Thoughts on Northern Ireland
and Socialist Politics
The URL for this site includes the names McCann and Farrell. Altough I recognize the sacrifice made by IRA martyrs Mairead Farrell and Danny McCann, this is actually in reference to Michael Farrell and Eamonn McCann. Although I'm not sure what he's been up to lately (besides working with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties), in the 1970s Farrell wrote an amazing history of N. Ireland and had also been a major part of People's Democracy, the militant, Marxist student part of the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Eamonn McCann was similarily involved and in the 1970s wrote a similar book. Both these individuals and their writings have greatly informed my knowledge of politics and inspired me.
But my main inspiration has been Bernadette McAliskey, nee Devlin. Along with Farrell she was a driving force in People's Democracy and captured the support of voters to be elected MP for Mid-Ulster in 1969. She was at the front lines of the Battle of the Bogside (as seen in the mural) She traveled to America and although she was asking for support from often moderate and even conservative Irish-Americans in 1969, she didn't hesitate to show solidarity with African-Americans who were struggling for Civil Rights. She has consistently stood for social and economic justice, democracy and freedom.
Students for Justice in Northern Ireland (includes some of my NI writings)
WRITINGS ON NI
In early 2002 I attended the National Conference of Sinn Fein Youth, as a representative from the Anti-Racism Commission of the Democratic Socialists of America. Read my report from that trip.
Here are some notes from my Summer 2002 trip to Northern Ireland