Cáineann éirígí moladh Keaveney ar fheidhmiú fhórsaí na Breataine sna 26 Condae

30/03/10

(English version follows.)

Rinne urlabhraí éirígí Thír Chonaill Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig cáineadh géar ar Sheanadóir Fhianna Fáil Cecilia Keaveney.
Bhí Mac Giolla Easbuig ag freagairt ráitis de chuid Keaveney inné [29ú Márta] inar mhol sí go mbreathnófaí ar ligean d’aonad diúscartha buamaí na Breataine feidhmiú anseo sna Sé Chondae Fichead.

Dúirt Mac Giolla Easbuig: “Is iontach amach is amach an ráiteas ón Seanadóir Keaveney. An tseachtain seo chugainn, déanfaidh Poblachtánaigh ó cheann ceann na tíre comóradh ar íobairt mhná agus fhir Sheachtain na Cásca, a thug suas a saoirse agus a saolta, mar aon le mol mór eile roimh agus i ndiaidh an Éirí Amach, chun aistarraingt fhórsaí na Breataine ónár dtalamh a chinntiú.”

Lean sé: “Tá sé olc go leor go maireann forghabháil na Sé Chondae, ach tá sé ainspianta agus dochosanta go molfadh Keaveney cuireadh a thabhairt do fhórsaí na Breataine le feidhmiú anseo i nDún na nGall nó áite ar bith eile ar fud an stáit seo. Is masla é dóibh siúd uilig a throid agus a d’éag ar son saoirse na hÉireann agus is masla é do náisiúnaithe na Sé Chondae a bhfuil ag maireachtáil faoin fhorghabháil Bhriotanach fós.

“Ní dhéanann a leithéid de ráiteas ach solas glas a thabhairt do fhórsaí forghabhála na Breataine leanúint lena n-ionraí ar an stát seo. Trasnaíonn ingearáin arm na Breataine isteach sna Sé Chondae Fichead go rialta, go háirithe ag teorann Fhear Manach. Agus sa chás is déanaí, díreach seachtain ó shin, thóg póilíní armtha an PSNI seicphointe agus chuir bac ar thrácht i gCondae Dhún na nGall díreach taobh amuigh de Bhéal Leice. Chuaigh na póilíní armtha isteach i siopa ar an taobh ó dheas den teorann. Ach níl faic déanta ag an rialtas seo, atá faoi cheannas pháirtí an tSeanadóra Keaveney – Fianna Fáil, an ‘páirtí poblachtánach’ mar a cheapann siad féin.”

Chríochnaigh sé: “Tá rud amháin cinnte. Leanfaidh éirígí ag cur in aghaidh láithreacht reatha fhórsaí na Breataine inár dtír ins na Sé Chondae. Ina theannta sin cuirfidh muid in éadan aon iarracht de chuid an rialtais seo faoi stiúir Fhianna Fáil ligean do fhórsaí na Breataine feidhmiú sa stát seo ar bhealach ar bith.”

éirígí slam Keaveney suggestion of British troops operating in 26 Counties

éirígí Tír Chonaill spokesperson Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig has launched a scathing attack on Fianna Fáil Senator Cecilia Keaveney. Giolla Easbuig was responding to comments made yesterday [March 29] by Keaveney in which she suggested that consideration should be given to allowing British bomb disposal units operate in the Twenty-Six counties.

Mac Giolla Easbuig said: “The comments from Senator Keaveney are truly amazing. Next week, Republicans the length and breadth of this island will commemorate the sacrifice of the women and men of Easter Week who, along with many more before and after the rising, sacrificed their liberty and lives in order to secure the removal of British troops from our shores.”

He added: “While it is bad enough that the occupation of the Six Counties continues, it is outrageous and indefensible that Keaveney would suggest to invite to British troops to operate here in Donegal or elsewhere thoughout this state. It is an insult to all those who fought and died for Irish freedom and an insult to those northern nationalists who continue to live under the British occupation.

“Such comments serve only to give the green light to the British occupation forces to continue with their incursions into this state. British army helicopters regularly cross over into the Twenty-Six Counties, particularly along the Fermanagh border. And in the latest incident, only last week, armed PSNI officers set up a checkpoint and stopped traffic in County Donegal just outside Belleek. The armed officers also entered a shop on the southern side of the border. Yet absolutely no action has been taken by this administration which is led by Senator Keaveney’s party Fianna Fáil, the self styled ‘republican party’.”

He concluded: “One thing is guaranteed. éirígí will continue to oppose the continued presence of British troops in our country within the Six Counties. We will equally oppose any attempt by this Fianna Fáil led administration to allow British troops to operate in this state under any circumstances.”

Éilínn éirígí scaoileadh Pat O’ Donnell

25/03/10

(English version follows)

Beidh agóid náisiúnta ag éileamh ceartais ar son iascaire Pat O’ Donnell, atá faoi ghlas, ar siúl Dé Sathairn (27ú Márta) taobh amuigh de phríosún an Chaisleáin Riabhaigh, Co. Ros Comáin. Agus é ag labhairt sna laethanta ag teacht suas chuig an imeacht eagraithe ag Shell chun Sáile, deireann urlabhraí éirígí Thír Chonaill Mícheál Mac Giolla Easbuig gur chóir an tUasal O’ Donnell a scaoileadh saor ón bpríosún láithreach agus nár chóir an córas ceartais 26 contae a úsáid chun obair shalach an chomhlachta bhreosla ilnáisiúnta Shell a úsáid. Faoi láthair tá Shell gafa le hoibreacha ullmhúcháin do bhaint gháis atá 80km ó chósta Mhaigh Eo. Tá an comhlacht gafa le taiscéalaíocht gás eile agus olacheantair as cósta Dhún na nGall.

Dúirt Mac Giolla Easbuig, "Tá O’Donnell anois sa dara mhí de bhreith seacht mí mar gheall ar chionta oird phoiblí áibhlithe. Tá sé seo mar gheall ar an seasamh poiblí, agus é seo amháin, a thóg sé in aghaidh Shell atá ag fórsáil píplíne, atá ag iompar amhghás le hardbhrú, tríd cuan Chnocán na Líne agus istír i gcoinne mianta na ndaoine agus tromlach chónaithe an cheantair. Cáineadh an fear seo sna meáin agus casadh a shaol agus saolta a theaghlaigh bun os cionn ar fháth simplí, nach ligeann sé do Shell an pobal ina bhfuil sé ina chónaí a scriosadh."

Chuir sé le seo, "Gabháladh é féin agus a mhac gan mhoill agus iad ag iascaireacht, gan chúiseamh ag teacht amach as. Tógadh a shlí bheatha uaidh nuair a tháinig grúpa fear cumhdaithe ar bhord a bhád iascaireacht agus choinnigh siad é féin agus a chriú faoi dhíriú gunna, fad is a chuaigh roinnt den drong isteach i seomra an innill, scrios siad a bhád ag fágaint Pat agus a chriú le bheith tarrtháilte ó rafta tarrthála fad is a chuaigh a shoitheach faoi uisce. Ag agóidí in aghaidh gníomhuithe Shell rinne na Gardaí ionsaithe foréigneacha ar an Uasal O’Donnell ag fágaint é le gortaithe ar a aghaidh agus fiacla briste agus mar thoradh ar sin creideann a lán daoine anois go bhfuil na Gardaí sa cheantar ag feidhmiú i mbealach atá ar son Shell. Ní hiad seo gníomhuithe fórsa póilíneachta atá neamhlaofa nó neamhchlaonta."

"Tá muid i lár géarchéim gheilleagrach gan fasach sa tír seo agus níor chóir don stát a bheith comhpháirteach i dtabhairt amach na céadta billiúin euro d’ola agus de ghás le haghaidh leasanna ghnóthaí phríomháideacha. Ba chóir don stát é a úsáid le haghaidh muintir an oileáin seo agus go mbeadh sé athscagtha ag an bhfarraige i mbealach sábháilte agus neamhdhíobhálach don timpeallacht ar aon dul leis na cleachtais idirnáisiúnta is fearr."

Chríochnaigh sé: "Iarraimid in éirígí ar an méad is mó daoine agus is féidir freastal ar agóid Shell chun Sáile Dé Sathairn taobh amuigh de phríosún an Chaisleáin Riabhaigh ag a 3.30i.n., chun éileamh ar scaoileadh láithreach an Uasail O’Donnell agus chun ceartas dó féin agus do na daoine a dhéanann sé ionadaíocht do a bhaint amach. Tá dóchas ann go seolfaidh an agóid seo teachtaireacht, ní amháin le haghaidh tacaíochta ar son an Uasail O’Donnell, ach teachtaireacht chuig Shell agus an rialtas 26 contae nach féidir leo siúl ar mhuintir na hÉireann le haghaidh leasanna chomhlachtaí ilnáisiúnta eachtracha agus a scairshealbhóirí."

Is féidir le duine ar bith atá ag iarraidh taisteal chuig an agóid dul i dteagmháil liom ar 0868845476 chun socruithe a dhéanamh."

éirígí Call for O'Donnell's Release

A national protest demanding justice for jailed Mayo fisherman Pat O'Donnell, is to be held this coming Saturday ( 27th March ) outside Castlerea Prison, County Roscommon. Speaking in the run up to the event organised by campaign group Shell to Sea, éirígí Tir Chonaill spokesperson Micheál Colm Mac Giolla Easbuig says that Mr O'Donnell should be released from jail immediately and that the Twenty-Six County justice system should not be used to do the dirty work of multi-national fuel company Shell. Shell are currently involved in preparatory works for the extraction of gas 80km off the west coast of County Mayo. The company is also involved the exploration of other gas and oil fields off the coast of Donegal.

Mac Giolla Easbuig said, “Pat O'Donnell is now in the second month of a seven month jail sentence on trumped up public order offences. This is solely because he has taken a public stand against Shell who are forcing a pipeline, carrying high pressure raw gas, through Broadhaven Bay and ashore against the wishes of the majority of the residents of the area. This man has been vilified in the press and his life and that of his family turned upside down for the simple reason that he steadfastly refuses to let Shell run roughshod over the community in which he lives.”

He added: “He and his son have been arbitarily arrested while fishing, with no charges arising. He had his livelihood taken from him when a group of masked men boarded his fishing boat and held him and his crew at gunpoint, while some of the gang went into the engine room and scuttled his boat leaving Pat and his crew to be rescued from a liferaft as his vessel sank. At demonstrations against Shell's actions Mr O'Donnell has been violently assaulted by Gardai leaving him with facial injuries and broken teeth, leading many to believe that Gardai in the area are acting in nothing more than a pro-Shell manner. Hardly the acts of an unbiased, impartial police force."

"We are currently in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis in this country and the state should not be complicit in the giving away of hundreds of billions of euros worth of oil and gas to private business interests. Rather it should be used by the state for the people of this island and refined at sea in a safe, environmentally friendly manner in line with best international practices."

He concluded: “We in éirígí are calling for as many people as possible to attend this Saturdays Shell to Sea protest outside Castlerea Prison at 3.30pm, to demand the immediate release of Mr O'Donnell and to secure justice for him and the people he represents. The hope is that this protest will send a message, not only of support to Mr O'Donnell, but a message to Shell and the Twenty-Six County government that the Irish people will not be walked on for the interests of foreign multi-national companies and their shareholders. Anyone wishing to travel to the protest can contact me on 0868845476 to make arrangements.”

Éirígí Calls for Action on Israel

22/03/10

Éirígí Tir Chonaill spokesperson, Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, has called on the EU to halt it's association with Israel in light of the recent vote in the European Parliament to support the UN Goldstone Report on Gaza. One of those who has voted in favour of the report is local MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher.

The report, by Justice Richard Goldstone on behalf of the UN Human Rights Council, was compiled in the aftermath of the military assault by Israel on Gaza in early 2009 and was heavily critical of the actions of Israel during the conflict. In the report, Goldstone concluded that Israel committed "grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention in respect of wilful killings and wilfully causing great suffering to protected persons," war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.

Mac Giolla Easbuig said "The fact that the European Parliament has voted in support of such a report goes to show the revulsion that is felt, by so many, of the brutal actions meted out by the Israeli state on the Palestinian people, both in Gaza and the West Bank. This week, the the Council for the EU will be discussing the up-grading of the EU-Israel Association Agreement (EUIAA) and we in éirígí are calling on the EU to halt this in light of the recent vote that was taken by the European Parliament."

"The EU-Israel Association Agreement promotes strong business, trade and cultural links between the EU and Israel and an up-grade to 'special status' will make these links even stronger, eventually giving Israel the chance of more input in EU policies and more access to EU money. This just will not be acceptable. Currently Israel is no more than a rouge state. Its in clear breach of a list of UN Security Council resolutions, the Forth Geneva Convention and rulings from the International Court of Justice. Its even in breach of the regulations of the EU-Israel Association Agreement set up for Israels benefit. Its a nuclear power in violation of international law and shouldn't be rewarded for its continuing illegal occupation in Palestine."

Likening Israel to to the once Apartheid South Africa, Mac Giolla Easbuig continued by saying widespread sanctions should be placed on Israel. "The conditions which the Palestinian people endure under the Israeli occupation are as bad as that which the people of South Africa lived under during the Apartheid Regime. Economic, cultural and sporting boycotts done much to bring that regime to an end and similar actions could go a long way to bring the Israeli states brutality to an end. Rather than aiding and abetting Israel in its crimes the EU should place economic sanctions upon it for the wrongs it continues to perpetrate in the middle east."

Mac Giolla Easbuig concluded by saying, "The current Twenty-Six County government have their part to play in this also. They should be actively calling on Israel to desist from its many crimes, instead of backing them by trading with them in deals, such as the purchasing of millions of euros worth of bullets from Israeli Military Industries, a deal which they are currently considering."

"At the up-coming EUIAA meeting, the Twenty-Six Counties will be represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and given Israels track record and its continuing occupation of Palestine and blockade of Gaza, I'm calling on the government to insist that this agreement isn't up-graded, but rather scrapped altogether. I would also ask that those who represent the Twenty-Six Counties in the European Parliament, such as Pat The Cope Gallagher, work harder to insure that Israel is brought to book and that the Irish people who they represent are not mis-represented by being made complicit in Israels many crimes."

Palestinian Play in Donegal a big Success

19/03/10

A much larger than expected crowd attended an event to mark International Women's Week in Dungloe last weekend. The event, a play entitled "Clouds on a Mountain Road", was held in Ionad Teampall Chróine, Dungloe, and staged by Derry based theatre company Sole Purpose Productions.

Well over one hundred people turned up on the Saturday evening (13th March) and packed into the upstairs room in Ionad Teampall Chróine, Dungloe, to see the two local actresses, Carmel McCafferty and Abby Oliveira, put on a very emotional and moving performance which got a standing ovation from the audience on the night.

The emotive play looked at the issue of two women living in Palestine, how they deal with the brutal occupation of the Israeli Defence Forces, the conflict the occupation causes and the personal hurt and emotion caused to the women by the conflict. Orna Akad, who wrote the play, looked at how women resist the occupation and the great angst which it causes them, as well as their efforts to make change in their own way, was at the heart of the play.

One of the women portrayed in the play was internationally acclaimed Palestinian poet, Fadwa Tuqan, a women from a comfortable background who had seen the world and lived a western style life. The other was a younger Palestinian women, Inshirah Shiti, a political ex-prisoner and militant from a much poorer background, holding strong religious views. Throughout the course of the play the two women discussed their feelings, the effects the conflict has had on them and the reasons for doing what they did in their own way to resist the occupation of their homeland.

Éirígí Tir Chonaill spokesperson Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig who organised the Dungloe event said he was overwhelmed by the amount of people who showed up on the night to see the play and mark International Women's Week. Speaking after the event Micheál Cholm said, "I was amazed and delighted to see so many people make the effort to show up and support this event. Such a crowd turned up that we had to close the doors and unfortunately we had to turn people who came late away, which I'd like to apologise for as I appreciate the fact they made the effort to come to the event. But we just had no more room to fit people in."

"It was such an emotional performance and it was hard not to be moved by the subject matter. All too often the issue of how conflict affects women and people in general on a personal level is overlooked. This play, particularly on International Women's Week, was a good opportunity to do just that. The brutality meted out on the Palestinian people on a daily basis continues and all the problems that come with that affect them both emotionally and psychologically, as well as socially, from the very youngest to the very oldest in their society. There were so many people sitting around me who were moved to tears and that reaction just went to show that the audience took on board the message of the play", he said.

"A women speaking to me after the play said throughout the performance, she could visualise pictures of the suffering of the Palestinian people and almost relived the footage which was shown around the world of the horrors of the prolonged Israeli military attacks on Gaza and its people in early 2009. Not only that but she said she could relate what the women discussed in the play to her own terrible experiences living through the on-going British occupation in the North of Ireland where she had lived for most of her life. So I feel that the play did a service, not only of marking International Women's Week, but in educating people about the many issues, challenges and emotions women face in times of conflict."

Micheál finished by thanking all those involved in helping to stage the play and also thanked the people who turned up on the night to see it.

Mná Poblachtánacha agus An Ghaeilge

15/03/10

(English version follows.)

Tríd na céadta, rinne na Sasanaigh iarracht i gcónaí aitheantas na nÉireannach a dhíbirt. Gan aitheantas dár gcuid féin chreid siad go ngéillfeadh na hÉireannaigh do riail na Breataine in Éirinn. scriosadh na Gaeilge fíor-thábhachtach chun aitheantas na ndaoine a mhilleadh. Mar a dúirt Edmund Spenser (comhairleoir Bhanríon Éilís I sa 16ú haois) “When the tongue is English, the heart must be English too”

Thug teanga dhúchasach na nÉireannach féinaithne shainiúil dóibh a bhí mar bhagairt do choilínigh. Cruthaíodh íomhá diúltach den Ghaeilge sa tslí is gur mhothaigh daoine go raibh sí bainteach leis an mbochtaineacht agus le bómántacht. Dá bharr, tháinig An Béarla chun cinn sa tír.

Ag tús na fichiú haoise tosaíodh athbheochan na Gaeilge. Bhí Poblachtánaigh, cosúil le Pádraig Mac Piarais ach go háirithe, bainteach leis an athbheochan seo. Bhí ‘Tír gan teanga, Tír gan ainm’ mar mhana aige chun na daoine a spreagadh leis an nGaeilge. Thuig Mac Piarais go raibh cuid dhílis ag an nGaeilge in athghabháil na tíre. Ní raibh meas ag daoine ar a gcultúr ná ar a dteanga féin. Ba thionscnamh tábhachtach é an dearcadh seo a athrú ionas go dtuigfeadh daoine nach raibh ceart ag Rialtas na Breataine in Éirinn.

I bpríosún Ard Mhacha bhí an Ghaeilge in úsáid ag na mná mar uirlis fhrithbheartaíochta agus thuig siad go díreach cad a bhí in intinn an Phiarsaigh. Throid siad le haghaidh ranganna Gaeilge a fháil sa phríosún agus thuig siad go raibh tábhacht leis an teanga i gcomhthéacs na streachailte.

I 1974 fostaíodh fear darbh ainm Seán Ó Baoill, iarmhúinteoir Gaeilge agus Tíreolas i gColáiste Phádraig in Ard Mhacha, mar mhúinteoir do na mná. Fear ab é a raibh clú air mar Ghaeilgeoir an-oilte agus clú air mar bhailitheoir cheoil agus amhrán i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla.

D’fhreastail thart ar tríocha bean ar na ranganna Gaeilge agus ag an tús dhírigh siad ar chomhrá bunúsach. Bhí na ranganna ar siúl ar feadh dhá uair in aghaidh na seachtaine. Nuair a bhí Gaeilge labhartha ag na mná, thosaigh Seán ar an scríbhneoireacht leo. Mhúin sé stair na Gaeilge dóibh freisin agus mhúin sé dóibh conas Ogham a léamh. Bhí an teanga úsáideach sa phríosún do na mná mar bhain siad úsáid aisti le scairteadh ag an doras i rith na hoíche ag labhairt lena gcairde. Bhí a fhios acu nach raibh na bairdéirí in ann iad a thuiscint. Rinne siad scrúdú don bhFáinne sa phríosún.

Tháinig deireadh le ranganna Sheáin nuair a tógadh “stádas polaitiúil” de na cimí polaitiúla i 1976. Tar éis sin bhí sé níos deacra An Ghaeilge a mhúineadh ach rinne na cimí iarracht dul ar aghaidh. Toisc go raibh siad faoi ghlas agus toisc nach raibh cead acu leabhair nó foclóirí a bheith acu, dúshlán a bhí ann.

Bhí Mairéad Farrell tar éis ‘A’ a bhaint amach sa scrúdú GCSE nuair a bhí sí sa phríosún cheana, mar sin bhí sí i gceannas ar ranganna Gaeilge a mhúineadh anois. Bhí Síle Darragh ina múinteoir freisin. Bhain na cimí úsáid as modhanna éagsúla le Gaeilge a fhoghlaim. Dúirt siad paidreacha as Gaeilge agus scairt siad na ceachtanna Gaeilge ag doras an chillín cosúil leis na fir sna H-Blocanna.

D’éirigh an agóid in Ard Mhacha níos measa agus thosaigh an agóid gan ní sa phríosún. Ní raibh na ranganna in ann dul ar aghaidh ag an am seo. D’ainneon deireadh na ranganna in Ard Mhacha d’fhág an chuid is mó de na cimí polaitiúla a chaith seal ansin, le léibhéal Gaeilge agus meas nua ar an teanga nach raibh acu roimhe sin.

Thuig mná phríosún Ard Mhacha gur chomhartha aitheantais í An Ghaeilge, gur shiombail den saoirse í agus d’úsáid siad í mar uirlis fhrithbheartaíochta in aghaidh rialtas na Breataine agus bairdéirí an phríosúin. Chreid siad go raibh an teanga páirteach i bhfís agus streachailt na saoirse agus rinne siad iarracht mhór í a chur chun cinn sa phríosún agus í a athghabháil dóibh féin.

Republican Women and the Irish Language

For hundreds of years, the English establishment consistently attempted to destroy the identity of the Irish people.

Without an identity of our own, they believed that the Irish would submit to British rule in Ireland. The destruction of the Irish language was extremely important to damage the people’s identity. As Edmund Spencer [Advisor to Elizabeth 1 during the 16th Century] said: “When the tongue is English, the heart must be English too”

The native language of the Irish people gave them a distinctive identity that was a threat to colonisers. A negative image of the Irish language was created so that people felt that it was associated with poverty and with stupidity. Because of this and other factors, the English language came to the fore in the country.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, an Irish language revival was started. Republicans like Pádraig Pearse were involved in this revival. Pearse used “A country without a language, a country without a soul” as his motto to inspire the people with the Irish language. He understood that the Irish language played an integral part in reclaiming the country. People did not respect their own culture and their own language. It was an important project to change this mentality so that people would understand that the British government had no right in Ireland.

In Armagh prison, the women used the Irish language as a tool of resistance and they understood exactly what Pearse had in mind. They fought to have Irish classes in the prison and they understood that the language was important in the context of the struggle.

In 1974, a man called Seán Ó Baoill, a former Irish and Geography teacher in Coláiste Phádraig in Armagh, was employed as a teacher for the women. He was a man who was known as a highly educated Irish speaker and as a collector of Irish and English music and songs.

Around 30 women attended the Irish classes, which, at the beginning, focused on basic conversation. The classes were on two hours a week. When the women had mastered spoken-Irish, Ó Baoill began writing with them. He also taught them the history of the Irish language and taught them how to read Ogham. The language was useful to the women in prison because they used it to shout out the door during the night while speaking to friends. They knew that the screws couldn’t understand them. Eventually, an exam for the Fáinne (Ring) was conducted in Armagh prison.

Ó Baoill’s classes came to an end when political status was taken from the POWs in 1976. After that it was harder to teach Irish but the prisoners tried to go on with it. Because they were locked up and they weren’t allowed to have books or dictionaries, it was a challenge.

Mairéad Farrell had gotten an A in the GCSE exam, so she was in charge of teaching Irish classes now. Sheila Darragh was also a teacher. The prisoners used different methods of learning Irish. They said prayers in Irish and they shouted the Irish lessons out the door of the cell just like the men in the H-Blocks.

The protest in Armagh accelerated and the no wash protest began in earnest. The classes were unable to go ahead at this time. Despite the end of the classes in Armagh jail, the majority of political prisoners who spent time there left with a level of Irish and a new respect for the language that they did not previously have.

The women of Armagh jail understood that the Irish language is a sign of identity, that it’s a symbol of freedom and they used it as a tool of resistance against the British government and the screws. They believed that the language was part of the vision and struggle of freedom and they made a huge effort to promote it in the prison and to reclaim it for themselves.

Tosaíonn Rith 2010 i mBéal Feirste

12/03/10

(English version follows.)

Mar chuid de Sheachtain na Gaeilge, bhuail na céadta díograiseoirí Gaeilge an bóthar oíche Dé Máirt [9ú Márta] chun tús maith a chur leis an chéad Rith.

I measc an tslua ag glacadh páirte sa rás thiomsaithe airgid bhí iar-chimí poblachtacha, páistí scoile, lúthchleasaithe, oibrithe pobail agus dháréag gníomhaíoch éirígí.

Eagraíodh Rith chun ciste géarghátarach a thógáil do thograí Gaeilge, chomh maith le feasacht chultúrtha. Déanfaidh sé a bhealach ó Bhéal Feirste, ag clúdach 1600km agus ag dul tríd 250 baile móra agus beaga, sula chríochnaíonn sé i gcathair na Gaillimhe ar Lá ’le Pádraig.

Tógann an rás inspioráid ón Korrika, imeacht bliantúil i dTír na mBascach ina nglacann 600,000 duine páirt i ngleadhradh de ghníomhaíochtaí cultúrtha agus reatha dírithe ar thacú leis an Bhascais.

Le linn an Rith, iompróidh na rannpháirtithe baitín coimisiúnaithe go speisialta, atá déanta de dhair phortaigh agus maisithe le fáinne airgid ar a bhfuil na focail “Rith 2010” greanta. Ar gach oíche den rás, tarlóidh imeacht sóisialta faoin teideal Club Rith in áit nua.

Mhol urlabhraí éirígí Ursula Ní Shionnáin na daoine taobh thiar den tionscnamh.

“Is sampla eile é Rith 2010 de staid bheoga na Gaeilge agus is léirchruthú é do shamhlaíocht agus do dhiongbháilteacht na ngníomhaithe taobh thiar d’athbheochan na teanga.

“Ba chóir go dtabharfaidh a oiread daoine agus is féidir tacaíocht agus rannpháirtíocht don Rith agus é taisteal ar fud na tíre sa tseachtain amach romhainn.

“Agus gníomhaithe Gaeilge, idir shean agus óg, ag léiriú a mbród ina dteanga náisiúnta go dathúil, tá na dineasáir aontachtacha i Stormont fós ag cur in éadan an chothromais agus Acht Gaeilge, agus ag an am céanna tá an bhunaíocht i mBaile Átha Cliath ag tabhairt faoi pholasaí teasc is dó ar sheirbhísí a bhfuil géarghá leo do phobal na Gaeilge, go háirithe iadsan ina gcónaí sna Gaeltachtaí.

“Má tá teanga agus cultúr na nGael le hathnuachan arís, caithfear an t-airgead agus na seirbhísí atá de dhíth a sholáthar – is tús maith é bheith ag éileamh do na rudaí sin atá tuilte againn de cheart.”

Rith 2010 Begins in Belfast

As part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, hundreds of Irish language enthusiasts took to the roads of Belfast on Tuesday night [March 9] to give a running start to the inaugural Rith.

Among the crowds who were taking part in the fundraising race were republican ex-prisoners, schoolchildren, athletes, community workers and a dozen éirígí activists.

Rith, which has been organised to raise much needed funds for Irish language projects as well as cultural awareness, will make its away from Belfast, covering 1600km and passing through 250 towns and villages, before finishing in Galway City on St Patrick’s Day.

The race draws its inspiration from the Korrika, an annual event in the Basque Country in which 600,000 people participate in a fanfare of cultural activities and running aimed at supporting the Basque language.

Throughout An Rith, the participants will carry a specially commissioned baton which is made of Irish bog oak and decorated with a sliver ring with the logo of An Rith and the words “Rith 2010” engraved on it. On each night of the race, a special social event called Club Rith will take place in a new location.

éirígí spokesperson Ursula Ní Shionnáin commended those behind the initiative.

“Rith 2010 is yet another example of the vibrant state of the Irish language and is a testament to the imagination and determination of the activists behind the resurgence of the language.

“As many people as possible should support and participate in An Rith as it makes its way around the country over the next week.

“As Irish language activists young and old colourfully display their pride in their national language, the unionist dinosaurs at Stormont continue to oppose equality and an Irish Language Act, while the establishment in Dublin embarks upon a slash and burn policy towards services that are desperately needed by the Irish language community, particularly those living in the Gaeltacht areas.

“If the Irish language and culture is to be rejuvenated further, then the money and services that are desperately needed must be provided – demanding what we are rightfully entitled to is a good start.”

Dublin Council Passes éirígí Green Isle Motion

03/03/10

On Monday evening [March 1], Dublin City Council unanimously backed an emergency motion tabled by éirígí activist, councillor Louise Minihan in support of the striking workers at the Green Isle plant in Nass, County Kildare.

The motion, which read:

“That this council supports and sends solidarity to the striking workers at the Green Isle plant in Nass, who have been on official strike for more than 6 months;

notes with interest that the Labour Court has ruled in their favour;

notes also that the management of the company and their parent company Northern Foods has refused to engage with the Union (TEEU) or the industrial relations mechanisms of this state and therefore, left the workers no other option but to resort to a hunger strike to seek a satisfactory resolution to the strike;

and that this Council demands the company abide by the ruling of the Labour Court and reinstate the workers immediately.”

will now be forwarded to every council in the Twenty-Six Counties for voting on.

The official strike action, by the Technical Engineering & Electrical Union [TEEU], has already lasted for over six months, and centres on the unfair dismissal of three members of staff at the plant. Despite the fact that the Twenty-Six County Labour Court ruled overwhelmingly in favour of the workers, Green Isle and its British-based parent company, Northern Foods, have rejected the ruling and refused to engage with either the Labour Court or the union.

This intransigence has left the striking workers with no option but to embark on a hunger strike in an effort to get the recommendations of the Labour Court implemented.

On Wednesday, February 17, Jim Wyse, a TEEU shop steward, was the first to begin the hunger strike. He was joined on Wednesday, February 24 by John Guinan, and they will be joined by another hunger striker tomorrow [Wednesday] and every subsequent Wednesday until the dispute is resolved.

Speaking after the council meeting, Minihan said: “The business class and their cronies in Leinster House have declared war on the workers of this state, and the strikers at Green Isle have found themselves on the front line. It is outrageous and totally unacceptable for any company to refuse to engage with a trade union, or to refuse to implement a Labour Court ruling because they don’t get their own way. The bosses need to learn that workers will not lie down and be walked all over.

“The strikers at Green Isle have been an inspiration to Irish workers and, like the workers at Thomas Cooke and Visteon, have shown that the working class can fight back.”

Minihan continued: “Last night’s motion was about putting pressure on this company to recognise the rights of its workforce. It can hopefully end the despicable situation where union members have been forced to fight back with the drastic option of hunger strike.

“éirígí is fully supportive of the Green Isle strikers and the party will continue to do whatever it can to highlight the issue.”