Justin Barrett's cohort appears on Radio Free Eireann.

by tyroneman Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:16

Unlike, I suspect the person who is attacking him, Gerry McGeough and his neighbours did not sit around navel-gazing about the meaning of republicanism. They got up and confrnted the Brits on their streets and in their fields, and many of them, especially in Gerry's home place paid a heavy price at the hands of the Briti and loyalists.

by Barry Mon Jan 30, 2006 00:10

or is it just a perception ?
Please supply a quote or some evidence to back this up

When Pearse spoke of the founders of the Irish nation most of those he referred to were protestants - Mitchell , Tone and Parnell . Nothing I have read of pearse suggests he was a catholic nationalist . He was 100% republican .

by Dinny Fahey Sun Jan 29, 2006 23:58

Just a few clarifications:

1. When did Gerry McGeough say he distanced himself from Justin Barrett for supposed "racism"? I never heard of any such announcements.

2. Since when does Catholic nationalism have nothing to do with Irish republicanism? Republicanism is an ideology which draws many people of many different political/religious convictions. To say that Catholic nationalism has nothing to do with Republicanism - and that is a purely secular, even Socialist enterprise - is a bare-faced lie. After all, Pearse, one of the fathers of the Irish Revolution, was a Catholic nationalist.

by Barry Sun Jan 29, 2006 19:39

You have not provided a single quote or link or photgraph to back up your facism accusations
You mention the programme didnt question McGeough ( with deeply held and openly admitted catholic religious views) about his previous link to Barrett on the abortion issue , then go on to berate him for not availing of the opportunity to distance himself ?

And you ignore he fact that McGeough had already had done so publicly once he became aware of Barrets racist views? Do you expect him to do this every single time hes interviewed ?

To be perfectly honest before I got a computer and read Indymedia I was unaware Barrett was a racist too , totally unaware of his links to the far right in Europe , and just thought him a mammys boy and religious nutter .

Gerry McGeough is not a member of or spokesman for any group that Im aware of , merely a commentator with an active interest in Irish issues .

Personally speaking Im not a huge fan of either McGeough or Mac Donagh , but the radio programme is a good listen and much better than the anodyne dross on rte . The interview with former Noraid boss Martin Galvin , former US IRA cheif Gabriel Megahey and the sunday times correspondent suzanne breen on the Donaldson affair was highly informative .

Ive listened to that show many times and although ive heard much criticism of the British occupation of Ireland , Sinn Fein cosying up to Bush and Kissinger and criticisms of the Iraq war not once have I heard anything remotely facist or racist expressed on it . Not once . If anything what I have heard on it is symapthy with a lot of left wing and progressive causes throughout the US and the world . Such as the Black panthers , Martin Luther king , puerto rican independence and Latin American issues etc . All causes that are deeply unpopular in Bushs America but important to many in the various immigrant communities in NEW York the show broadcasts to .

These facist slurs have been made before on Indymedia , probably by the same crank . But as yet there is nothing to back them up by way of links or quotes .

by Peter O'Donnell Sun Jan 29, 2006 17:55

The NIFC, aka Cumann na Saoirse, is the support group in New York for Continuity IRA/RSF.
John McDonagh frequently speaks publicly as the spokesperson for this group.
Justin Barrett is a fascist, and has close ties with the European neo-nazi movement.
Gerry McGeough has campaigned for Barrett, so it is a reasonable assumption that he supports Barrett's fascist views.
McDonagh, both when he was editor of the 'Irish people' newspaper and as host of WBAI's Radio Free Eireann, has regularly given a platform to William Hughes, a bigot and anti-semite who for years has propounded a fascist, conspiracy theory of world events.
McGeough was on the show Saturday. He was not questioned about his support for Barrett. It would have been a great opportunity to dissassociate himself from the vile, fascist views of Barrett. He did not do so .
McDonagh and McGeough have attacked provo Sinn Fein because they have departed from republican principle (an easy enough case to make). But McDonagh's and McGeough's hands are dirty.
The clearly documented fascist associations of McDonagh, extending over a period of twenty years clearly call into question his republicanism.
And because he is the chief representative in New York for Continuity Ira/ RSF, serious questions are also raised about the so-called republicanism of RSF.
Fundamentalist, Catholic nationalism is not republicanism.

by King George III Sun Jan 29, 2006 07:26

"If you want to baste an Irishman, you can easily get an Irishman to turn the spit."
- King George III
The Chicago crowd is particularly willing.

by outsider Sun Jan 29, 2006 01:07

I'm not involved with RSF, but having previously(pre86) been involved I would say that there were people in SF then who were catholic nationalists as opposed to republican(in the true sense), however there were also communists, socialist and anarchists involved. It is the nature of national defence movements to attract people from outside their political ideological base. It would be natural for RSF toattract the supporters of physical force nationalism. The distance between nationalist beliefs and racist/supremacy beliefs is short!

by KEERA Sun Jan 29, 2006 00:47

Yes i read about the dinner on the IRBB.

http://admin2.7.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=29175#29175

Its written there were guests representing such groups as the international socialist organisation and the family of the late great laywer william kunstler who is famous for representing black panthers h rap brown the american indian movement and malcolm x. sounds like racists alright? are you well mentally or do you get paid for this nonsense? really. you also have now backed down on your slander gerry mcg. you have proven yourself to be untrustworthy with facts and given to hyperbole, while rfe is noted for being the best irish political program going. it regulary host figures from the anti war movement in both ireland and america mary kelly was given an award by them a few years agoalso noticed on the irbb how successful the dinner was could this be a member of that little irrelevant group founded by expelled members who are showing their jealousy ? anyway it was also written that a video of the dinner will be on the nifc website soon we can see all the facts of the evening for ourselves

by P O Donnell Sun Jan 29, 2006 00:29

Just last night the Irish National Freedom Committee held a fundraiser for Continuity IRA prisoners. The keynote speaker was Robert W. White who has just written a book on Ruairi O Bradaigh. The INFC is a New York-based support group for RSF, and John McDonagh is one of its leading members. McDonagh also hosts Radio Free Eireann on WBAI. For years McDonagh's Washington correspondent was William Hughes. Hughes on WBAI said that Mossad was behind the destruction the WTC on 911.
Hughes also wrote a column for the Irish People newspaper when it was edited by McDonagh. He frequently cited the Spotlight weekly newspaper, the publication of the fascist 'Liberty Lobby'. Hughes praised the work of English fascist Nesta Webster, the book Imperium by nazi Francis Parker Yockey, and the publications of Kevin MacDonald, who was a character witness for David Irving in his failed libel suit against Deborah Lipstadt, author of denying the Holocaust.
When McGeough was living in New York he and McDonagh organized an 'Irish race' convention.
Another host of RFE, Brian Mor, referred, in the 'Irish People', to the Japanese people as 'the Yellow Danger".
If McGeough has denounced his fascist association that is to be welcomed, for the ideas of Barrett are in direct contradiction to Irish Republicanism. The sincerity of McGeough is not in question. But fundamentalist Catholic nationalism is not republicanism. Over a period of twenty years Mcdonagh has given a platform to people with bigoted, anti-Semitic views. As McDonagh is the best known member of RSF's support group in New York City his unsavory associations raises serious questions about the republicanism of RSF. If you lie down with dogs you get up scratching your ass.

by KEERA Sat Jan 28, 2006 23:29

1 Macdonagh is a member of the National Irish Freedom Committee, not a member of RSF or its representative. The NIFC supports the Eire Nua program as espoused by RSF. Thats far from being its representative, while i understand if the less intelligent like you make that mistake.

2 McGeough is not a member of any fascist or even "nationalist" group. He came into contact with barrett through anti-abortion activity and upon seeing the racist nature of barrett both broke all contact with him and publically voiced disgust at his racism. however, the provos and their friends saw this as a useful tool to use against the so called dissdent community as Gerry was a well liked and respected figure who was/is against the gfa. Say what you will about his religion and its pro life ideas, but he isnt a racist or nevermind a fascist. Nor is he a member of RSF.

3 Radio Free Eireann is a media program, and as such has guests on it representing various groups and polical ideas from across the spectrum. These include the provos ,unionists, people like Tony Benn, its most regular commentaor is Eamonn McCann of the SWP, perhaps you believe him to be a "secret member" of RSF and/or a fascist. For all your talk of Macdonagh being us rep for RSf, they re rarely on the program.

4. find a new hobby and grow up.