Ciaran Murphy is a political singer songwriter based in Belfast who wrote the bulk of his material while a "dissident republican" prisoner between 2003 - 06. Last month an English music label pulled out of an agreed distribution deal with him due to unease at the political slant of his songs and the perceived sympathies of his small fan base. He describes himself as an 'Irish separatist' with libertarian socialist principles. Here Sean Matthews of the WSM puts questions to him on music, gigging and his political outlook. Ciaran is speaking in a personal capacity.

Ciaran's myspace page

Bringing the love...

Bertie was asked to come out to share the love, but he was just nowhere to be seen.
LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered) Rights activists are desperate indeed. Two months ago they held their first public event highlighting the demand for legislation on recognising Gay Marriage. Why on earth would someone want to get married, some may ask. But it's not simply about a ring on a finger, a chance to wear some fine frocks and outlandish hats but about equality.' We want the right to be miserable like straight people' quipped one participant. But marriage isn't just an institution which many reading Indymedia.ie may oppose but it's about enshrining rights.

Related Links: LGBT Noise

Masked Poets Seem to be unstoppable in Shannon Warport

wags and activists may be unseen and silent in modern ireland
but na filid gather crowds to hear their message even in 2008 Shannon

“O come all ye travellers & give ear to what I say:
Where do you go and why, upon this St Bridget’s Day?
… Let me carry my tale
To the horrors that lie here,
Here, here, behind the veil.
How many planes
Full of captives in chains?
Where will they go?
To the cages of Guantánamo?
Will government try
To discover where and why?
… What would Bridget have said, had it entered her head
That this would be the destiny of the land where she lies dead?”

The Shannon Rhyming Subversives

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A short report describing the harassment experienced by protestors while displaying an anti-war banner at Shannon airport. The report highlights the fact that the Gardaí are either unaware of the law or do not practice it. This contrasts strongly with the claims by the government that gardaí are upholding civil and human rights at Shannon while at the same time facilitating the transport of US military supplies and CIA planes that are used for the transportation of torture victims.

Related Links: Report on the 2008 Shannon Peace Camp — Report of Oireachtas Committee Debate on Extraordinary Rendition — Other Anti-War Features on Shannon

A small group of Shell to Sea activists scaled the heights of the Department of Natural Resources today, to place a banner reading PROTECT IRISH NATURAL RESOURCES on the balcony outside Eamon Ryan's office.

Splitting into two small teams, the protesters used advice from GreenPeace to distract the security and gain access to the Minister's top floor office and leave a message for him.

Related Link: Prominent Shell to Sea activist to oversee Corrib project