Any Old Port In A Storm…

Posted on 01/08/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on Any Old Port In A Storm…

Any Old Port In A Storm

 

Tom McFeely could rightly be regarded as something of a hero in old IRA folklore.  But then again after this episode that is open to debate.

 

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Pete Shirlow Speaking on Loyalism–2011

Posted on 31/07/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on Pete Shirlow Speaking on Loyalism–2011

Pete Shirlow was one of many guests speaking at a Colluquium on Loyalism for the Institute for British/Irish Studies at the Ulster Museum in October 2011.

Pete Shirlow

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Deafening Silence On State Collusion….Free State, That is….

Posted on 27/07/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on Deafening Silence On State Collusion….Free State, That is….

Deafening Silence on Republican Collusion
 This week new evidence emerged during the Smithwick Tribunal showing that rather than three Gardai officers passing on information to the IRA in the 1980’s there was actually four—and this one was a high ranking Gardai also based in Dundalk just like the others.

 

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He Was A Friend Of Mine

Posted on 27/07/2012 by Compound| 1 Comment

Tommy Mac

Continuing the series where we look at some of our old friends who sadly are no longer with us.  Here a South Belfast Volunteer recalls his friendship with big Tommy Mac–who will need little or no introduction to many who were about at the time.  Tommy was a major character in the Compounds and some of the stories about him have legendary status….we all have a story about Tommy…mostly funny…here is just one………

 

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One Friday In Late July……..

Posted on 27/07/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on One Friday In Late July……..

A short poem from someone who was an eye witness to those terrible events of forty years ago…..

One Friday in Late July…..

 

A schoolboy running errands—a milkman doing his round
A bustling city hard at work—just like other Irish towns
Kids at play, on a summer day, beneath a faultless azure sky
At the end of play on that fateful day, the question asked was—Why?

 

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Posted in The Arts

Where Were You On Bloody Friday?

Posted on 26/07/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on Where Were You On Bloody Friday?

Where were you on Bloody Friday?

In light of the recent 40th anniversary of the Bloody Friday bombings in Belfast we ask some people what their recollections of that day were.  Many loyalists have stated that this particular set of incidents was a catalyst in why they took up arms in response to IRA violence.  What do you remember of that day and how—if at all—did it impact upon you in terms of a reaction.  How do you feel about it forty years on?

 

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Posted in History

The Men Behind The Ire

Posted on 24/07/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on The Men Behind The Ire

The Men Behind The Ire

 

Isn’t it strange to be reading and hearing of the many republicans who feel as if they have been shafted by the modern day Provisional/Sinn Fein.  Accusations levelled at SF include—misleading the general Nationalist population—selling out—becoming West Brits under Stormont’s roof—all adding up to the allegations of treason.   Gerry Adams and his cohorts are blamed for leading their constituents and followers a merry dance and basically using them for their own selfish ends.  How ironic is this?  Over forty years ago many young men from the Loyalist working classes were duped by their vociferous sabre rattling representatives who marched the masses right to the top of the hill–but luckily remained at the bottom themselves.  The moniker—The Grand Old Duke of York—was duly bestowed upon one of those most actively involved in this practice.

 

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Posted in The Arts

Leading Dissident Shot In Derry Attack

Posted on 24/07/2012 by Compound| 1 Comment

Leading Dissident Shot In Derry Attack.

 

The city—or at least certain parts of it— with the double barrelled name is fast  turning into the wild west town of Northern Ireland.  Dodge City of the North West Frontier.  And many of the reasons for this lie with one or other of the shades of dissident republicanism mushrooming across Nationalist Stroke City.

 

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Posted in Current Affairs

McGladdery’s Last Night

Posted on 23/07/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on McGladdery’s Last Night

McGladdery’s Last Night

 

Mid-winter-a few short days to Yuletide
Lies back upon a single bunk and stares at a grimy mottled ceiling
Hands behind head—a now familiar pose—practised often lately
Thinking of a night eleven months ago—and recalling evil feelings.

 

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Posted in The Arts

Rangers, Protestantism and Scottish Society

Posted on 23/07/2012 by Compound| Comments Off on Rangers, Protestantism and Scottish Society

This article first appeared on www.therangersstandard.co.uk website and was written by Harry Reid, an ex-editor of The Herald.

Rangers, Protestantism and Scottish Society

By Harry Reid

 

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Posted in Current Affairs