America’s Great Sacrifice

In the time since the al-Qaeda bombings in London I have read many articles and editorials, including Niall O’Dowd’s “Periscope” in the July 13-19 issue, comparing that event with IRA bombings from the past 30 years.

Some of these articles espouse the opinion that the U.S. and the U.K. are responsible for al-Qaeda’s ire due to the actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Occasionally, someone will truthfully point out that that the U.S./U.K. actions were a result of September 11. Rarely will people list the USS Cole, the many bombings of U.S. embassies, airplane hijackings that ended fatally, or the first World Trade Center attack, among other incidents, as causes.

Likewise, when commenting on the IRA statement of July 28, a significant number of writers reflect on the casualties inflicted by the IRA during their campaigns.

But on no occasion have I seen anyone discuss the atrocities inflicted on Irish society by Britain over the centuries that led to the creation of the IRA in the first place as cause for those bombings.

It seems as though many pundits have elected to ignore the Penal Laws, the Great Famine, the attempted genocide by Cromwell and the Black and Tans. Many of us are Americans because of these acts, and millions of Irish died.

It also seems that many writers are, in one breath, anti-war regardless of circumstance, and grateful for American opportunity in the next. Perhaps Hitler should have been left alone. If not for the fortitude of our forefathers and their willingness to sacrifice, there would not be an America for opportunity to exist in, only another misruled British colony.

While I am not saying that violence is the only or preferred option in most cases, telling the whole story should certainly be an obligation for those making a living by writing, and a responsibility for those who have influence over public opinion.

Bart Barry, Akron, Ohio

IRA Terrorist Actions

I read with disbelief Catherine Clark’s letter in the July 27-August 9 issue titled “Orangemen Are Bigoted Irishmen.” She wrote, incredibly, that the IRA war was never waged against Protestants, but against the British.

With all due respect to Ms. Clarke, I feel it’s my duty to refresh her memory about the IRA. In March 1972 the IRA bombed the Abercorn bar in Belfast. Two young women were killed, and another lost both legs, an arm and an eye. Her sister lost both legs, a third person also lost both legs, and several people lost single limbs. In all, 75 people were injured.

The IRA carried out thousands of similar bombings, 2,000 in 1972 alone. These bombs were targeted almost exclusively against Protestant civilians, Protestant businesspeople and security personnel.

Indeed, it is a powerful testament to the confidence that the Protestant people have in each other that they held fast against one of the most vicious and protracted terror campaigns of the 20th century.

The Protestant people did hold fast, and by 1998 the IRA, defeated, demoralized and with no wiggle room left, signed up to terms that were essentially the same as those offered in 1972.

I have attempted to bring Ms. Clarke up to date on the IRA. I hope it will cause her to reflect on her letter.

Peadar O’Fiach, Bronx, New York

Shell Shocked

We are writing to alert all Irish Americans to our situation. We are currently in prison for refusing to allow Shell and its Irish government partners to build a pipeline close to our family homes.

Our crime was to refuse access to our lands. We have refused access because of the certainty that if this pipeline as currently proposed ruptures we, our families and neighbors, will die.

What would you do if a court ordered you to accept the installation of a potentially lethal pipeline which no state agency has or will take responsibility for?

We are currently in prison for an indefinite time until we accept such a pipeline, which we cannot and will not. Would the people of Mayo or Dublin accept a potentially lethal pipeline through the main street in Castlebar or Stephen’s Green in Dublin? A pipeline which has a rupture kill zone of several hundred meters. We think not.

Our imprisonment was only made possible by the granting of a compulsory order for our lands to Shell by Frank Fahey while he was minister for marine and natural resources. Without that order we would be free men today at home with our families. Instead we are confined in prison cells.

Initially we were jubilant and excited for Mayo and the country when we heard of the Corrib gas find. When we learned that the route would traverse Rossport we became concerned, and as we looked closer and sought advice we became alarmed.

As Irish citizens and mainly traditional second and third generation Fine Gael and Fianna Fail voters we instinctively sought reassurance and support from state agencies and our local politicians, and as farmers from the IFA.

We were initially fobbed off, then ignored and finally marginalized. As our awareness of the lethal danger to our families grew our concerns turned into resistance.

We owe much in particular to the incredible continued support of TDs (Parliament members) Jerry Cowley, Michael Ring and the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail grassroots in Mayo. We would also like to acknowledge the massive support we have received from both ordinary Irish citizens and various groupings.

By comparison, we have been shocked by the abandonment in our time of crisis by the Fine Gael leader and local TD Enda Kenny, who we now regard as irrelevant in this crisis as a leader.

To date the dealings of the Irish government in this project have seen our land rights given to a private company, our families’ and neighbors’ lives endangered and the natural resource of the Irish people given away.

This is to such an extent that the Norwegian people, through their state oil company STATOIL holding 38% of the Corrib field, will receive more from this project than the Irish people who have a 0% holding. In addition the government has provided 400 acres of Coillte land and committed the Irish people to finance a gas pipe from Mayo to Galway to facilitate the outward transport of gas to the U.K. and Europe.

The national interest is a myth that has been fabricated by the Irish government and their partner Shell. The minister Noel Dempsey and his department are not and have never been innocent bystanders in this crisis but have played a full role alongside Shell in its creation.

Despite all of this we, in good faith, acknowledge the attempts of Shell and their government partners to create a period of calm by halting all work on the project in north Mayo and their call for dialogue. We wish to immediately accept this offer and enter into talks to resolve the impasse.

To that end we ask Shell and their government partners to immediately stand down their injunction at this time so that we can leave prison to attend these talks.

We have been betrayed by our government, marginalized by sections of the media and ignored by the “alternative” government. Instead it has been the people of Ireland who have sustained us during this time of crisis and personal trauma and who have rallied and continue to rally to our aid. All we demand is for our families and neighbors to be safe in their own homes — no more, no less.

Micheál Ó Seighin, Willie Corduff, Brendan Philbin, Vincent McGrath, Philip McGrath, Cloverhill Prison, Dublin

Know Nothing

I am writing in reference to columnist John Spain. I am very surprised the Irish Voice would allow someone who is so anti-Irish to correspond in its pages.

He obviously does not know very much Irish history or what he is talking about.

Elizabeth Cohn, New York, New York