ISSUE NO 35

JUNE 2016

WWW.THEIRISHVOICE.COM

BRINGING YOU ALL THE NEWS FROM THE IRISH IN SCOTLAND As calls to repeal the Offensive Behaviour Act grow, DANNY BOYLE outlines the continued opposition to the legislation PAGE 6

FREE DAN McGINTY reports on the launch of the Irish Business Network Scotland and explains the many benefits that will derive from it PAGE 11

The role of the Irish at the Battle of Culloden is analysed by IAN COLQUHOUN and GERRY REGAN in a special feature PAGES 8-9

Input sought on joint memorial ■ DAN McGINTY

GLASGOW City Council has issued a call for Glaswegians to contribute to the development of designs for a city memorial to victims of the Highland and Irish Famines.

The concepts gathered will help inform the final design, which is expected to be located around Glasgow Green and will be funded by subscription. The work will be on display at Govanhill Library, Partick Library, the Bridge in Easterhouse and the City Chambers (right) until the end of this month, and visitors will be asked to give feedback on everything from the design, to the type of materials to be considered, and even the content of the messages contained in the monument.

Impact of immigration

The chair of the city’s Memorials Working Group, Councillor Matthew Kerr outlined the importance of recognising the impact of immigration on the city. “The Glasgow we know today simply could not exist without immigration and the people who made their way to the city from all over Ireland, the Highlands and the Islands in such desperate circumstances are a huge part of that story,” he said. “Like others who have sought refuge from persecution, hunger and poverty down the decades since; their experiences and their journey will always be part of this city; and Glasgow a richer place for it. “I think the young people that have contributed to the project have really grasped that—and that is reflected in the concepts and the ideas they are exploring, down to decisions over using materials native to Ireland and the Highlands. “The young artists have brought forward some very thoughtful ideas on how we can remember the victims of famine, but also honour the way they and other refugees and immigrants from near and far have helped shape this city and what it means to be Glaswegian. “Now, we’re asking the people of Glasgow to think about those same questions as we move towards finalising a design for the city’s famine memorial.”

Artistic contributions

The work on display was carried out by art students at four city schools following research on the famines, emigration to Glasgow and their influence on every aspect of life in the city, and throughout their efforts they were guided by experienced artists. Students have also developed a series of concepts intended to be incorporated into a landscaped memorial, using the land itself,

as well as artwork, to reflect on the experiences of those who fled famine. The young people taking part attended Rosshall Academy, Lourdes Secondary, St Thomas Aquinas Secondary and Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic School) and worked together at the Tramway’s visual arts studios.

Criticism

However, there has been some criticism from within the Irish community over the way the memorial has been handled during its early stages, as well as the focus on using the work of schoolchildren to drive the project forward, with support from many within the community being given instead to the Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór (Great Hunger Memorial Committee), which is working towards memorial dedicated solely to the Irish Famine. When asked to outline the differences between their efforts to remember the Great Hunger in Ireland and its effects in Glasgow, a spokesperson for the committee explained to The Irish Voice: “As we understand it, the council memorial is a broader

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project aimed at commemorating the contribution from several waves of immigration into the city. “Our project, which is from within the Irish community, is a memorial to the victims of the Irish Famine, which decimated the population of Ireland, from which it has never recovered. It is akin to the 142 other memorials across the world such as those in Dublin, New York, Sydney and Chicago.”

Consultation

The council memorial began the process of consultation and research for their memorial following a motion by Councillor Feargal Dalton, which was seconded by Bailie James Scanlon and received overwhelming support from around the council chamber. Since then, the project has developed through the working group at the City Chambers, and Cllr Dalton said of the latest stage of the process: “The enormous human tragedy that was An Gorta Mór/The Great Hunger had a major impact here in Glasgow and has left a lasting legacy. Many of us are the children of the survivors who sought refuge in Glasgow.

“This memorial will provide the citizens of this city with an opportunity to remember, reflect and re-imagine our role in the world as a city that welcomes those who seek refuge. I hope as many people as possible from all backgrounds will visit this display.”

Design

The design is expected to include natural elements, including plants, and the council hope that the public will engage with the process to help build a memorial which reflects the city. “They propose a landscaped memorial, using the land itself, native plants and materials along with structures and sculpture,” Glasgow City Council said through its website. “This is a relatively common approach in developing memorials where people are encourage to stop, spend time and reflect. “Public comments and contributions will be fed back into the final design process, allowing those attending the exhibitions to help steer the development of the memorial.” ■ [email protected]

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Haven for knitting enthusiasts opens in Glasgow THE Glasgow-Irish business community in the south side of the city is set to welcome another member as The Wool Haven opens its doors in Langside Place.

Founded by Frances Robb (above right) after she took voluntary redundancy from her job with the Department of Work and Pensions, she is now hoping to combine her passions for Irish and Scottish culture and crafts in her new venture. “I’m of eight children from parents who came to the Gorbals from Donegal in 1948,” she explained. “My dad Dan McCafferty came from Derryconnor and my mum Sarah Sweeney from Curransport near Magheroarty beach. “We spent all our summers there as children

and teenagers and had great freedom— though as this was a Gaeltacht area we had to pretend to be fluent Gaelic speakers whenever the students from Derry and Belfast were around. I was heartbroken every year when we left to go home as there was such a strong sense of belonging and familiarity. They’re great memories! “My own children continued the heritage as my daughter was an Irish dancer and my son played Gaelic football, and my family are all still very much a part of the Irish culture here in Glasgow.” The launch of The Wool Haven (above left) marks a change in direction for Frances, but she hopes her passion for the project will from help its impact be felt throughout her

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community in the city. “I love living in the south side of Glasgow because of the great community spirit and local support so when a wee shop became available in Langside Place I took the opportunity to move in a new direction for the last years of my working life,” she said. “I have always been a knitter and interested in craft work so that was my chosen outlet. “Apart from offering a warm welcome, I am also trying to reflect that culture in stocking Donegal and Shetland wool in The Wool Haven and look forward to growing my wee business in a great community.” n www.facebook.com/thewoolhaven

Senior citizens in North Lanarkshire enjoyed a special day out thanks to the effort of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Members of the local community were among both the guests and the organisers as the Bentley Hotel in Motherwell played host to an enjoyable afternoon for all. Celebrated for its vibrant community and the strong sense of identity among the local people, the lunch was made possible thanks to the efforts of the SSVP in the parish of St Luke's in Forgewood, Motherwell, and the guests were joined by Mgr Thomas Canon Millar VG and Canon Humphrey O’Mahoney for the day. Following their lunch together the senior citizens of Forgewood posed for a commemorative photo and thanked the organisers of the event Jim Carr —a much-loved member of the local Irish community—and his fellow SSVP member James Donnelly, who generously volunteered his time and effort to help make the day possible.

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Pedal power on Millport cycle sees funds raised for hospice SUPPORTERS of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice made their way to the island of Cumbrae for the sixth year at the annual Millport Bike Ride took place.

The event was generously sponsored by the Dolphin Bar in Partick—long-time supporters of the work of the hospice—and saw a coach-load of cyclists make their way from Clydebank. With participants raising a minimum of £50 each, the cycle raised vital funds to help support the hospice, which was also boosted by the news that it had once again achieved the maximum rating during an unannounced inspection. It was the third year in a row in which the hospice received an impeccable report.

Speaking about the fundraising effort, Sister Rita, Hospice Chief Executive, said: “The sponsored bike ride is our first outdoor event of the summer, with new events Choir in the Park and the Hospice Open Golf Competition following in the coming weeks. “Even in poor weather last year, everyone who took part in the bike ride had great fun. “A trip to the seaside is enjoyable for people of all ages and this day out in Millport offers a wonderful opportunity to bring children along to one of our events, while raising funds for the hospice at the same time. We are grateful to the Dolphin Bar and to our supporters for their continued backing of this event.”

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Adrian’s life and legacy remembered

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CelTIC Park thronged with members of the Donegal diaspora in Scotland as the life and legacy of Adrian Medford was celebrated with a special event.

It had been organised by Donegal heart —a small committee founded in the pursuit of keeping the Irish connection alive within Glasgow—and gave his family and friends the opportunity to honour one of the bestknown and most-loved members of the Irish community in Glasgow. Raised in Dungloe, Adrian was well- known and respected in both the communities of Glasgow and Donegal. he was a pillar of the Irish Community within Glasgow and was responsible for giving ‘the start’ to many young people who, like Adrian, left home in pursuit of new opportunities. he was also the backbone of the Glasgow Selection Committee for the Mary From Dungloe International Festival. Along with his wife Angela—who he met in Glasgow aged just 19, encouraging her to go forward for the selection in 1994—he offered support and guidance to every girl lucky enough to earn the title of Glasgow Mary. having settled in the southside of Glasgow where he and Angela raised their three children, Alisha, 18, Niamh Patsy 14, and Daniel, 12, the family made yearly trips to the Mary From Dungloe International Festival, and the Maghery Festival, but upon their return from Donegal last year tragedy struck and Adrian was diagnosed with two stage four glioblastoma brain tumours and sadly. he passed away eight weeks later leaving his wife, children, mother, family, friends and the communities of both Glasgow and Donegal devastated. In his honour and memory it was decided by Connell Boyle, Breeda Ojo, Olivia Deviney and Joanne Ferry to host an evening, and from this Donegal heart was born. Inititally intended simply to be a pub

night, demand meant a church hall was booked for 200 people. This then quickly grew to function for 500 people at Celtic Park. The proceeds from the event (above) will go to two causes close to the Medford family’s heart. The first is glioblastoma research, while the second is a series of projects to build housing for retired priests in San Giovanni Rotondo. Throughout his illness Adrian prayed to Padre Pio for healing and was visited by Kay Dick, the representative for Padre Pio Scotland who explained to him about the work being carried out in San Giovanni Rotondo. Determined to make a full recovery Adrian promised that when he was better he would take a group of workers over and offer his services for free. Unfortunately Adrian never got to fulfil that wish, but in raising funds the committee were delighted

to help in making Adrian’s dream a reality. Support was given from all over the world with the Benidorm Rovers sending the committee over €4000, while the band featured on a special video joining others in sending their best wishes for the evening. Other messages of support were sent from Packie Bonner, Dungloe GAA, Sean Dunnion, Donegal GAA County Chairman, Rory Gallagher, Donegal Manager, Patrick Brearty of the Donegal GAA Senior Team and country Singer lisa Mchugh, Daniel O’Donnell and Paolo Nutini. In total £30,000 was raised on the night and £15,000 has now been donated to each of the chosen charities. The Donegal heart Committee would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all sponsors, to everyone who donated, to those who attended and to the wider community for their continued generosity.

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Sing a Rebel Song event celebrates life of Connolly

The anniversary of the birth of James Connolly was celebrated in his native city of edinburgh with a major event, Sing a Rebel Song.

With a full day of events the gathering in edinburgh fittingly remembered one of the city’s most famous sons as well as giving Scotland’s Irish community the chance to remember the great role played by those who travelled from Scotland in the events of 1916. The early part of the day saw the large audience given the rare opportunity to view the first screening outwith Ireland of the documentary portrait of James Connolly in the awardwinning RTe series On Behalf of the Provisional Government. The digitally-remastered film featured the reminiscences of close comrades and family of the patriot. Several of the Connolly family were present to view the screening, and after the very moving film, a postscreening discussion was hosted with distinguished Irish historian Owen Dudley edwards from the University of edinburgh— who was the script-writer for the 1966 series—Sean Bell, representing the Connolly family and Maggie Chetty, Chairperson of the 1916 Rising Centenary Committee (Scotland) that organised the event. In the evening, the edinburgh dimension of James Connolly’s life was explored through a presentation of history and song grounded in his native ‘auld toon’

edinburgh. It featured songs from the underground radical tradition of the capital as inherited by Connolly, a rare opportunity to hear some of his own compositions as a song writer performed live and later songs inspired by his memory of his life and legacy. The musical performance featured George Duff, Kevin Macleod and John Martin, while the illustrated narrative was especially researched by Ray Burnett for the event. The evening performance was preceded by a welcome from the 1916 Rising Centenary Committee (Scotland) followed by Mark hanniffy, Consul General of Ireland to Scotland, Colin Imrie on behalf of the Scottish Government, Terry Brotherstone on behalf of edinburgh Trades Council and Sean Bell on behalf of the Connolly family. The main address was delivered by Tony Donaghey, President of the Connolly Association, which promotes the life and work of James Connolly outwith Ireland. Commenting on behalf of the 1916 Rising Centenary Committee (Scotland), Maggie Chetty said: “We are delighted with the event, which was an unqualified success and a fitting celebration of one of edinburgh’s greatest sons. We were especially pleased to receive the official support of both the Irish and Scottish Governments and the family of James Connolly.”

Tributes paid to our ancestors during 16th annual Irish pilgrimage at Carfin Grotto

MeMBeRS of the Irish community from across Scotland gathered at Carfin Grotto to celebrate the 16th annual Irish pilgrimage.

This year’s Mass was held in St Francis Xavier’s Church, not for the usual reason of inclement weather, but due to the unseasonal heat. Mgr Tom Millar led the concelebration of Mass, which was enhanced by the Schola Benedicti from the Paisley Diocese. In his homily, Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell paid tribute

to the tens of thousands of Irish who left their homeland to come to Scotland “They showed courage in leaving and beginning new lives here,” he said. “The Church was very much a part of that, with their faith at the foundation of most of the parishes in this diocese. It is an important legacy to uphold and to aspire to. “There are similarities with those who come today to find work and to better themselves. From that perspective we should have sympathy and openness in

our hearts to these immigrants who, just like our people, are now making a great contribution to the economy and to society. “My grandfather took his entire family to Roy Bridge. he had 10 children, the last of whom died recently. The left their native Monaghan, but are buried in the same graveyard in Roy Bridge.” At the closing of Mass Fr eamonn Sweeney—a Mayo man —reminded the congregation of another anniversary this year. “1216 was the year the Augustinian monks founded

Ballintuber Abbey in County Mayo,” he said. “Since that time, never has Mass not been said in the abbey. That is despite the laws enacted by henry VIII, Cromwell’s soldiers, the years of famine and the abbey being without a roof for over 200 years. Fr Sweeney thanked Fr Francis McGachey, parish priest of St Francis Xavier’s for his unstinting dedication to the running of the grotto. After Mass, the congregation processed to the Mass Rock for the recitation of the holy Rosary.

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JUNE 2016

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France to get an Eiffel of Edinburgh’s Irish fans

SCOTLAND might not be at the European Championships, but there will be representation from the country as the Edinburgh Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters Club (ERISSC) make their way to the tournament, and are certain to be among the loudest voices in the Irish roar.

Glasgow’s 2016 Mary is unveiled

GLASGOW’S representative for the 2016 Mary from Dungloe International Festival is preparing to travel to Donegal to take part in the events next month after being unveiled at the Central Hotel in the city.

Carmen Brannan, 19, was delighted to emerge as her city’s Mary and represent Glasgow in Donegal, where she has strong family connections. Born and raised in Glasgow, she has just recently finished her first year at the University of Aberdeen where she studies history, and is a talented hockey player and Irish dancer, having been heavily involved in both sports since she was a child. At the peak of her Irish dancing career she came second in the World Championships within dance drama. She has since retired from dancing competitively after moving away to study, but continues to play hockey on the Aberdeen University girl’s team. Carmen has strong links with County Donegal on her mother’s side of the family. Her grandfather Charles Gallagher was born and raised in Donegal, coming to find work in Glasgow in the 1950s.

The exiting Glasgow Mary, Joanne Ferry, and 2015 Little Miss Mary Poppy Ojo crowned Carmen at the Glasgow Central Hotel upon her selectio (above). In recognition of her great effort and dedication to the festival Joanne Ferry been asked to join the Glasgow Selection Committee and will continue to work with the girls in the future. Angela Medford, Breeda Ojo, and Donegal Heart Chairman Connell Boyle selected Carmen to represent Glasgow this year. She was then officially announced on stage with Goats Don’t Shave at their gig in The Shed. “Carmen has won numerous awards for public speaking so we are sure she will represent Glasgow with poise,” Joanne Ferry said. “She enjoys hill walking, spending time with her family when she comes home to Glasgow, and she describes herself as very outgoing, easy to talk to and bubbly. She always enjoys new challenges and we are sure she will do the city proud. “Malones, Glasgow, have sponsored Carmen for the festival. We would like to wish Carmen the very best of luck on her experience.”

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For the ERISSC, the Euros mark the high point of a journey that began four years ago. “The club was formed in 2012 by Keith Russell, in Malones, Edinburgh,” Colm Sweeney, the club president, said. “Numbers grew quickly and there was a real appetite for people to come together and connect over their support for the Boys in Green.” Now the members (right)—who come from counties across Ireland, Scotland, and further afield—are on the one road to Paris. It’s been a journey that has taken in trips to European destinations such Georgia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Germany and Austria, as the club has been represented by members at every competitive senior Ireland international match since they were founded. And of course, even home matches means taking the passport out of the drawer for flights to Dublin. This commitment was not lost on Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, who met members of the club at 2015’s FAI supporters meeting in Sligo. “Martin was slightly taken aback that there was a group of us in Scotland who travelled to games. For us, every game is an away game, in that we have to catch a flight. The manager seemed genuinely impressed,” Colm Sweeney said. For a supporters club based in Edinburgh,

the contests against Scotland in Celtic Park, and then in the Aviva Stadium, held special significance. And Shane Long’s thunderous strike against Germany may be the highlight for many Ireland supporters. But for members of the ERISSC, Ireland’s home game against Georgia in September 2015 had special significance. “After the 1-1 draw with Scotland in June, there seemed to be a general feeling that things were getting away from us a bit, that Scotland were maybe pulling away,” Derry native and ERISSC member John McClarey, who was at the match, said. “But Scotland then lost to Georgia and then Germany. Many people just remember our game against Germany, but our win against Georgia was vital. And while some people may have

CENTENARIAN Peter Reilly made history and entered the record books after it was confirmed that he is the world’s longest serving altar boy

His entry into the Guinness Book of Records is just the latest honour achieved by a remarkable member of the Irish community in Scotland. Mr Reilly served on the altar on the day of his 100th birthday, and the special achievement saw him enter the record books, 91 years after he first became an altar boy. Speaking to The Irish Voice,

his niece’s huuband John Walsh, said, “Peter was tickled pink to receive the record, and he accepted it with joy and humility.” A regular visitor to Ireland, already this year the 101-yearold has travelled to Dundalk with his nieces and nephews along with enjoying a visit to Pitlochry. Looking back on his years on the altar Peter (right) said: “It was a Father Rooney who came my mother’s door and asked if I’d be an altar boy. “He gave me a shilling, which I still have. I have been doing it ever since. I don’t

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think I’ve missed Mass a day in my life. It must be one of my secrets for a long life.” Despite now having trouble with his balance—which has curbed his efforts to continue serving Mass—Mr Reilly still stays active in his home town of Saltcoats, and has been honoured by two Popes during a life where he has become known for his generosity and kindness. He was first honoured with a Bene Merenti Medal by Pope Benedict XVI for his ‘quiet good works’ for the needy of the Saltcoats area, and he was sent a special personal blessing on the occasion of his 100th birthday by Pope Francis. On his 100th birthday he looked back on his life, and spoke about the passions which still drive him today, which include working French lessons into his routine thanks to his regular visits to Lourdes. “It’s ordered,” he said about his life at 100. “I like to go to the shops and, on Monday mornings, I am involved in

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had doubts about our campaign, we kept the faith. It was great to be at that game, the result got us back on track. We’d never stopped believing in Martin, Roy and the lads.” And faith has been rewarded, with an unforgettable few weeks ahead, and two thirds of the ERISSC—which comprises 30 members in total—set to join the party. Those that can’t make it will be cheering the team on from Malones which is the supporters club’s spiritual home. “No-one does sports like Malones, and you’d only need to see some of the video footage from big matches to see the electric atmosphere in the place,” Eugene Sheehy said.

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JUNE 2016

New Minister for the Diasapora speaks n DAN McGINTY

NEWLY appointed Minister for the Diaspora, Joe McHugh has spoken about the need for the Irish Government to be honest with emigrants about their prospects of returning home.

Mr McHugh (right) took up the post—only the second minister to hold the portfolio— following the elections earlier this year, and has spoken of the need for the government to be ‘more targeted’ in trying to attract returning emigrants. A new campaign—#HomeToWork—was launched previously as part of Fine Gael’s commitment to encourage the return of 70,000 emigrants from Ireland by 2020. However, the incoming minister has already spoken of the need to be more honest with those who aim to find themselves returning to Ireland. “Do we just ask them to come back and everything will be grand?” the minister asked. “I think we need to be honest about the barriers that are there, and try to address them.” “It is important that I as minister work closely with the companies that are seeing gaps relating to skills or education, and be a bit more targeted, use the global Irish network that we have, rather than putting out a call,” he continued, noting that with gaps emerging in certain sectors, such as science and engineering, people with the relevant skills are the ones Ireland needed to attract home. Of particular interest to the diaspora in Britain is the issue of votes in the presidential elections for citizens living overseas, and Mr McHugh spoke about the possibility of such a move, while stopping short of making any promises. “If we are serious about the global diaspora, it would send out a very strong message,” he said. “But it is complex work, and there are issues about whether we [set up a voting system] through electronic means, through embassies.” However, the fact that the new minister is already discussing the issue highlights the success of the campaign to allow overseas votes so far. Among the other issues he has already identified—which will be examined by an interdepartmental working group on diaspora affairs, chaired by the minister—are the high cost of car and health insurance and difficulties applying for mortgages or planning permission, which have been identified as deterrents for emigrants who want to return.

Also on the agenda for Mr McHugh will be the possibility of a second Gathering. Following the success of the event in 2013— when over 250,000 extra visitors travelled to Ireland—the potential of a similar initiative in 2019 is being examined. It is hoped that any such efforts will focus on ‘marrying education with tourism,’ and will be based on a respectful relationship with the diaspora rather than focusing only on what the diaspora can do for Ireland. “In the early stages of engagement, especially during difficult economic times in this country, we looked to the diaspora for a way to help

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Ireland, but I think that is the wrong approach,” he said. “I think a lot of people who have emigrated from Ireland in the 1950s and 60s left on the basis that they were making it easier on the ones who stayed. They were sending back remittances. We have to be very conscious of that.” In that spirit Mr McHugh is also examining the possibility of granting free public transport to Irish-born pensioners living overseas, providing support can be gained for the move from Department of Social Protection. n [email protected]

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Justice Minister appointment in Stormont Executive is criticised THE new power-sharing executive at Stormont was formed after the majority of government posts were divided between the two biggest parties, Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party.

There was a surprise inclusion in the executive for Claire Sugden MLA, an independent unionist, who was appointed Justice Minister in a move that has attracted criticism from opposition parties. The appointment was made after Secretary of State Theresa Villiers warned that fresh elections would have to be called if the position could not be filled. She is joined on the executive by DUP ministers Simon Hamilton, Minister for the Economy, Peter Weir, Minister for Education, Paul Givan, Minister for the Department of Communities and Michelle McIlveen, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Sinn Féin ministers Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Minister for Finance, Michelle O'Neill, Minister for Health and Chris Hazzard, Minister for Infrastructure. Speaking of her appointment DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster said: “This is a good day for Northern Ireland, the people will have a government in place today.

“Martin [McGuinness] and I are delighted that Claire has agreed to be the new justice minister for the new mandate.” The words were echoed by Mr McGuinness, who said: “She is a very progressive young woman, someone who I think clearly understands the need to be a minister for everybody within our community.” However, there was also plenty of criticism about the appointment, with Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt describing the move as a ‘corruption of the Good Friday Agreement.’ “With one seat in the assembly, you get a seat at the executive table,” he said. “No wonder the Ulster Unionist Party opposed the devolution of policing and justice.” His assessment of the appointment as a corruption of the system was echoed by SDLP leader Colum Eastwood. “It’s very clear to our electorate that this is a position for which no nationalist need apply,” he said. However, having secured the future of the executive by accepting the appointment, Ms Sugden said: “This is an opportunity for me, not only for me, but for the people of my constituency and the people of Northern Ireland. I am a progressive person, I do look forward to working with my executive colleagues.”

UK Chancellor warns that Brexit could lead to new border checks

A VOTE for Britain to leave the EU could lead to border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic George Osborne has warned.

The Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer said that a decision to leave the EU would leave the border not only as the frontier between the UK and Ireland, but between the UK and the European Union. “Suddenly the Republic is part of the EU, it’s no longer the border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, it’s the border between the UK and the European Union,” he said. “The European Union charges a tax, a tariff on things coming into it, which we don’t pay at the minute because we’re in the EU. “So who’s going to check what those goods are?” “Here in this part of the UK particularly, the EU helps with our land border. You can’t say ‘we want to have control of our borders,’ as they keep claiming, but then say, ‘but it’s not going to have any effect on the borders.’ It’s a nonsensical claim by Leave campaigners.”

“Leave campaigners who suggest this is not the case are simply not being straight with people,” he concluded. The Chancellor has said more stringent checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic are inevitable, should the UK leave the EU. However, his comments while in Ireland campaigning for a ‘Remain’ vote were rejected by ‘Leave’ campaigner Sammy Wilson, who said that border checks are not required in other areas where the EU meets national borders. “There’s a land border between Norway and Sweden and you don’t have those kind of checks and those border posts,” he said. “There’s a land border between France and Switzerland and you don’t have sealing of the border, so why would Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland be any different?” The Irish Government has led a prominent campaign for the UK to remain in the EU, speaking of the importance dual-membership of the union has for their relationship.

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Everybody’s talking, but not to us 6

THE IRISH VOICE

COMMENT

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JUNE 2016

DANNY BOYLE outlines the continued opposition to the Offensive Behaviour Act within and outwith the Irish community

ET’S be absolutely clear, neither the SNP, Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens or civic society organisations intentionally want to allow, create the conditions for, or perpetuate ‘sectarianism’ in Scotland. The recent announcement that the opposition majority will work to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act (Scotland) 2012 should not be portrayed as being ‘prosectarian,’ based on virtue of being against the act. This narrative is pernicious, irresponsible, undermines our democracy and manufactures a revisionist binary assessment of contentious legislation against which a cross-section of society have identified multiple legitimate, evidenced and informed critiques. As many have observed, Hate Crime legislation—for example, Section 25 Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act (2010), alongside the Equality Acts general equality duties (2010)—contains sufficient legislative protection for tackling ‘religious and racially aggravated offenses’ and fostering good relations between communities and key public services. A clear, legal framework, with strong case law, that can be enforced within and outwith football stadiums and across society at large.

Dissecting the act

The reality is that the act—specifically section 1, which is utilised to police and prosecute ‘Subjective Offensiveness’—is highly problematic. The act instantaneously fails the most basic principle of equality, creating a two-tier system of judicial interest. Thus, you can be arrested for something within the confines of a regulated football match, inside and outside of the stadium, or across the country that at any other time would not be considered worthy of attention. Beyond that fundamental issue, the focus of Section 1 of the act is to challenge ‘Offensive Behaviour’—the clue being in the title. At no point in the legislation is the word ‘sectarianism’ mentioned: or more critically, defined. Indeed, it might be the case that when we talk of ethnic and religious discrimination, prejudice and bigotry, we are using a generic term that is completely inadequate to both describe, understand and ultimately, deal with the problem. Such depth of radical thinking in Scottish society might in fact be a step too far for many: indeed, too selfreflective, too honest. Some of what has been defined under this act as well as popular discourses over decades as ‘sectarian’ is in reality negative ethnic and cultural profiling, perpetuating a cycle of ‘us’ and ‘them’ in various circumstances with its obstinate refusal and legislative incapacity to appropriately, and without prejudice, analyse and interpret the social history and fabric of modern Scotland. It is difficult to know what exactly is criminalised under the act—there is a significant concern, shared by many civic society organisations and across political parties (including some SNP MSPs) that the test used to identify criminal behaviour under the act is highly subjective and arguably, prejudiced itself. This means that an individual risks breaching

the act based on the subjective view of an imaginary third person—even if the subjective view of the imaginary third person, or individual police officer, is based on a misunderstanding of the social, political, or historical context of the behaviour or act which subjectively offends. Even if you employ a reasonable person test, it is difficult to clarify what is offensive when there is a contested understanding of the ethnic, social, political and historical identities of a minority. For some, any manifestation of Irish identity in a public form draws a nauseating discourse and assertions of ‘sectarianism.’

Flawed poll

This is where the commissioned review/YouGov poll unintentionally but inexplicably fails, and is symptomatic of the curse of governments, policyled evidence making. A sample base of ‘1044’ people can never be reflective or cognisant of the nuanced minority issues it sought to gauge, and subsequently, is fundamentally flawed. This also raises an issue as to the proportionality of the act. The subjective test risks impacting a minority group if the social, political and historical context and identity of the minority is misunderstood and far more importantly, misrepresented. Specifically in relation to Section 1 of the act any expression of Scottish/British/Irish or international political or contested historical interpretation— neither mentioned in YouGov poll—is immediately immersed within a ‘sectarian’ narrative that perpetuates a negative Catholic/Protestant binary: this construction dominates Scotland’s media, legal and political elites. Few challenge it, but the maintenance of generic terms and legislation epitomised by an ‘Offensive Behaviour Act’ have undermined credible community led responses stifled by the hyperbole of ‘sectarianism.’ There has to be space underpinned by the general equality duties for a reasoned, informed debate, involving major impact communities. Our principle focus should be how best to move ahead in Scotland in a way that improves relations between groups, including communities, government and Police Scotland rather than further polarising them.

No Irish need reply

In this context it is highly disingenuous, as some have claimed, that the act’s main purpose is to tackle anti-Catholicism or anti-Irish racism. As a start, to the best of my knowledge all Irish community organisations cultural or political have publically stated at various stages their opposition to the act. In addition both of these ‘hate crimes’ are quite clearly covered by legislation which pre-dates the act, namely; Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act (2010) Section 25—Offenses Aggravated by Racial or Religious Prejudice. The catalyst for the creation of the ‘Offensive Behaviour Act’ is identified as the period of March-May 2011: l March 2—Celtic 1-0 Rangers (3 Rangers players sent off—managerial touchline dispute) l March 8—Summit (Six Point Plan—including: Greater enforcement of existing legislation to deal with sectarianism and drink related offences) l April 12—Parcel bomb directed to Cairde Na

Éireann discovered at sorting office l April 20—BBC announce Trish Godman MSP, Paul McBride QC and Neil Lennon all sent parcel bombs. l April 15—(Irish community organisations) Harps Community Project, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Conradh Na Gaeilge, Gaelic Athletic Association receive Police Advice contact. l May 11—Celtic Manager Neil Lennon attacked (again). l May 20—First Minister announces ‘Antisectarianism’ Legislation l June 16—Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill brought before Scottish Parliament. The nature of these crimes speak for themselves. It is worth noting, however, that during the parliamentary process in the passage of the bill no Irish community cultural organisation was invited to give verbal evidence to the Justice Committee, despite requests to do so, clearly articulated in the written submission sent by the Harps Community Project. Furthermore, since the inception of the act and creation of the Scottish Government’s Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland— who identified anti-Irishness in a cultural sense as being ‘racist’ and should be defined as such—more than £10 million has been invested into projects designed to tackle ‘sectarianism.’ No Irish community organisation has submitted to or received funding from this multi-million pound fund designed to tackle a social issue which supposedly directly effects them. At the same time positive, pro-active, inclusive events such as the Coatbridge and Glasgow St Patrick’s festivals amongst others continue to be sustained by the outstanding commitment of their volunteers and grant support from the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme, but are largely overlooked, in grant support, by relevant local authority ALEOS and national cultural agencies. The Irish community is stuck in a vacuum, understandably refusing to engage with a funding mechanism predicated on challenging ‘sectarianism’ and also unable to access equitable grant support for cultural activities into which they have generated their fair share of public funds for generations. Indeed in the relevant cultural month of March, we have a scenario in which the Irish taxpayer, via their public funding of the Emigrant Support Programme, Culture Ireland and Tourism Ireland, allied with the grassroots community organisations, generate significant economic benefit for the greater Glasgow area with little to no response or recognition from multiple organisations who should be natural partners. Platitudes and civic receptions are welcome, but they are far from being reflective of what the multi-generational community could achieve with more practical financial or in-kind support. As a result the majority of our partnerships are with Irish publically funded agencies and the private sector. In this context the consuming and maintenance of ‘Irish’ identity perceived through an enforced prism of ‘sectarianism’ ensures that there is ‘a lot of talking about you, but not to you.’ From an evidenced-based policy perspective this is unusual. If, for instance, we were creating a

strategy or funding projects to deal with disability hate crime or Islamophobia, our first port of call would be to groups such as Inclusion Scotland or Glasgow Central Mosque. The outcomes we may look to generate would be positive, communityled examples of intangible cultural heritage, music, song, language, sport, dance, and so on, enabling the interest group to set their own agenda, celebrate diversity, promote integration and isolate negative attitudes. Why the broad, multi-generational and diverse Irish community have been largely conspicuous by their absence in any meaningful engagement around ‘sectarianism’ is an area the Scottish Government, local authorities, Police Scotland and community organisations must take the initiative with and amend over the duration of the next parliamentary cycle.

Fans Against Criminalisation

Finally, a word must be directed towards football supporters, who have felt the brunt of this legislation and in particular Fans Against Criminalisation. Fans of all Premiership clubs, for one reason or another, have unanimously, via clubs and supporters’ organisations at least, come out against the act. This in itself tells its own story. However the campaign has been led vigorously by the umbrella body Fans Against Criminalisation, who despite facing numerous challenges gave a commendable representation of their concerns at the Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament towards the end of the 2011-16 session. During this exchange, former MSP Kenny MacAskill—the Cabinet Secretary for Justice who successfully delivered the Offensive Behaviour Act no less—perfectly displayed the serious danger of policing subjective offensiveness to an imaginary person by indulging in a line of questioning based upon ‘chants and songs’ he made up himself, to be more precise: “The murder of Catholic police officers in the RUC/PSNI and songs and chants which venerate the killers of Ronan Kerr.” Quite who drafted or informed Mr MacAskill’s personal briefing paper and direction of questioning that day may forever remain a mystery, however by using the family and tragedy of Ronan Kerr’s murder to make political point, he indulged in, ironically, the most offensive episode I’ve witnessed in relation to the Offensive Behaviour Act. It was a case of negative ethnic and cultural profiling in the extreme. The act remains an unfortunate, unnecessary mistake. A regretful aberration for a maturing institution that should take pride in its past, present and future collaborative commitment to human rights and equality for all. We must continue this by repealing the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Act (Scotland) 2012. n Danny Boyle, writing in a personal capacity, is the Parliamentary and Policy Officer with national equalities organisation BEMIS Scotland. He is a graduate of Glasgow University in Theology and Religious Studies. Previously, he was also Project Manager of the Heritage Foundation Scotland, Chairperson of the Glasgow St Patrick’s Festival Committee and General Manager of Indepen-dance, an integrated creative movement company

Do you have a comment to make on the OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR ACT? If so, write to: Letters, The Irish Voice, Unit A12, Whitecrook Business Centre, 78 Whitecrook St, Clydebank, Scotland, G81 1QT or e-mail: [email protected]

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EDITORIAL

Network’s launch marks new development in relationship HE launch of the Irish Business Network Scotland is welcome news for the Irish business

community in Scotland, as well as for those Irish businesses who may see Scotland as a potential market for the future. With the establishment of a

business hub dedicated solely to Scottish trade with Ireland through the British embassy in Dublin, and an expanded consular staff at the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh, it is an important time for ScottishIrish relations. The Irish business community in Scotland is a vibrant one, and the co-operation among many businesses has been evident for a long time—just last month, The Irish Voice was grateful to be sponsored by AS Homes—but the new possibilities thanks to the most formal arrangement of a business network will be vital in ensuring the future of such relationships

The views expressed in our comment section come from informed individuals and/or groups to foster debate and are not necessarily those of The Irish Voice

both among the Irish business community here and between businesses on both sides of the Irish Sea.

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s The Irish Voice goes to press, Ireland are preparing to take to the stage for their first match at the European Championships. As with the rest of the Irish diaspora in Scotland—some of whom, like the Edinburgh Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters have travelled over to France—we are proud to be supporting them as they represent the country on one of international football’s biggest stages. Come on you Boys in Green!

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Contact our team with your news stories and/or features DAN McGINTY [email protected] GERARD GOUGH [email protected] MARY McGINTY [email protected]

For general enquiries, letters to The Irish Voice, subscriptions or to advertise with us E-mail: [email protected] Call: 07711849234 Write to: The Irish Voice, Unit A12, Whitecrook Business Centre, 78 Whitecrook St, Clydebank G81 1QT

THE IRISH VOICE

JUNE 2016

WOMEN’S VOICES

7

EU referendum has failed to engage us

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out to listen to the ‘Brexit’ campaigners. As far as I can see, I’m not the only person who appears to be disinterested in politicians trying to sway us on either side. I feel that there is too much uncertainty with trade and security from leaving europe and that it is a case of ‘better the devil you know.’ however, there is still time before the vote to hear the other side of the debate.

Shannon McGurin

S It just me or is the eU ‘in’ or ‘out’ debate getting boring? Let’s be clear, I’m not one of those people who are disinterested by current affairs and chooses not to vote. I’d like to think I am the opposite in fact, but for some reason, the campaigns and debates ahead of this referendum aren’t exciting me in the slightest. the strange thing is though that this is the most important vote I will make in my lifetime —apart from the independence referendum of course—nobody really seems that interested in it, which is odd considering the vast consequences it would have if we were to leave. I’ll admit that when it came to choose between the debates or the soaps, almost every time I picked Eastenders. It hasn’t just been the debates I’ve switched over, I have happily watched anything that doesn’t involve listening to Boris Johnson or nigel Farage rant about immigration. there seems to be lack of depth or knowledge in the debates and they seem to focus on the ‘nasty immigrants coming here and stealing our jobs.’ each side appears to be more interested in shouting over the top of each other than educating the public. At the moment, I am in favour of staying in the eU, but part of that decision could be down to not taking enough time

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he debate seems to be much more heated in england, which, if anything, just goes to prove just how much how Scotland has become alienated from Westminster politics. If we learned anything from the independence referendum it was how much each side of the debate like to scaremonger— the BBC included—and I think this has been a major factor in the failure to engage the public. If you look at the enthusiasm for the Scottish independence referendum compared to the eU referendum it is easy to see the general lack of interest. the 2014 referendum saw mass rallies, ‘yes’ or ‘no’ posters in windows and numerous grassroot groups. regardless of how people were intending to vote, it was still a hot topic of conversation. Compare that engagement and momentum to the stale eU referendum campaigns. Maybe we are not as interested as we should be in this referendum because we fear that it will be another example of Scotland’s voice being ignored and, realistically, any decision we make is unlikely to affect the final outcome. the only interesting thing, I suppose, is what will happen if Scotland votes to remain and the rest vote to leave. there will be a lot more interest from people then. n Shannon McGurin is a 21year-old multimedia journalism graduate from Glasgow Caledonian University. She has family in Ballintra in Donegal and is passionate about football, Scottish politics and being the best mum she can possibly be

Hard decisions on the horizon, but also stories to tell

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Isabelle Gray

nother vote is on the horizon and this one cannot be changed in five years when we elect

a new government, so people need to think very carefully before voting to either stay or leave the european Union. I worry about the employment rights that we may lose if we leave, especially with the government we have at the moment in Westminster. rights that include: maternity and paternity rights, equal treatment for full-time, part-time and agency workers, and the right to paid leave. there are other policies which we have as part of the eU, but these are some of the ones I fear we may lose. At times, this whole campaign seems to be an internal argument between two men within the

Conservative Party and seems to revolve around each side calling the other a ‘liar.’ It is very difficult for people to understand the debate due to this mud-slinging, but like I said, think long and hard before you decide. Moreover, try to think about a Brexit would affect others in europe, for example of friends and relatives living in Ireland.

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he IhF will continue to hold events throughout the summer months and the next of our history talk series will be held in Govanhill neighbourhood Centre on thursday June 30. It will be

delivered by Shaun Kavanagh, who previously gave a talk on ‘the Poor Laws, Greenock and the Famine,’ so we are delighted that he is joining us once again. our Film Club—which meets on Wednesdays, again in Govanhill neighbourhood Centre—has shown its final film for now. We will meet again in September. We still have one tea Dance to deliver thanks to funding from South east Integration network and hopefully this will happen in July. I hope that you can all attend. We also have our Multicultural Concert, which will also take place in July/ August and thanks must go

once again to South east Integration network for this funding.

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new project—which begins in August— involving story-writing hopes to capture as many people’s stories as possible. We are asking people to bring an object, photograph or anything they want in order to help tell their story and these will all be recorded so that we can keep these in our archive for others to read and learn about the journey of those who came here to settle. the project takes place on thursday, August 25 from 2-4pm at Govanhill Library. there’s

no need to worry about putting your thoughts down on paper as we are delivering this in partnership with Glasgow Life and they have an excellent tutor to help everyone tell their story. So if you have a story to tell, join our project. n Isabelle Gray is development Manager for the Irish Heritage Foundation n If you wish more information on the groups at the IHF or more about our work please contact: isabelle.gray@ irishheritagefoundation.org or call 0141 424 0465 or 07784083544

Kind sponsors of Isabelle Gray of the Irish Heritage Foundation’s monthly column

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CELTIC COUSINS AT CULLODEN 8

THE IRISH AT CULLODEN

THE IRISH VOICE

JUNE 2016

JUNE 2016

THE IRISH VOICE

THE IRISH AT CULLODEN

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Proving that the Easter Rising isn’t the only anniversary being celebrated this year, IAN COLQUHOUN and GERRY REGAN share with us a feature on Irish involvement in the Battle of Culloden, which took place 270 years ago this year. The special feature is based on a talk that the former gave earlier in 2016, hosted by the Irish Heritage Foundation

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HE infamous Battle of Culloden, fought in April 16, 1746, is world-renowned both for its tragic one-sidedness and because of the romantic image of outnumbered, starving, exhausted, kilted Jacobite Highlanders, charging with broadsword and shield against battle-hardened English ‘Redcoats.’ That the English were armed to the teeth with muskets, artillery and bayonets, and, most significantly, a new tactic for dealing with the terrifying Highlander assault, adds to the pathos of the battle’s accounts. Culloden is also seen—more simplistically—as the last battle between England and Scotland. It is probably best remembered, however, for the brutality displayed by the English ‘Redcoats’ and Scots ‘Loyalists’ who fought for England. A famous quote from a combatant in the battle describes the Royal Redcoats as looking like ‘so many butchers’ as they gleefully stabbed or beat to death hundreds of wounded Jacobite soldiers and innocent civilians in the battle’s aftermath. The episode was so shameful that no British regiment has the engagement on its battle honours. There were other soldiers wearing red jackets on the field, but these men were the antithesis of those behind the English standard. They wore long-skirted red coats, carried French weapons and fought for the Jacobite side. These were Irishmen in the service of France, ‘Wild Geese’ maintaining the tradition of Irish recruitment into Bourbon service harking back to 1691. Positioned in the second line of the Jacobite army, on its left, stood 150 men from three companies or picquets, of France’s Irish Brigade. These men all volunteered, and received furloughs to come to Scotland to fight for the Jacobite cause, both to help their brother Scots, and in the hope that a Stuart restoration would see the end of the harsh anti-Catholic penal laws in their own homeland. Gaelic Ireland and Gaelic Scotland had shared a common culture, ever since the first settlement by Fergus Mac Erc of the Dal Riada. This, plus shared ancestry, often facilitated mutual assistance, in the spirit of the sixth century Treaty of Drumceat. The Irishmen hailed from Tipperary, Louth, Limerick and Wexford and were armed conventionally, with French muskets and bayonets and a full cartridge box, unlike most of the Highlanders in their army who had, at best, four rounds per man. The Irish lads and a similarly organised regiment of Scots in French service, who stood next to them, were the only Jacobite troops with ample ammunition, as between them these two units were expected to provide disciplined firepower if and when the English lines started to break. ‘The Irish Brigade,’ so-named by the Jacobite command despite its small numbers, had already tipped the scales in an earlier battle, at Falkirk, when their intervention had driven the English (or Hanoverians) from the field after some of the English battalions had stood firm against the clans’ ‘Highland Charge.’ The Irish had also taken part in a brutal skirmish in Elgin a few days before Culloden, using their murderous musketry to drive pro-government Campbell clansmen out of the town. When Prince Charles Edward Stuart, commonly embraced as ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie,’ had left France for Scotland in 1745, he had taken 800 men of the Irish Brigade with him, both to guard his person and to provide muchneeded firepower to what was to become his Highland army. Alas, the ship transporting the troops got into a fight with HMS Lion en route and was severely damaged, forcing it to return to Brest with the 800 men and the Prince’s essential war supplies. The Prince carried on with his rising regardless, to recover the throne for his father, James III, also known as the ‘Old Pretender.’ Charlie had landed only with seven companions, known to history as the ‘Seven Men of Moidart.’ Four of these were Irish—Sir Thomas Sheridan, George Kelly, Sir John Macdonald, and Colonel John William O’Sullivan. Even so, many of the clans rallied to the Prince’s standard at Glenfinnan at the head of Loch Shiel on August 19, thus beginning ‘The ‘45.’ A martial tune for bagpipes, known in Gaelic as a pibroch, was composed by John MacIntyre of Ulgary, Glenmoidart, titled ‘Thaing mo Righ air Tir am Muideart,’ or ‘My King Has Landed in Moidart.’ Charlie’s early successes persuaded King Louis XV to send regular troops to his aid. Some 2000 battle-hardened Irish and Scots exiles were sent to Scotland, but most of them were intercepted at sea by the ever-vigilant Royal Navy. In total, around 800 such troops made it ashore and joined the Jacobite army in time for the Battle of Falkirk. There had been nearly 500 men of the French ‘Royal Scots’ regiment, and there were initially 300 men from the

three Irish companies of Dillon’s, Ruth’s and Lallys regiments, all volunteers. There was also to have been a whole regiment of red-coated Irish cavalry, Fitz-James’ Horse—named after The Duke of Berwick, but all but 70 of the troopers were intercepted at sea, along with the regiment’s horses. Irish regiments in Bourbon service wore long-skirted red coats, just as their grandfathers had done, showing their allegiance to the Stuarts, and to Ireland. The added message of their red coats was that they were of the legitimate army of the legitimate king—the Royal Stuart. By the time of Culloden, three months after Falkirk, there were only 150 men of the Irish Brigade fit for duty. The clansmen in the Jacobite army, though fearsome warriors, showed no interest in other duties such as siege work or patrolling, so those duties fell to the Irish professional soldiers. These duties had taken their toll, and with disease, had reduced the unit's fighting strength by half by the time of Culloden. The Irish Brigade was commanded by a Major Surman, but he was so sickly that he rarely took the field. In his stead was Brigadier Walter Stapleton, a fearsome man, who also commanded the Franco-Scots regular contingent. Despite landing without any arms or men, Prince Charles had convinced enough clans to rally to him, and by September 1745 they had bloodlessly captured Edinburgh, and utterly destroyed the British army in Scotland at the Battle of Prestonpans. The Jacobites then marched on London in a campaign so daring that it was virtually an 18th century analog to a 1940s Blitzkrieg. They reached Derby, 120 miles from London, sending the capital into panic.

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hough only a week’s march from London, a government spy bringing false news of a fictitious English army was enough to convince the majority in a Jacobite council of war to retire back to Scotland where they hoped to consolidate, which they did, with the arrival of the men from France and of other clans, swelling their ranks to over 8000. The Jacobites then defeated a second, much larger and better-trained government army at Falkirk in what was the biggest battle of the Jacobite Wars on mainland Britain. Here the Irish Brigade, with its disciplined firing, intervened to turn the tide of the battle. Alas, despite this dazzling success, the rising became a shambles. The Jacobites retreated again, into the Highlands, followed by the English redcoats, now commanded by King George II’s second-surviving son, William Augustus, The Duke of Cumberland. (The English would later name a flower for Cumberland, the ‘Sweet William.’ In Scotland, the same flower is called ‘Stinking Billy.’) Only 11 months prior, six battalions of the Irish Brigade, as many as 5000 men, had fought for France against a British-led Allied force commanded by The Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Fontenoy in Flanders (May 11, 1745). They had been used to push home the final French counter-attack, and had driven the British and their allies from the field at point of bayonet, capturing 20 British cannon in the process. Sadly, the Jacobites at Culloden could only dream of having six battalions of the Irish redcoats available. On the morning of April 16, 1746, 150 red-coated Irishmen stood in their positions on the extreme left of the Jacobite second line, bayonets fixed, motionless, awaiting orders—the Stuart Standard, The Irish Harp and the Bourbon Fleur-de-lis fluttering above their heads. Facing them across Drummossie (Culloden) Moor were 9000 welltrained, well-led and well-equipped government redcoats infantry, cavalry and, for the first time during the rising, artillery. The Hanoverian troops were in high spirits. In contrast, the Jacobite army at Culloden couldn’t have been in a worse state. It was exhausted after a failed attempt to march on Cumberland’s camp at Nairn during the night. The Jacobites hadn’t even managed to get within four miles of Cumberland’s camp before daylight and had had no choice but to retreat to Culloden or risk being caught by the fully alert government troops while strung out on the march. Their position worsened. There was no food, as no-one had bothered sending carts to Inverness for supplies. Some of the men hadn’t eaten for two days, and those who had had only got one biscuit per man. The Jacobite army had barely 200 horsemen and no trained gunners. Its leaders were at loggerheads. All in all, there were not more than 6500 men on the Jacobite side. The battle began about 1pm with a cannonade from both sides. Hundreds of clansmen were killed or maimed, while only one government soldier fell to the Jacobite guns, which were in turn quickly silenced. When the clans finally charged, they were met with

musket volleys from Cumberland’s men, and with grape-shot at close range, ensuring that the survivors of that fusillade would be too few to dislodge the enemy. The right and centre of the Jacobite first-line did break through Cumberland’s first line on its extreme left, but were cut down by the disciplined volleys from the second line. The Jacobite left couldn’t close with the government troops because of a bog to their front and their advance halted. The MacDonald men who made up the left wing stood, firing muskets and roaring insults, unable to advance through the bog, but too proud to retreat. As a battle, it was all over as soon as it had begun. The clans had expended their one weapon, the wild Highland charge, and had failed. Cumberland unleashed his 2000 cavalry, as the few clansmen who had survived the charge tried to fall back onto the second line. All was lost. For the Irish Brigade, however, the day’s work was just beginning. The Jacobite right and centre, badly mauled, retreated toward Ruthven, where they hoped to reorganise. Only Glenbucket’s Lowland regiment and the Irish cavalrymen of Fitz-James’ Horse, dismounted and using carbines to defend a sunken road, stayed behind to cover the right’s retreat, fighting until they ran out of ammunition. Over on the left of the Jacobite line, the MacDonalds had also retreated when faced with overwhelming numbers of government dragoons on their flank. They ran for their lives toward Inverness, some throwing away weapons and clothing. The Irish Brigade stood like a wall of red, watching the heroic, but futile, charge by the clans. The red-coated

Irishmen broke ranks calmly to let the defeated clansmen through, giving their brother Gaels a cheer as they did so, then they reformed their line. Their officers knew that the day was lost, but decided to hold the Inverness road open for as long as possible to allow their comrades to escape. The Prince and his entourage had left the field, leaving Brigadier Walter Stapleton, a fearsome man, in command of those who remained behind. What happened next was extraordinary.

W

ith nearly 1000 government horsemen bearing down on them, the 150 Irishmen gave the cry: “Cuimhnighidh ar Luimneach agus ar Feall na Sassanach!” and marched five paces forward, in defiance. Stapleton stood with sword and pistol, and began directing volleys that, against all odds, kept back the government cavalry and forced the troopers to resort to firearms from a distance. After a fierce firefight in which the Irishmen inflicted scores of casualties on their opponents, the government horse charged again, forcing the Irish to defend themselves with bayonets and swords. Again, their attack was repulsed. The Irish were then joined by the French Royal Scots, who formed up on them at a right angle so as to delay encirclement. The Irishmen started to walk backwards along the Inverness road, firing as they went until their ammunition was gone. Stapleton, mortally wounded, had a big decision to make. His men were in French service so, unlike the other Jacobite soldiers, they should expect honorable treatment as prisoners of war. On the other hand,

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the English parliament had only a year earlier made joining ‘foreign’ armies illegal. His men wished to fight on, but Stapleton saw that they had done all they could. The rest of the army and the Prince were already off the field. Thousands of Scots had escaped. Half their number were dead or dying and, in any case, a large number of the English horse had bypassed the tenacious Irishmen in favour of pursuing much easier targets who were running toward Inverness. Cumberland’s infantry was advancing to take possession of the ground previously occupied by the Jacobites. It was now all about preventing useless slaughter, so Stapleton sent a drummer boy named Kelly toward the enemy, beating a slow and melancholy request for parley. Things could have gone either way. As soon as the request for parley was received, the Irishmen and the two tiny battalions of French Royal Scots were quickly surrounded by a square of cavalry. Stapleton sent a captain named O’Neill to negotiate terms. All around them, the redcoat infantry were murdering Jacobite wounded where they lay. To the relief of O’Neill, and of the dying Stapleton, Cumberland assured them that ‘as they are French, or in French service, they are assured honourable treatment.’ This was an out-of-character display of generosity by the Duke, who personally ordered the murder of the other Jacobite prisoners and wounded. He would later order a ‘pacification’campaign in the Highlands that can only be described as genocidal. Cumberland allowed the Irishmen to escape with their lives, with the exception of three English deserters who were

found among their ranks and hanged. Technically, the Irish Brigade suffered 100 per cent casualties at the battle in that their entire force was killed, wounded or captured. The French Royal Scots had mixed fortunes. Its 1st battalion was given POW status, but most of its 2nd battalion had been raised in Scotland, and was thus treated to the same ghastly fate as the other Jacobite prisoners—death or transportation. After the battle, the 200 or so surviving troops, Irish and Scots mostly under the French standard, were taken to England, where they spent eight months on a ghastly prison barge on the Thames before they were exchanged in early 1747. They were treated honourably, despite the fact that under English law they could have been hanged for joining a foreign army. Some historians suspect that they were spared after impassioned pleas from James Wolfe, an English officer who admired their courage and who also offered to resign rather than sully his honour by shooting a wounded Highlander. Others think Cumberland was being realistic— if word got out that he had murdered surrendering French troops, reprisals against captured British troops in Flanders would surely have occurred. Wolfe, by the way, would later make the case for Highland regiments in the British army, not only to provide a constructive avenue for their martial inclinations, but also saying that if a Scot should fall, ‘there would be no mischief in it.’ He would serve in North America during the Seven Years War, for a while commanding the Royal Highland Fusiliers. He later fell in battle at the moment of victory, on the Plains of Abraham before Quebec

in 1759, singularly responsible for the British seizure of Canada from the French. The little known, heroic last stand by the Irish Brigade at Culloden Moor saved thousands of Scottish lives, yet is barely mentioned in most history books, possibly because the Victorian historical revisionists liked to lay blame for the defeat at the door of O’Sullivan and Sheridan, the Prince’s Irish advisors, who were in fact, nearly faultless for the defeat. In truth, without a larger force of the Irish Brigade, or of other French regulars, the rising was probably doomed from the start, whatever its initial successes were. The stand of the Irish Brigade at Culloden is the stuff of legend, along with heroics of the Texans at the Alamo, Leonidas’ Spartans at Themopolyae, Horatio at the Bridge, and Newcastle’s ‘white-coats’ at Marston Moor. The Irish fought like lions, for their comrades, for their regiments and for Ireland, and yes, even for the Stuarts. The Stuart cause was never really Ireland’s, but the Irish saw the Stuarts as ‘the best of a bad bunch.’ n Ian Colquhoun is an author, actor, stuntman and historian. His educational novel Drummossie Moor—Jack Cameron, The Irish Brigade and the Battle of Culloden is available online or can be ordered in all good bookshops. Gerry Regan is a journalist, historian and editorial director of The Wild Geese website, a social network that is a leading internet destination for those looking to explore and celebrate Irish history and heritage, in the words of William Butler Yeats, ‘wherever green is worn.’ Visit it at: http://www.thewildgeese.irish

THE IRISH VOICE WELCOMES THE LAUNCH OF THE IRISH BUSINESS NETWORK SCOTLAND

CELTIC COUSINS AT CULLODEN 8

THE IRISH AT CULLODEN

THE IRISH VOICE

JUNE 2016

JUNE 2016

THE IRISH VOICE

THE IRISH AT CULLODEN

9

Proving that the Easter Rising isn’t the only anniversary being celebrated this year, IAN COLQUHOUN and GERRY REGAN share with us a feature on Irish involvement in the Battle of Culloden, which took place 270 years ago this year. The special feature is based on a talk that the former gave earlier in 2016, hosted by the Irish Heritage Foundation

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HE infamous Battle of Culloden, fought in April 16, 1746, is world-renowned both for its tragic one-sidedness and because of the romantic image of outnumbered, starving, exhausted, kilted Jacobite Highlanders, charging with broadsword and shield against battle-hardened English ‘Redcoats.’ That the English were armed to the teeth with muskets, artillery and bayonets, and, most significantly, a new tactic for dealing with the terrifying Highlander assault, adds to the pathos of the battle’s accounts. Culloden is also seen—more simplistically—as the last battle between England and Scotland. It is probably best remembered, however, for the brutality displayed by the English ‘Redcoats’ and Scots ‘Loyalists’ who fought for England. A famous quote from a combatant in the battle describes the Royal Redcoats as looking like ‘so many butchers’ as they gleefully stabbed or beat to death hundreds of wounded Jacobite soldiers and innocent civilians in the battle’s aftermath. The episode was so shameful that no British regiment has the engagement on its battle honours. There were other soldiers wearing red jackets on the field, but these men were the antithesis of those behind the English standard. They wore long-skirted red coats, carried French weapons and fought for the Jacobite side. These were Irishmen in the service of France, ‘Wild Geese’ maintaining the tradition of Irish recruitment into Bourbon service harking back to 1691. Positioned in the second line of the Jacobite army, on its left, stood 150 men from three companies or picquets, of France’s Irish Brigade. These men all volunteered, and received furloughs to come to Scotland to fight for the Jacobite cause, both to help their brother Scots, and in the hope that a Stuart restoration would see the end of the harsh anti-Catholic penal laws in their own homeland. Gaelic Ireland and Gaelic Scotland had shared a common culture, ever since the first settlement by Fergus Mac Erc of the Dal Riada. This, plus shared ancestry, often facilitated mutual assistance, in the spirit of the sixth century Treaty of Drumceat. The Irishmen hailed from Tipperary, Louth, Limerick and Wexford and were armed conventionally, with French muskets and bayonets and a full cartridge box, unlike most of the Highlanders in their army who had, at best, four rounds per man. The Irish lads and a similarly organised regiment of Scots in French service, who stood next to them, were the only Jacobite troops with ample ammunition, as between them these two units were expected to provide disciplined firepower if and when the English lines started to break. ‘The Irish Brigade,’ so-named by the Jacobite command despite its small numbers, had already tipped the scales in an earlier battle, at Falkirk, when their intervention had driven the English (or Hanoverians) from the field after some of the English battalions had stood firm against the clans’ ‘Highland Charge.’ The Irish had also taken part in a brutal skirmish in Elgin a few days before Culloden, using their murderous musketry to drive pro-government Campbell clansmen out of the town. When Prince Charles Edward Stuart, commonly embraced as ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie,’ had left France for Scotland in 1745, he had taken 800 men of the Irish Brigade with him, both to guard his person and to provide muchneeded firepower to what was to become his Highland army. Alas, the ship transporting the troops got into a fight with HMS Lion en route and was severely damaged, forcing it to return to Brest with the 800 men and the Prince’s essential war supplies. The Prince carried on with his rising regardless, to recover the throne for his father, James III, also known as the ‘Old Pretender.’ Charlie had landed only with seven companions, known to history as the ‘Seven Men of Moidart.’ Four of these were Irish—Sir Thomas Sheridan, George Kelly, Sir John Macdonald, and Colonel John William O’Sullivan. Even so, many of the clans rallied to the Prince’s standard at Glenfinnan at the head of Loch Shiel on August 19, thus beginning ‘The ‘45.’ A martial tune for bagpipes, known in Gaelic as a pibroch, was composed by John MacIntyre of Ulgary, Glenmoidart, titled ‘Thaing mo Righ air Tir am Muideart,’ or ‘My King Has Landed in Moidart.’ Charlie’s early successes persuaded King Louis XV to send regular troops to his aid. Some 2000 battle-hardened Irish and Scots exiles were sent to Scotland, but most of them were intercepted at sea by the ever-vigilant Royal Navy. In total, around 800 such troops made it ashore and joined the Jacobite army in time for the Battle of Falkirk. There had been nearly 500 men of the French ‘Royal Scots’ regiment, and there were initially 300 men from the

three Irish companies of Dillon’s, Ruth’s and Lallys regiments, all volunteers. There was also to have been a whole regiment of red-coated Irish cavalry, Fitz-James’ Horse—named after The Duke of Berwick, but all but 70 of the troopers were intercepted at sea, along with the regiment’s horses. Irish regiments in Bourbon service wore long-skirted red coats, just as their grandfathers had done, showing their allegiance to the Stuarts, and to Ireland. The added message of their red coats was that they were of the legitimate army of the legitimate king—the Royal Stuart. By the time of Culloden, three months after Falkirk, there were only 150 men of the Irish Brigade fit for duty. The clansmen in the Jacobite army, though fearsome warriors, showed no interest in other duties such as siege work or patrolling, so those duties fell to the Irish professional soldiers. These duties had taken their toll, and with disease, had reduced the unit's fighting strength by half by the time of Culloden. The Irish Brigade was commanded by a Major Surman, but he was so sickly that he rarely took the field. In his stead was Brigadier Walter Stapleton, a fearsome man, who also commanded the Franco-Scots regular contingent. Despite landing without any arms or men, Prince Charles had convinced enough clans to rally to him, and by September 1745 they had bloodlessly captured Edinburgh, and utterly destroyed the British army in Scotland at the Battle of Prestonpans. The Jacobites then marched on London in a campaign so daring that it was virtually an 18th century analog to a 1940s Blitzkrieg. They reached Derby, 120 miles from London, sending the capital into panic.

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hough only a week’s march from London, a government spy bringing false news of a fictitious English army was enough to convince the majority in a Jacobite council of war to retire back to Scotland where they hoped to consolidate, which they did, with the arrival of the men from France and of other clans, swelling their ranks to over 8000. The Jacobites then defeated a second, much larger and better-trained government army at Falkirk in what was the biggest battle of the Jacobite Wars on mainland Britain. Here the Irish Brigade, with its disciplined firing, intervened to turn the tide of the battle. Alas, despite this dazzling success, the rising became a shambles. The Jacobites retreated again, into the Highlands, followed by the English redcoats, now commanded by King George II’s second-surviving son, William Augustus, The Duke of Cumberland. (The English would later name a flower for Cumberland, the ‘Sweet William.’ In Scotland, the same flower is called ‘Stinking Billy.’) Only 11 months prior, six battalions of the Irish Brigade, as many as 5000 men, had fought for France against a British-led Allied force commanded by The Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Fontenoy in Flanders (May 11, 1745). They had been used to push home the final French counter-attack, and had driven the British and their allies from the field at point of bayonet, capturing 20 British cannon in the process. Sadly, the Jacobites at Culloden could only dream of having six battalions of the Irish redcoats available. On the morning of April 16, 1746, 150 red-coated Irishmen stood in their positions on the extreme left of the Jacobite second line, bayonets fixed, motionless, awaiting orders—the Stuart Standard, The Irish Harp and the Bourbon Fleur-de-lis fluttering above their heads. Facing them across Drummossie (Culloden) Moor were 9000 welltrained, well-led and well-equipped government redcoats infantry, cavalry and, for the first time during the rising, artillery. The Hanoverian troops were in high spirits. In contrast, the Jacobite army at Culloden couldn’t have been in a worse state. It was exhausted after a failed attempt to march on Cumberland’s camp at Nairn during the night. The Jacobites hadn’t even managed to get within four miles of Cumberland’s camp before daylight and had had no choice but to retreat to Culloden or risk being caught by the fully alert government troops while strung out on the march. Their position worsened. There was no food, as no-one had bothered sending carts to Inverness for supplies. Some of the men hadn’t eaten for two days, and those who had had only got one biscuit per man. The Jacobite army had barely 200 horsemen and no trained gunners. Its leaders were at loggerheads. All in all, there were not more than 6500 men on the Jacobite side. The battle began about 1pm with a cannonade from both sides. Hundreds of clansmen were killed or maimed, while only one government soldier fell to the Jacobite guns, which were in turn quickly silenced. When the clans finally charged, they were met with

musket volleys from Cumberland’s men, and with grape-shot at close range, ensuring that the survivors of that fusillade would be too few to dislodge the enemy. The right and centre of the Jacobite first-line did break through Cumberland’s first line on its extreme left, but were cut down by the disciplined volleys from the second line. The Jacobite left couldn’t close with the government troops because of a bog to their front and their advance halted. The MacDonald men who made up the left wing stood, firing muskets and roaring insults, unable to advance through the bog, but too proud to retreat. As a battle, it was all over as soon as it had begun. The clans had expended their one weapon, the wild Highland charge, and had failed. Cumberland unleashed his 2000 cavalry, as the few clansmen who had survived the charge tried to fall back onto the second line. All was lost. For the Irish Brigade, however, the day’s work was just beginning. The Jacobite right and centre, badly mauled, retreated toward Ruthven, where they hoped to reorganise. Only Glenbucket’s Lowland regiment and the Irish cavalrymen of Fitz-James’ Horse, dismounted and using carbines to defend a sunken road, stayed behind to cover the right’s retreat, fighting until they ran out of ammunition. Over on the left of the Jacobite line, the MacDonalds had also retreated when faced with overwhelming numbers of government dragoons on their flank. They ran for their lives toward Inverness, some throwing away weapons and clothing. The Irish Brigade stood like a wall of red, watching the heroic, but futile, charge by the clans. The red-coated

Irishmen broke ranks calmly to let the defeated clansmen through, giving their brother Gaels a cheer as they did so, then they reformed their line. Their officers knew that the day was lost, but decided to hold the Inverness road open for as long as possible to allow their comrades to escape. The Prince and his entourage had left the field, leaving Brigadier Walter Stapleton, a fearsome man, in command of those who remained behind. What happened next was extraordinary.

W

ith nearly 1000 government horsemen bearing down on them, the 150 Irishmen gave the cry: “Cuimhnighidh ar Luimneach agus ar Feall na Sassanach!” and marched five paces forward, in defiance. Stapleton stood with sword and pistol, and began directing volleys that, against all odds, kept back the government cavalry and forced the troopers to resort to firearms from a distance. After a fierce firefight in which the Irishmen inflicted scores of casualties on their opponents, the government horse charged again, forcing the Irish to defend themselves with bayonets and swords. Again, their attack was repulsed. The Irish were then joined by the French Royal Scots, who formed up on them at a right angle so as to delay encirclement. The Irishmen started to walk backwards along the Inverness road, firing as they went until their ammunition was gone. Stapleton, mortally wounded, had a big decision to make. His men were in French service so, unlike the other Jacobite soldiers, they should expect honorable treatment as prisoners of war. On the other hand,

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the English parliament had only a year earlier made joining ‘foreign’ armies illegal. His men wished to fight on, but Stapleton saw that they had done all they could. The rest of the army and the Prince were already off the field. Thousands of Scots had escaped. Half their number were dead or dying and, in any case, a large number of the English horse had bypassed the tenacious Irishmen in favour of pursuing much easier targets who were running toward Inverness. Cumberland’s infantry was advancing to take possession of the ground previously occupied by the Jacobites. It was now all about preventing useless slaughter, so Stapleton sent a drummer boy named Kelly toward the enemy, beating a slow and melancholy request for parley. Things could have gone either way. As soon as the request for parley was received, the Irishmen and the two tiny battalions of French Royal Scots were quickly surrounded by a square of cavalry. Stapleton sent a captain named O’Neill to negotiate terms. All around them, the redcoat infantry were murdering Jacobite wounded where they lay. To the relief of O’Neill, and of the dying Stapleton, Cumberland assured them that ‘as they are French, or in French service, they are assured honourable treatment.’ This was an out-of-character display of generosity by the Duke, who personally ordered the murder of the other Jacobite prisoners and wounded. He would later order a ‘pacification’campaign in the Highlands that can only be described as genocidal. Cumberland allowed the Irishmen to escape with their lives, with the exception of three English deserters who were

found among their ranks and hanged. Technically, the Irish Brigade suffered 100 per cent casualties at the battle in that their entire force was killed, wounded or captured. The French Royal Scots had mixed fortunes. Its 1st battalion was given POW status, but most of its 2nd battalion had been raised in Scotland, and was thus treated to the same ghastly fate as the other Jacobite prisoners—death or transportation. After the battle, the 200 or so surviving troops, Irish and Scots mostly under the French standard, were taken to England, where they spent eight months on a ghastly prison barge on the Thames before they were exchanged in early 1747. They were treated honourably, despite the fact that under English law they could have been hanged for joining a foreign army. Some historians suspect that they were spared after impassioned pleas from James Wolfe, an English officer who admired their courage and who also offered to resign rather than sully his honour by shooting a wounded Highlander. Others think Cumberland was being realistic— if word got out that he had murdered surrendering French troops, reprisals against captured British troops in Flanders would surely have occurred. Wolfe, by the way, would later make the case for Highland regiments in the British army, not only to provide a constructive avenue for their martial inclinations, but also saying that if a Scot should fall, ‘there would be no mischief in it.’ He would serve in North America during the Seven Years War, for a while commanding the Royal Highland Fusiliers. He later fell in battle at the moment of victory, on the Plains of Abraham before Quebec

in 1759, singularly responsible for the British seizure of Canada from the French. The little known, heroic last stand by the Irish Brigade at Culloden Moor saved thousands of Scottish lives, yet is barely mentioned in most history books, possibly because the Victorian historical revisionists liked to lay blame for the defeat at the door of O’Sullivan and Sheridan, the Prince’s Irish advisors, who were in fact, nearly faultless for the defeat. In truth, without a larger force of the Irish Brigade, or of other French regulars, the rising was probably doomed from the start, whatever its initial successes were. The stand of the Irish Brigade at Culloden is the stuff of legend, along with heroics of the Texans at the Alamo, Leonidas’ Spartans at Themopolyae, Horatio at the Bridge, and Newcastle’s ‘white-coats’ at Marston Moor. The Irish fought like lions, for their comrades, for their regiments and for Ireland, and yes, even for the Stuarts. The Stuart cause was never really Ireland’s, but the Irish saw the Stuarts as ‘the best of a bad bunch.’ n Ian Colquhoun is an author, actor, stuntman and historian. His educational novel Drummossie Moor—Jack Cameron, The Irish Brigade and the Battle of Culloden is available online or can be ordered in all good bookshops. Gerry Regan is a journalist, historian and editorial director of The Wild Geese website, a social network that is a leading internet destination for those looking to explore and celebrate Irish history and heritage, in the words of William Butler Yeats, ‘wherever green is worn.’ Visit it at: http://www.thewildgeese.irish

THE IRISH VOICE WELCOMES THE LAUNCH OF THE IRISH BUSINESS NETWORK SCOTLAND

10

COLÚN GAEILGE

THE IRISH VOICE

JUNE 2016

Éire, agus an Ghaeilge, abú!

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n ÉIMHÍN Ó DUNAIGH Oifigeach Forbartha, Conradh Na Gaeilge, Glaschú

HUEL, a chairde, ‘anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh’ tá EURO 2016, nó ‘Craobhchomórtas Sacair na hEorpa 2016’ más fearr leat, ag druidim linn agus caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil mé ar bís faoi sin. Ach ag smaoineamh air anois is dócha ag an am a thagann an Voice amach beidh sé leath-thart nó an chéad babhta críochnaithe ar scor ar bith. Cíbe, tá mise ag scríobh seo roimh-ré agus mar sin fós lán le dóchas agus le misneach fá choinne foireann na hÉireann. Caithfidh mé a rá bím ar bís roimh aon Corn an Domhan nó Craobhchomórtas na hEorpa, fiú múna bhfuil Éireann ann ach is rud chomh speisialta é nuair atá muid ann agus i lár an spraoi. Sin ráite bhí díomá an domhan orm nuair a smaoinigh mé ar an cheist seo ar na mallaibh: cé hiad na tíortha ag an chomórtas nach mbeidh ag caint ina dteanga féin? Is dócha tá a fhios agat an fhreagra cheanna féin, is iad dhá fhoireann—dhá dhoireann, sin ceist/colún eile—na hÉireann amháin nach mbeidh fiú abairt amháin astu ina

dteanga dhúchas le cloisteáil nuair a thagann tíortha na hEorpa le chéile sa Fhrainc an mhí seo. I gcónaí bímse ag fanacht ar an rud a thabharfaidh cic sa tóin dúinn ó thaobh an Ghaeilge de—rud a dhúiseoidh muid! Nach insíonn an fhíric seo rud dúinn mar an sórt tír ata ionann? Ag amanna mar seo nach gcaithfidh muid smaoineamh: “An náisiún muid in aon choir?” Labhraíonn muid teanga as náisiún eile—teanga an choilíneach. Chuir sin i gcomparáid lenar gcol ceathracha Ceiltigh thar Muir Éireann. Cinnte beidh neart Béarla astu ach a dteanga féin fosta! Ar a bpainéal tá neart cainteoirí Breatnaise—Joe Allen (Learpholl) agus Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) mar shampla. Roimh an chraobhchomórtas bhí Breatnaise á labhairt ag a gcuid preasocáid—ní raibh muid ábalta an rud céanna a rá. Fosta an raibh a fhios agaibh go cainteoir líofa na Breatnaise é íar-Cheilitigh John Hartson? Nach dea-shampla iad dúinn?

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ad chuige nach bhfuil níos againn/dár n-imreoirí ábalta labhairt i nGaeilge? Is ceist deacair é ach domhsa is rud simplí an chéad céim agus sin í a úsáid. Tá cúpla focal, ar a leithéid, ag gach duine in Éirinn agus neart daoine de bhunadh

na hÉirinn, anseo in Albain tá a fhios agam go bhfuil. Tá feachtas ar bun ag Conradh na Gaeilge in Éirinn darb ainm #BÚA (Bain Úsáid Astí) agus sílim sin an dearcadh atá de dhíth ar dtús. “Beatha teanga í a labhairt,” mar a deir an sheanfhocal. Mar sin, i rith Euro 2016 abair ‘cad é mar atá tú?/ conas ata tú?’ in áit ‘how are you’ agus frásaí simplí eile ar nós ‘ba mhaith liom pionta, le do thoil’ agus ‘go raibh maith agat.’ Glac an chéad céim duit féin! Tá feachtas ag gníomhaí teanga i dtír na mBascach chun an chéad agus an focal deireanach a bheith ina dteanga dhúchais. Cíbe faoi sin dúinn agus an Ghaeilge? Má tá na focail sin agat—bain úsáid aistí! Múna bhfuil gabh ar www.focloir.ie agus beidh siad agat gan mhoill! Mar focal scór tá bealach eile chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid i rith an chraobhchomórtais—beidh tráchtaireacht i nGaeilge le fáil, ar an idirlín, ó Raidió na Gaeltachta agus rogha tráchtaireacht i nGaeilge curtha ar fail ag RTE, trí Saorview nó SKY. Chomh fada agus is eol domh seo an chéad uair a tharla agus nach iontach an chur chun cinn é? Fá choinne duine ar bith thar lear, cosúil linne, beidh an tráchtaire i nGaeilge le fáil ar líne. Mholfainn an nasc seo daoibh: (http://av.rasset.ie/ av/live/radio/rnag.m3u) agus thiocfadh leat éisteacht

le sin nuair a bheifeá ag amharc ar an teilifís (ITV nó BBC). Bíonn teilifís mall i gcomparáid leis an raidió ach thiocfadh leat an cnap sosa a úsáid ar an nasc RnaG thuas agus bheadh siad le chéile (nó beagnach) mar sin. Tuilleadh eolais teicniúil le fáil ar an idirlín—déan googleáil air! Ar aon nós, ná déan dearmad, an chéad focal agus an focal deireanach i nGaeilge, i gcónaí. Éire (agus an Ghaeilge) abú! n FÓGRA: Beidh CAMPA SAMHRAIDH Conradh na Gaeilge ar siúl ó 27ú Meitheamh go dtí an 1ú Iúil i Halla eaglais St Helens i Shawlands—fá choinne páistí atá ag freastal ar bhunscoil. Fáilte roimh gach duine!! Níl gá aon Gaeilge a bheith acu roimh-ré. Gheobhaidh siad blas dár dteanga agus dár n-oidhreacht tríd ceol, ealaíon, damhsa agus spóirt. Tuilleadh eolais ó 0141 433 9495 nó [email protected] n Clár raidió nua i nGaeilge i nGlaschú anois: Cluas Oscailte ar Celtic Music Radio (www.celticmusicradio.net & 95FM), gach Dé Céadaoin, 6-7 in

Come on Ireland... and the Irish language As Béarla (In English)

‘A

n EVIN DOWNEY Irish language and development officer, The Gaelic League, Glasgow

NOIS ar theacht an tsamhraidh,’ (‘Now that the summer is coming’) as the song says, EURO 2016 has begun and I have to say that I’m pretty excited about that. However, now that I think about it, by the time you read this it will be just about half-finished or after the first round anyway! Anyway, as I am writing this beforehand I am still so full of hope and optimism for how Ireland (above left) will get on. I am always excited before any World Cup or European Championship, even if Ireland aren’t there, but it’s something special when we are there and in the midst of all the fun.

That said, I was disappointed when I thought about this question recently: “Who are the countries at the competition who will not be talking their own language? You probably know the answer already, it’s the two Irish teams—the fact that there are two,well that’s a whole other issue! It is unlikely that even one sentence in our native language will be heard when the countries of Europe come together in France this month. I’m always waiting on something giving us a kick up the backside in relation to Irish —something to wake us up about it. Doesn’t the above fact not tell us something about the sort of country we are? At times like this you can think: “Are we really a nation at all?” We speak the language of another nation—the language of our coloniser in fact, which can be compared to our Celtic

cousins across the Irish Sea. You will certainly hear plenty of English from them but also you’ll hear their own language. In their squad (above right) there are plenty of Welsh speakers— Joe Allen (Liverpool) and Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) for example. Before the tournament I saw that Welsh was spoken at their press conferences—we could not say the same thing. Did you know that former Celtic man John Hartson is a fluent Welsh speaker? Are they not a good example for us?

W

hy aren’t more of us and our players able to talk in Irish? It’s a difficult question of course, but for me there is a simple thing we can do as a first step and that’s simply to use it. Start with just a few simple words, that certainly everyone in Ireland knows, but would also be known to many people of Irish descent—certainly here in Scotland. A campaign currently on the go by Conradh na Gaeilge is named #BÚA (Bain Úsáid Aistí —Give It a Go) and that’s the attitude needed first. “To speak

a language is to give it life,” as the proverb says. So during Euro 2016, how about we say ‘cad é mar atá tú?/conas ata tú?’ instead of ‘how are you?’ and use other simple phrases like ‘ba mhaith liom pionta, le do thoil’ (‘I want a pint, please’) and ‘go raibh maith agat’ (‘thank you’). Take the first step yourself. An active language campaign in the Basque Country is looking to get people to say the the first and the last word, of any interaction, in their native language. How about we do that with the Irish language? If you know any words, use them, if not, visit www.focloir.ie and you soon will know them. There is another way to use the language during the Euros. There will be commentary in Irish available from Radio na Gaeltachta for the Ireland matches, as well as an Irish commentary option been provided by RTÉ, through Saorview or SKY. As far as I am aware, this is the first time this has happened and it’s a great development. For anyone outside of Ireland, such as ourselves, the commentary in

n www.cnag-glaschu.co.uk

Irish will be available online. I would suggest this link to listen to Ráidió na Gaeltachta: http://av.rasset.ie/av/live/radio /rnag.m3u). What you can then do is listen to this when you are watching the games on TV (ITV or BBC). There is a delay on TV compared to radio, but you can use the pause button on the above RnaG link above and in that way get them synced up—or very close anyway. There’s more technical information on that on on the internet. Anyway, don’t forget, the first word and the last word in Irish, always. Come on Ireland (and Irish)! n NB: The Gaelic League Glasgow’s SUMMER CAMP will run from June 27 to July 1 in

St Helens Church Hall in Shawlands. It's suitable for any child attending primary school. All welcome and there is no need to know any Irish beforehand. The camp gives a fun taste of our language and our heritage through music, art, dance and sports. For more information: 0141 433 9495 or cnag_glaschu@ hotmail.com n Don’t forget there is a new radio programme in Irish in Glasgow now—Cluas Oscailte /An Open Ear—on Celtic Music Radio (www.celticmusicradio .net and 95FM), every Wednesday from 6-7pm n [email protected] n www.cnag-glaschu.co.uk

THE IRISH VOICE WELCOMES THE LAUNCH OF THE IRISH BUSINESS NETWORK SCOTLAND

JUNE 2016

THE IRISH VOICE

FEATURE

11

(Above right) A young piper greets Irish Consul General Mark Hanniffy, Paschal Donohoe TD and Fiona Hyslop MSP at the launch of the Irish Business Network in Scotland at Edinburgh Castle. (Above left) Paschal Donohoe TD addresses attendees. (Left) Founding Chairman Colm Moloney, speaks at the launch. (Below) Attendees mingle after the speeches

Network aims to get down to business

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DAN McGINTY explains how the newly launched Irish Business Network Scotland can help boost trade between the nations

hile much attention has been given to the impact a British exit from the european Union would have on the business partnership between Scotland and ireland, no matter the result of this month’s referendum, the future of trade between the two nations looks secure after the launch of the irish Business Network in Scotland at edinburgh Castle. Though continued British membership of the eU remains the priority for both the irish Government and businesses, the launch of the new network nevertheless formalises the important business relationship across the irish Sea at a crucial time. With trade between Scotland and ireland at an unprecedented level after continued growth, the new network offers a chance for individuals and businesses focussed on trade between Scotland and ireland as well as the irish business community operating in Scotland to get support and new opportunities. With dozens of members already present at the launch of the network, the new organisation’s members are expected to come from the established irish business community in Scotland, companies in ireland looking to expand into Scotland, and Scottish businesses with an interest in ireland.

Partnership and Co-operation

The theme of partnership and co-operation is one that founding chairman, Colm Moloney returned to as he spoke of the launch, outlining what an exciting time the launch signals for the Scottishirish business links. “This is about encouraging businesses and entrepreneurs in both Scotland and ireland to explore the opportunities on the other side of the

water,” he said. “We want to create a network that shares ideas and information, creates opportunities for partnerships and collaborations, and taps into the experience of those people and companies that have made a success of broadening their horizons across the irish Sea.” Moloney, an archaeologist from Cork working in edinburgh, was joined in launching the network by eugene Mullan, an irish architect working in edinburgh and David Greenlees, a Scot who works for an irish technology company in Glasgow. however, the three men have also drawn the support of both the irish and Scottish Governments, with senior political figures were in attendance for the first gathering of the network as it was launched. Such high profile involvement only serves to underline the importance of a strong trading relationship between the two nations. Paschal Donohoe, the irish Minister for Public expenditure and Reform, was in edinburgh for the launch, and spoke about the benefits which can be felt beyond simply establishing new links. “The establishment of the irish Business Network is further evidence of the already close co-operation that exists between ireland and Scotland at so many levels,” he said. “The Network will provide an opportunity to bring together businesses from the two countries for their mutual benefit. The irish Government is especially keen to foster such links. “As Minister for Public expenditure and Reform i also have a special interest in the opportunities for cooperation provided by the eU-funded iNTeRReG Programme between Scotland, ireland and Northern ireland, which will see more than €280 million invested in the region for the period 2014-2020.”

Establishment

The network was established as the result of a meeting of many businesses in Scotland with links to ireland, supported by staff at the Consulate of ireland in edinburgh and ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Consul General of ireland to Scotland, Mark hanniffy, who recently took up his position representing the irish Government in Scotland has been impressed by the drive he has seen to make it happen. “i have been struck since the moment i arrived in this job by the similarities between businesses in Scotland and ireland,” Mr hannify said. “We share a very positive business climate, and our enterprises—both new and established—have an ambition for growth and an eagerness to expand into new markets. Nonetheless, opening a new business in a different country can be daunting. Your home government and its agencies can help with advice and information but often it’s being able learn from others who have made the journey before you that makes the biggest difference.”

Important relationship

The importance of the ongoing relationship was outlined by Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture, europe and external Affairs, Fiona hyslop, who spoke of the Scottish Government’s warm reaction to the establishment of the network. “Scottish exports to ireland are worth around £1.125 billion, while the turnover of irish businesses here in Scotland is over £2.5 billion, supporting nearly 6,000 jobs,” she said at the launch. “The Scottish Government is pleased to welcome the development of the irish Business Network Scotland to provide a way for businesses wanting to expand to tap into companies with experience already located in Scotland.

“We also welcome the close collaboration that has already begun between the Network and the Scottish innovation and investment hub in ireland, to ensure opportunities are developed for Scottish companies wanting to trade or invest in ireland.”

AIB support

however, it is not only the governments of the two countries who have welcomed the launch of the new network, with many individual business also giving their support to its establishment. One of the founding members is the Allied irish Ban, which has, for many years, had branches in edinburgh and Glasgow. Regional Director Billy Macleod says the irish business community in Scotland is wide and diverse, and thinks the network will play a vital role in the future success of irish business in Scotland. “ireland, like Scotland, has seen huge growth in innovation-based industries like energy, technology, construction and life sciences,” he said. “And, just as in Scotland, culture and heritage companies are thriving too. Alongside these, the support sectors, such as finance, law and accountancy, have also taken the step across the water to set up new operations. “Allied irish Bank specialises in banking for owner managed businesses and has several really exciting irish clients in Scotland. i am delighted that the new network will help oil the wheels for those who wish to bring new business to Scotland or from Scotland to ireland.” n For more information about joining the new network, go to www.irishbusinessnetwork.scot and follow it on Twitter @irishbusnetwork n [email protected]

THE IRISH VOICE WELCOMES THE LAUNCH OF THE IRISH BUSINESS NETWORK SCOTLAND

Dublin’s streets and spaces have a story to tell 12

O

JUNE 2016

THE IRISH VOICE

TRAVEL

BILL HEANEY followed in the footsteps of some of Ireland’s most famous writers during his recent visit to Dublin

N RAGLAN Road of warm spring day, I retraced the footsteps of Patrick Kavanagh, the Irish poet who wrote the lyrics of that song made famous by the late, lamented and most definitely legendary folk artist, Luke Kelly, who once appeared in the SNP Hall in Wallace Street, Dumbarton. It was a wonderful experience to walk through Dublin from Raglan Road down Pembroke Street to Lower Baggot Street past the house at number 82 where Patrick lived and to visit the still thriving William Searson’s pub and other watering holes, which were frequented by the literati and their hangers-on. It was a bit sad though to see Parson’s Bookshop by Baggot Street Bridge all locked up and lonely looking since the halcyon days when the likes of Kavanagh, Seamus Heaney, Ben Kiely, Maeve Binchy, Flann O’Brien, John McGahern and Ita Daly were amongst its customers. Samuel Beckett spent much of his time in that area in the 1950s while his mother was ill in Merion Nursing Home and, later, he would pass while visiting the painter Jack Yeats in Portobello Nursing Home. Parson’s was the Dublin equivalent of Shakespeare and Company in Paris and, after a time from its opening in 1949, the wellthumbed Confessions of St Augustine eventually gave way to such avant garde writers as Sartre, De Beauvoir and Camus to establish its reputation as Dublin’s most progressive bookshop. Brendan Flynn, in his eponymous book Parson’s Bookshop, quotes the owner, Miss May O’Flaherty, telling him: “Many local artists and writers called in to buy The Irish Times, but it was Patrick Kavanagh who provided the greatest encouragement when I was starting off.” Over the bridge we walked down to the towpath of the Grand Canal, where there is a statue of Patrick Kavanagh occupying a seat by the lock gate (right). He was sharing it that day with a couple of workmen from a nearby building site who were enjoying their lunch break. These guys were house painters—as Brendan Behan had been before them—in white overalls, who, before moving courteously for us to have a photograph taken with the bespectacled poet, told us a few stories about Kavanagh and his cronies. One of these I had heard before in Connemara in the Cleggan bolt-hole of the poet Richard Murphy. It was to the effect that Kavanagh told the story of how he had been attacked one night and thrown in the canal by gurriers who, he said, had attempted to murder him. He had gone dripping wet and covered in mud to the house of Murphy’s wife, Patricia Avis, the car hire millionairess and a qualified doctor who was then living in Dublin, for assistance. Mrs Murphy took care of him, gave him a few stimulating hot whiskeys and in the morning took him into Grafton Street and bought him a new Donegal tweed, three-piece suit. Some men have all the luck. Kavanagh is said to have told this story proudly, but doubters maintain he was the worse for drink

and looking for money for more alcohol and cash to bet on the horses when he fell in. He was well aware that Mrs Murphy had a soft spot for impoverished writers, especially poets.

O

ur day out in Dublin continued with a stroll through St Stephen’s Green, entering at the gate opposite the world famous Shelbourne Hotel, where we used to stay but recently found it far too expensive and not up to the standards of yesteryear. We chose the Ariel Hotel and Guesthouse in Lansdowne Road, which has fabulous rooms at half the cost and probably the best full-Irish breakfast in Dublin. St Stephen’s Green (above) is small, but interesting. Hundreds of Dubliners and visitors to the city to celebrate the centenary of the Easter Rising of 1916 flocked to the green to relax in the spring sunshine. The green, which is Ireland’s bestknown Victorian public park, was a gift to the citizens from a rich man, Lord Ardilaun. It has been maintained in the original Victorian layout with extensive perimeter tree and shrub planting plus spectacular spring and summer bedding. The herbaceous border also provides colour from early spring to late autumn and there are places to shelter from inclement weather as I am told that it rains in Ireland now and again. A number of sculptures, including one of 1798 hero Wolfe Tone and another by sculptor Edward Delaney, linked to the Great Hunger, are located throughout the green. A tastefully-designed children’s playground is a popular attraction of the park too. Lunchtime concerts are performed during the summer months and attract audiences from pedestrianised Grafton Street and other shopping and theatre venues nearby.

W

e stravaiged down Grafton Street and joined the visitors and shoppers taking in the passing pageant of pretty women, talented buskers and mime artistes, stopping at The Bailey and later at Davy Byrne’s for lunch and coffee. The Bailey has changed and the service was mediocre while in Davy Byrne’s they could not have been more attentive. The Bailey was frequented by James Joyce who is once said to have told a man who interrupted his conversation to ask where the lavatory was: “It’s up those stairs on the right there. It says ‘gentlemen’ on the door, but don’t let that deter you!” Then it was off to the GPO in O’Connell Street to post off a package to a friend in Scotland, which the helpful counter clerk kindly adorned with a special stamp to indicate that it had been posted

in the year of the centenary of the Easter Rising. We also visited the National Gallery in Merrion Square where, throughout 2016, an exhibition of ten of the finest drawings by Leonardo da Vinci in the Royal Collection opened recently. The works have been selected to show the extraordinary scope of the artist’s interests, from painting and sculpture to engineering, zoology, botany, mapmaking and anatomy, as well as his use of different media—pen and ink, red and black chalks, watercolour and metalpoint. In the evening, we dined on delicious crab claws in white wine sauce and fish-stuffed ravioli at Nico’s, Dublin’s oldest Italian restaurant in Dame Street, where the food and wine are superb, before going off to the Gaiety Theatre to see John B Keane’s hilarious comedy, The Matchmaker.

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THE IRISH VOICE WELCOMES THE LAUNCH OF THE IRISH BUSINESS NETWORK SCOTLAND

Have a memorable time at Moran’s THE IRISH VOICE

JUNE 2016

Pub Spy

Classifieds 51 Old Rutherglen Road, Gorbals, Glasgow, G5 9DT 0141 429 3944

SHARKEY’S BAR

Live music every Saturday. Lunches served daily. Lounge available for private functions.

Irish Mist, Quigley’s Point and The Dubliner live on St Patrick’s Day along with a full weekend of events

MORAN’S BAR

15 Bridge St, Westport, Mayo, Ireland 00 353 98 26320

F YOU ever need a dozen candles, some cornflakes, a light-bulb, a tin of beans, a packet of Silvermints and a pint of Guinness then Moran’s Bar on Bridge Street in Westport is the place to go. A dying breed, Moran’s is one of those honoured public houses where it is possible to shop while you drink, provided your shopping list consists of non-perishable food, cleaning products and items related to light household maintenance. UHT milk, packet soup, disposable razors, Fig Rolls and safety matches all also make their way onto the Moran’s Roll of Honour, carving out a place for themselves on the packed shelves of the front bar, but the charm of the place lies well beyond a simple selection of household items. Johnny Moran, the proprietor, holds court at the bar. He’s the man you want if you are heading along to the road to Ballinrobe for a race meeting and need a tip or two. Convention dictates that when he finds you a winner you

13

THE VICTORIA BAR

A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST WATERING HOLES IN SCOTLAND, IRELAND AND FURTHER AFIELD

I

CLASSIFIEDS

400 Victoria Rd, Glasgow, G42 8YS 0141 423 3303

see to it that the proceeds find their way into his till via numerous pints of the black stuff. This is no hardship, incidentally. And while Moran’s (above) is a horsey pub—don’t even ask for a match to be shown if there’s a race on—football scarves from around the world adorn even available spot of free space, and for fellow initiates Johnny Moran can reach below the bar and pull out a little piece of a history: a commemorative tea towel from 1967, marking Celtic’s European Cup triumph. He possesses one of the most desirable skills in a barman from the patron’s point of view —a powerful memory. Not only do orders not need to be repeated throughout the night, they often don’t need repeating between meetings months apart. How many places can a visitor walk through the door after a year, and find their usual drop placed in front of them after a simple

457 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3LG 0141 332 9482 facebook.com/ ONeillsSauchiehallSt Twitter: @ONeills_Sauchie

THE DOLPHIN

Live music and GAA action on big screen TVs. A fine selection of Scottish and Irish malts. 157 Dumbarton Road, Partick Cross, Glasgow, G11 6PT 0141 576 0175

M

nod along the bar to where the owner is working his magic?

oran’s a something of a name in the town though, so don’t be mistaken and find yourself in the wrong shop. Moran’s Bar on Mill Street is run by Shane—a relation— while a few doors along on Bridge Street is another sign saying Moran’s, this time above a gentleman’s outfitter run by another cousin. You know if it’s a holyday of obligation there, as

PIC: GERARD GOUGH

the shop will be closed and the brogues and shirts may be cleared out from the front window to make way for the imagery of the day. It’s not everyone who would put the Sacred Heart in their window, you know. In the religious stakes, though, as in several others, it is Johnny Moran’s which leads the way. Should you be unfortunate enough to hear of a death while you are engaged in dispatching a few drinks, worry not. There are Mass cards for sale behind the bar.

Live Music after all Celtic games 10-12 Craigton Road, Glasgow, G51 3TB 0141 445 5177 Find us on Facebook/Twitter

WHISTLIN KIRK

Live music after all Celtic home games. 60s and 70s music last Friday of each month. 5 Greendyke St, Glasgow, G1 5PU 0141 552 7851

Merchant Square

Food Served till 10pm every day. Live music every Friday and Saturday.

Go to www.oneills.co.uk for more information.

THE COLUMBA CLUB Open 7 days 11am-1am, Saturday and Sunday Singalongs/Karaokes 8 John Street, Coatbridge, ML5 8EJ 01236 421282

Would you like to advertise your business or service in

If so give us a call: 07711849234 or e-mail: [email protected] and put ‘advertising’ in the subject headline Please support the products services and establishments advertised throughout the newspaper and let them know that you heard about them via The Irish Voice

14

THE IRISH VOICE

GAELIC GAMES

JUNE 2016

AN IRISH EYE

There was cause for celebration at Tír Conaill Harps as the club’s underage section marked some important events in their season. Firstly they emerged victorious in the Under 14 Scotland Championship (above top), lifting the cup after a close and hard-fought battle against Dunedin Og, before the young footballers welcomed St Jude’s Hurling and Football Club from Dublin (above). The visitors took the opportunity to play shinty/hurling against two different shinty teams, before taking on their hosts as part of a Gaelic football tournament. Harps also offered their congratulations to one of their young members, Liam Luporini (below), aged 15, who has been selected to join the Sport Scotland Youth Panel. The panel consists of young sportspeople agaed from 14-24, and the chance to work with the organisation is a great opportunity for Liam, who was selected from 185 applicants. Liam will join with the others on the panel in helping to shape the future of sport in Scotland over the next two years.

J

n KEVIN DAWSON

UST like the weather, the Championship is starting to warm up nicely and there are some intriguing clashes in both codes coming up over the next few weeks. In Football, Cavan had a much easier than expected win over Armagh, which sets them on a collision course with Tyrone for a place in the Ulster final. Tyrone look a bit further down the road in terms of development, but Cavan look like they are starting to bear the fruit of those four-in-a-row Ulster titles they collected at U21 level. In Connacht, Galway will be bidding to stop Mayo from collecting a record sixth title in a row. Galway have been off the pace of their neighbours for too long now, but look to be making steady progress under Kevin Walsh, while Roscommon will fancy their chances against Sligo to continue the remarkable progress they have made this year. For their part, few counties have experienced as much heartache as Mayo and you wouldn’t blame the players if they thought fate was against them for ever winning Sam,

Gaels come close to a treble of league wins n DAN McGINTY

GLASCHÚ Gaels brought their league campaigns to a close by contesting three finals in an attempt to sweep the board in Scotland.

Their senior and junior men’s teams each took on their counterparts from Dunedin Connollys in their respective league finals, while their ladies side matched up against Dalriada in their final. However, it was not to be a whitewash for Gaels, as they came up against a tough Edinburgh outfit in the senior final and in a very fast paced match-up, the Gaels could not overcome defending champions Connollys. The first 10 minutes proved an intense start for both sides, with neither team able to convert their scoring chances, but Connollys were first on the score sheet with a few well taken points. Gaels were given a chance to get into the game after being awarded a penalty after a foul on their captain, and it was duly dispatched for the Gaels’ first points of the day. For the remainder of the half, the exchanges were fairly even, with neither team able to take control going in level at half time with the scores level, 1-2 to 0-5. However, Connollys began to get a grip of the game, and came roaring out in the second half with three unanswered points, and while their forwards were taking their chances at one end, their defence tightened their grip on the Gaels forward line at the other, making scoring very difficult. The Gaels defence battled on, but in the end, two Edinburgh goals sealed the victory for the men from the capital in a comfort-

able victory, with the final score of 1-5 to 2-10. It was to be a different story in the junior final, however, as Gaels strolled to a comfortable win against Connollys. Gaels had hit the ground running with some very well taken scores right from the start, and the Glasgow men found their rhythm very early on and with some very clinical passages of play found themselves in a very comfortable position five points up at half time, 0-8 to 0-3. The second half proved the Gaels’ dominance, with several points from play and some very well taken goals seeing them over the line to a final score of 5-16 to 0-4. Completing a day of mixed emotions for the Gaels, the win provided promising evidence of the depth of the Gaels squad going into Championship.

The sideline ball

It was another comfortable win for the Gaels ladies as they recorded a memorable victory to become league champions for the first time ever. Played under very sunny conditions, Gaels were nevertheless relentless in their attacks, and put the Aberdeen side under serious pressure throughout the first half. Aided by some very strong midfield play the Gaels put away some crucial goals before the half time, and although Dalriada struggled to add points to the score board, their forwards continued to attack and kept the Gaels’ back line busy throughout. However, it was not to be Dalriada’s day and it was Gaels who celebrated as the ladies lifted the league championship for the first time. n [email protected]

A monthly column on Gaelic football and hurling from our tough-tackling Tipperaryman however, they will be hugely boosted by their recent U21 success and with new management bringing fresh ideas don’t rule them out. They have the athleticism and talent, they just need the belief and sheer bloody-mindedness to get over the line! Kerry and Cork should have had too much for Clare and Tipperary respectively in Munster, but while the Kingdom lowered the Banner without much difficulty Tipperary provided a massive shock to beat Cork. Meanwhile Dublin began their provincial quest in the unfamiliar surroundings of Nowlan Park, where they were too strong for Laois who played the majority of the game with 14 men. Dublin are miles ahead of their Leinster rivals and will surely win it again this year, but there are encouraging signs

that their rivals are finally getting their act together with the likes of Meath and Kildare outperforming the Dubs at underage level in recent times. In fact, the Meath minors demolished their Dublin counterparts by 10 points to knock them out! At the beginning of the millennium Leinster football was the toast of the provincial competitions with numerous counties having a genuine chance of winning it, hopefully those days are about to return.

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n hurling, we have to start with one of the biggest upsets in recent years with the Westmeath U21 hurlers recording a sensational win over Kilkenny. The Cats even missed a last minute penalty to win it to add to the ecstasy and delirium of the players and fans. Westmeath have made

great strides at all levels of hurling in recent years, but this result is still a huge shock but will do wonders for the game in weaker counties, hopefully many of these young men can keep the success ongoing to senior level. The first major clash of this year’s hurling championship got underway in atrocious weather conditions and was subsequently quite an underwhelming spectacle with Tipperary proving far too strong for an inept Cork side who have copied the sweeper formula, but don’t seem to know how to use it correctly. In my view, it doesn’t suit the players they have and although they didn’t concede any goals, Tipp were efficient without ever reaching top gear and won quite comfortably, although they will need to improve big time before facing Limerick in Thurles. The sight

of blue and gold always brings the best out of Limerick and they will relish their likely ‘underdog’ status! Clare and Waterford locked horns again after their recent league final clashes. The pressure really was on Waterford who badly needed to get one over Davy Fitzgerald’s side to regain momentum and confidence and they truly delivered in a dominant performance with an early Maurice Shanahan goal setting them on their way. They did a great job in keeping Tony Kelly quiet while Austin Gleeson was terrific popping up just about everywhere landing some terrific scores including an important sideline cut which halted Clare’s comeback in the second half when they got to within four points. Clare’s record in Munster has been dreadful over the last number of years, but we need to remember it was their first loss this year and while they will be disappointed they will still be a key player in the All-Ireland race. Waterford will relish the chance to win their first Munster title since 2010 and will be pleased to put their league final heartache behind them so quickly!

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Irish eyes are certainly smiling on Hibernian FC THE IRISH VOICE

JUNE 2016

FOOTBALL

n GERARD GOUGH

AMID the commemorations of the easter Rising this year, is it perhaps too poetic to think that one of the Rising’s leaders, James Connolly, who supported the club as a boy might have been looking down with a smile upon hibernian FC as they lifted the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902?

It was another Irishman, however, who had a more direct involvement in bringing the trophy back to Leith. Anthony Stokes was the standout performer in a hibs side that were by far the better team on the day, scoring two goals in a 3-2 win over Rangers, who are still looking to win their first major trophy. Stokes opened the scoring after only three minutes with a brilliant individual goal, before former hibee Kenny Miller equalised with a header to send the teams in level at half-time. Rangers then took the lead after 64 minutes courtesy of an Andy halliday strike and many hibs fans no doubt began to fear that the writing was on the wall for their team once again. however, the edinburgh side stuck to their task and were rewarded with an equaliser of their own 10 minutes from the end when Stokes bulleted a header past Foderingham in the Rangers’ goal from a Liam henderson corner. the Dubliner was unlucky not to bag his hat-trick a short time later after Foderingham beat away his shot from a tight angle as hibs battered the Rangers defence. the drama didn’t end there though as another henderson corner in injury time saw hibs captain David Gray head the ball into the net, sending the hibees in the stands and watching on the tV into rapture and bringing the trophy (above right main) back to easter Road after an agonising 114-year wait. It was no more than the hibees deserved. After the final whistle went, many of the hibs’ fans—caught up in the euphoria of finally winning the Scottish Cup after so long—streamed onto the pitch to celebrate and while a minority of fans from both sides engaged in some mindless fighting, nothing could take the shine off the cup final win. “they say every cloud has a silver lining, and today we have got that silver lining,” hibs’ boss Alan Stubbs said after the match. “I am quite emotional. I probably dreamt this—I thought we

were going to win the game 3-1 weeks ago. “I knew the players were so disappointed last Friday [after their Premiership play-off semi-final defeat by Falkirk] but I saw by their reaction on Monday they were ready for this game. “they are history makers. You work with them every day and they had a lot of bad luck against them, so to see them achieve it is fantastic.”

Managerial merry-go-round

the celebrations were slightly tempered in the aftermath of the cup final, however, when it was announced that Stubbs had been given permission to speak to Rotherham United, with a view to becoming their new manager, which he duly did at the start of the month. “I’ve had two really good years at hibs and it wasn’t an easy decision to make on the back of what we achieved at the end of the season,” he said shortly after his departure. But I felt that the opportunity at this club was one that I couldn't refuse.” the emotional roller-coaster for hibs fans didn’t end there though as the board moved swiftly to

secure the services of former Celtic manager neil Lennon (above inset)—and his assistant Garry Parker—a move that has been seen by the club’s faithful followers as a real statement of intent and one that they hope will propel them back into Scottish football’s top flight for the 2017-18 season. While the Irishman didn’t have the best of times during his tenure at Bolton for a myriad of reasons—mainly financial—his record at Celtic was extremely impressive winning three league titles, two Scottish Cups, qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League twice and securing a famous 2-1 victory over Barcelona. hibs’ Chariman Rod Petrie and Chief executive Leeann Dempster both expressed their delight at having managed to secure a coach of Lennon’s calibre. “We are delighted to have secured a head Coach of neil’s calibre and profile, and we look forward to him bringing his drive and mentality to our campaign to win the Championship this season and secure promotion back to the top flight of Scottish football,” Petrie said.

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Leeann Dempster, Chief executive, added: “As soon as neil was identified as the outstanding candidate we were determined to bring him to easter Road. he has managed at a very high level, taking Celtic to the last 16 of the Champions League, and we were attracted by his ability to get the most out of players and his driven, winning mentality. “On behalf of everyone at hibernian FC we would like to extend a warm welcome to both neil and Garry.” Lennon wasted no time in endearing himself to the hibees during his first dealings with the press as the club’s manager, where he outlined his overall aims and what he expected of his players. “the remit is to gain promotion and that’s the challenge that lies ahead for me,” Lennon said. “I think hibs is one of the biggest clubs in Scotland. I think it’s probably punching below its weight the last couple of seasons and I think the potential here is huge to get it going again. “there’s a culture here that the club plays good football, going back to the Famous Five. And I want to buy into that. the teams that tony Mowbray produced were good footballing teams. they did really well finishing third and fourth. that’s where we want to take the club to but the mentality has to change a little bit. I think there is a huge monkey off their back with winning the cup. to lose to Falkirk in the way they did and then pick themselves up five or six days later and beat Rangers in a cup final showed a hell of amount of character. they can take a lot from that but they’re going to have to show that character week in week out next season if they want to play for me. “I don’t want them getting pats on the back for beating Raith Rovers or drawing away at Dumbarton. I’ll give them a pat on the back if they get promotion. they’ve got to learn quickly. It’s not acceptable for a club of this standard. Inconsistency won’t be tolerated.” So the message from the new manager seems to be that this season’s party is over, but if the players put the effort in, they could be celebrating again in a year’s time and taking their rightful place in Scotland’s top league once again. n [email protected]

The Rodgers revolution is underway at Celtic Park n DAN McGINTY

In the days and weeks after the appointment of Brendan Rodgers to the Celtic manager’s job, Glasgow bathed in unusually warm sunshine, while the rest of the country looked at the weather in envy. Fans began to claim that it was the First Miracle of St Brendan, but such works mean little to the men who appointed him to the position.

Instead, they will be more interested in his Second Miracle, which was to attract back to Paradise throngs of supporters who had fallen away from the club. Such was the powerful combination of his two miracles that Celtic officials had to install temporary awnings around the club’s ticket office as fair-skinned Celts dropped like flies in the Glasgow sun while queueing for hours in order to secure their season tickets. Sunstroke seemed a small price to pay for them, however, as they made sure they would be there when the curtain raises on the 2016/17 season with the new man at the helm. Indeed, thousands made sure they were there before the previous season had even been forgotten, and thronged to Celtic Park as he was unveiled—filling the stadium’s Main Stand and spilling into the other areas in order to welcome the new boss.

Address

the 43-year-old would have had a decent understanding of what motivated those who made their way to Parkhead that Monday afternoon—being a boyhood fan of the club himself— and when he went before the media to give his first thoughts on being appointed it felt as if he was speaking directly to the supporters. “I am absolutely delighted to be named Celtic manager,” he said. “this is genuinely a huge honour for me. I have followed Celtic all my life and to be given this fantastic opportunity and to be part of such a truly great football club is a dream come true. “I will give my new role everything I have and do all I can to bring our supporters

exciting, entertaining and winning football. “the club has been in magnificent shape in recent years and has collected silverware regularly during this time. My objective now, of course, is to continue this work, to keep us at the top and again make our mark in europe. “I know what a magnificent support Celtic enjoys and I can promise our fans one thing— that I will be doing everything I can to give you a team that you can be proud of and a team that delivers. “I can’t wait to be in Paradise with our team and our fans as we all get to work.” though he has had no previous involvement with the club he supported, he did work closely with tommy Burns

during his early career and referred to the words of one of the most legendary figures in Celtic’s recent history several times in the days following his appointment. “It’s an absolutely incredible turnout and I can’t say I’m surprised,” he told supporters inside the stadium. “the Celtic supporters never fail to support their men. I’ll never forget what tommy Burns once said to me: “When you become the Celtic manager, Brendan, you're a leader of men and a leader of people,” and I’m very proud to be here for you, so thank you very much.”

Captain’s log

Among the first figures from inside the club to welcome him was Scott Brown, the club captain,

who spoke about the great boost the players received from the announcement that Rodgers would be the man to lead them into the next season. “I was down in London when I heard and it’s great news,” he explained. “the lads are in a group chat and we speak quite a lot and we are all delighted with Brendan coming in. It will be a fresh start for everyone and everyone will have to prove their worth. “It’s definitely exciting. the players he will attract himself will be huge and everyone seemed to love his coaching at Liverpool and Swansea so it will be great for us to learn off him as well. “he has done really well with his previous clubs— almost winning the league at

Liverpool—and he has Champions League experience. hopefully he comes here and we can continue to win leagues and cups and get into the Champions League. “People say we can’t afford the top players now but we have just gone and got a top manager. he knows about the club, which will help as he will understand what coming to a huge club with a big reputation is all about.” Brown also spoke about the great support being shown by the Celtic fans in the close season as they prepare to move forward with the club under a new manager, and about his own efforts to prepare properly for the new season. “I will just need to see how the injury goes and how I’m feeling before I come back in,” Brown said. “I don’t want to come back too early and start off with an injury, so I will make sure I’m 100 per cent. “the fans will definitely get behind the gaffer and that has been shown by the amount of supporters buying season tickets already. “It will be good for them to see the his style of play and how we adapt to that in the coming months. the Champions League qualifiers are going to be huge for us and if they get behind us like they have got behind the manager so far then it will be an unbelievable boost.” n [email protected]

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THE IRISH VOICE

SPORT

Irish rugby is back on track

n IAN DUNN

AFTER a grim autumn and dark winter, Irish rugby surged back to life as spring turned to summer. The national side scored a famous win in South Africa (right) and Connacht stunned the rugby world by seizing the Pro-12 trophy at Murrayfield.

A disappointing World Cup last year, followed by failure to retain the Six Nations in the New Year, led many to believe that Irish Rugby was on a downward spiral. A suggestion reinforced by the failure of the Irish provinces in European competition, so few gave the Irish a chance when they went on tour to South Africa. Yet the first game showed the Irish at their very best. Second row CJ Stander got red carded on 23 minutes, yet despite playing an hour with 14 men, the Irish held out for a famous 20-26 win, their first in South Africa. Jared Payne’s try helped Ireland establish a 7-0 lead and they were 10-3 ahead when South Africa-born Stander was sent off for areckless challenge on Patrick Lambie. Lwazi Mvovo’s score saw the Springboks edge ahead as Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw was also sin-binned. But Conor Murray’s second-half try and eight Paddy Jackson points were enough despite PieterSteph du Toit’s try. After an impeccable opening 68 minutes, Jackson’s telegraphed

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JUNE 2016

First past the post

A monthly insight into the world of horse racing from our man in the field

n EDWARD BRADY

pass gifted replacement du Toit a converted try as the Springboks cut Ireland’s lead to 23-20. But the Ulster fly-half regrouped to take his points total to 16 with a penalty a minute later and the Irish withstood late pressure to compete their first win in South Africa in eight attempts. Ireland will have the chance to clinch the three-match series in Johannesburg before the final Test in Port Elizabeth. A series win would add to a new sense of optimism in Irish rugby, fostered by Connacht’s incredible victory in the Pro-12 final last month. Historically the weakest of the four Provinces, Connacht showed up Ulster, Munster and Leinster by playing thrilling rugby all season. Before a ball had been touched they were 500-1 outsiders, yet they showed huge skill and determination to lead the league for most of the

year, before bursting through the play-offs in fine style. They defeated defending champions Glasgow twice on the spin, to first secure a home semi-final and then win it. Both were titanic, bruising encounters, the first in pouring rain, the second in glorious Galway sunshine, yet not even the most cross-eyed Glaswegian could deny the Irishmen’s superiority over the tow matches. Then in the final at Murrayfield, Leinster never really got close to them. Connacht ran out 20-10 winners to the delight of neutrals and all of Galway. Sadly several of their best players are leaving next season, so whether or not they can continue this success is an open question, but for now they’ve put a huge grin on the face on Irish rugby that shows no sign of shifting.



T was a great result for Ireland in the Derby with the first three home all trained in the country. It was a special moment too for trainer Dermot Walsh who finally added the UK Derby to his long list of successes in major races. Congratulations must also go to Pat Smullen who rode the winner Harzand (right) owned by the 80-year-old Agha Khan. Smullen had his horse in the right place at the right time and, as he said after the race, it was one of those days where everything went to plan. My main fancy in the race was Aidan O’Brien’s USA Ranger for whom very little went to plan. Being drawn 16th and out wide was the worst possible outcome. In a draw like that you really need a good start to get into a decent position, but unfortunately he was slow away and had to tuck in at the rear of the field. He was last coming into the straight and moving up three furlongs out, but he didn’t get the clearest of runs and had to switch to the outside two furlongs out— giving up more ground. He ran on well to chase the leading pair, but just hung left in the final furlong and seemed to run



out of gas in the last furlong— albeit I’m not so sure that was the reason he lost. I think to get that close from where he was after the first two furlongs was a great effort, but in making that valiant push, he spent a lot of energy and that’s the main reason he didn’t win. Hopefully they will meet again in one or two of the big races in the summer, maybe the Irish Derby or the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July. I will gladly back USA Ranger to win their next meeting. Postphoned—who won the Coronation Cup over the same distance and on the same day as the Derby—is favourite for the King George VI race, but clocked

a time that was 17 lengths slower than the Derby time! USA Ranger is entered in a few races at Royal Ascot too, but I’m sure whenever Aidan O’Brien sends him he will be successful.

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couple of fancies I have at Ascot are The Tin Man in the Jubilee Stakes and Acapulco in the Commonwealth Cup, but there is lots of good racing to follow at Ascot. Congratulations to Joseph O’Brien on his amazing start to his training career. He had four winners from seven runners and I’m sure there’s lots more to come in the future.

 

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