Paddy Fox

GALWAY people and Republicans in general were deeply saddened at the death of Paddy Fox (Pádraig Ó Sionnacháin), Carnmore, Oranmore on April 7. He would have been 84 in July next.

At his removal from Irwin’s funeral home, Galway to Claregalway Church on Sunday, July 8, the coffin was draped in the Irish Tricolour. A Guard of Honour of Republican Sinn Féin members wearing Easter Lilies escorted the hearse from Eyre Street through Eyre Square and up to Bohermore. Tomás Ó Curraoin was in charge.

Following 11am Mass next day, a Guard of Honour again accompanied the remains to the local cemetery under the command of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh. Both the Connacht Tribune and the Tuam Herald carried a detailed tribute to Paddy Fox from the Republican Sinn Féin President, a close friend and comrade of his down the years.

Sincere sympathy is expressed to his four sons, four daughters and three sisters.

In his tribute Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said: “The survivors of the Irish-speaking huts in the Curragh Internment Camp of the 1940s lost a stalwart when Paddy Fox of Carnmore, Oranmore died on April 7th. A fluent Irish speaker, Paddy studied in the “Curragh University” under his old teacher Máirtín Ó Cadhain, the eminent Irish writer, and spoke Irish at every opportunity. He signed himself Pádraic Ó Sionnacháin.

“Born at Páirc Gharbh, Carnmore in 1917, Paddy went to school locally. Among his teachers was Máirtín Ó Cadhain, who inculcated a great love of Irish in his pupils and was later dismissed from his post for being an active Republican.

“Paddy joined the Irish Republican Army in the early 1930s and was later appointed to the staff of the North Galway Brigade by Tony Darcy of Headford, then Unit O/C and later O/C Western Command. (Darcy was captured in 1940 while preparing plans for an active military campaign in the six British-occupied counties. Sentenced to three months imprisonment for refusing to answer questions, Tony died on hunger-strike for political ststus and is buried in the Republican Plot at Donoghpatrick Cemetery, Caherlistrane, where the annual Co Galway Easter Commemoration takes place).

“Paddy often recalled the scenes at Tony Darcy’s burial when the gates were closed against the mourners by 26-County forces. He would talk of Máirtín Ó Cadhain’s remarks as Chairperson while running fights went on around about him.

“In 1942, two Republican escapees from Mountjoy Jail were intercepted in North Galway when returning from a visit to Comdt. General Tom Maguire, later the last survivor of the All-Ireland Dáil. They abandoned their bicycles and got away but one of the bicycles was traced to Paddy Fox. He was arrested and sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Military Court in Collins Barracks, Dublin, and sent to the Curragh where he was held until 1945.

“Paddy went on to become Sinn Féin organiser in Co. Galway in the 1950s and as a result of his work, Paddy Ruane of Carnmore was elected to Galway Co. Council in 1955 (and served for 30 years until 1985) and Frank Glynn of Milltown was elected in 1969 (and served for 24 years, including a year as Chairperson).

“Parliamentary elections were contested in North and South Galway and later in the amalgamated East Galway constituency. The results were creditable in all contests, showing the fruit of Paddy Fox’s work over the years.

“During that period, he was also a member of the Staff of the re-organised Co. Galway Unit of the IRA and was later O/C of this unit. Paddy tavelled through the County, at times as a pillion-passenger on the motor-bike of the GHQ training officer for Connacht. They followed in Liam Mellows’ tracks, doing his work, and with the same mode of transport.

“Paddy, at the age of 39, volunteered for active service in the Six counties in 1956, but was refused because it was felt that as an established Republican, he could play a more useful role in Co. Galway. Four of his Volunteers did, however, go North and gave service. He himself took part in the re-organisation of the 1960s and stood firm against the formation of the Workers Party in 1970. In 1986 he put his name to a public statement with other veterans of the struggle denouncing the move by the Provisionals to accept the partitionist 26-County State. He was “glad to put his name alongside Tom Maguire” was his comment at the time.

“In 1991, Republican Sinn Féin honoured him at a Testimonial Dinner in Dublin for this life’s work in the Republican cause.

“He will be remembered also as a founder-member of the Carnmore Hurling Club and an enthusiastic supporter of local teams. His life has been notable for his considerable organisational skills and his commitment toIrish Freedom and Irish culture.

“His devoted wife, Mary (née Fox also) pre-deceased him in 1997, Grásta ó Dhé Uirthí. Sincere sympathy is expressed on behalf of all his comrades to his loving family: Mary, Ann, Bridget, Theresa, Éamonn, Mícheál, Pádraic and Seán; to his sisters and his grandchildren.

“All should be proud of his life’s work for the local community and for the people and culture of Ireland.

“Leaba i measc na bhFíníní go raibh aige de shíor.”
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Comhbhrón

BEATTIE, Heartfelt sympathy to Frank and Mary Beattie and family, Rahara, Roscommon on the tragic death of their daughter Georgina (19) on April 24. From Ruairí and Patsy Ó Brádaigh.

HANRAHAN, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Nora Hanrahan, Tullamore, Ballybunion, Co Kerry, who died on April 13. From Tom Costello, Ballybunion.

HANRAHAN, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Nora Hanrahan, Tullamore, Ballybunion, Co Kerry, who died on April 13. From Doherty/Daly Cumann, Cahersiveen.

HANRAHAN, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Nora Hanrahan, Tullamore, Ballybunion, Co Kerry, who died on April 13. From North Kerry, Republican Sinn Féin.

HANRAHAN, Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Nora Hanrahan, Tullamore, Ballybunion, Co Kerry, who died on April 13. From Ballylongford, Republican Sinn Féin.

LYNCH, Deepest sympathy is extended to Johnny Lynch and family, Maharees, Co Kerry on the death of his brother. From Kerry Comhairle Ceantair.

McATEER, Deepest sympathy is extended to the McAteer family on the death of their father Frank. From Liam Mellows Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Dublin Central

O’BRIEN, Deepest sympathy is extended to Brian and Margaret O’Brien, Limerick on the death of their daughter Joanne. From Republican Sinn Féin.

O’BRIEN, Deepest sympathy is extended to Paddy O’Brien on the tragic death of his granddaughter Joanne. From Mick Hanley and Joe Lynch, Limerick.

SWAN, Deepest sympathy is extended to Corrie Swan and family on the death of her mother Nina, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary. From the staff of SAOIRSE and Ard-Oifig, Republican Sinn Féin.
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I gCuimhne

FITZSIMMONS – 29th Anniversary – In proud memory of Volunteer Joseph Fitzsimmons who died on May 28, 1972. From Comhairle Ceantair, England, Scotland and Wales, Republican Sinn Féin.

FITZSIMMONS – 29th Anniversary – In proud memory of Volunteer Joseph Fitzsimmons who died on active service on May 28, 1972 at the age of 17. Fearless in action, against the enemy, your spirit lives on. From your comrades, Fitzsimmons /McDade Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Midlands, England.

HOULIHAN – 1st Anniversary – In proud and loving memory of Mrs Houlihan, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, who died in Easter week 2000. From Michael and Diana Mitchell, Castleisland, Co Kerry.

HOULIHAN – 1st Anniversary. In proud and loving memory of Mrs Houlihan, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, who died in Easter week 2000. From the Doherty/Daly Cumann, Castleisland.

HOULIHAN – 1st Anniversary. In proud and loving memory of Mrs Houlihan, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, who died in Easter week 2000. From the Republican Movement, Kerry.

HUGHES – 20th Anniversary. The Republican Movement remembers with pride Vol Francis Hughes, Óglaigh na hÉireann, Co Derry who gave his life on hunger strike on May 12, 1981.

HUGHES – 30th anniversary – In proud and loving memory of Vol. Charley Hughes, Óglaigh na hÉireann, Belfast, who died on active service on March 8, 1971.

Charley Hughes, not a hero of ancient Irish past, but a name to Republicans will last.
He loved his neighbours, district and land, and taking their plight within his hands,
Fought the fight he knew was right.

Loved by the people from which he grew, they knew Charley’s cause was true.
Died by a quisling’s cowardly hand, whose doctrine Charley knew couldn’t stand.
A lion of a man, with a heart the same, his fight for Ireland, not personal gain.
Fearless in life always remembered in death.

From his friends and comrades, Beechmount/Iveagh area Belfast.

McCREESH – 20th Anniversary. The Republican Movement remembers with pride Raymond McCreesh, Óglaigh na hÉireann, South Armagh, who gave his life on hunger strike on May 21, 1981.

MORGAN – 80th Anniversary. In proud and loving memory of Vol Seán Morgan, Manchester Battalion, Óglaigh na hÉireann, shot dead by English police, May 2, 1921 at Hulme Manchester.

O'HARA – 20th Anniversary. The Republican Movement remembers with pride Vol Patsy O'Hara, INLA, Derry city who gave his life on hunger strike on May 21, 1981.

SANDS – 20th Anniversary. The Republican Movement remembers with pride Vol Bobby Sands TD, Óglaigh na hÉireann, Belfast, who gave his life on hunger strike on May 5, 1981.

SANDS – 20th Anniversary. In loving memory of Bobby Sands and his comrades, also Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan. From the Toomey family, Tipperary Town.
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What They Said

If they are going to recruit what are they going to recruit into – a repackaged RUC?
— Gerry Kelly, Provo spokesperson on policing and member of Stormont, the Irish Times, February 12, 2001.

Ó Brádaigh left because he feared that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness would lead the Provos towards a constitutional path, which, he believed, would never deliver a united Ireland.
—Roy Greenslade, the Guardian, April 16, 2001.

About six months before that strategy culminated in the Good Friday Agreement, a number of disaffected Provos who appeared to have taken 12 years to reach Ó Brádaigh’s position turned their backs on their former comrades.
— The Guardian.

There is a feeling that the whole truth has not been allowed to come out and that perhaps “Honest Jack” Lynch is perhaps a more devious character than his popular image suggests.
Irish Times, April 21, 2001, quotation from a letter to London by Sir John Peck, British Ambassador to Dublin following the Arms Trial revealing that Jack Lynch had considered sacking Jim Gibbons over the crisis. The letter surfaced among British official papers made public under the 30-years rule.

Some 1,600 people have been forced from their homes in the North by paramilitary groups since the Good Friday Agreement.
— Irish Post (England) report, April 21, 2001.

The Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionist Party are negotiating a possible election pact to maximise the pro-Agreement vote in the [Westminster] general election.
— Irish Post.

In his latest book The End of the Peace Process [Palestinian writer Edward] Said writes: “So noble an idea as ‘peace’ has been a corrupted embellishment of power masquerading as reconciliation.”
— Irish Times, April 14, 2001, in an article by Finian Cunningham entitled “Middle Eastern and Irish peace processes show similar flaws and weaknesses”.

Meanwhile, the issue of British partition of Ireland – a violation of international norms – and the denial of national self-determination have been papered over with a flimsy, convoluted peace accord. Like the Oslo peace accord, the ambiguity of this document is used as means of repackaging and stabilising the status quo to serve British geopolitical interests.
— Irish Times writer Finian Cunningham.

Copies of Inland Revenue Service documents lodged in Chicago, which were obtained by the Sunday Tribune, show that the debt [$700,000] still hangs over [David] Rupert, despite his co-operation with the authorities on both sides of the Atlantic. This suggests that if a deal has been done with Rupert to clear his tax debts, it will only be honoured when he completes his evidence in court. The possibility that Rupert was pressurised or induced into agreeing to be a witness may, however, complicate the prosecution case . . .
— Ed Moloney, Sunday Tribune, April 22, 2001.

But how can its [32-County Sovereignty Move-ment] leaders square this belated purism with the fact that for 11 years (from 1986 to 1997) they were part of the [Provisional] Republican Movement which had dropped the policy of Abstentionism towards that “partitionist entity”, the Dáil? At least former president Ruairí Ó Brádaigh had the honesty to leave and form Republican Sinn Féin.
— Danny Morrison, Sunday Observer, April 22, 2001. Ó Brádaigh did not “leave”. He brought an unbroken constitution with him and continued the organisation as Republican Sinn Féin.

The 32-CSM’s principal alternative to the [Provisional] Sinn Féin project of bringing about a new Ireland is remarkably naïve: pressing Ireland’s right to sovereignty and independence at the United Nations. Ask the Palestinians about UN Resolution 242 and what it has done for their freedom.
— Danny Morrison.

It would be impossible to put a figure on what the GAA has done for this country in these terms – although £60 million, which by the way wasn’t asked for, is a paltry sum indeed for the services that the GAA has been providing in every city, town and village since its formation in 1884.
— Irish Times, April 23, 2001, letter to the editor from Daniel English. Yes, but is not the decision of the GAA ever to accept money from the 26-County State a weakening of its independence for almost 120 years?

The EU is currently engaged with the World Trade Organisation in negotiating the “liberal-isation” of vital public services under what is called the General Agreement on Trades and Services. This agreement to be concluded by the end of 2002, will legally compel the sovereign states of the EU to open vital public services such as education, health, transport and energy to private, for-profit ownership. The Nice Treaty is a crucial step in granting the power the EU needs to sign up to this GATS agreement.
— Irish Times, April 26, 2001, letter to the Editor from Donncha Ó Briain.

Ireland’s recent prosperity has not benefited all and has marginalized and excluded a sizeable number of people, according to a new book (Rich and Poor, Perspectives on Tackling Inequality in Ireland). The book commissioned by the government advisory body, the Combat Poverty Agency, says the marginalized included the long-term unemployed, single parents, Travellers, early school leavers, small farmers and the elderly.
— Irish Times, April 27, 2001.

To achieve that, of course, he [Jack Lynch] first had to deny all prior knowledge of the machinations of his ministers – but he did know – also, to stand rock solid behind defence minister Jim Gibbons, as he kept protesting that he didn’t know either – not merely did Gibbons know, but he was implicated for a time – and if that meant throwing such as Captain James Kelly, Colonel Michael Hefferon , justice minister Mícheál Ó Móráin and the secretary of his department, Peter Berry, to the wolves, well, it is the inherent right of government to lie to save itself.
— Tallyman in the Sunday Tribune, April 29, 2001.

The subsequent Dáil Committee of Public Accounts “investigation” was an obfuscatory charade, a Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael constructed smokescreen in the face of an alleged threat to the State, with the dual purpose of shoring up Lynch as “the man who saved the nation from itself”, and utterly destroying Haughey’s credibility. Committee member Garret Fitzgerald commented: “There was a great sense of solidarity against the undermining of the state. In a crisis like that, party politics are not important.”
— Tallyman.

. . . the subtext of Michael Heney’s excellent RTÉ Prime Time programme – ie does the end justify the means?
— Tallyman.

In the early years (1922-23), there were the executive murders of anti-Treaty prisoners – “reprisals” as the Army described them – and, more recently, there was the “no free speech for fascists” imposition of Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act.
— Tallyman.

And so the justification put forward by Kevin O’Higgins in the Dáil (sic) for the execution of Liam Mellows, Rory O’Connor, Joe McKelvey and Richard Barret remains the basic rationale: “There is but one code – though it sounds a grim code – Salus populi suprema est lex (the welfare of the people is the final law).
— Tallyman.

I believe if we accept the near abolition of the national veto, further militarisation with an EU army, and lost control of out courts, currency and own national army, that we may give up all hope of social and political self-determination.
— Sunday Business Post letter to the editor from Hermann Pat Kelly, April 29, 2001.

To reject the Nice Treaty would force our representatives to accept that there is an alternative to a monolithic European superstate. That is a negotiated Europe of inter-and independent democratic countries, freely co-operating together to build a better Europe.
— Sunday Business Post letter.

But where were the raised PD voices when the FAI was recently offered £145 million of taxpayers’ money in return for abandoning Eircom Park and joining the Stadium Ireland project?
— Sunday Business Post editorial, April 29i, 2001.
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