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And the banner read: “James Connolly, Murdered May 12th, 1916”

May 12, 2010 by Donal

The banner outside Liberty Hall, 1917

The text below is taken from the Bureau of Military History Witness Statement provided by Miss Rose Hackett, a member of the Irish Citizen Army. Rosie had been involved in the Jacob’s biscuit factory strike which took place near the end of August in 1910, ending in success for the workers. She was also involved in a later strike at Jacob’s when in September 1913 three workers were sacked for refusing to remove their trade union badges. During the Rising Rosie was positioned at Stephen’s Green under Commandant Michael Mallin.

Document No. W.S 546

“On the occasion of the first anniversary of Connolly’s death, the Transport people decided that he would be honoured. A big poster was put up on the Hall, with the words: “James Connolly Murdered, May 12th, 1916”.

It was no length of time up on the Hall, when it was taken down by the police, including Johnny Barton and Dunne. We were very vexed over it, as we thought it should have been defended. It was barely an hour or so up, and we wanted everybody to know it was Connolly’s anniversary. Miss Molony called us together- Jinny Shanahan, Brigid Davis and myself. Miss Molony printed another script. Getting up on the roof, she put it high up, across the top parapet. We were on top of the roof for the rest of the time it was there. We barricaded the windows. I remember there was a ton of coal in one place, and it was shoved against the door in cause they would get in. Nails were put in.

Police were mobilised from everywhere, and more than four hundred of them marched across from the Store Street direction and made a square outside Liberty Hall. Thousands of people were watching from the Quay on the far side of the river. It took the police a good hour or more before they got in, and the script was there until six in the evening, before they got it down.

I always felt that it was worth it, to see all the trouble the police had in getting it down. No one was arrested.

Of course, if it took four hundred policemen to take four women, what would the newspapers say? We enjoyed it at the time- all the trouble they were put to. They just took the script away and we never heard any more. It was Miss Molony’s doings.

Historically, Liberty Hall is the most important building that we have in the city. Yet, it is not thought of at all by most people. More things happened there, in connection with the Rising, than in any other place. It really started from there.

Signed: Rose Hackett,
26/5/51.

Irish Citizen Army outside Liberty Hall, 1917.

Posted in Dublin History, Politics | Tagged , , , | 40 Comments »

Just cause you’re on the Dole, don’t mean you can’t Rock N’ Roll

May 12, 2010 by Donal

My brother is now the king of the car boot sales. He comes back with some top class stuff. Like this timely tune.

Last Sunday, he arrives home from Harold’s Cross with a bag of records. Loads of the things. Spanish folk to ‘novelty’ records and everything in between. A Crashed Records 7″ from 1983 caught my eye, if only for the title.

‘Cause I’m On The Dole – Don’t Mean I Can’t Rock N’ Roll was a 1983 number from the band Jukebox. The B Side is ‘I Washed My Jeans’ (No point really if you’re on the Dole, who is going to see them?) The single was released on Crashed Records, based in the Donaghmede Centre of Dublin 13. Google has heard very little about the tune it seems, tragic as at the minute it’s National Anthem material. It’s not half bad either.

So turn up the speakers there (If you haven’t sold them yet) and give this one a play.

A cartoon from The Irish Times,July 9th 1983. Not much Rock N' Roll there.

Posted in Music, Social History | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments »

Gordon Banks OBE, League of Ireland star.

May 11, 2010 by Donal

Gordon Banks, World Cup Winner.

Much more than that actually. *That* save against Pele will go down in football history, in fact in 2002 he remarked to FourFourTwo magazine that “It’s something that people will always remember me for. They won’t remember me for winning the World Cup, it’ll be for that save. That’s how a big a thing it is. People just want to talk about that save.” In another interview, with The Observer Sport Monthly, he commented that “As I got to my feet I tried to look as nonchalant as possible, as if to say that I make that sort of save all the time.”

Gordon Banks defended more nets than just the English national one however. A quick glance at his C.V shows Stoke City, Leicester City , Chesterfield , The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Cleveland Stokers and, believe it or not, Saint Patrick’s Athletic.

Banks played one game for the Saints, a home match against Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers. Barry Bridges was managing the Saints at the time, as player manager. The year previously, in 1976, Pats had gained some attention by picking up Neil Martin, a former Hibernan F.C, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest striker, among other clubs. In fact, English player manager Bridges had an impresive record himself, including but not limited to spells at Chelsea, Milwall and QPR.

Barry Bridges

The Irish Times of October 1st 1977 noted that Barry Bridges stated there was a “fifty fifty” chance Banks would line out the next night in Richmond Park. Picked up from Fort Lauderdale, it all depended on clearance from the American F.A. The paper noted that

“The signing, which is likely to extract a sharp response from St. Patrick’s first choice goalkeeper, Mick O’ Brien, represents the Dubliners’ most entreprising move since Neil Martin joined the club last seaon”

Amazingly, Gordon Banks had returned to goalkeeping despite losing sight in one eye following a car crash. It was common enough at the time for English players to semi-retire in the U.S game, and Banks signing to Pats was a surprise to many. In the end, he was given clearance to perform and maintained a clean seat, in a one nil home victory over Rovers. He would never grace the pitch at Richmond Park again, and returned to the United States.

Barry Bridges remained at Pats until February 1978, moving on to become player manager of Sligo Rovers. Banks remains just one former English international to briefly play in the Irish league. Geoff Hurst, Terry Venables (another Saint), Carlton Palmer and Bobby Charlton are just a small selection of others who have done the same.

 Gordon played alongside future Waterford United player Bobby Charlton in 1966.

Posted in Dublin History, Football Articles | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments »

W.D Hogan’s run comes to an end.

May 10, 2010 by Donal

May 24th marks the end of the National Library of Ireland’s wonderful W.D Hogan photo exhibition at the National Photographic Archive. Below are two samples from the NLI Facebook page to promote the exhibition, and I’ve also included a wonderful W.D Hogan snap of Liam Mellows delivering the oration at Bodenstown cemetery during a Wolfe Tone commemoration.

Opening times are below the images, seize the day and get into this one before it’s too late. Due to the nature of W.D Hogan’s work (He was in the company of the Free State Army during much of the civil war) there is, of course, a greater amount of images from one side of the civil war conflict than the other, but it is the shots of civilian life that make this exhibition what it is.


“Man examining remains after the fire at the Custom House, 26 May 1921”


“National Army troops shell the occupied Four Courts”


Liam Mellows addresses rally at Bodenstown, County Kildare.

National Photographic Archive, Temple Bar.
Mon – Fri: 10am – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 2.00pm

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Gig Review: Ted Leo And The Pharmacists (Whelans, May 8th)

May 9, 2010 by Donal

Ted Leo, minus the Pharmacists.

 
Ted Leo And The Pharmacists- The Mighty Sparrow

Early, always better to be early.

I’ve never really liked Whelans as a pub. It’s about as well lit as the Arigna Mines (Ever step out on the streets after being in there during the day?), a pretty pricey pub at the best of times, and the music at night never does it for me. It’s good music, but it never moves out of that The Smiths/The Cure/Joy Division safe territory, and feels a bit like the haunt of the older siblings of the Doyles crowd. Maybe it’s just that the stretch Whelans is located on is home to so many good pubs too. It’s a great spot for live music and performances (I saw Andy Irvine here not too long back, and have seen a number of comedy gigs here too), but not a quiet pint.

Whelans, from spaciousplanet.com

So, being early for Ted Leo And The Pharmacists, we pop over to Anseo, a great spot. I really like Anseo, and as we walk in we notice the pub is in silence and I comment that it’s unusual to hear it as such. Then, all is cured. The cause of the silence? He was turning the record. I love that little vinyl booth right beside the bar, and the music is at the perfect noise level to allow for conversation. Pretty chilled out music, mainly instrumental tracks and even some jazz to pass the time. Myself and Gar, the only other Ted Leo fan I could think of in the phonebook at first, are pretty damn excited.

Like myself, Gar has a love for that record, Living With The Living. Inside out and backwards, it’s a damn good record. Ted Leo an co. are on tour to promote the bands latest effort, The Brutalist Bricks. I commented recently to a friend that I found Ted Leo and his band near impossible to categorise (the way us music nerds do), and then I spotted Threadless describe it all somewhere along the way as containing “A dash of Elvis Costello’s vocal prowess, a heaping spoonful of The Clash’s politically-fueled punk, and a pint or two of The Pogues traditional bittersweet love poetry” That’ll do nicely.

I’m a firm believer in going along to see opening acts however. Some of my favourite bands today (Au Revoir Simone for example) first came to my attention when opening for others. So, we pop into Whelans to see Windings.

A very good opening band for Ted Leo, I noticed on their webpage they list Dinosaur Jr, Pavement and Wilco among influences. In my own opinion you could chuck the Pixies in there too, and have an idea what to expect. Both myself and Gar were very impressed by their set, in particular the single Brain Fluid which remained in my head long after their set and that of Leo and co. Another fine example of why you should go along for the opening band, always. I’d actually go see Windings again, on the back of that live performance. They sell tapes too. Actual tapes. Remember them?

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists take to the stage with force, and no indication of the lack of sleep Leo later tells the crowd of. A couple (literally) of hours sleep between Plymouth and Dublin, the band are apparently wrecked. They don’t look or sound it. Opening with The Mighty Sparrow off the latest LP,The Brutalist Bricks, the set includes a number of new tracks, with my personal favourite Bottled In Cork appearing towards the end.

It’s a well balanced set however, with the majority of tracks coming from earlier and acclaimed efforts. Me and Mia, Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?, Where Was My Brain? and others get an airing. Early on in the gig Ted solves an arguable divide between stage and floor by insisting  the audience  move in, that big space won’t eat you up. From there, things take off. The crowd is a curious mix, reflecting the diversity of the appeal of the band.

The moment of the gig was undoubtedly a solo performance of Fisherman’s Blues from Ted Leo, with every WOAH-HOO-HOOOO! coming from the crowd.

After the gig we were lucky enough to get chatting briefly to Ted, often said to be one of the nicest blokes in the industry. I’d be well inclined to believe it, if he was half as tired as claimed, it didn’t show. I’ve great time for any band that donates time and energy to good causes, as The Pharmacists did with the Rapid Response E.P, a fundraiser for both Food Not Bombs and Democracy Now. While no doubt a ‘political band’, there is nothing preachy about Ted Leo or his band, at any stage, live or otherwise.

The influence of everyone from Gorilla Biscuits to The Specials shines through in the band and their music, and after a quality gig, nice chat and the purchasing of a football scarf (Note to bands: more bands should do football scarves, my Ted Leo scarf joins a Pogues one on the wall) we’re off home, and Ted Leo And The Pharmacists are off to Belfast.

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Stones to Remember…

May 8, 2010 by Ciarán

The Tolerence of Crows

Death comes in quantity from solved
Problems on maps, well-ordered dispositions,
Angles of elevation and direction;

Comes innocent from tools children might
Love, retaining under pillows
Innocently impales on any flesh.

And with flesh falls apart the mind
That trails thought from the mind that cuts
Thought clearly for a waiting purpose.

Progress of poison in the nerves and
Discipline’s collapse is halted.
Body awaits the tolerance of crows.

Charlie Donnelly b. 10 July 1914, d. 27 Feb 1937

I’m not cheating here; I know Charlie Donnelly wasn’t a Dub, but he lived here for many years, and studied at UCD as JayCarax covered here in his Hidden History Blog. He was a complex character; a college drop-out, political activist and member of the national executive of the Republican Congress. And a poet. A very good poet.

And for while we have a history of revolutionary poets in this country, most of them fought in the years 1916 to 1922. Charlie wasn’t born in time for that revolution but travelled to London in 1936 where he joined the International Brigades. On the 23rd December of that year headed to Spain where he fought on the republican side against Franco’s Counter Revolution.

On the 27th February, 1937, in the rank of Field Commander, he was sent with his unit to launch a frontal assault on the Nationalist positions on a hill named Pingarron. They were pinned down and Donnelly was hit by three Nationalist bullets- One to his right arm, one to his right side and an explosive bullet to the head that killed him. He uttered his oft repeated words “even the olives are bleeding” during that assault. His body lay prone for four days before it could be recovered by Irish brigadier Peter O’Connor.  His body was buried in an unmarked grave. He was only 23 years of age.

His story, along with the stories of so many others who fought and died in that war never cease to move me; Absolute selflessness from people united against Fascism. While Spain is a stones throw across the water now with it easier (and probably cheaper) to get a flight there than a taxi home from Dame Street on a Saturday night, back then it meant getting a boat to England, and then another one from there to France and then the long trek down by train, bus and foot. Yet you wonder would people do it these days.

Absolute Legends. Picture by Asile, from Indymedia

Right. The reason for the article. On the 27th February this year, family and friends of Charlie Donnelly unveiled a beautiful memorial to him in a park in Rivas. The story of how the memorial came to be is one could not do justice to, but you can read about it here. The memorial consists of a stone from the 32 counties of Ireland and was paid for by donations not only from Ireland but from across Spain also. Next Friday, in the Teachers Club on Parnell Square, sees the launch of a DVD that tells the story  of the project and promises to be a night to remember. Titled “Stones to Remember: Charlie Donnelly and the XV Brigade” there will be music, song, poetry and I’m sure, plenty of tears. Admission is €5 and it kicks off at 8.30. I hope to be in attendance to pay homage to the man himself.

Details and the poster for the event can be found at: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96544

Posted in Politics, Social History, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Blogging the Humanities

May 8, 2010 by Donal

Our friends at Pue’s Occurences are organising a one day symposium under the title ‘Blogging the Humanities’. I’ll be there to do what I do best, talk about myself. Or the blog, I’ve yet to decide. In all seriousness, it looks like a great day with a fine variety of blogs taking part.It’s a worthwhile discussion no doubt, and one we look forward to partaking in.

It’s nice for Come Here To Me to be asked to partake in these things, still being a somewhat new blog, and I hold the other blogs participating in very high regard so we’re in good company.

Pue’s have set up a page specifically for the symposium (where you can register to attend) here.

“We welcome the input of all voices – from history, arts, culture, heritage and beyond, sceptics and otherwise”

Pue’s is almost a year old and, we thought, what better way to celebrate than to organise a symposium on the arts, culture, heritage and humanities blogging community in Ireland – where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we’re going in future. Hosted in the TCD Irish Art Research Centre, the day is intended to provide an informal format that will stimulate lots of debate and discussion, led by a group of speakers from Ireland After Nama, The Irish Left Archive, Come Here to Me!, History Compass, Some Blind Alleys, UCD Academic Blogging, Sligo Model Gallery Blog, and, of course, your very own Pue’s. We welcome the input of all voices – from history, arts, culture, heritage and beyond, sceptics and otherwise – so if you’re interested, have a look at our dedicated conference page and keep an eye out on Pue’s for more details closer to the event. Registration is via our online form only and numbers are limited, so we would encourage you to do so early. We look forward to seeing you there!

Pue’s Occurences is a group history blog, mainly Irish in scope, with a wide variety of contributers. It’s the kind of blog you’ll lose an hour on, and I have on many occasions. Everything from the diaries of Phd students (Terrifying reading for an Undergraduate) to a ‘soap box’ for opinion pieces, it’s worth a click.

I look forward to the conference, and congratulate Pue’s on taking the initiative.

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Dance,dance,dance,dance,dance to the radio.

May 8, 2010 by Donal

*Alternative title was I’m a student so I obviously own several Joy Division albums, but I went with that line from Transmission*

Aware are one of the most important charities out there in my humble opinion, dedicated to fighting depression in society, and working with and for people of all age groups and backgrounds. Over 500 people a year take their own lives in Ireland, which I thought was a shocking figure when I first saw it.

Seeing as this time of year makes the anniversary of Ian Curtis’ suicide, some wise owls have decided to organise a charity night for Aware, jumping on the fact that anyone under 90 with functioning ears loves Joy Division. Charities like Aware need money, people like Joy Division, why not get contemporary Dublin bands to play a tribute night to Joy Division and raise money for Aware? Brillers.

The tribute night takes place on Friday May 14th, with 8pm doors. The venue, the recently (as in ‘the last time I was there it didn’t look the same as it was the time before that but it could be that way for ages’ recently) done up Crawdaddy. The door tax is 8 Euro,every cent of which will help Aware carry out important work.

Already confirmed are NEON STARS,FRIEND,THE VAGABONDS and SCHEME SOUL VISION

All proceeds go to AWARE

The night will also see screenings of Joy Division documentaries,performances and films such as Control.

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“Dublin: Workless March In Protest” (1953)

May 7, 2010 by Sam

Another gem from the British Pathe website showing a Dublin unemployed march from the mid 1950s.

When I first watched the clip, I nearly fell off my chair as the first seconds show something that resembles the Spire in the background. Any idea what it is?

It quickly cuts to a man holding the Starry Plough walking past the GPO who is followed by hundreds of men doing a U – turn at the bottom of O’Connell St. by the bridge and marching back up the other side of the road.

At 18seconds in, the leader of the ‘Dublin Unemployment Association’, Thomas Pearle claps his hand and starts a sit down protest “halting all traffic for half an hour”

One placard reads ‘Get off your knees – March with us’, presumably a reference to the famous labour slogan, “The great only appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise” which has been accredited to many people including James Connolly, Jim Larkin and Max Stirner.

The scene at 31 seconds is quite amazing with both side of O’Connell St. and the bridge blocked. Though it looks like there’s more people observing the demo than there is sitting down!

Jubilant scenes follow when the news is spread that the march will make its way down to the Dail, “the first time such a protest has been held at its gates”.

Dozens of men were charged and fined for causing obstructions by their sit-down protest.

Court told 'wide issues involved', The Irish Times, Saturday, July 11, 1953

Posted in Dublin History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments »

Sound familiar?

May 6, 2010 by Donal

Tom Archia, listen to 'Cabbage Head' below

It’s not The Dubliners, anyway. While no doubt everyone knows The Dubliners ‘Seven Drunken Nights’ from 1967, this Tom Archia tune from 1948 always raises a smile too. You’d have to get a chuckle out of Wikipedias piece on ‘Seven Drunken Nights’, stating that: “Each night is a verse, followed by a chorus, in which the narrator comes home in a drunken state to find evidence of another man having been with his wife, which she explains away, not entirely convincingly”

While it’s far more likely The Dubliners learned the basis of Seven Drunken Nights from Joe Heaney and the Irish language Peigin is Peadar, this is brilliant.

Posted in Miscellaneous, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Bless his little tiger heart.

May 5, 2010 by Donal

This made my day, a great 1 minute 49 second newsreel from Dublin Zoo back in 1952.

Basically, it shows a dog acting as a foster mother to a tiger cub. The tigers mother had proved quite neglectful, but thankfully Tuts the dog stepped in,despite just giving birth herself! It’s probably between the tiger cub suckling with the puppies or the cub drinking from a bottle at the end for the ‘make your mother go ‘awwwwwwww, bless’ moment’

Dublin Zoo, when it still had animals in it.

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For those of you who like follow ups 2.0….

May 5, 2010 by Donal

“and where you go we’ll follow,
we’ll follow
we’ll follow”

This bit, which brought about nice comments and nods of agreement from various League of Ireland supporters, was printed in the Galway United F.C match programme for the Drogheda Utd./St. Patrick’s Athletic clashes. More importantly than little old Come Here To Me, the match programme also featured League of Ireland hero Michael D. Higgins T.D

“We also need to mix the beautiful game in with other aspects of culture, like poetry, theatre, spectacle, and all the other glorious things of life!”

Posted in Football Articles, Miscellaneous | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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