Stalin Ate My Homework – Alexi Sayle (2010)
I’ve just finished ‘Stalin Ate My Homework’ by Liverpudlian alternative stand-up Alexei Sayle. It’s a very funny and well-written memoir of his childhood and teenage years. The only son of two Atheist members of the Communist Party, it offers a fascinating glimpse of 1950s-1960s Left politics in England. Alex’s father worked on the railways so the family were able to avail of free travel and visited the “workers paradises” of Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Hungary during the late 1960s.
From a social history perspective, it is interesting to hear of the radical groups and pubs of 1960s Liverpool:
Fortunately via the Marxist-Leninists I had finally got know the world of Liverpool’s radicals pubs. All the bohemians, the artists, the poets and the left-wingers drank in three or four boozers on the edge of the town centre … We drank in the Philharmonic Hotel, a monument of Victorian exuberance with dark wood-panelled walls, copper reliefs, Art Deco lights, a mosaic-covered floor and a bar with a huge golden eagle watching over the drinkers. Alternatively we met up in the Crack, which was the pub favoured by the arts students and consisted of lots of little rooms each with weird paintings on the walls.
During this period, Alexi was a member of the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) which upset his purist parents. Him and his mates pub of choice was Kavanagh’s while druggies favoured O’Connors:
O’Connors was the druggiest pub. A former chapel with doors at each end, it allowed dealers to run out one door when the police came through the other. And finally there was the one favoured by the Marxist-Leninists, named the Grapes but called Kavanagh’s by everyone. (We) drank in what was effectively a corridor, though there were two snugs, with old murals on the walls and unusual round tables supposedly taken from a sister ship of the Titanic and fire-places which blazed warmth in winter…
What caught my eye was this little anecdote of an Irish republican bank robber on the run:
All of these pubs, especially Kavanagh’s, were full of ‘characters’… There was one Irish guy who hung around with us. In Ireland this man had been a member of … Saor Eire and he was now on the run after being involved in several fund-raising bank raids. He was trying to keep his identity secret but everybody called him Irish John or alternatively ‘Irish John Who’s Been Involved In All Those Bank Raids In Ireland’. He tried to pay for his drinks with hundred pound Irish banknotes, then was quickly arrested and shipped back to Dublin. His real name was Simon.
Update:
Thanks to Joe K. and Frank M. for getting in touch sending me on a copy of this painting ‘The Temptation of John Charles McQuaid’ by the aforementioned Simon.
The Temptation of John Charles McQuaid (2001) by Simon
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Stalin Ate My Homework’ by Alexei Sayle. Mentions a Saor Eire member on the run in Liverpool after being involved in several fund-raising bank raids in Ireland. Alexei said his name was Simon could this be the same Simon that ended up in Portlaoise Prison and later became a successful Irish artist?
Quite possibly Mick. Not sure myself.
Simon did in fact become a very good artist & sculptor. He was a member of the Liverpool Maoists as was Sayle.I doubt if anyone at that time would try to change a 100 Irish pound note in an English bar. Simon was arrested in Renelagh in Dublin after a bank raid in 1972.
Simon was sent to prison by judge O Dalaigh and later as Presidedent O Dalaigh 1974-76 bought painting from Simon the Saor Eire prisoner. Simon became a member of the Two Nations Theories after prison..
A few facts…According to Paul Williams in his book Badfellas Simon was sentenced to 10 years by Mr, Justice Butler in May 1972 when he refused to give an undertaking to give up membership of organisations. In 1976 while Simon was a prisoner in the Curragh President O`Dalaigh bought one of his paintings which was exhibited in the Annual Oireactas Art Show in Dublin.
Simon was a member of the British and Irish Comunist Organization in 1973. He may be still a member. Prior to that he was a founder member of the Portlaoise Prisoner’s Union. Currently he is active in the campaign to free Marian Price. Ann.
Simon was sent to prison for six months in 1967 with Frank Keane .
Charged with trying to burn down FF HQ in Dublin.
https://comeheretome.com/2012/02/03/the-attempted-burning-of-fianna-fail-hq-1967/
After the flying of the illegal IRA flag in O’Connell Street at Easter 1966, Simon and Noel Redican, author of the Irish history book ‘Shadows of Doubt’, and two others were charged with assaulting four Special Branchmen. They were sentenced to two months in St Patricks Borstal.
The Irish Times article I’ve seen names Michael Murphy, Desmond Hynes and Noel Redican.
Eitherway, is there connection here to Saor Eire Simon?
Thanks for all your comments.
Simon escaped the garda raids that morning and stayed for a time at the ‘itinerant’ encampment at Ballyfermot. He was arrested about a month later. He spent the time in St Patricks in solitary confinement because he refused to obey prison rules. Some members of Sinn Fein put a picket outside the GPO on two consecutive Saturdays in protest.
Frank Sutcliffe an IRA agent in the British army’s Goughs barracks Armagh in the 1950s. Sutcliffe when interviewed has claimed he helped blow up Nelson,s Pillar in 1966.He was a member of Saor Eire from 1970. Frank was given a beautiful painting of Nelson’s Pillar by Simon.
I wounder is one of Simon’s beautiful! painting hanging up in Kavanagh’s pub in Liverpool?
I presume you mean Liam Sutcliffe. Liam and Simon are close friends. I saw them together in Glasnevin at the funeral of the veteran republican, Sean Galligan, two weeks ago.
I have a painting that I got free from Simon some years back. He has given quite a few free paintings to friends of his and has also donated paintings to humanitarian and republican causes.
What point are you trying to make?
I was in Grogans, The Castle Lounge on Easter Saturday and the crowd from Galligan’s funeral were all there. Liam Sutcliffe, Frank and Des Keane, Noel Redican, Charlie O’Neill, Jer O’Leary, Frank O’Donnell and Simon. The only one I didn’t see was Dan Breen.
Ann I am not trying to make a point at all and yes it is Liam not Frank .
Noel Redican was one of four people who was arrested after the Nelson Pillar explosion. However, they were all released without charge. It is mentioned in Redican’s book ‘Shadows of Doubt’. A radio programme later broadcast an interview with Liam Sutcliffe in which it was claimed that he had some involvement. He does have a painting in his house of Nelson’s Pillar standing in a scene of general devastation in which a tall figure with a haversack on his back is seen walking into the distance. Oddly enough the figure looks remarkably like Liam. The painting is a surrealist or photo realist painting by Simon.
Would anyone know what became of Frank Keane? Is he still alive? Where’s he living these days? Its just that my father in law went to school with him in Finglas and they were mates when they were young. Not enquiring about the stuff Frank was involved in or his politics, just wondering what became of him.
Yes Frank Keane is alive! he was at the Wake for Gerry Lawless the Dublin Marxist- Republican.in the Teachers Club Parnell Sq in 2012.
Thanks for that Michael, I’ll let my father in law know. He sometimes mentions him and tells stories about how they used to go selling Easter lilies around Finglas.
Kristof your father in law mentions how he and Frank Keane used to sell Easter lilies around Finglas. That would be make sense as Keane was a member of Sinn Fein in Finglas for over ten years in the 1950s-60s.
Apparently they’d take Frank’s dog with them for a bit of extra protection, using it to ward off any anyone who tried to hassle them. He also mentioned Cappagh House pub but i can’t remember in what context now?
Alex Sayles joke about an irish bank robber flashing 100 hundred pound notes around Kavanaghs and then to say he was a Saor Eire member on the run is basically an anti Irish joke which was not unusual in the times we were in from half baked British comedians.
Sayle has been consistent with his anti-Racist and progressive views throughout his career. Lumping in him with the xenophobic ‘comedians’ of Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson etc. is doing Sayle and ‘Alternative Comedy’ a huge disservice.
Liam Sutcliffe Saor Eire.interview.
Sam,
I know Simon since he joined Sinn Fein in late 1963 and later the IRA.
In April 1970 a Garda Fallon was shot dead after a bank robbery at Arran Quay Dublin. The Special Branch released to the newspapers the names of seven men they wanted to question in connection to the robbery and murder. All of those named were already ‘on the run’. Simon was one of those.
Later that year I was one of the people who helped him to get to Liverpool and two others who were on the list to London. I can assure you that while all of them had funds in sterling, I wasn’t aware of anyone hiding £100 Irish notes in their socks. (I actually arrived in Liverpool near Christmas with cash for Simon and met some of the ‘Maoists’ who in 1973 came to Ireland to visit Simon who was then in the Curragh Military Detention Centre)
I’m afraid that common sense goes out the window when one reads Sayle’s account of Simon’s Liverpool sojourn. First of all if Simon had £100 Irish notes, he, as a seasoned ‘subversive’, wanted for questioning about a capital murder charge, would hardly go around pubs flashing such.
Secondly, Sayle says Simon was quickly arrested and shipped back to Dublin…..which he would have been if he had engaged in such juvenile behaviour! I met Simon when he arrived back on his own steam from Liverpool in 1971. He was later arrested in Ranelagh in 1972.
I don’t think that Des is accusing Sayle of being a racist. He said it was an anti-Irish joke. I tell anti-English, anti-Kerry jokes. I don’t hate Englishmen though I do hate Kerry footballers.
I think that Sayle is a bit glib about his encounter with Simon. After all, meeting a bank robber who is also some kind of a subservice is well worth a mention in a book by an alternative stand-up comedian. Better still, why not also mention that he was Irish. It’s a good story even if it is devoid of facts. Frank
Thanks for the comment Frank. Best wishes.
Tommy Marsh and Sean Farrell organized the Ballymun ‘billets’ for the English Maoists on their visit to Ireland in1973. They also attended a few sessions in the Peacock pub then in Marlborough Street and owned by the 40’s Republican Jimmy Clarke. Clarke is mentioned in Harry White’s book as having to abandon Belfast for good after he shot a policeman.
As an aside, it is interesting how many Saor Eire vol’s had also been members of “the Christle Group” – aside from those already mentioned like Sutcliffe etc Liam Walsh was another member of both the group and SE, died in a premature explosion by a railway (RIP).
Republican Jimmy Clarke was in the Saor Eire guard of honour at Mairan Keegan funeral in Dublin in 1972. He is at the front of the guard of honour.
Ructions Doyle, Paul Gleeson and Frank Conran were other influencial figures who had been with Christle and later were associated with Saor Eire.
The group also had contacts going back to the 40’s and further. After the Garda Fallon shooting those who were publicly named as suspects had safe houses and transport organised by Republicans such as Bob Bradshaw, Harry White, Matt Kelly, Kathleen Behan, Archie Doyle and Dick Timmons who had escaped in the 40’s from prison in England. Charlie O’Neill and Tom Barry were friends.
Of course, the filial dissidence runs in both directions. On youtube, Liam Sutcliffe, Martin Casey, Des Keane and Simon can be seen taking part in the protest march in Dublin last September, calling for the release of Marian Price.
The above four, along with Noel Redican and Frank Davis, were part of a vociferous group of anti-war and republican demonstrators at Tony Blair’s book signing at Easons in Dublin 2010.
That protest, on a wet Saturday morning, was led by members of Eirigi and the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Despite the aggressive policing that day, in which a number of protestors were injured and three arrested, Blair was forced to abandon his grand plans to tour European capitals to peddle his book.
Nice to hear they’re still active!
Does anyone know if Simon’s art is online to see or anything?
Many thanks Max for your very interesting comment .You mention that some of the people associated with the Christle Group would later be involved with Saor Erie.
Saor Eire’s Mairan Keegan, brother Joe was in the Christle Group. But he was in England when Saor Eire was established. Moreover Joe was in the Anti Internment League in Southampton.
You also say that veteran Republican’s Sutcliffe, Keane, and Redican took to part in the protest march in Dublin last September, calling for the release of Marian Price.In addition demonstrated at Tony Blair’s book signing in Dublin
2010.
Joe Keegan and Mairan Keegan’s brother in law Rayner Lysaght O’Connor have also attended demonstrations for Marian Price. Similarly they were at the Eirigi 2013 Easter commemoration on that bitter cold day.
Actually Mick, When I mentioned Ructions Doyle, Paul Gleeson and Frank Conran vis-a-viz the Christle group and Saor Eire I was
answering ‘rightalright’s’ observation about Liam Walsh, the Christle group and Saor Eire.
I take your point that Mairin’s brother, Joe Keegan was in the Christle group and also active in the anti-internment league in Southhampton. You mention Reyner Lysaght O’Connor. I presume you mean the life long revolutionary and intellectual D.R.O’Connor Lysaght. For the record, I did not say that Noel Redican was on the Marian Price march.
Anyway it is good that all these veterans are still active in the struggle for a more civilized and equitable society, but what is really needed is for people of all ages, in particular the young, to shake off the cobwebs of complacency about what is going on in the world at present.
At the moment, as you know, corporate totalitarianism is a pestilence that is spreading across the globe. It is aided by the financial press which is nothing more than a disinformation machine. Under the guise of rectifying the financial problems of countries which were caused in the first place by corporate greed, they have privatised atrocity, war and the prisons. Now they are trying to get their hands on the health, education and transport systems of Europe, because the smaller they can make the government, the less taxes the rich have to pay. To achieve this they are trying to engineer an anti-public sector agenda which will overturn all the gains that workers have made in the last fifty years. With the help of their mouthpieces in the mainstream media they have let their austerity programmes rip in Europe and institutionalized a race to the bottom as part of the natural order of the world.
I am not really up on art but I think if ‘rightalright’ goes into the Irish artnet sites he should find some examples of Simon’s art.
Max yes it is Rayner Lysaght O’Connor the intellectual – Revolutionary. He recorded an interview that will be up on youtube soon.Like the Sutcliffe interview Rayner tells his story that is fascination.
Mick, Liam Sutcliffe’s description of the ‘ragged trousered’ bank robbers of Saor Eire is funny and very socialist. It contradicts Paul William’s description of them. I don’t think his account of Joe and the bomb in the pillar would go down too well with young Joe, Mel or Terry or Pat for that matter.
Any idea when the Frank Keane interview is coming up?
Frank, started the edit on the video. will let him have a look and if he is happy up it goes.
Yes, I’d also be interested to know when the interview with frank keane might be as well? Be good if it’s podcast or something so i can get a copy for my father in law. Is he still living in or around Finglas?
Sam, as far as I know, in answer to ‘rightalright’ a friend sent a photo of a painting by Simon, painted in 2001 as an e-mail because he was unable to do it any other way. The painting was titled ‘The Temptation of John Charles McQuaid’ and I think it was sent to your e-mail address. I’m only mentioning it in case you were unaware of it. You might find it worth showing. Best wishes, Frank.
Max, here is the interview with Rayner Lysaght O’Connor that I told you we recorded.
Good interview Mick. Raynor’s encyclopedic knowledge of the Left in Ireland over the last half century is a story of splits. Didn’t realise that there was so many. A pity. He should definitely change his barber.
Reynor mentioned the anarchists, Marie and Noel Murray. Does anybody know what ever happened to them? There was a B&ICO fellow, O’Shea, who was convicted of the murder of a Garda in, Roscommon, I think. Is he in or out of prison? Just today I heard on the news that a fellow was arrested in London on a bomb charge in 1982. I thought all those activities were covered in the Good Friday Agreement! Adams and McGuinness would want to ask questions about what is going on……they are paid enough.
Reynor is on the button when he says that the next government will be Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein. At least they will look after the average Joe better than the present bunch of carpet baggers and their pink salmon associates.
Max, the Anarchists Marie and Noel Murray I believe live in Co. Kildare. Colm O’Shea and Paddy McCann who were convicted of the murder of two Garda have been in Portlaoise prison since 1980.
From your research Mick, what would you say was the relationship between SE Dublin and SE Cork? Because I’ve head it said they were almost separate orgs in all but name
And big GRMA to all who replied @seeing Simon’s art- was just wonderng as a hobby artist myself
Is there an interview with frank keane in the pipeline at any stage?
Kristof, there are a number of Left-Republican-Saor Eire interviews on the way, cant say who until we get the ok to put them on Youtube.
Very interesting public Meeting will take place in the Cobblestone Pub Smithfield on Thursday 12th September 2013. The meeting, entitled Radical Politics of the late 1960s-70s Marxists- Anarchists & Saor Erie.
Speakers: Alan MacSimoin a former member Workers Solidarity Movement and John McAnulty former People’s Democracy Belfast City Councilor. Following the contributions of each of the speakers, there will Q&A session
rightalright ,there was no relationship between Saor Eire that had members in Cork-Dublin and Saor Erie Cork who published the Peoples Voice paper.
Ireland is so small that members of the two groups would have known one another from the IRA or left wing movements.
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/the-left-archive-peoples-voice-from-saor-eire-1968/
1997 commemoration of Liam Walsh Saor Eire.
Kristof the Frank Keane interview is now up on utube and there will be a podcast soon. Your long wait is over
Thanks so much for that Mick, much appreciated. Fantastic stuff. Will let my father in law know right away!
Happy New Year Kristof and the Come Here To Me crowd.
Kristof the Frank Keane interview
http://irishrepublicanmarxisthistoryproject.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/socialist-republican-frank-keane/
I knew Simon quite well when he was in Liverpool and had some great drinking sessions with him in Peter Kavanaghs. I certainly never saw any Irish £100 notes, this is just Sayle being this usual twatty self. . Apparently he was selling copies of his book at his mother’s funeral. I sort of thought Simon as on the run but never said anything to anyone. An Irish friend came to see him from time to time, brought him mony I suppose, no harm in that I have very fond memories of Simon, great sense of humour he had. Hope this ends the Irish £100 note myth.
Any way for my father in law to get in touch with Frank Keane? He’s in Australia, but any way to give him a call?
A lot of people here very sensitive about how Alexei tells a tale – it probably helps explain why there are so many splinters on the left. Alexei is genuine left and always was. He tells a tale the way many Liverpudlians do – well. It’s based on fact but it’s aimed at entertainment. I lived there for many happy years and drank in the above-mentioned pubs. There’s a rhythm to how they tell their (tall) tales and so what if there’s a few hooks thrown in to keep you listening? The fact that the lad was Irish would’ve been by the by for AS, it’s just a bit of colour for the tale – no more, no less. Read his books; no quarter given nor asked.
Kristof if you send me a contact for your father in law. I will send it on to Frank who I think would more likely write a letter to him. mick.healy1@gmail.com
Kristof, this article is about Frank Keane’s good friend Liam Daltun.
http://irishrepublicanmarxisthistoryproject.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/liam-daltun-a-man-of-great-charm-and-knowledge/
Free e-book gives a humorous account of that period which involves Saor Eire members and their accomplices. Crazy but good points about the current ‘Race to the Bottom,’ and the commemoration of the imperialistic WW1. Site is
http://hungrybrigade.com/index.php
Regards, Shane.
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should be 1937-2016