On Saturday 14th December 2013 the Stoneybatter & Smithfield People's History Project held a public talk. read full story / add a comment

Why should the Irish in particular care about Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning and want to offer their ongoing support and solidarity as she begins a 35 year jail term in a US military prison?

For one, Manning has Irish roots on both sides of the family. Maternal grandfather Billy Fox was from Rathmines, Dublin and two paternal great-grandparents - both Mannings - were also Irish, from county Cork. An Irish grandfather gives Chelsea the right to claim Irish citizenship and an Irish passport if she so wishes.

For another, Manning passed through Shannon Airport as a US military intelligence analyst en route to Iraq. We have been reminded this week about the ongoing US military use of Shannon (troops, weaponry, rendition flights etc.) by the jailing of 79 year old Margaretta d'Arcy in connection with her protest against these abominations.

What's more, we know something about the impact of resistance at Shannon on both US and Irish governments thanks to US diplomatic cables released by Manning and published by WikiLeaks. One classified cable reveals how negative public perception of Shannon as a warport in the wake of the Pitstop Ploughshares acquittals led to the Irish government placing more restrictions on its military use and how this was forcing the US to reconsider its position. Then US Ambassador to Dublin, James Kenny, wrote: "we would appreciate Washington’s judgment as to whether the process of notification of almost everything of a military nature (including by contract carriers) through Shannon is becoming too difficult to make the airport a preferred transit stop."
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This is the Story of Droichead Nua (Newbridge ) native Terry Moore. Moore first became interested in the ideas of Marx while studying in Edinburgh in 1971. read full story / add a comment

American singer-songwriter David Rovics plays Cork’s Spailpín Fanach, in South Main Street on Wednesday Jan 22nd 2014 at 8PM
Rovics has been a modern Bob Dylan, singing songs about the Iraq War and social justice issues. Rovics started out as a busker in Boston’s subways before concentrating on his craft and recording albums. He has self-released all his recordings, and has also made them available as free downloads. He is also a writer for left-wing newspapers and magazines. His music has been featured by the BBC and other TV stations.
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