Gerry Adams

Gerry Adams: Fast for Palestine sends out a message

WELL done to all of those – 1,600 at the last count – who last week participated in the Hunger for Justice Fast/Troscadh ar son na Córa in support of the people of Palestine. Over €100,000 has been raised. As well as individual contributions, scores of vigils and protests were held across the island.

GERRY ADAMS: Fracking ban was the right thing to do

THE Northern Executive has taken welcome and decisive action to protect our environment, our health and jobs by committing to a ban on all forms of onshore petroleum exploration and production, including fracking. This decision is part of the Executive’s commitment to tackle our dependence on fossil fuels. Conor Murphy, the Economy Minister announced that, following drafting and consultation, he will be introducing legislation next year to block licensing applications.

GERRY ADAMS: Christmas in the Kesh

IT'S three weeks to Christmas. The decorations, inside and outside of the houses and shops and the Christmas trees in all their finery are everywhere as we prepare for the festive season. It puts me in mind of another Christmas which was not so jolly but where the spirt of friendship and family rose above the place we were in.

GERRY ADAMS: Sinn Féin can make history on Friday

DURING the general election campaign I have been in several constituencies. In Dublin, in Drogheda, Dundalk, and Donegal and some other places in between. People are clearly fed up with the cost of living, the crisis in public services, especially in health and housing, childcare and disability services.

GERRY ADAMS: Voters are facing a crystal-clear choice

I HAVE been doing a wee bit of canvassing in the General Election in the South. The response has been positive. There are clearly some who see election campaigns, including this one, as opportunities to write Sinn Féin’s obituary. Sorry to disappoint.

GERRY ADAMS: Coalition partners have failed to plan

THE southern general election was called last Friday. In just over two weeks’ time 174 Teachtaí Dála (TDs) will be elected to the Dáil – an increase of 14 over the number elected in the 2020 general election.

GERRY ADAMS: Bobby Sands' writings live on with new collection

IN a recent interview Christy Moore remarked that the death of Bobby Sands robbed us of a great writing talent. Christy was praising the quality of the work Bobby created in the harsh conditions he endured. He was making the point that you can only imagine what Bobby might have gone on to produce in different circumstances where his creative imagination could have been nurtured and not repressed. But of course this was not to be. Bobby led the second hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and he was the first of the ten men who fasted to death in that awful summer of 1981.

GERRY ADAMS: Let's give our children room to play

I REMEMBER Father Des Wilson many moons ago lamenting the narrowness of streets in Turf Lodge and Ballymurphy. “The City Planners don’t think the working class should have motor cars,” he said one day as we tried to manoeuvre our way by tightly-packed vehicles in Ballymurphy Drive.

GERRY ADAMS: Celebration of a unique social movement

ON Saturday night I was privileged to attend the oíche mhór Ghlór na Móna in Belfast’s City Hall. The event was to celebrate twenty years of this amazing Irish language initiative made up mostly of and aimed at young people in the Upper Springfield area. It was a great night. Packed out with young Gaeilgeoirí. But there was also a good clatter of veteran campaigners. The pioneers who gave us the Shaws Road Gaeltacht, An Chultúrlann, Lá, Raidió Fáilte, An Meánscoil (now Coláiste Feirste), an Cheathrú Ghaeltachta and many other wonderful cultural and communal creations, including a thriving Irish medium education sector.

GERRY ADAMS: Ethel Kennedy: A brave, kind woman

IT was with sadness I heard last week of the death of Ethel Kennedy, the wife of assassinated US Senator Robert Kennedy. She was aged 96. Ethel Kennedy was with her husband in Los Angeles in 1968 when he was shot and killed. She was left to rear 11 children. It was a huge blow to her and to the family.

GERRY ADAMS: Leo’s words reflect our changing times

IRISH Unity is the big idea that will positively transform society on this island. Its popularity is growing and the economic, political and social arguments in support of it are advancing each day. The recent interventions by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar are an example of this. In June at the Ireland’s Future event in Belfast he said that the goal of a united Ireland had to be more than a “political aspiration.” It needed to become a “political objective”.

GERRY ADAMS: Unity front and centre at conference

THE weekend Sinn Féin Ard Fheis was full of enthusiasm and passion with great speeches covering every issue imaginable and the delegates voting through policy motions that will help shape Sinn Féin politics in the time ahead. The speeches, particularly from Michelle O’Neill and other national leaders, demonstrated the strength and relevance of the party across our island.

GERRY ADAMS: Planners can’t have last word on 1916 site

THE battle to save the iconic 1916 Moore Street battlefield site has been ongoing for over 20 years. During that time there has been a series of plans by developers, appeals against those plans, court cases, protests and sit-ins. Last week, in an appalling decision, An Bord Pleanála (ABP) – the Planning Authority in the Irish State – ruled on the remaining appeals and published its recommendations on the future development of the site.

GERRY ADAMS: Decision, decisions: Let’s make our own

BRITISH government policy toward Ireland has long been dictated by Britain’s strategic self-interests. From the conquest of Ireland nine centuries ago to partition, the needs of the people of Ireland have played no meaningful part in the decision making processes of a British state that focuses primarily on the interests of England and the English economy.

GERRY ADAMS: Governments must act on social media hate

THERE has been a significant increase in recent times in far right racist, Islamophobic and hate attacks on social media. The purpose of these has been to promote a climate of fear through a range of conspiracy theories from climate change, to migration and asylum seekers, to direct interference in elections.

Gaelic Games: Antrim GAA outline a new five-year strategic plan

Jiu-Jitsu: ‘Godfather of Irish MMA’ Andy Ryan hosts masterclass

Basketball: Star edge Maree in nailbiter

NIFL Premiership: Larne strike late to deny Cliftonville long-awaited Inver victory

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT: Win a copy of Bill Kirk's superb book of Falls memories

JUST THE GOLDEN TICKET: St Joseph's Christmas show is a big hit

DÚLRA: Council kids leading the green revolution

HEALTHWISE: Parsnips aren't just for your Christmas dinner

Gerry Adams

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