M1 Podcast

Episode 26: Drogheda local is a key character in Disney drama series ‘Say Nothing’- interview with Anthony McIntyre

‘Say Nothing’, a troubles era colloquialism in the North, is the title of a 9 part drama series following the lives of young people growing up in Belfast in the early years of the troubles. In particular, there is focus on Dolours and Marian Price, Brendan Hughes and Gerry Adams. The series is an adaptation of the 2018 book of same name by Patrick Radden Keefe. Keefe began researching and writing the book on learning of the death of Dolours Price. Among those he came into contact with was Anthony McIntyre. I spoke with Anthony and my first questions were about his feelings for the programme. I asked his reflection on the drama series on Disney, of which he says he is pleased that: ‘The manner in which IRA volunteers such as Dolours Price and Brendan Hughes have been recast in more favourable light’. He said he found it absorbing but not enjoyable. I did not enjoy it. I don’t want to attach enjoyment to something so harrowing, particularly for the families of the disappeared. Pictured: Anthony McIntyre, former IRA and later lead researcher for Boston College Belfast Project Pictured: Actor Seamus O’ Hara, who plays Anthony Mc Intyre in ‘Say Nothing’ Anthony features in the drama series, played by actor Seamus O’ Hara, as the interviewer of those giving testimony to create an oral history of the troubles. He became lead researcher in the Boston College Belfast Project, which involved recorded interviews with numerous key participants in both republican and loyalist groups. It was understood that the interviews would not be used until after the participants had died. However, the project was jeopardised when the PSNI sought to obtain the tapes held by Boston College because of their testimonials of former participants as to their role in paramilitary violence from various sides. As to why the troubles emerged in such a violent manner, Anthony says: “The violence was not necessarily the result of the presence of the British in Ireland, but the behaviour of the British in Ireland. Had unionists not been so violent towards civil rights protesters, things might have been different, for Dolours and Marian Price, they certainly would have been different”. ‘Geeky Gerry Adams’ We discussed how early in the programme, how Dolours and Marian Price initially came across Gerry Adams on a soap box with a loud hailer giving orders at a barricade. They wondered ‘how did geeky Gerry Adams get in there’. I asked did Gerry Adams really refer to peers as ‘child’, even if he was only a year older, and the answer is yes and it was condescending to them. He interviewed Dolours Price, who features as the central character in the drama series. Dolores Price was the Operational IRA commander for the London bombings of the Old Bailey Courthouse, which saw over 200 injured. She spoke to Anthony as part of the Boston College Testimonial tapes project he was involved in with journalist Ed Moloney. Old Bailey bombings to protest border poll The Old Bailey bombings were seen as a protest against the border poll in Northern Ireland, due on the same day. The border poll was a referendum in Northern Ireland to determine, whether to stay in the United Kingdom or not. Ironically, Sinn Fein today see a border poll as their primary target in the medium term future . ChoiceVotes% Do you want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom?591,82098.90Do you want Northern Ireland to be joined with the Republic of Ireland outside the United Kingdom?6,4231.10Valid votes598,28399.01Invalid or blank votes5,9730.99Total votes604,256100.00Registered voters/turnout1,030,08458.66 Unknowns and Disappeared In her testimonial, Dolours Price also spoke of her involvement in a group call the ‘Unknowns’, set up allegedly by Gerry Adams, to carry out special projects. The ‘Unknowns’ operated outside the IRA command structure and was suspected involved in the disappearance of widow of ten Jean Mc Conville as well as Joe Lynskey. The murder of Jean McConville is perhaps one of the most heartbreaking incidents of the troubles. Not only was she a young widow of ten children, her children never knew what happened to her. She was one of the ‘disappeared’. The drama series ‘Say Nothing’ has in fact attracted criticism from her son Michael, who described it as ‘horrendous, cruel and another telling of the story of our mother, our family have to endure’. Former Belfast Officer in Command of the IRA Brendan Hughes alleged in his interview with Anthony Mc Intyre for the Boston College tapes said that former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was involved in overseeing the ‘Unknowns’ group. Gerry Adams has said this is a lie and denied being involved in the IRA. While the cases of the ‘disappeared’ were heartbreaking for their loved ones, Anthony Mc Intryre adds that the nature of such activity was pointless too. The disappearance of ‘touts’ had no deterrent effect. It was simply he says: “a war crime”. Marian Price has this week initiated a legal case, in which she intends to sue Disney for its portrayal in ‘Say nothing’ which depicts her as the one who carried out the murder of Jean McConville. In my interview with Anthony, now resident in Drogheda, we discussed the programme, its impact and what it was like growing up in the early years of the troubles. Reflecting on his own views, he says that ‘violence didn’t erupt in Northern Ireland because of the British presence, but rather the way they behaved’. His story Anthony Mc Intyre was 15 years old in 1972. A product of his time, he listed names off his tongue, of those who were killed. This violence led him, he admits, to have a sectarian mindset. By the age of 17, he was sentenced for IRA membership. By his 20th birthday, he was in jail for life for murder in 1977. While in prison, he was involved in protests including the dirty protest and hunger strikes. He was in prison for 18 years and whilst in prison, he completed a International Politics degree at the Open University, which was followed by a PHD upon his release in 1992. Mc Intyre became a critic of Sinn Fein and the peace process. A collection of his journalism was published as a book in 2008 ‘Good Friday- the death of Irish Republicanism’. He came to be seen as a ‘thought criminal’ in the early 1990s because of his criticisms of Sinn Fein. He was critical of the peace process but rejected militarism. Garda questions In March 2014, having obtained transcripts of the interviews, held by Boston College, after subpoenae, the Garda called to his house at the request of the PSNI to question McIntyre over newly released Belfast Project recordings, specifically in reference to the alleged role of Gerry Adams in the kidnapping and murder of Jean McConville, to which he gave a no comment interview. This podcast interview deals with a lot of reflection, questions about loss and regret. Had the IRA concluded what it now knows, so many lives would have been saved. By 1972, most of the aims of the civil rights movement had been achieved. About the individuals, he says people like Brendan Hughes were not naturally violent and he was haunted by the loss of life. That was compounded by the political opportunism of some of the people, who were his superiors and who gave him gave him and others directions, which led to the loss of life. Belfast to Drogheda– ‘What’s a Protestant?’ About his leaving Belfast, he says: ‘In 2000, after I wrote an article critiquing the Provisional IRA for the murder of Joe O’ Connor, a 26 year old father of four and member of the Real IRA, there were Sinn Fein led pickets on my house. My wife was six months pregnant. I was prepared to stay but I couldn’t get work. I was on social welfare’. The first place my wife came to when she came to Ireland was Drogheda and that is why we chose to move here. His wife is from Los Angelas in the United States. Living in Belfast is still a challenge. ‘ I remember my daughter was 5 or 6 years old and she came home from school and said she doesn’t like Protestants- says they would shoot you. So I took her on the bus and we went to the Loyalist David Adams house. I chatted with Davy for three hours, while my daughter played with his mother in law. After we left, I asked her what she thought of them. She loved them. After a few years living down here (in Drogheda) she came home from school one day and asked: ‘what’s a Protestant’ and to me- that was success’. About life in Drogheda, he says he loves it here. He became involved in the Old Drogheda Society and has been editor of its yearly journal and is an avid supporter of Drogheda United FC. What I love about down here is that people do not judge you because of your religion. Left not Woke About politics today, ‘I don’t like woke politics. I am left, not woke. I support the same causes, but I believe freedom of thought should be a very important part of left wing politics. I don’t like identity politics. Irish identity, we are multiplicity of identities. We cannot be suppressing people’s thoughts and ideas’. Should young people get involved in politics or steer a different course in life? His advice for young people today on getting involved in politics: ‘Get involved in all the good positive campaigns. Energy is finite. Identify causes that are dear to your heart. The right to Ukraine not to be invaded, the rights of those in Gaza, climate change. Identify the party or network, who you think can inch these things forward. Don’t become dogmatic or doctrinaire. Be open to all ideas’. Pictured: The day after my interview with Anthony, he was headed to The Lark, Balbriggan for ‘An evening with Graeme Souness’ (I presume he is a Liverpool fan, not a Rangers fan ) Anthony is editor of The Pensive Quill https://www.thepensivequill.com/

Episode 25: General election forecast; prospects for M1 constituencies

In this episode, we discuss with former Cllr Killian Forde the election coming this Friday and what we can expect in the M1 constituencies. Podcast will be uploaded before Wednesday. We have forecasts for Fingal East, Fingal West, Meath East and Louth. Listen in for the discussion and why these are my tips for the M1 constituencies for #Election2024. We discuss the campaign and the mood of the electorate and positioning of parties and independents and we discuss with particular regards to the four M1 constituencies. Having studied the form, we concluded that elections favour the incumbent and by and large, we should expect no change this election. Expect sitting TD’s standing for election to get re- elected. The Greens will suffer for their role as the smaller party in government. Participation in party politics has declined over the years and this year we see lacklustre campaigns. Candidates have been slow to get their posters up and big canvass teams are not being seen out and about. With low level activity, expect low level turnout and in terms of government, expect more of the same. This Saturday, watch out for the performances of Aontu and Labour. Peadar Tobin TD has been an impressive communicator and has 43 candidates around the country. Aontu are trying to do what the Socialist Party did previously with just a party of on TD Joe Higgins. From 1997, Joe Higgins was the Socialist Party TD and they aimed to grow a party to the left of Labour. Can Peadar Tobin build something more durable than what the Socialist Party managed to achieve with the tenure of Joe Higgins TD? The Socialist Party actually created 6 TDs over time but they are in different factions. Clare Daly joined Joe in the Dail in 2011 but left the Socialist Party in 2012. Joan Collins TD was a Socialist Party member for 20 years prior to being elected as an Independent Cllr in 2004. Paul Murphy TD was elected for the Socialist Party in 2014 but defected to being Independent and then People Before Profit, while Mick Barry and Ruth Coppinger were decades with the Militant and Socialist Party. Peadar Tobin is trying to replicate his base with a wider party base with other TDs for Aontu. Killian suggests Labour is a dying brand and has lost its focus and could in fact face wipe out. Social Democrats may hold what they have and while expected to pick up seats, it is unclear where that could happen. One possibility is Cork East with Liam Quaid and in that case, it would be Soc Dems gain at Labour expense. The government vote will hold up where in Meath East, we can expect Fine Gael to go from one to two seats and in Louth, it might be that, given the Senator John Mc Gahon punch up story, that Fianna Fail will win two seats. In Fingal East, the third seat is a toss up with Duncan Smith, Joan Hopkins and Dean Mulligan in the mix, while in Fingal West, we perceive Sinn Fein’s Louise O’ Reilly as being more certain and that time in the Seanad and full time politics will stand to Lorraine Clifford Lee perhaps, over Grace Boland of Fine Gael family dynasty. In terms of watching out for Aontu, Meath East is a bell weather constituency. Peadar Tobin’s wife Emer Tobin is their candidate and if they can’t win here, they will struggle elsewhere. Here’s our tips. – Fingal East; Garrett’s Tip Darragh O Brien (FF), Alan Farrell (FG) and one of Duncan Smith (Lab), Joan Hopkins (Soc Dem) or Dean Mulligan (Ind) Killian’s tip- Darragh O’ Brien, Alan Farrell and Dean Mulligan (15 candidates) – Fingal West; Garrett’s tip- Lorraine Clifford Lee (FF), Louise O Reilly (SF), Rob O Donoghoe (Lab) Killian’s tip- Lorraine Clifford Lee, Grace Boland, Louise O’ Reilly (12 candidates) – Meath Wast; Tip Darren O’ Rourke (SF), Helen Mc Entee (FG), Thomas Byrne (FG), Sharon Tolan (FG) Killian’s tip- Darren O’ Rourke, Helen Mc Entee, Thomas Byrne and Emer Tobin (Aontu) (18 candidates) – Louth: 3/5 current TDs are retiring Fergus O Dowd (FG), Imelda Munster (SF), Peter Fitzpatrick (Ind) Tip: Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Ged Nash (Lab), Kevin Callan (Ind), Erin Mc Geehan (FF), Alison Comyn (FF) Killian’s tip- Ruairí Ó Murchú, Erin Mc Geehan, Ged Nash, Kevin Callan, Paula Butterly (FG) (24 candidates)

Episode 24- Santry resident fled Russia before the war against Ukraine

Olga Popova and her husband moved to Ireland in 2021 before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They settled in Santry on the northside of Dublin. Her husband was involved in activities protesting against the Russian government and they were prompted to flee after he spent a night in police custody. ‘I was at home with our child, because in Russia, if you go protests you need to be able to run fast’. Now Olga has her own business here and is co-ordinator of Free Russians Ireland and has developed her Tiktok profile, which has 50,000 followers. Free Russians Ireland have organised protests at the Russian embassy in Dublin and elsewhere to mobilise support for ex-pats who are like minded. They also work together to show solidarity with some of the thousands of political prisoners in Russia, writing letters to them and campaigning for their release. Many people wonder about Russian attitudes to the war. Olga says that ‘while surveys show that 80% Russians support war, this is based on a surveys where 95% refuse to participate in surveys’. She says she hopes for Russia to lose the war because Russia became more autocratic after its victories in war, for example against Napolean in 1812 and later against the Germany in the Second World War. On the other hand, Russia became more free after the Crimean War in the 1850s. Olga hopes for the war to end and for her home country to become more free in the future. Olga’s view is that the war can continue for some time because it is comfortable for the regime but the Free Russians Ireland group have ideas about what can make it uncomfortable. She argues sanctions should be refocused to impact the regime, not the people. Olga’s Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@ollanicko Open Mind Wind is Olga’s marketing business –Success Stories Free Russians Ireland- Facebook Free Russians Ireland- https://www.instagram.com/freerussians.ireland?igsh=MThoZDJwcGVvNm1raw==

Episode 23: M1 Review

In this episode, we look at what’s on along the M1 both cultural and other events in your locality but also what’s on the box. The M1 podcast is joined by Julieanne Doyle, Editor of Ireland AM at Virgin Media events, which is 25 years on air to discuss what’s on in your locality and what’s on the box. We look at the following venues: The Lark Balbriggan, Millbank Theatre Rush, TLT theatre Drogheda, Seamus Ennis Centre in Naul. We cover some of the interesting and amazing events on at all of these venues from horror movie nights and the play ‘How the other half lives’ in Rush and Kneecap in the Seamus Ennis Centre, as well as theatre, comedy events and talks about serial killers at The Lark. Then at the edge of Drogheda and down a cul de sac at the end of an industrial estate is the TLT, where upcoming here you can see Lyra, Deirdre O’ Kane, Neil Delamere and Gavin James. Check out the links below. This is by no means a comprehensive guide to what’s on up and down the M1, but it does offer a glimpse and we are sure there is something to entice and interest you. So whatever it is whether it is scary movies in the Millbank Theatre or talks about Serial Killers in The Lark or comedy nights in the TLT and Seamus Ennis Centre, there is something for you go out to coming up soon and plenty on free player apps as well as TV to keep you entertained. Home – The Lark https://www.tseac.ie https://www.millbanktheatre.ie/ The TLT venue and Skerries has not only its own weekly newspaper, but it has the Rockabill Film Society Buy tickets – Rockabill Film Society (tickettailor.com) as well as its theatre Skerries Theatre Group

Episode 22: The road to Drogheda – from Damascus

In this episode, I speak with Adam Jazi who grew up in Damascus and lived there until 2015, when he fled the Syrian civil war. We talk culture, politics and life in Syria and his journey from Damascus to Drogheda. In the last episode, I discussed the role of the Gormanston Army Camp. It is to have a future has the induction centre for all defence forces recruits. For decades, there has been Irish troops on peace keeping missions in Lebanon , with 389 currently in place. In this episode, I open the discussion with Adam to reflect on the current situation in Lebanon, as it is so close to Syria. In fact, in Lebanon, there are over 1million Syrian refugees. On coming to Ireland, Adam has built a life for himself and his family and he has a dream to establish an arts cafe in the Drogheda area. He has also worked to assist other Syrians to resettle in Ireland. We discuss this work its impact and the circumstances for Syrian refugees in Ireland. We also reflect on what has happened since 2011, with the emergence of the Arab Spring protest movement, the regime response and descent into civil war and the Russian intervention and we discuss how Syrians are getting on in Ireland. While most Syrians wanted to go to Germany, he chose to come to Ireland. He had heard about Ireland through watching the news of the conflict in Ireland in the 1980s and says Syrians identify with Ireland. We discuss the extreme challenges Syrian refugees have living in Ireland. Adam says ‘the people of Ireland are the kindest people of Europe. I have had a very good experience living here’. We know the road to Damascus has an important place in the history of Christianity. Today, we talk about the road from Damascus and the road to Drogheda, in particular. I discuss with Adam Jazi his journey as a refugee from Syria and the experience for Syrians in Ireland. However, we start out discussion reflecting on what is going on in Lebanon. In the last episode, we talked of the future role of Gormanston Army Camp as the induction centre for all defence forces recruits. Currently there are 389 Irish soldiers based in Lebanon. And in discussing the road from Damascus and Syria more generally, it is important to discuss the situation there as well because Syria neighbours both Israel and Lebanon and Iraq on the other. We cover a lot of ground from the current situation in Lebanon and its history and the perspective of what might be, and it looks like what might be is more war and conflict. We explore what happened in Syria from the hopes and early democratic years following WW2 to the takeover by military through to the dictatorship of Assad and further explored what happened in the Arab Spring and afterwards. I hope you found it of interest. I certainly did. If you like what we do at the M1 podcast, please do like and subscribe.