'Drumming service' or 'drumhead service'?

Drumhead service in Edinburgh to mark the start of World War 1

Last week the North Belfast News carried an article by Liam Murphy on events in Belfast in 1966, the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter rebellion in Dublin.  In it he wrote:

Norman Porter, director of the Evangelical Protestant Society, suggested that the Orange Order engage in a drumming service or a rally in the King's Hall to coincide with the Casement Park event.  'The motto of the true Ulster Protestant is still: For God and Ulster.'

The term 'drumming service' caught my attention because there is no such thing as a 'drumming service'.  There is however a 'drumhead service' and that is something with which members of the Orange Order and those in military service would understand.

The following link will take you to a short video clip about drumhead services, especially in the context of the First World War.  http://bbc.in/116JseS

The Scottish settlers in Fermanagh

Terwinney Methodist Church was erected in 1870 and closed in 2005.  I can remember preaching in it many years ago when it was part of the Irvinestown Circuit.

Unlike Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches, whoich often have cemeteries attached to them, Methodist graveyards are rare.  Terwinney is one of only twenty-four Methodist churches in Ireland to have a graveyard attached to it.

Families associated with Terwinney include Moffitt, Simpson, Armstrong, Dalton, Barton, Chittick, Walker, Knox, Johnson, Johnston, Colvil, Acheson and Marshall.

It is worth noting that quite a number of these names are of Scottish origin, alongside those of English origin.  The Moffitt, Simpson, Armstrong, Knox, Johnston, Colvil and Acheson families will almost certainly have been of Scottish origin and the Armstrong name is particularly associated with the reiver family of that name from the Scottish Borders.

The Irvine family, which gave its name to the town of Irvinestown and the Methodist circuit, was also of Scottish origin.

Many folk may not think of Fermanagh as a place of Scottish settlement but evidence such as this and the story of the deportation of reiver families from the Scottish Border in the early 17th century helps us to appreciate that more Scots settled in Fermanagh than is often reckoned.

Labour Alternative and the Socialist Party.

In Northern Ireland People Before Profit is effectively a front for the Socialist Workers Party and now the Socialist Party, another brand of Trotskyism, has its 'front' organisation as well.

A report in The Socialist (April 2016), the paper of the Socialist Party, refers to the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party and then turns to the Northern Ireland Assembly:

In this context and in advance of the election the Socialist Party has helped to initiate a new organisation: Cross-Community Labour Alternative.  It will contest in three constituencies in the upcoming elections (East Belfast, South Belfast and Fermanagh and South Tyrone).  The two candidates in Belfast, Socialist Party members Sean Burns and Courtney Robinson, are both under 20 and are raising the need to build united movements of young people and workers across the sectarian divide, Protestant and Catholic working-class people need an anti-sectarian working-class alternative.

Labour Alternative launched its Assembly election campaign on Thursday 7 April in a city-centre hotel in Belfast and announced three candidates - Courtney Robinson in East Belfast, Sean Burns in South Belfast and Conor Sheridan in East Antrim.  Sheridan seems to be standing in East Antrim instead of a candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Conor Sheridan, Courtney Robinson, Ruth Coppinger TD and Sean Burns

The two guest speakers at the launch were Ruth Coppinger, the Anti-Austerity Alliance TD for Dublin West and John McInally, National Vice- President of the civil service union PCS and an 'anti-austerity activist'.  It was stated that McInally was there in a personal capacity but nevertheless his role in the trade union was highlighted.  Advance notices of the meeting seemed to omit any reference to the fact that McInally is also a leading member of the Socialist Party.  The presence of Ruth Coppinger TD is therefore especially significant as she is also a member of the Socialist Party.  

This has its roots in the expulsion in 1989 of the Militant Tendency from the Labour Party.  Those who were expelled formed Militant Labour and in 1996 it became known as the Socialist Party. It is an all-Ireland party with a northern region and a southern region.  In  the Irish Republic three of its members, including Coppinger, were elected to Dail Eireann in 2016 as Anti-Austerity Alliance TDs.

The Socialist Party is also 'the Irish section of the Committee for a Workers' International, an international socialist organisation in over 40 countries on all five continents.'

Now as regards the three candidates named by Labour Alternative:

Courtney Robinson, from East Belfast, is president of the Students Union at the Belfast Metropolitan College and a member of Socialist Youth, the youth section of the Socialist Party.

Sean Burns, from South Belfast, is also a member of the Socialist Party and in fact an organiser for Socialist Youth.

Conor Sheridan is a 24-year-old accountancy student from Larne and a former pupil of St MacNissi's Garron Tower.  Back  in January he announced that he would be standing as an Independent in East Antrim but he has now thrown in his lot with Labour Alternative.

Socialist Party protest in Belfast

In Dail Eireann there is a partnership between the Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit and on the basis of candidates announced so far for the Assembly election it seems that there is to be no electoral battle between Labour Alternative and People Before Profit, with Labour Alternative running in East Belfast and South Belfast and People Before Profit running in West Belfast and North Belfast.

Although they are campaigning as Cross-Community Labour Alternative, it is unclear whether the 'party' is registered and recognised, and if not the three candidates will appear on the ballot papers as Independent.

UNITE to hold 'internal review' of union banner in republican parade

UNITE banner being carried in a republican parade in Newry

In this week's column in the Belfast Telegraph (7 April) I highlighted the fact that a banner of the UNITE trade union had been carried in a republican parade in Newry.  The parade, to commemorate and celebrate the 1916 Easter Rising, took place on Saturday and was organised by the Armagh, Newry and Mourne Centenary Committee (ANAM) 1916.

The march assembled at the notoriously-named Raymond McCreesh Park in Newry and proceeded from there to the republican plot in St Mary's Cemetery.  The marchers were led by a republican flute band from Kilkeel and the UNITE banner was directly behind the band.

ANAM 16 ceremony at the republican plot in Newry

When the marchers reached the cemetery, wreaths were laid at the republican plot.  The event also included speeches by former Provisional IRA member Tommy McKearney and former Sinn Fein politicians Pat McNamee and Davy Hyland.

In the column I asked who authorised the carrying of the UNITE banner in the republican parade?  I also asked if this decision was taken by a local branch in Newry, how the leadership of the trade union viewed it and what are the rules of the trade union about such situations?

'The inclusion of a UNITE banner in a republican parade is damaging to the reputation of a trade union that draws its members from right across the community in Northern Ireland and there is an urgent need for UNITE to reflect on such incidents and take some action.  Trade unions have an important role in representing the interests of their members and what happened in Newry undermines the inclusivity of one of our leading unions.'

It was clear from comments and statements on social media that many members of the union were alarmed by what happened in Newry but later that day the Facebook page of 'Unite the Union Newry' defended the participation of union members with the UNITE banner in the march.

There are in fact two Facebook pages with the name Unite the Union Newry.  One is a 'Community Organisation' and carries the logo 'Unite Community Membership'.  The following statement was posted on this page:

Newry Unite community branch make no apologies for attending a recent 1916 commemoration event, that was organised by ANAM 16.

This event was non political and part funded by our local council. Invites were sent out to the broader community e.g. political parties, Trade Unions, community groups and sporting bodies.

Our invite was considered within our branch and it was unanimously agreed that we would attend the ANAM 16 commemoration; and two further commemorations that are to be held in Dublin and Belfast on the 24th/25th of April. The latter of these has been organised by Unite, which will commemorate both The Somme and 1916 Rising in a play. All three of these commemorations are non political.

Newry Unite community branch, have been to the fore in fighting austerity, sectarianism, racism, gender inequality, workers rights, disability rights and have been strong advocates of egalitarianism. Our branch members are from a wide spectrum of people; anyone can join regardless of religious, ethnic,political or sexual orientation . 

The Newry area has a long held tradition for Trade Unionism; two of the "Three James's" e.g. Jim Larkin and Jim Fearon hailed from our town and are both depicted on our branch banner. 

The Newry Unite community branch, is not ashamed of our Trade Union forefathers, nor will we apologise to a little, bigoted, excuse for a politician; who exudes nothing but hatred and sectarian division.

The personal abuse at the end of the union statement is pathetic and indeed almost amusing but I must pick up on the claim that a republican Easter Rising march is 'non political'!  What on earth do they mean by that?  They are actually claiming that Irish republicanism is 'non political'!

That initial post was then shared to the other Unite the Union Newry Facebook page, which has 164 members and for which the administrator is Crick Morley, otherwise Christopher Morley,  On the Facebook page he describes himself as 'chairman' and indeed he is the chairman of UNITE in Newry. He is also a dedicated republican socialist and during March he change his personal Facebook cover photo to  the image on the right.

The person who shared the post was Martin McKeown, otherwise Mairtin Mac Eoin,, who is variously described as the UNITE Community spokesperson in Newry, the UNITE Community chairman in Newry and the UNITE Community coordinator in Newry.

The Facebook post is significant because it confirms that the decision to march in the ranks of the republican parade in Newry was a formal decision taken at a UNITE Community branch meeting.  It was not a case of a few members borrowing a banner and taking part unofficially.  The marchers were there with the endorsement of the Unite Community branch.

Mreover the banner carried in the Easter republican parade was indeed an official union banner and since the 'community branch' logo is in the bottom left corner it seems to be the banner of the Newry 'community branch' of the union.

I was pleased to see the reaction to the issue from many members of UNITE.  Some I spoke to personally and I also followed the reaction on social media. What happened in Newry

Jimmy Kelly, UNITE regional secretary

Then on Friday the UNITE Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly, issued a statement on the Newry banner:

Unite will conduct an internal review on presence of branch banner at Easter Commemoration.  

We wish to reiterate our strong commitment to inclusive, non-sectarian working-class activism.  We will conduct an internal review into the presence of one of its branch banners at a recent Easter commemoration.  

Unite has a proud record of opposing division and bringing workers together for mutual benefit from all sides of the community in Northern Ireland.

I welcome the announcement of an internal review and look forward to the union announcing the outcome and any actions that may flow from it.

This is particularly important because as they said in their statement the UNITE branch also decided to participate in a Dublin commemoration on 24 April.  As regards the nature of that commemoration, it is advertised as above on Martin McKeown's Facebook page and will be organised by the republican National Graves Association.  Any internal review will have to be completed quickly or the damage and division caused by the Newry incident could well be repeated and exacerbated by a similar situation in Dublin on 24 April.  The union has really just two weeks to deal with this.

Silverstream & Tyndale - Finlock gutters

Faulty Finlock gutters, showing how water penetrates the walls

I have now received written confirmation from the Housing Executive about progress on replacing the faulty Finlock gutters on houses in Silverstream and Tyndale.

Phase one with 113 houses is due to start in earnest on Monday morning at 188-194 Ballysillan Road. and is due to be completed in 15 weeks, which means that it should be completed around the middle of July.

Phase two is being tendered separately and should commence in late June or early July.  This phase will also take 15 weeks.  Originally they had talked about 25 weeks but it is now down to 15.weeks and therefore should be finished by November.  Housing Executive staff will be 'commencing engagement with the owner-occupiers in phase two shortly'.  When this is completed they will move on to the phase three properties.

It has taken a long time to get the Housing Executive to admit the cause of the dampness in these estates but perseverance and persistence have paid off.

I am pleased that work on phase one is actually starting and will continue to meet regularly with the Housing Executive to see how phases two and three develop.

People Before Profit - Socialist Workers Party

It was suggested to me that over the next few weeks I should write a few posts on some of the smaller republican and 'far left' parties for the forthcoming election.  It's not that unionist voters would be voting for them but political anoraks tend to take an interest in these things. 

The People Before Profit Alliance operates in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and was formed in October 2005 by the Socialist Workers Party as a Trotskyist front organisation.

However its roots go back to 1950 when Tony Cliff (1917-2000) founded the Socialist Review Group.  This tiny group of Trotskyists adopted a strategy of 'entryism' into the Labour Party in order to reach a wider audience and recruit new members.  After that it became the International Socialism Group at the end of 1962 and around 1965 it abandoned the strategy of 'entryism'.

According to the group's historian Ian Birchall, the position of the International Socialists was one of 'unconditional support for the IRA in the struggle against imperialism'.  In 1977 the group was renamed the Socialist Workers Party.  Such is the tangled world of Trotskyism.

Meanwhile in Ireland the Socialist Workers Movement was formed in 1971 by members of the International Socialists who were living in Ireland and who had previously been members of the People's Democracy and several other small groups.  The SWM argued that it was the duty of revolutionary socialists to support republicans in fighting against 'British imperialism'.  They supported IRA prisoners and some of their members were active in the anti-H Block committees.  The SWM also encouraged people to vote for Sinn Fein.  But that was back then.

At its conference in 1995 the SWM was renamed the Socialist Workers Party and it argued that the Sinn Fein leaders were moving to an accommodation with imperialism.  It was time for them to strike out on their own and in 1997 the SWP began contesting elections in the Irish Republic.

Gino Kenny, Bernadette McAliskey, Fiona Nic Fhearghais & Eamonn McCann

The People Before Profit Alliance has fielded a younger generation of candidates but there are still those who go back to the early days of the Troubles.  Eamonn McCann is standing for PBP in Foyle and his election agent  is none other than his old comrade from the day of the People's Democracy, Bernadette (Devlin) McAliskey.  Bernadette is also travelling down to Belfast for the campaign launch in West Belfast for Councillor Gerry Carroll.

Some folk will remember Bernadette as not only an agitator in the ranks of the People's Democracy, but also one of the founders of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, the political wing of the INLA. More recently, on 12 May 2007, McAliskey was the guest speaker at a James Connolly commemoration organised by Eirigi, one of the many dangerous and 'dissident republican' groups.

Irish Marxist Review - journal of the Socialist Workers Party, which founded People Before Profit

RNU's illegal parade in Ardoyne

According to a report in the Irish News (29 March):

Police are investigating two separate parades on Sunday which are thought to have taken place without proper authorisation.  The Easter commemoration in Ardoyne was organised by Republican Network for Unity and featured a recorded address by prisoner Tony Taylor.  In a statement issued yesterday ACC Stephen Martin said, 'We are investigating breaches of Parades Commission determinations in Coalisland and un-notified processions in Ardoyne and Lurgan.'

A quick check of the RNU Facebook page confirmed that there was an RNU Fianna Commemoration parade in Ardoyne on Saturday 26 March, assembling at Ardoyne Avenue at 2.00 pm.

The RNU Facebook page promises further reports and at present it is unclear whether there was just a Saturday parade or whether there was a second RNU parade on the Sunday.

However a quick check of the Parades Commission website confirmed that there was no notification of an RNU parade in Ardoyne on either Saturday or Sunday.  Any RNU parade or parades in Ardoyne must therefore have been illegal.

The RNU has posted some photographs of the Saturday event on its Facebook page.

Clearly those who took part in the illegal RNU parade on the Saturday were not masked so the PSNI should have little difficulty identifying them and bringing them before the courts.  We will therefore be expecting a substantial number of arrests and prosecutions within a comparatively short period of time.

Our intention is to meet with the PSNI later this week to get an update on what happened in Ardoyne, how the PSNI gathered information and what action they are now taking.

A recorded message by senior RNU member Tony Taylor from Londonderry was played at the Ardoyne event.  On 10 March Taylor was returned to Maghaberry after his licence was revoked by the Secretary of State..