlords and redcoat soldiers. They fled to America, my ancestors included, and found a land where they could be free.
When they met with the abolitionists however (those who wished to abolish slavery and who are today painted in such a heroic and noble light. A light which I believe they do not deserve) they found them rather distasteful. They were vehemently anti-Irish, anti-immigrant, nativist and anti-Catholic, thinking it completely acceptable that us Irish were treated so badly in New York and New Orleans yet thought it was wrong that blacks were working on plantations, being fed and clothed and housed?
How would you have felt if you came from being evicted from your home by soldiers, your family starved half to death due to the forceful removal of food at gunpoint, you arrive in New York and are greeted by a group of people who don't want you there, who want rid of you, who think you're worthless and lazy and are quite happy keeping you as a second class citizen and seeing you slowly starve to death as a wage-slave in the slums of New York or on a small farm in upstate New York, where they'd burn your crops and your churches. Yet, they believe that the "poor, badly treated" blacks on plantations should be freed. Blacks whom have food, clothes, a roof, and work? More than us Irish ever had in Ireland during the famine.
It was hypocrisy at the highest level, and those abolitionist Irish back in Ireland hadn't been to America and didn't understand in the slightest the conditions.
New Orleans was one of the very few cities in the south with the Nativist Know-Nothings in control, and as such us Irish were treated as the lowest of the low. Blacks weren't allowed to do dangerous jobs because they were "too valuable". But the Irish who were arriving in droves escaping the famine were perfect. Because of course, we
weren't valuable. We were used for fixing boilers of river barges and other volatile things. If one exploded, then they could just hire another Irishman. Much less than $1 a day, perfectly dispensable, yet the blacks were far too valuable because they cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars and had to be looked after. We Irish were also gotten to dig canals, another dangerous job. In Louisiana when slaves were being worked hard by their masters they complained that they were being "worked like Irishmen".
Yet when Louisiana seceded in 1861, they called upon the Irish to fight, for there was never a braver fighter than an Irishman, and they formed the Louisiana Tigers regiments, nicknamed "The Louisiana Irish Brigade". The same happened in New York and throughout the northern States. As soon as war broke out, the Irish volunteered to fight for their adopted home despite the Know-Nothings and their abolitionist rhetoric. The famous Irish Brigade led by Thomas Francis Meagher and Michael Corcoran fought bravely throughout the war for the Union. And the 33rd Illinois, known as the "Illinois Irish Brigade".
It is far, far too easy to slight Mitchel and rebuke him for his views, and it's also too easy to beat around the bush and try and say he was deranged. Nothing is more insulting, nor is anything more unjust. If we want to talk about people from the 19th century we can't impose 21st century views on theirs. Mitchel was a man of sound mind, he understood what he was doing. So did Meagher, another honourable Irishman and one of Mitchel's friends. I also believe that to slight Mitchel in such a way shows a certain laziness to a person, because it shows they really aren't interested in Mitchel at all and if that's the best they can come up with then they either don't know very much about Mitchel, or they want to make controversy and call someone a racist the moment someone steps up to defend him, thus winning the argument in the eyes of this modernist world, where even the slightest implication of the accusation of "racist" will nullify you from any conversation of defence of your point.
In the 21st century, "slavery" has a different connotation, and rightly so, I'm glad that slavery was abolished. But not how the Know- Nothings would have gone about it.
So here I am defending Mitchel, alas, he shouldn't even need a defence, if one would only look at and be bothered to understand the era he lived in they would understand. I'm also here defending those other maltreated Irishmen and women who fled to America and were greeted with the greatest hypocrisy known to America, the Know- Nothing party, and who are now accused of "racism" and belittled by people in this modern world. I'll end on a quote from Mitchel himself
“It is altogether a new thing in the history of mankind, this triumphant glorification of a current century...no former age, before Christ or after, ever took pride in itself and sneered at the wisdom of its ancestors; and the new phenomenon indicates, I believe, not higher wisdom but deeper stupidity.”
- John Mitchel
R. J. Kincaid, 2020
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Letter to the Editor
None of us ever expected on June 23rd 2016 that our lives for years and years would be consumed by the decision taken on this date, that our newspapers, Tv's, Radio's, Social Media streams would be bursting with all the twists and turns of the fallout from Referendum Day.
None of us expected a decision to Leave.
Indeed none of us in BCAB ever thought that four years later, we would still have so much uncertainty about how Britain would ultimately leave the EU; Deal or No Deal?
The Tens of Billions that Brexit has burnt in its furnace, has only epitomized the hot and toxic atmosphere which Brexit has brought to politics, business and many communities and families.
Fortunately, Brexit has not been the wrecking ball in Border Communities in Ireland that it could have been; due to the commitment of BCAB we made sure that the Irish Border was at top of the political agenda both in Ireland and the EU.
The determination of Border Communities was to ensure we would not allow ourselves to be cut off from one another again, by not risking our Peace Process, but also to ensure that our All Island Economy was protected.
It was also the steadfast support given by political parties across this island, our friends in Europe and America to force Britain to compromise and sign up to the Irish Protocol, which ensures a Border in the Irish Sea.
This Protocol however is under significant strain, as yet again Westminster is determined to water down its commitments, and recently they thumbed their noses at allowing the EU to retain an office in Belfast.
Whatever happens in the weeks and months ahead, our core commitments must remain central, protecting our Peace and Building the All Island Economy.
Ireland must remain focused upon keeping our voice at the centre of Europe, and stand strong in promoting the EU values, which are, respect human dignity and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law.
We ask no more than this.
Border Communities Against Brexit
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Letter to the Editor
In the last few weeks, gymnasts across the UK have bravely come forward about their experiences of abuse and bullying within their sport.
It is no easy task but everyone who speaks out is helping to positively transform the culture of the sport for tomorrow’s gymnasts.
This is a sport enjoyed by young people across Northern Ireland and, while not everyone shares these experiences, we know there are many who hear these sobering claims and realise the same happened or is happening to themselves, their children or young people they know.
That is why the NSPCC and the British Athletes Commission (BAC) have jointly set up a free, confidential and independent helpline that is a safe space for you to voice any concerns.
The last time the NSPCC set up a dedicated helpline was in response to the football abuse scandal which led to many referrals being made to police with information about clubs, victims and suspects across the country.
And now we want to hear from gymnasts, parents or anyone involved in the sport at any level.
As a parent or other adult, you may have noticed a young gymnast is increasingly withdrawn and anxious, has experienced dramatic weight loss or has unexplained bruises. But signs of abuse and bullying could also be much subtler, so we urge anyone who feels something might not be quite right to get in touch with the helpline even for advice or just talk about that “gut feeling”.
Our trained and approachable advisers are there to lift the weight off your shoulders. No concern is too small and they will listen to you without judgement and use their expertise to give advice, answer any questions and, if necessary, refer to a relevant agency such as the police.
All callers coming through will be offered the opportunity, where appropriate, for their details to be shared with the BAC who can offer a follow up call to discuss any specialist support or advice you may need. This is all part of the BAC’s newly-established Athlete Support, which will provide end-to-end support to athletes and families affected by the allegations of abuse.
By calling the helpline, you will also be offered a chance to input to the Independent Inquiry commissioned by Sport England and UK Sport.
As the lockdown lifts, people will be returning to sports and should be able to enjoy them safe from harm.
The NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit also has advice on how to choose the best club for your youngster:
Every club should:
• let you see their policies and procedures on how they deal with any concerns raised about poor practice or abuse
• give you the name of a welfare or child protection officer in case you have any concerns
• show you written standards for good practice, such as a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• ask you to provide essential medical and emergency contact information, and get your consent for your child to participate
• be able to let you know about the types of things they do to make sure their staff/volunteer are safe to work with your child
By picking up the phone you are playing your part in positively transforming the culture of the sport for tomorrow’s gymnasts. You are making gymnastics a safer, more welcoming place for all.
If you wish to receive support or report concerns of bullying or abuse in the sport, please call 0800 056 0566 from 8am – 10pm weekdays or 9am – 6pm weekends. Alternatively, you can email help@nspcc.org.uk.
NSPCC Northern Ireland
North Derby Street
Belfast
BT15 3HN
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The Albert Basin Park Project have written an Open Letter to the People of Newry, Mourne and Down District, The project is part of Newry 2020's campaign for a city park in Newry and they are asking the council at their meeting tomorrow night to pledge £1.5 Million to fund a full project team to proceed with the park which was unamiously voted for in 2017 but very little progress has been made since on the project.
Open Letter
On Monday the 2nd November Newry Mourne Down District Council will vote on approving a business case that will put them on track to committing at least £30M of ratepayer money towards new City Regeneration Projects for Newry City.
You may be surprised to learn that the Albert Basin Park Project, which the citizens of Newry City and our Council have stated is their “top priority”, is not included within these City Regeneration Projects but HALF OF YOUR £30M is committed towards a New Council Office Building and providing additional Rentable Office Space in Newry City Centre. The New Council Office Building and additional Rentable Office Space have had no public consultation or decades-long community campaign unlike the Albert Basin Park Project.
If this pandemic has taught us anything it is the value of green space from a physical and mental health perspective. It has also forever altered demand for office space through video conferencing, VPNs and remote working. Businesses all over the world are cancelling new office projects and hurrying to sell the office space they currently have.
Newry City already has Council Offices however it doesn’t have a City Park. In fact Newry City is the only city in Ireland that doesn’t have a City Park.
Monday’s vote will be on the largest financial commitment our council will make during this term (2019-2023) at £30M of rate payers money being pledged towards it, with the potential to add an extra 30-40% to existing rates in the midst of a global pandemic.
The Albert Basin Park Project is Newry City’s true Regeneration Project. It already has unanimous council support, public and private sector buy-in and most importantly costs 1/10* of what the council are pledging to spend on Monday night.
We propose a mad idea.
Why don’t we save the £15M for a New Council Office Building and Rentable Office Space and instead pledge £1.5 million to fund a full project team to proceed with the Albert Basin Park Project and get it built ASAP?
We understand that our council finds it hard to change course when they have staked so much time, money (over £500,000) and effort into getting the New Council Office Building Project to this stage but frankly it is the wrong investment at the wrong moment. We need green space before we need office space.
As the great economist John Maynard Keynes once said, “When the facts change, I change my mind”. We urge our councillors voting this Monday to do the same. Vote for Green Space before Office Space.
Vote NO to approving the business case on constructing the multi-million pound New Council Offices for Newry City.
-The Albert Basin Park Project
*The Albert Basin Project current concept plans have been costed by professionals at between £10-15 Million depending on finishes. Furthermore, our studies have shown that comparable projects across N.I. have received 80-90% external funding, minimising the burden on local ratepayers.
Albert Basin Park Project
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The NSPCC is looking for young people to join a new group that gives them the chance to shape and influence the charity’s work, and ensure they are at the heart of our decision making.
We are launching the Young People’s Board for Change, and want to recruit 15 members aged between 13 and 16.
The Board members will use the platform to raise awareness of what matters most to them, take action and make change happen. They will also have a big role internally advising staff and trustees.
The young people will take part in new experiences and opportunities, meet other young people, as well as develop confidence and learn life-long new skills, such as campaigning and public speaking.
Over a two-year period, members will take part in residentials, meetings and workshops, and campaign to share their views and opinions.
We want as many young people as possible to have the chance to apply, so we are encouraging parents and carers to speak to their children about this exciting opportunity, and teachers and other professionals to share details with their students and through their networks.
At the NSPCC, we are committed to ensuring that young people are empowered and that their opinions are listened to. It’s vital that we put children and young people first and embed their views into everything we do in our fight for every childhood
Readers can find out more at NSPCC.ORG.UK or for informal chat please contactparticipationteam@nspcc.org.uk.
The deadline for completed applications is 11th January and interviews will be held between 18 – 21st January.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Anderson
National Head of Service
NSPCC Northern Ireland
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Supporting Women Newry have sent an open letter to anti abortion group Precious Life appealing to them to stop their protests outside all healthcare settings claiming that their behaviour is "impacting on the emotional and psychological well-being of people".
Supporting Women Newry have counter protested against demonstrations by the pro life group outside the John Mitchel Place Clinic and Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry in recent months.
Dear members of Precious Life
We have attempted on numerous occasions to put forward Supporting Women Newry’s position regards your protests outside our much-needed health and social care facilities and latterly, the pride of our town, Daisy Hill Hospital. Our attempts have been met by online abuse and offensive “praying for our souls”. We are well aware that matters of the utmost importance are not necessarily best served in the sometimes-combative arena of social media posts, so we want to reach out to you in a different format, through the news media, to appeal to you to stop the weekly protests outside all healthcare settings, but most importantly for the citizens of Newry, Daisy Hill Hospital.
No-one is denying your right to protest; we in Supporting Women Newry uphold the right of all citizens to peaceful protest. But with rights come responsibilities and your right to protest does not trump the right of every patient, staff member and visitor to go about their business at Daisy Hill Hospital without fear of intimidation and harassment. In most other settings your protests may not raise an eyebrow, but when patients are already vulnerable, grieving and or traumatised, your approach goes well beyond the free speech and right to protest debate. That’s even before the staff are taken into consideration. We in Newry and its surrounding areas have so much to thank the staff in Daisy Hill for, especially in the last number of months. You cannot fail to see the added burden you are placing on staff who have given their all to be met every Wednesday by placards announcing “Babies are killed in this building”. They do not deserve this. And what’s more they cannot change any policies within their place of employment.
We do not and will not debate with you the issue of termination of pregnancies. Our objection to your protest is not about abortion. Our objection is to groups of people with grossly offensive placards standing outside the entrance to our hospital. Most recently you have stood outside the Mental Health Unit and a group of your supporters went onto Trust property and started to pray outside the maternity unit. This is highly objectionable and offensive behaviour. If one person is traumatised by this in a health and social care setting, it is one person too many. The list of complaints grows by the week.
So, please show compassion for your fellow citizens; those human beings, whether adults or children, whether staff or patients who use our wonderful Daisy Hill. Respect the need for all to be unimpeded in accessing healthcare or their place of work. You have no idea how your behaviour is impacting the emotional and psychological well-being of people, some of who need every ounce of strength that they can muster. Go to the places where the politicians gather and have your protests there. Take your protest to the powerful and leave the powerless alone.
Supporting Women Newry
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