Cork 'Funeral for Irish Neutrality' (with photos)

by E Mon Nov 18, 2002 12:18

John,

lets be honest with the numbers, there was at the height of the march about 100-120 people on Patrick St. Be honest for once. Nothing near your estimate of 500.

by a pirate Mon Nov 18, 2002 12:36 iosaf at email dot com barcelona (once a pirate port)

The flag of the corsairs
has been raised and flown over occupied buildings in Europe since the seventies.
It has been displayed at free parties and raves, several of the more popular sound rigs used as their performing names variations of the skull and crossbones.
The history of the "jolly roger" goes back to caribean piracy, or the battle between unemployed / deserters from Spanish, British and French and Dutch naval forces against their former employers / press-gangers for gold and other bounty robbed from the carribean area.
The skull and crossbones was also used as a symbol of terror by several army and security forces most importantly the SS.
It´s continued use in modern day culture as a flag of rebellion and use by ecologist and anarchist elements is interesting. The skull and crossbones is now held to mean "poison or toxicity". It is an example of how confused our semiotic system has become.
I´ve lived under the pirates flag many times. I like it but have never forgotten that it´s association have often been more than horrific.
= Bula bus a Corcaigh.
maith an slua!
agus~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ná leathnaigh do bhrat muna féidir leat á chosaint.

=Don't fly your flag if you are can´t defend it.

by E Mon Nov 18, 2002 14:03

Reading this link below is interesting in revealing the true origins of the flag, also known as the "Jolly Roger", the pirates of that time flew a blood red flag, and this red flag when on to broadly represent the revolutionary workers movement in later years.

by Bob Marley - dead musician, songwriter and activist. Tue Nov 19, 2002 11:27

Old Pirates yes they rob I
sold I to the merchant ships
minutes after they took I from the
bottom less pi
but my hand was made strong
by the hand of the almighty
we forward in this generation triumphantly
all I ever had is songs of freedom
cause all I ever had redemption songs, redemption songs

Emancipate yourslef from mental slavery
none but ourselves can free our minds
have no fear for atomic energy
cuase none of them can stop the time
how long shall they kill our prophets
while we stand aside and look
some say it´s just a part of it
we´ve got to fulfill the book.

won´t you help me sing, these songs of freedom
cuase all I ever had, redemption songs, redemption songs, Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourslef from mental slavery
none but ourselves can free our minds
have no fear for atomic energy
cuase none of them can stop the time
how long shall they kill our prophets
while we stand aside and look
some say it´s just a part of it
we´ve got to fulfill the book.

won´t you help me sing, these songs of freedom
cuase all I ever had, redemption songs, redemption songs, Redemption songs.
These songs of freedom, songs of freedom.

by ª Tue Nov 19, 2002 11:30

Pirate flag black with white cranium smiling seized by Dutch naval forces in 1607.
old flags.

by Alan Tue Nov 19, 2002 14:14

Pardon me while I waft away the hash smoke, but this is about the demo, not the Pirate Flag. The point is that it was a successful demo and the mock funeral got lots of attention from the crowded streets. Awe-struck shoppers looked at the coffin carrying the remains of "Irish Neutrality" and whether they agreed or not they couldn't avoid taking notice. Well done Cork, we need more of this kind of thing, Let's head to Shannon for Dec 8th.

by Red Terror Tue Nov 19, 2002 18:16

What I saw was effectivly 2 different demos, fairly dull and lifeless one at the front with the coffin, CPI, WP etc. And at the back a vibrant and livley demo organised by Youth Against War/Socialist Youth. THe SWP were nowhere to be seen.

by Ed Tue Nov 19, 2002 19:09

The reason the top half of the demo was dull and lifeless was because they were emulating a funeral.
The end half of the demo was emulating a demo, so they were chanting.

by dead fish in the sea. Tue Nov 19, 2002 22:24

120 thousand barrels of crude
dead fish in the sea.
but just remember they didn´t want the fishermen fishing them anymore anyway.
120,000 barrels of crude.
and the french are talking about controling the sea.

by Eamon Wed Nov 20, 2002 14:35

A funeral is meant to be quiet and dignified!!!

by Lenin lives Thu Nov 21, 2002 19:52

The demo was a success, Why? because the Cork Peace Alliance signe up over 2 dozen people for the action at Shannon on December 8th.

Slogans are all good and well, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Get to Shannon and get stuck in.

by Dee Thu Nov 28, 2002 21:43

Irish neutrality? There really was no such thing anyway, so why do you miss it so much? My personal opinion is that these shock tactics don't work when you have to compete against the larger parties. CPA should concentrate on more leafleting to improve knowledge of their actual existence, especially among young voters. You just seem to be re-inforcing the stereotype of left wing parties as extreme/eccentric.
Until The Worker's Party raises awareness in a more grass roots way, you won't have more members.
Why does the party do these one-off shows, like the free the old head of Kinsale picnic and now this procession? The party should concentrate on more effectual campaigns like the Northern Ireland anti-sectarian campaign launched in september.

by bob marley fan club. Wed Dec 04, 2002 18:51

old pirate came to take I
from the prison ship.

Now Cork is very very important.
very very deep and very very important.
always was.
no one should go forgetting that.