On this day, half a century ago, the dominant electoral force in this state faced an existential moment.
The then Taoiseach Jack Lynch had told a raucous sitting of Dáil Éireann of the circumstances of his sacking of two of his ministers, Charlies Haughey and Neil Blaney, and the resignation of a third, Kevin Boland.
It was alleged that they tried to import illegal arms into Ireland to aid northern nationalists.
The scandal quickly became known as “The Arms Crisis”.
In time there would be a trial later that year.
However, it collapsed amid allegation of bias.
There was a second trial in October 1970, and all of the defendants cleared.
However, it was enough to put Charles Haughey in the wilderness for a decade.
Here in Donegal, it created “the Blaney party” aka Independent Fianna Fáil.
An electoral force that existed in this county for decades after the Arms Trial had faded into the distant memory of the body politic in Leinster House.
The party closed up shop in 2006 and re-joined Fianna Fáil.
While IFF existed, they were a substantial electoral obstacle to the advance of Sinn Féin here in Dún na nGall.
Every election since then has proved that to be so.
Sinn Féin currently has two TDs in this five-seat constituency.
This was not electorally possible while IFF was in existence.
At its high point, the Blaney Party even reached Strasbourg.
In 1979 Neil Blaney was elected as an MEP for the Connacht–Ulster.
A bit of family scéal now follows:
When the Donegal man was mulling over whether or not he would have the troops on the ground to go head to head with his ex-party, he called to a certain stalwart lady in Westport to get the lay of the land.
Julia gave him her approval.
Just as in her Cumann na mBan days she knew her operational area very well indeed.
Many grassroots Fianna Fáil lads were out painting roads for him across Mayo during that European election.
I was in the father’s county that summer and saw their handiwork on many a bóithrín.
When Blaney was elected to Europe herself in Westport was delighted.
My grandmother reasoned that if Neil Blaney had indeed been “guilty” of trying to get arms into the Six Counties, then that was good enough for her!
My grandmother was of the revolutionary generation and for her, if the Donegal man had acted as accused, then he was doing the nation some service.
Her Fianna Fáil was vastly different to the one Jack Lynch was in.
That is at the core of the Arms Trial.
I recently read this excellent work on the myriad competing narratives around that crisis.
In a one-sentence review, Taoiseach Jack Lynch certainly does not come out of it well.
Heney’s book is very well written, and he deploys an impressive body of evidence to construct his thesis that there s no plot carried out behind the back of the Taoiseach.
I recall in 1999 being in the An Phoblacht office.
The editor told me to do an obituary for Jack Lynch.
My copy was sent back for a minor re-write as “snivelling piece of shit” wasn’t entirely within the house style.
At the time of the Arms Trial, an exceptionally good man, although, acquitted, was hung out to dry.
Only in later life was Captain James Kelly’s version of events largely vindicated.
He had indeed been acting under orders.
When the plan to import arms was uncovered those above him in the chain of command ran for cover.
The failure of the Dublin government to protect nationalists in the Six Counties would lead to open war in the North.
On the eleventh anniversary of the Arms crisis breaking Óglach Bobby Sands MP died in Long Kesh.
For your humble correspondent, both events are inextricably linked.
The pogroms in 1969 against Northern Nationalists presented the Republican party with a moment of truth.
When Jack Lynch was running for cover a year later, the sixteen-year-old Sands was trying to have a life and learn a trade.
Bobby was an apprentice coach builder Alexander’s Coach Works in 1970.
However, some of his dignified co-workers thought that was too good for a Taig.
The situation in the Six Counties then meant that it was probably inevitable that some defensive structure would emerge in the nationalist ghettoes.
Within those communities, there were Republicans, not of the Fianna Fáil variety, who could provide analysis, leadership, and the means to confront the Orange State.
After-locating from the political wilderness Charles Haughey found himself in a position to be of genuine service to Republicanism during the second Hunger Strike.
He abjectly failed and then did a U-turn once safely back in opposition.
His amoral manoeuvring is laid out well in this piece by Stephen Kelly.
Today just isn’t the anniversary of the Arms Crisis.
On this day 39 years ago The People’s Own MP breathed his last.
Bobby said that “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children”.
When I read that I am not just thinking of the British State and their branch office in old Stormont.
The current leader of Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin is now willing to bury the old Civil War divisions in order to keep the Shinners out of government in Leinster House.
I can only imagine what herself in Westport would say about him.
Martin should atone for his shameful manoeuvring and do so publicly.
For the day that’s in it, I can only think of one thing that is appropriate.
He should kneel at the grave of Bobby Sands.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
It wasn’t easy but the ET finally got Gerard to “admit” Sevco is “still looking at new players ahead of Premiership return”.
Where’s yer “Woodstein” noo?
Red top Hack Gary Ralston trying desperately to do a solid for Sevco regarding the 2008 SPL LOAN to Gretna to complete the season.
What he ultimately does is verify the SPFLs version of events.
The liquidator of Gretna has “funds advanced from SPL” on the accounts. It was to enable their completion of the league. Words/Semantics.
That’s a LOAN to me. Albeit they knew they were going bust but propped up by the SPL in good faith. To protect the SPL.
Ralston correctly affirms the SPL dropped the prizemonies to the remaining clubs penny by penny. As stated by the SPFL.
What we are witnessing is SEVCO fake news in the press prior to the EGM.
I anticipate shock horror from the DR as the Sevco ‘evidence’ is released prior to the EGM to stir things up. The truth remains SEVCO have nothing and their presstitutes cannot change that no matter how much Deludamol Blue they push.
I anticipate select Hacks have pre sight of the evidence and are working up their shock horror before the SPFL & Clubs get to see it.
Incidentally the SPL is gone (more than six years) The SPFL is a new legal entity and not responsible for the SPL.
Guardian’s Ewan Murray today has a weird story about a Gretna non-loan quoting an unnamed source, who I am sure was last seen flying a biplane with a leather cap, and may go by the name of Tufty… yes, if it looks like a squirrel, flies like a squirrel… it’s a squirrel. Ewan, a jambo I believe, seems particularly keen to use Sevco as a human shield for the Tyrnecastle tumblers (think Bruce Willis hiding behind a corpse as the baddies in Diehard shower bullets down on him). However, this seems less heroic than cringeworthy….. very odd stuff.
83 people have died in Scotland of Covid19 in the last 24hours.
Nicola Sturgeon does not like to compare Scotland as an independent country. 83 per capita in Scotland is the equivalent of 993 dying in England. I await England’s figures today but it’s probably 300-400 souls.
Scotland is more than twice/ three times as bad as England per capita. We are one of the worst in the world. But not being told it.
Sturgeon tells us she is strong on the lockdown strong on covid but behind the scenes she’s opening up businesses; takeaways, DIY, gardening centres, construction, etc… two faced and duplicitous comes to mind. Giving the nod to business.
These 83 deaths are people who caught covid three weeks into the lockdown. What’s going on?
People have gone every day to work who don’t need to.
Her Duplicitous weak lockdown is killing people. She needs to double down. Scotland is the worst in Europe per capita.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/
https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
The UK has the worst death numbers in all of Europe. If Scotland has the worst per capita population then that’s a very poor showing.
60% of Scots deaths are in care homes.
The police are arresting few in Scotland. People are out doing whatever they want. Tellingly, positive test numbers are up in Scotland. Scotland’s lockdown is more ineffectual than most. People are being infected daily in the lockdown.
The Scottish Govt must rewind on opening up Construction and other industries as the medical science and numbers tell us it is unsound.
Try and cut down on your Deludemol intake son I think it,s a wee bit strong for you, your rabid verbal assault on the FM smacks of British hysteria ……just because the, people largely have rejected the discredited party you desperately cling to ! There,s no need to through the toys oot the pram.
Interesting read there …Phil …. i am a “Blaney” and this got me doing some googling 🙂
Jesus wept.
Cringefest #28
SPFL telling the sports minister they go bankrupt playing behind closed doors. They need fans.
1. It’s 6th May, season finishes 31st May. In 25 days many players are out of contract and you cannot play football.
2. Season therefore ends now or on or up to 31st May.
3. What you’re talking about is closed doors for season 20/21. That won’t start for months anyway, August maybe?
4. Three months to decide on closed doors etc…
Meanwhile Sevco promised the SPFL and all clubs that they would hand over evidence yesterday (Tuesday) they did not do so. They have broken the promise they made last Friday to all.
All of the clubs come under the uk govt business initiatives. No chasing up tax, grants to £5m, furlough for employees, etc…. they’re all getting that.
They’re also on the cusp of SPFL League payments to keep them going, season ticket sales and new merchandise sales.
The clubs with begging bowls are at it. Chancers.
I see EPL teams are moaning that they could be in trouble by September. And I say good. It’s their own faults for paying £100,000,000 for a guy to kick a ball and then pay him £300,000 a week wages. These clubs could be cash rich if they weren’t so stupid with their money. Enough is enough with these overrated so called superstar footballers get paid exorbitant wages whilst other club employees are on minimum wage. I have been waiting on the arse falling out of English football for years and I hope it’s going to happen. Your lucky if there are 30% English players in there league, all the rest are mostly overrated mercenaries no better than homegrown players. If they’re struggling and super sevco are talking about £4.5 million for an overrated ex players son, they must have huge cash reserves that no one else knows about!!! Hopefully this will encourage clubs to start coaching young homegrown boys for future first team football. Lets not forget, CELTIC won the EUROPEAN CUP WITH ALL HOMEGROWN PLAYERS. Time to get back to that and stop over playing foreign duds that are no better than British boys.
Rant over
My concern is that our youngsters are being poached away when they become old enough to sign a pro contract. We lost one last year to Bayern Munich and look like losing two this summer. One to Bayern again and one to Man City.
We need to fast track these boys into the top team squad. Show them there’s a genuine pathway through.
There is a back story to those two boys. Not wanted by Celtic.
Dave King was keen to sell off that kid Gilmour to Chelsea a few years back for £500k.
Your Jack Lynch summation (snivelling piece of shit) could apply equally to Michael Martin and the self serving bastards of both civil war parties.
RIP Bobby Sands. I remember the times well. The Hunger Strikers should never and will never be forgotten…true Irish heroes one and all
TAL
I’m a Scotsman, Irish politics is of zero interest to me. As long as Irish politicians don’t try and get involved in Scottish affairs.
A Scots family need £50k to get a wee boy a tumor op in the USA to fix his head.
The SFA and SPFL are going to the Scottish Govt, cap in hand for millions upon millions. I’d hunt them out the door.
The Scottish Govt need to set up a kids fund on the NHS for overseas treatment not available here. We are supposed to be a caring society, help the sick, help the poor, help the old, help the unemployed, let’s not draw the line at kids who need treatment overseas.
Let’s stop wasting £150,000,000 overspend on two ferries for a start. That’s 3,000 kids operations right there at £50k each.
Fitbaw can go spin for free money.
Old folks in homes need oxygen cylinders with masks next to every bed. Every one of them.
In addition to a kids fund for medical excellence overseas, the need for parents to scour the internet to find a solution has to stop. If the UK NHS cannot deliver the solution then the specialists involved need to point the parents to acceptable options overseas (its a medical issue). It’s not an issue for a postman or a taxi driver to try and suss out.
That £37m Captain Tom raised for the NHS should be used to purchase oxygen bottles on portable trolleys for every pensioner in every care home in the country. Early access to oxygen is vital to stop intubation. Once intubated, chances of survival fall away.
Every care home must have minimum one GP who visits twice A week. A responsible doctor. I have said this for 2 months now.
Well said Brian but I fear it will be too little too late for a great many vulnerable elderly in care.
These things do need to be put in place for the next wave of this though.
Be interesting to see how that money the old fella raised will be allocated and more importantly who does the allocation.
I don’t trust those in charge to deliver either with any great competence if I am hones.
Brian, although I rue the day I decided to remain Scottish and not apply for Irish citizenship, your truth really touches my Scottishness. Thanks to Phil for this. It puts me back in a place I’d forgotten existed.