RNU Meet the Council For Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS)

RNU PROTEST OUTSIDE THE CCMS

Yesterday on 14th October, the Belfast Cumann of the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) held a protest outside the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) in opposition to their recent decison to invite the RUC/PSNI into classrooms across the Occupied Six Counties. During the protest, a senior CCMS Executive came outside and invited a couple of RNU Representatives inside to discuss the issue. Were we presented him our analysis that Schools should be for learning and not to groom children to join the British Political Police.  

 

RNU POSTER

The RNU Activists were informed by the Executive that the CCMS decison was to 'teach' children about 'community safety'.  Although, they pointed out a number of facts about the RUC/PSNI, that they are NOT an ordinary Police Service but are managed and directed by the British Secret Service MI5. To uphold and maintain the British occupation of Six Irish Counties. We also expressed our concerns about the continued use of young people and children as Informers. Who in return for low level intelligence on republicans and others are given a free reign to wreck, torture, rob and ruin working-class communities. We also spoke of over 100 lethal Plastic bullets being fired in the Ardoyne and Short Strand areas by the rebranded RUC. 

 

RUC/PSNI ARMED WITH PLASTIC BULLETS

RNU also reminded the CCMS member about the scores of Catholics, Nationalists and Republicans killed directly by the RUC, including 9 year-old Patrick Rooney in his own home. As well as, the hundreds of others killed by Loyalists in collusion with the same Political Police. None of these killings have been properly addressed by the British State nor it's militia, the RUC/PSNI.

RNU PROTEST OUTSIDE THE CCMS

Before the end of our discussion the CCMS Representative asked RNU to draft a document outlining our concerns and he would ensure his board would recieve and discuss it and they would respond to us. Finally, RNU informed the CCMS know in no uncertain terms that any attempt to address Schoolchildren would be met with radical protests!

RUC/PSNI A CIVIL POLICE SERVICE?

Girdwood Housing Protest

To coincide with the 43rd Anniversary of the Derry Civil Rights March that was brutally attacked by the RUC on October 5, 1968 in Duke Street.

The North Belfast Civil Rights Association (NBCRA) will be organising a three-day camp at the former British Army base in Girdwood.

The decison to hold the camp is in protest against the decison by Stormont's Housing Minister, Nelson McCausland to veto over 200 homes being built @ Girdwood.
 

McCausland's sectarian decison is illogical given the fact that 95% of people on the waiting list in North Belfast by 2012 will be Catholics/Nationalists.

NBCRA is asking everyone interested in Civil Rights across the political and community spectrum to show their support during our three-day Anti-Poverty Camp. 

The Camp will be supported by a host of community groups, the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Irish Socialist Network, People Before Profit, Republican Network for Unity and Independant Political Activists. 

The Protest begins on Wednesday 5th October @ 1pm 

For Futher info:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=291405969193

Republican Network for Unity (RNU) Advice Centre - Belfast

In recent weeks, the Belfast Cumann/Branch of RNU have secured an office in West Belfast. The purpose of this new office is to help the community with advice on; Housing, Social Security Benefits, Political Prisoners, Anti-Social Activities and Political Policing. 

The Republican Network for Unity is a Republican Socialist organisation and as such the Advice Centre is staffed by our Activists on a voluntary basis during each working day. The RNU members will assist anyone who seeks our help and signpost them to the relevant body, if we cannot.

The new Advice Centre is part of RNU's wider political and social project to help the more vunerable in the community who feel let down by existing organisations in the city.We are also in the process of opening a drop-in centre in the same building for former Political Prisoners, where they can call in, have a chat,  hang out and have catch up together.

If you need help and/or advice please;

Telephone/Fon:  
(02890) 312339

or call into;
1a. Brighton Street
(facing the Culturlann, Falls Road)

Prison Service and Screws Attempt to Keep Maghaberry POWs' Seperated

Former H-Block Political Prisoner and current Cogus/RNU POWpow Tony Taylor asked for a representative of Cogus to visit him on his second week of remand, while he was still on the committal wing, he said that it was his intention to help bridge some of the differences between the pows once he was over on the republican wing and could he get full support in doing so from Cogus which off course was given.

On the very first day that Tony was moved to Roe house he spoke to the S/O and said that he would like a meeting with the Family and Friends Group Aligned and IRPWA reps in the classroom on the wing to defuse tensions. The S/O told him that he would have to pass his request to senior management. The NIPS contacted the independent facilitators and asked them were they aware of this development, to which they replied they didn't know but would check it out. They contacted a Cogus rep in Belfast who confirmed that this was a genuine approach at unity on the wing.

The facilitators contacted the NIPS and confirmed it and Tony's credentials which they are aware off and encouraged the meeting to take place, the NIPS then granted the meeting on Tuesday, The screws on the wing were laughing at "the big peace meeting, that was due to take place" and were gloating at the hope that the meeting would fail.

The meeting went ahead with two reps from F&F pows and both sides aired some differences and agreed to attempt to heal relationship's on the wing which should/could be supported by ALL outside. The meeting ended well with a second meeting proposed between reps from F&F, IRPWA Cabhair and Cogus pows attending.

Tony Taylor then contacted the same S/O that day and asked for a second meeting asap, the S/O again passed it to NIPS management, this time however Governor Maguire has came back and refused a second meeting on the grounds of "contamination and security"!

This clearly shows that the Brits and the NIO are hoping to keep a division between pows as they know unity of republicans and pows is bad for them! Tony has asked Cogus to highlight this issue and urges all to destroy the myth that the poor NIPS are the peacekeepers in the wing!
 

Either way, Tony and Cogus POWs' have said that they will continue to engage with ALL POWs' and to help unify the wing again!

RNU Slam British Army Event

REPUBLICAN NETWORK for UNITY (RNU) Spokesperson, MARTIN Óg MEEHAN has slammed a forthcoming British Army Event planned for Belfast.
Mr. Meehan said; 'The City Council has organised a celebratory event in the King's Hall to 'honour' a number of British Army Regiments who returned from their imperialist and murderous activities in Afganistan.

Most Belfast citizens are totally against the imperialist wars in Afganistan, Iraq and Libya. Many Belfast families have also lost relatives at the hands of the British Military and are insulted by such a ceremony. Many more are disgusted that their hard-earned taxes are being used to fund the event'.

Mr. Meehan concluded; 'RNU calls for the ceremoney to be cancelled in the interests of all Belfast residents'

RNU Hold a Successful Commemoration For Henry-Joy McCracken & William Drennan

Vol. Brendan Hughes RFB Colour Party from Scotland Leads the Parade

Yesterday afternoon, the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) held a successful march from the New Lodge /Antrim Road Junction to  Clifton Street Cemetery in North Belfast. Where a commemoration was held for United Irishmen; Henry-Joy McCracken & William Drennan both of who are interred in the graveyard.

A Section of the March Makes its Way Through the New Lodge Community

A couple of hundred participants attended and listened to local Historian and Author; Joe Graham and RNU Chairperson; Carl Reilly. A number of wreaths were also laid on behalf of Political Prisoners held in Maghaberry, Portlaoise and from the Ard Chomhairle.

 

In Clifton Street Cemetery to Pay Homage to Two United Irishmen

Martin Óg Meehan and his Daughter, Niamh

 The following is from Martin Óg Meehan who chaired the proceedings;

On behalf of the Republican Network for Unity. I would like to welcome everyone to the first Henry-Joy McCracken & William Drennan Commemoration. Surprisingly never before has such a ceremony taken place here. Therefore, I’m proud to welcome you all here today.

Over 200 years ago, Henry-Joy, William Drennan and a small group of others dedicated themselves to overthrowing British rule in Ireland. Modern Politicians would probably call the United Irish Society a Micro-Group but two centuries on their message is still relevant because the same injustices remain in our Nation.

In the history the freedom struggle, RNU is a young and developing group. We announced our formation at Bodenstown at the grave of Theobald Wolfe Tone in 2007. Like the United Irishmen, we are radical, progressive and determined to help achieve the objective of a united Socialist Irish Republic.

Our Network is committed to ensuring the territorial, social and economic liberation of Ireland and her people in line with the 1916 Proclamation and 1919 Declaration of Independence which was democratically endorsed by Dáil Éireann.

RNU welcome all Irish Republicans, Socialists and Democrats into our Network forgetting the schisms which have dogged our struggle for too long. We are the only organisation in Ireland which gives centrality to this concept.

If you believe you have a part to play, we would strongly encourage you to get involved in RNU and play your part in shaping Ireland’s future.

Carl Reilly

Text of the Main Oration by RNU Chairperson, Carl Reilly

A chairde

Today RNU holds the first, of what we hope to make, an annual commemoration for Henry Joy McCracken, and William Drennan. Each year Belfast men and women join with others from across Ireland and journey to Bodenstown to honor the legacy of Wolfe Tone. It is right that we do so. However we must never overlook the proud legacy of other cherished patriots, like these two men from Belfast, who set about, to break British colonial rule by breaking the sectarian system entrenched within it, who were inspirational leaders of the Society of United Irishmen, one who dedicated years of his life, and one who gave his life, to win for us the freedom, the Rights of Man, the Republican principles and the justice which Belfast and the six counties still await.

In order to truly honor these men, it is important to consider the times in which they lived. Then as today the real power rested in London, with the British crown and Westminster, then ruling all Ireland in the service of British interests rather than Irish interests, much as the British rule six counties today.

Then British rule was directly overseen in Ireland by a colonial secretary and lord lieutenant. Today we have Owen Patterson.

Then the British permitted a subordinate local parliament, once lauded as a stepping-stone to real justice and eventual independence. Then it was a 32 county Dublin parliament, the much heralded “Grattan Parliament”, which in 1782 had loosened some of the shackles, held by Westminster over Irish powers of self-government. Ballads proclaimed “Hurrah tis done-our freedom’s won” or…”The chain is broke- the Saxon yoke- From off our neck is taken”. Surely this new dispensation, it was thought in their time, would inevitably lead Ireland to justice, economic progress and an end of all penal laws.

Those ballads and hopes, like some of the car cavalcades of more recent times, would within a decade prove empty and hollow. Tone would come to dismiss that Parliament as” no National Government” but rule”by Englishmen and the servants of Englishmen.”

Then as today, the British had designed and solidified a sectarian system to fortify their hold on Ireland. Then the most favored status and privilege was the exclusive domain of members of the Established Church. They alone could sit in parliament or hold positions of rank in the military or judiciary.
 
Other denominations were second class. Commerce, trade and manufacturing might be open to them but penal laws closed them off from parliament and many professions. Catholics as presumptive nationalists were held at the bottom rung by force.
 
The British would dramatically restructure this sectarian system in the aftermath of 1798, to deal with the challenges posed by the United Irishmen, much the same as we can see the latest redesign of the British rule and its sectarian system around us.

DR WILLIAM DRENNAN

That was the context of Belfast in their time. Dr. William Drennan was a physician, the son of a Presbyterian Minister.
 
Few men are so often quoted and rarely credited, whether for calling Ireland the “Emerald isle” or for his ground-breaking political writings. In his early writings and involvement in the Volunteer Movement he called for radical constitutional reform, Catholic emancipation and the rights of man, which he hoped could be gained through the Dublin Parliament or through the Whig reform party. He came to recognize that such rights and reforms were unattainable within British rule.

In his letters and correspondence, he pioneered a new strategy to end British rule by uniting the people against Britain’s sectarian system. Its aim would be an independent Ireland that could secure civil rights or “the rights of man” for all, and governance that no longer depended upon foreign military might and sectarian ascendancy.

Drennan envisioned this new strategy to be, in his own words:

“A benevolent conspiracy---a plot for the people---no Whig
club---no party title----the Brotherhood its name---the rights of man and the greatest happiness of the greatest number its end---its general end real independence to Ireland and Republicanism its particular purpose---its business every means to accomplish these ends as speedily as the prejudices and bigotry of the land we live in will permit”

His ideas fired the imagination of other patriots and came to life in the Society of United Irishmen, which Dr.Drennan co-founded, he authored its first manifesto and became a leading figure in Dublin. He wrote many of the pamphlets which were used to spread word of the United Irishmen across the country.
Deemed a threat to the crown, Drennan was charged with seditious libel and only acquitted when his solicitor proved that the crown’s main witness committed perjury.
 
Dr. Drennan also warned against the barrister Leonard McNally, who was trusted within the inner circle of the United Irishmen and chosen to represent many of those charged by the crown. McNally was exposed after his death as a paid informer, who not only touted the Society’s plans and activities to the crown, but also shopped the legal defenses of his clients to crown prosecutors.
 
Drennan wrote the “Wake of William Orr” lamenting a county Antrim farmer, hung for administering the oath of the United Irishmen. While he played no part in the Rising, Drennan continued to chronicle events in his letters and correspondence which provided crucial historical details about the fate of Wolfe Tone among other events. He strongly opposed the union steamrolled through the Dublin parliament.
 
William Drennan returned to Belfast, edited the radical BELFAST MONTHLY MAGAZINE, and devoted himself to attacking the sectarian system through education. At his funeral, as a final token of commitment to the ideals of the United Irishmen, William Drennan requested that he be carried to this spot by three Catholics and three Protestants. He died as the old ballad puts it, “his friends unavenged and his country unfree.”

HENRY JOY MCCRACKEN

Henry Joy McCracken was born into two prominent Presbyterian families, connected with industry and the ownership of the BELFAST NEWS-LETTER.A friend of Tone, Thomas Russell, and Samuel Neilson, McCracken dedicated himself to achieving liberty, the rights of man and social justice. A founder of the United Irishmen in Belfast, he was one of those who vowed on Cave Hill, “never to desist in our efforts until we had subverted the authority of England over our country, and asserted our independence”.
McCracken was assigned to reorganize the United Irishmen along military lines and to ally it with the Defenders. The crown proscribed the United Irishmen and issued a warrant for his arrest. McCracken would be captured and jailed in Kilmainham for more than a year. He would become ill due to conditions there. His brother was also imprisoned.
 
Upon his release, McCracken argued for an immediate Rising instead of waiting for a French invasion that might never come while the British under General Lake were imposing a reign of terror to weaken any potential for resistance.
 
When the call for the rising came, several of the leaders stood down, citing the lack of artillery and muskets as excuses. As his companion Jemmy Hope would say, “When all our leaders deserted us, Henry Joy McCracken stood alone, faithful to the last”.
 
He took over as commander for Ulster and planned an attack on Antrim, to be coordinated with other attacks in counties Antrim and Down. Nearly successful, they were defeated by the arrival of British reinforcements.
McCracken would be captured after a month on the run. He was offered his life by the British if he would agree to turn informer but refused. He was court-martialed and hanged the same day outside the Market House on High Street. He was so feared even in death that the crown agreed to release his body only on condition that the families bury him before nightfall without a proper burial.

BRITISH RESPONSE

The British of course responded to the challenge of these men and to the ideals of the United Irishmen by remodeling British rule and its sectarian system. They binned their Parliament in Dublin. Its members were bribed and bullied into a token vote rubber-stamping their own dissolution. Such Irish representation as the crown would allow was moved to Westminster where it could be better controlled and overwhelmed by numbers.

Sectarian privilege was broadened to take in all Protestant denominations. The newly formed Orange Order would be exploited. It would be the start of the “Orange State”, used by the crown more than a century later as its excuse for partition and as the centerpiece of their rule at Stormont for more than the half century following. So successful were the British in instilling this system that today we witness triumphal parades, which are thought incomplete without some dimension of making the croppies lie down and submit to their bottom rung status under British rule.

STORMONT

We today must deal with the latest remodel of British rule and its sectarian system. Decades ago the British concluded in response to widespread resistance, and opposition that its rule in Ireland was no longer best served by one party unionist rule. Sunningdale was but one failed attemptest served by one party unionist rule. Sunningdale was but one failed attempt at a redesign.
The aim was to cement sectarian divisions while doling out in meager measure such positions, patronage, trappings of office, the power and money deemed appropriate to keep nationalists on board. The British tried to accomplish this with the SDLP.

However Stormont has given the crown opportunities to consolidate their hold on us that, that once seemed impossible.
 
Now the British have added Republican faces to the front benches of British rule and deploy these front men to reassure nationalists and blunt Republican opposition to British policies. Sinn Fein and the SDLP attends constabulary board and partnership meetings, and then the crown constabulary intensifies repression, even stooping to victimize our children,and as we seen this week with Ciaran Cunningham even elderly parents aren’t immune from the grasps of this un-reformed and well mannered force.

Sinn Fein tells us they are not tokens but have real power as partners in British rule. They tell us they stand against internment by license, plastic bullets, Diplock Courts and the naked brutality deliberately meted to Republican political prisoners. Yet Marian Price and Martin Corey and Gerry McGeough remain in Maghaberry.WHY? Plastic bullets are still fired. Republican prisoners are still brutalized. The presence of Sinn Fein inside a British administration that inflicts these injustices says to us that the party is either not serious about stopping such wrongs or powerless to halt them.
 
Today there are some who would claim it a great victory to see a member of Sinn Fein switch chairs with Peter Robinson as first among British ministers upholding British rule. Martin McGuinness, whatever place he holds will be patted on the head as a statesman when he condemns Republicans, and slapped down when he has the termesity to criticize crown policies.

No wonder the British think they have succeeded. No wonder David Cameron whenever he speaks of Ireland at all, talks of us in 25 year plans, smugly thinking we are settled for his time as British Prime Minister and perhaps for all time.

INITIATIVE

These men that we commemorate today had the courage, vision, and honesty to recognize the reality, when the 32 county version of the Stormont of their day proved hollow. These men had doors to wealth and prominence within British rule open to them. Yet they were patriots who pledged themselves to end British rule rather than promoting their own interests within it.

Henry Joy McCracken and William Drennan started with a strategy of building unity at a time when they were confronted by sectarian and class divisions which make anything which divides Republicans today seem very small.
 
We have all been given a lesson in unity by Brendan Lillis or more accurately by Roisin Lynch. RNU wishes to applaud and congratulate them both! BL was quoted as saying that Roisin “could move mountains” and indeed she moved the British government which at times in Irish history seems a more difficult feat.
Her devotion, her simple eloquence and honest emotion touched and united Republicans in a way that has been missing for a long time. All Republicans cooperated and worked together behind Roisin and her committee. All of us fought to bring BL home from dying at Maghaberry, it wasn't what the DUP wished for and David Ford and the British would have preferred thankfully. Prominent independents joined. Eventually nationalist political parties came forward in an outcry that could not be ignored.

We have just commemorated the 10 Hunger Strike martyrs of 30 years ago. The levels of support for the H-Block Blanketmen and Armagh Women could not have been achieved without building unity. Not only did the divisions and mistrust between the IRA and INLA have to be surmounted but also the divisions between strong-minded independents or groups like Peoples Democracy who joined the campaign. Republicans were able to construct an agreed formula of cooperation that overcame those divisions.

Can Republicans unite or at least agree formal ground rules of cooperation behind the Republican prisoners at Maghaberry?
 
No unity initiative can succeed if it is seen as the property of one group. RNU believes that ALL groups affiliated with Republican prisoners at Maghaberry want to see the naked brutality of the strip-searches halted, want to unite behind these prisoners and have taken on board the example that the campaigns for Brendan Lillis and the campaigns for the Hunger Strikers set for us. We pledge to attend, join in and invite confidential meetings to see if we can agree ground rules for unity behind Republican political prisoners. We believe we together with other Republican groups can achieve this structure of unity that is crucial to beating Britain’s latest try at criminalization.

Today we commemorate the legacy of two Belfast patriots. William Drennan pledged himself to real independence for Ireland. Henry Joy McCracken vowed on Cave Hill never to stop until this real independence Dr. Drennan sought had been won. That vow was kept until he died on English gallows and he keeps it still, because the legacy of Henry Joy McCracken, like the legacy of William Drennan, lives on and inspires us today and will continue to inspire Republicans until the day we walk into this cemetery and celebrate that at long last the freedom and independence they strove to win for us has come to Belfast at last. 

Joe Graham

Text of the Guest Speaker, Historian & Author, Joe Graham

Who fears to speak of ‘98 … not I .. For that is exactly why I am here today .. to speak and to proudly herald the events of 1798 and the valiant men who fought to free Ireland from England.

I have been asked particularly to speak of two noble Belfast Irish republicans, Dr. William Drennan and Henry Joy McCracken, both United Irishmen who are interred here at Clifton Street Cemetery, and I would venture to say I hope today to reclaim the truth of how passionately these patriots strove for an Ireland free of English rule, I say that because, despicable as it sounds, there are those today who would have YOU believe that these two men were merely political reformists. They would have you believe that Drennan and McCracken would have settled for a liberal form of English rule from Dublin Castle: a lie of course, as you will discover.

Those who would try and dilute what is a historical fact are what I would call Historical Reformers – they are desperately trying to ‘reform’ our history. In doing so, they are showing themselves to be nothing more than servants of British appeasement and although referring to themselves as Irish, are working to see the fulfilment of a British agenda. They would present themselves as Republicans and indeed on occasions of ceremony, they align themselves with the memory of patriots but time has shown us that they were unable to live up to the legacy of men such as Henry Joy McCracken.

As you listen to this story of the two noble patriots, allow your mind to reflect on their desire for a free Ireland; a cause so dear to them that they were prepared to give their lives rather than face the intolerable treachery of submitting to English masters. In the end, this price was paid by Henry Joy McCracken but let’s not suppose that Drennan was not prepared to make the same sacrifice. But fate had other plans for him.

I must first mention, with respect, that we could just as well be commemorating other great patriots interred here in this hallowed place, such as the heroine Mary Anne McCracken, or the Rev. William Steel Dickson, who was to be the Commander-In-Chief of the Ulster forces in 1798, and was to have led the County Down Unitedmen in the battle against the crown forces had he not been arrested beforehand, And here too lies the unbending Thomas McCabe the Belfast jeweller who once displayed a political satirical sign above his North Street shop which read
THOMAS McCABE AN IRISH SLAVE
LICENSED TO SELL GOLD AND SILVER
His home , “Vicinage” stood close to where St. Malachy’s College stands today,
However back to the men whose lives we are celebrating here today.

Henry Joy McCracken , a Presbyterian, was born in High Street, almost opposite Bridge Street, in 1767, as a boy his family moved round to Rosemary Street where Henry Joy grew to manhood, he also writes himself that in young manhood he “went to live in the Falls for a while before returning to the family home”.
He had three brothers Francis William and John and two sisters, Margaret and Mary Anne. His father William, a sea captain, founded Belfast’s first ropewalk, where Union Street is today, his family with partners also founded a cotton mill at Smithfield, his mother, Margaret was a daughter of the rich and influential Joy family who founded the Belfast Newsletter, so if he had wished the young Henry Joy was set for a comfortable life in the then flourishing Belfast industrial society.

But fired with a courageous unselfishness he could not ignore the plight of others less fortunate so the fiery young industrial engineer embraced the cause of so many of his countrymen, Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter who had committed themselves to breaking the connection with England and planned for a rising to establish an Irish Republic..

Although Henry Joy McCracken was a close friend of Samuel Neilson, Thomas Russell and Wolfe Tone from 1790, most of you will be surprised to learn that Henry Joy did not ‘take the test’ , join the United Irishmen until 1794, the same year as the Society adapted their physical force agenda, and the same year as Dr. William Drennan, decided to stand back from the society, …but we will learn that his heart was never too far away as we go on.

McCracken immediately received an officer ship from Charles Teeling of the Defenders, who had recently united with the United Irishmen, the Defenders were formerly a Catholic organisation which was formed to defend the rights of Catholics and to defend Catholic homes from orange and Peep o’ Day boy attacks, indeed McCracken helped in many such defences in Co. Armagh. The ranks of the United Irishmen were swollen by the joining of the 7,000 Catholic Defenders

On the 10th October 1796 Henry Joy was arrested and sent to Dublin under armed escort and lodged in Newgate Prison and later in Kilmainham where his brother William was also held. A month later he wrote, “ Yesterday [18th November] two men were executed in front of the jail for robbing the mail in June last. They died with the greatest fortitude. It gives me a sort of carelessness about death to see such sights."
Almost a year later he wrote, “ At present [July, 1797], there is very little
prospect of our getting out, unless some underhand work that is going on may alter the appearance.”

McCrackenDungannon, a young man being used in this manner, called to his father for assistance, who, being inflamed at the sight, struck one of the party a desperate blow with his turf spade ; but, alas ! his life paid the forfeit of his rashness, his entrails were torn out and exposed on a thorn bush."

Meanwhile, Henry Joy McCracken’s health began to fail. Many friends interested themselves in his behalf, and at last, in September, 1797, he and his brother William were admitted to bail. A Bernard Coyle went security for Henry, and his mother’s brother, Counsellor Joy for his brother William. Henry's health was now so much broken down that for a time he was unable to attend to business. But the change from confinement to liberty soon brought renewed strength.
In February 1798 Henry Joy visited Dublin to entreat with other leaders to launch the rebellion, arguing " they would much rather be in the field like men than be hunted like wild beasts, and see their friends carried off to jail, their houses ransacked, and the yeomen riding roughshod over them day by day.”

Awaiting the decision he returned to Belfast where it was only a matter of time till he would be re-arrested, on one such attempt a group of armed yeomen attempted to arrest him in Castle Street and after a short struggle he managed to make his way down Bank Lane where a butchers wife opened her back door and urged him to escape through the shop into Hercules Street it is said that that woman was a member of the Catholic Hamill family .

While awaiting the order to rally Henry Joy went on the run hiding out at the home of David Bodel and his family on the Belfast side of the Cavehill and it was here where he met the family’s daughter Mary Bodel who he would have married had he lived. After his execution and death Mary gave birth to Henry Joy’s only child, a daughter named Maria who was reared by his sister Mary Anne and brother Frank.

Dr. William Drennan, a son of a Belfast Presbyterian Clergyman was born at the manse in Rosemary Street Belfast 23rd May 1754, he was a co-founder and first Chairman then President of the Dublin Society of United Irishmen, he was perhaps the first to urge the breaking of the
connection with England, when he said, in 1791, “It is my fixed opinion that no reform in parliament, and consequently no freedom will ever be attainable to this country but by total separation from Britain”, but fell short of advocating a Republic, instead he suggested an organization modelled on the Free Masons. Drennan is probably more wider known as a celebrated poet and in one of his poems he named Ireland as “The Emerald Isle”, a name that has spread world wide. He was also a prolific writer of political pamphlets in which he championed for Catholic emancipation even before Wolfe Tone wrote his famous pamphlet “An argument for the Emancipation of Catholics”…I must say though, Wolfe Tone found Drennan’s political suggestions “rhetoric and argumentive.” while Drennan suggested that Wolfe Tone addressed himself too often to the Catholics of Ireland, but that is a bigger debate which we won’t pursue here today.

William Drennan is also accredited with having penned “The Wake Of William Orr” William Orr, a Presbyterian, was executed in Saturday 14th October 1797 at Carrickfergus on a rigged charge of recruiting men for the United Irishmen.
“They led him forth from his prison cell.
They swung him high on the gallows tree,
And the people watched as the brave man died
Died for his faith and country.”

You of course understand that Presbyterianism like Catholicism under the English Penal Laws was at one point outlawed too.

Historians sadly have clamoured to parrot that William Orr, a devout Presbyterian was the first soldier of the Irish Republic to pay the supreme sacrifice for the republican cause but without taking anything away from our heroic protestant martyrs I feel I must mention if only to put the record straight that in fact four young Catholic republicans were the first to forfeit their lives for that Irish Republic as proclaimed by the birth of the United Irishmen.

These brave young men, William McKenna, Owen McKenna , Patrick McCarron and Daniel Gillian were soldiers belonging to the Monaghan Militia who had taken the oath of the United Irishmen were charged and sentenced to death by firing party at Blaris military Camp Lisburn, which was to become the site of the Long Kesh Interment Camp in 1972. Up until the last moment all four brave men were offered a pardon if they were to inform on their comrades but all four chose death before dishonour.

The father of Owen McKenna was asked to speak to his son and persuade him to save his life by informing , he answered , “ My son should never save his life by informing but if you feel you must take the life of my son, do so, for I would shoot him myself if he turned
informer”.

And so on Tuesday, 16th day of May 1797, five months before the execution of William Orr, this brave old man standing alongside of Fr. Cassidy, curate of old St. Mary’s Chapel Belfast, watched as his son and his three United Irishmen comrades had their brains blown out.,

“Four Irish lads, with no dishonour stained,
Four gallant youths as Ireland ever saw,
Have met their doom, by treachery arraigned ,
And murdered by the blight of Barbarous law. ”

let us include those four patriots in our homage today.

William Drennan was arrested on a seditious Libel charge in 1794 charged with writing a certain essay , he was found innocent and released and went to live for a while in Scotland but continued championing the cause of Catholic emancipation through his writings.

Just a little point on Drennan’s movements, different writers place him in Dublin during this time and not Scotland, either way during the period he married and had a family .

Henry Joy McCracken issued the following proclamation on the eve of the Battle Of Antrim…
" To-morrow we march on Antrim — drive the garrison of Randalstown before you, and haste to form a junction with the commander-in-chief. — Henry Joy M'Cracken. 1st year of liberty, 6th June, 1798."

We know although desperately short of weapons against a well armed imperial army the 600 gallant United Irishmen with Young Henry Joy himself dressed in a Green and White uniform and carrying a raised sword gave an heroic account of themselves at the Battle of Antrim.
Much has been written of the historic incident, suffice to say despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered six British lay dead to every United man, so we will jump forward and Henry Joy McCracken has been captured and brought to Belfast in chains on the 16th July.

Next morning, the 17th of July, the trial took place in the Exchange, under the presidency of Colonel Montgomery. Mary Anne McCracken, ever faithful to her beloved brother, sat near the table. Two witnesses, perjurers, whose names were John Minnis and James Beck, appeared to give testimony against him. Jemmy Hope states that neither had any previous knowledge of the prisoner's appearance, but that an officer pointed him out to them while they stood at a window looking into the yard where he was walking, and told them of a distinguishing mark on
his throat.

Just before the trial began, McCracken's father was called aside by Pollock, the Crown prosecutor, and told that there was evidence enough to convict his son, but that his life would be saved if he would divulge the name of the person who had been first appointed to command the rebels in Antrim, and for whom he had acted. The old man replied that he would rather see his son die than do such a dishonourable action. The two names we now know they wanted was Thomas Russell and the Rev. Steele Dickson, both of whom were already in prison from before the rebellion.

The trial lasted a short time and on being found guilty and sentenced to death Henry Joy’s family reeled when they heard the courts decision that he be taken to the scaffold at High Street and Corn Market for execution before the day was out.

At 5pm High Street was thronged with people as Henry Joy was escorted out to the scaffold, mounted cavalry with drawn sabres kept the crowd in order, not a voice of dissent was heard , He walked steady with head held high noticing that the heads of his comrades who had recently been hanged at this spot were displayed there decaying on spikes, they were John Storey, printer at the Northern Star, James Dickey, a barrister from Crumlin, Dickey was captured on the Divis Mountain where he hid out after taking a heroic stand at the Battle of Antrim. John Byers, Hugh Graham and William McGill.

As he approached the first step of the scaffold his ever loyal sister found her way to him and clutched at his arm crying in distress, kissing her tenderly he bade her farewell, looked around the crowd for someone to lead his distressed sister away, When there was hesitance from the crowd he reportedly murmured , “So much for fair weather friends”. Then an elderly man approached and Mary Anne allowed herself to be lead away rather than risk unnerving her beloved brother.

The noose was placed around the neck of our young hero and he tried to address the gathered crowd but his attempt to speak was drowned out by the trampling of the cavalry and he resigned himself to his fate. His body was taken and given over to his friends who had planned or hoped that they might resuscitate him, a Dr James McDonnell, a close friend of Henry Joy and the foremost authority on resuscitation in Ireland had agreed to be present and to attempt to save the life of McCracken but he didn’t turn up and instead sent his brother Alexander, a Surgeon, whose attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. You will do well to remember the name Dr. James McDonnell for we will come
across him again when we return to the Dr. William Drennan’s part of this story.

Henry Joy was buried at St. Georges old graveyard at the foot of High Street, Some years afterwards the Rev. Edward May, parson of the parish, had many of the graves levelled, and the ground sold for building purposes. It is said historian Francis Joseph Bigger later secured the remains of Henry Joy from the ruined graveyard and later had them re-interred here in the grave of his sister Mary Anne.

William Drennan returned to Belfast in 1800, the year of the act of Union, the then equivalent of the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ and as today the Union Jack flew defiantly over Belfast with many so called republicans offering no disgust, in fact if the truth be known many republicans then sought place and favour and distanced themselves with their past involvement with the rebellion, many even joined the Yeoman to show their new found loyalty.

Some time later Thomas Russell, the Man From God Knows Where, was released from prison and along with Robert Emmet they plotted another rebellion which failed in 1803 pretty quickly. Emmet was arrested and Russell went on the run.
It is here where that weasel Dr. James McDonnell comes into the picture again. The infamous Major Sirr British military Commander in Belfast had posted a reward of £500 pounds for the arrest of Thomas Russell. Dr. James McDonnell a former friend of many United Irishmen, seeing this as an opportunity to ingratiate himself with the establishment saw fit to offer the Major an extra £50 toward the reward and he even approached friends of McCracken and Russell asking for donations to increase the reward to £1000 for the arrest of Russell. Mary Anne McCracken and John Templeton were particular outspoken in their contempt for him, William Drennan was even angered to the point that he put pen to paper and aptly likened McDonnell’s treacherous behaviour to that of the infamous Brutus from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, he suggested that the following should be written on the gravestone of McDonnell …..
Here lies a man who could subscribe to hang that friend at last ;
Whom future history will describe The Brutus Of Belfast.
William Drennan went on to help found the Belfast Academical Institution in 1807, and for six years produced a literary publication and spent the rest of his life contributing much to the literary and academic
growth of Belfast.
Drennan died in February 1820 and as his cortege made it’s way into the cemetery here his coffin was carried by three protestants and three Catholics representing his long held believe in unity between Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter.

Henry Joy McCracken and Dr William Drennan both went to their graves convinced by the words of the constitution of the United Irishmen …
“We have no national government, we are ruled by Englishmen, and the servants of Englishmen, whose object is the interest of another country, whose instrument is corruption, and whose strength is the weakness of Ireland; and these men have the whole of the power and patronage of the country, as means to seduce and subdue the honesty of her representatives in the legislature.” nothing has changed the same words apply to this day no matter how much re-writing of history the slavish scribes of Britain do.
It has been a personal desire of mine to see all those who aspire to the ideals of the United Irishmen unite as one group, sharing a single, coherent voice and vision and possess that which is necessary to bring it to fruition.

Those sheep like people who have mortgaged the six counties to England will always bleat that stock party line, “What is the alternative, what have YOU got to offer” ?, I personally would answer ‘ telling the Truth would be a great starting point ’… and to conclude I would remind them … “History gives us a kind of chart and we dare not surrender even a small Rushlight in the darkness. The hasty reformist who does not remember the past will find himself condemned to repeat it. 

Four Young and Proud Wreath Carriers

The Commemoration was a success and we are already planning for another better one next year. Ardoyne Republican would like to thank everyone who took part. Particularly, the Brendan Hughes Republican Flute Band from Glasgow and of course, Joe Graham Go Raibh Mhaith Agaibh.

The Grave of Henry-Joy McCracken

Inis Eoghain, Contae Dun Na nGall - Inishowen, County Donegal

My wife Alice, I and our two children, Conúil and Niámh have just returned from our annual trip to County Donegal. We spent a very enjoyable week on the shores of Mulroy Bay, where we savoured the excellent scenery and hospitable locals.

 Rockhill

We spent the week in an excellent and family orientated holiday park called; Rockhill www.rockhill.ie. Where the children had lots of activities to keep them occupied and content. They were able to partake in various sporting activities such as, fishing, archery, canoing and cycling all courtesy of Rockhill. We had originally planned to spend the week in one of the beautiful Log Cabins on site, however we opted for one of the comfortable and large Mobile Homes.

Rockhill

We were made very welcome by friendly Staff and fellow tourists. We travelled out most afternoons to the Blue Flag beach at Port Salon which is is breathtakingly beautiful. We also took a trip to Leitir Ceanainn or Letterkenny, where we enjoyed a nice meal, drink and game of ten-pin bowling at Area 7. On Wednesday, we went to Ráth Maoláin or Rathmullen on the Fánaid or Fanad Peninsula, Loch Súilí or Lough Swilly. Which was the scene of the Flight of the Earls in 1607. In the Eighteenth Century, the village saw the capture of Wolfe Tone, a leader of the 1798 Rising.

 Malin Head

From Rathmullen we travelled across the Lough aboard a car ferry to Bun Cranncha or Buncrana and Inis Eogháin or Inishowen  It is Ireland's most northerly point and a picturesque peninsula, rich in history. We stopped off at the Grianán an Aileach, a large fort constructed by the Uí Néill Clann in the sixth century.As well as, Doagh Island Famine Village, with it's representations of Irish history including, the Wake, Eviction, Great Hunger/Famine, Republican safe-house, Orange Hall; Irish Travellers, Presbyterian Meeting House, Hedge School and the Mass Rock.  I was pleased to see portraits of the ten H-Block-Martyrs displayed. For anyone visiting Donegal, the Famine Village is a must! Then we travelled to Cionn Mhálanna or Malin Head, and viewed the strength of the Atlantic Ocean from the very top of Ireland. We can always say, we were in Northern Ireland lol!

Doagh Island Famine Village

The Meehan Clann returned to Ardoyne this evening and settled back into our home, rich with good memories and will sleep easy tonight. Oiche Mhaith a Chairde.