Gerry Adams

GERRY ADAMS: Tom opens a new chapter on the Al Rawdah prison ship

FOR the first time ever the families of many of the 207 republican internees held on the Al Rawdah prison ship between 1940 and 1941 met in Belfast. 85 years after their loved ones were interned on the prison hulk the families came together for the launch of Tom Hartley’s insightful account of that period, 'The SS Al Rawdah'.

GERRY ADAMS: This was a week for saying goodbyes

PHILOMENA Mulvenna died in the early hours of last Friday morning. I have known Philomena and her husband Paddy for most of my adult life. Paddy and she were 72 years married, they had seven children: Colette, Teresa, Brendan, Michael, Desmond, Patrick and baby Martin, who died in his infancy.

Gerry Adams: We’ve seen it all before as DUP frets over TUV

MICHELLE O’Neill honoured her commitment to be a First Minister for All when she chose to take part in Sunday’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Belfast. Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly chose not to honour her responsibilities by refusing to attend this week’s inauguration of Catherine Connolly as the 10th Uachtarán na hÉireann. The two choices taken by both leaders highlight again the refusal by unionism to accept the core principles of equality and parity of esteem which are at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

GERRY ADAMS: Belfast came alive with the spirit of the language

COMHGHAIRDEAS to all of those who helped make Oireachtas na Samhna the huge success it was. Thousands of Irish language speakers from across the island of Ireland spent last week enjoying the music, dance, culture, arts, craic and discussions that are part of the oldest Irish language and arts event on the island of Ireland. The Waterfront Hall and other venues were filled with the very young to the not so young Gaels, all actively and enthusiastically enjoying the enormous diversity of Oireachtas na Samhna. Many took part in competitions, including sean-nós singing, sean-nós step dancing and lúibíní (poetic verses).

Gerry Adams: Catherine Connolly election an opportunity

BA mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil le Catherine Connolly agus a foireann. Maith sibh as feachtas Uachtaránachta dearfach, forásach agus trócaireach a chur chun cinn.

Gerry Adams: Censorship anniversary is a lesson for today

SUNDAY was the anniversary of the imposition on October 19, 1988 of the broadcasting ban by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Prior to that censorship in one form or another had operated in the North and in Britain, and also in the 26 counties. The rationale for this had long been the desire of the two governments to deny citizens their right to information. In this way it was easier to promote the establishment’s narrative.In Ireland the British media strategy had its roots in Britain’s colonial experience. But it was especially influenced by the writings in the late 1960s of General Frank Kitson who believed that all governmental structures; the judiciary, the law, the police and the media, must be part of a co-ordinated strategy to defeat ‘the enemy’ while suppressing citizens and their rights.

GERRY ADAMS: Liam Mellows’ words resonate through the years

I WAS very pleased to speak at the launch in Áras Uí Chonghaile of the latest edition of Desmond Greaves’ wonderful book, ‘Liam Mellows and the Irish Revolution’. Dr Ruan O’Donnell, a Senior Lecturer in History, was instrumental in updating the book. Present also were Anthony and Muriel Coughlan. Anthony is Desmond Greaves’ literary executor. He is owed a debt of gratitude for his lifelong work on many issues, but especially the work of collating Desmond’s writings.

GERRY ADAMS: Taoiseach’s Áras debacle says so much about him

THE decision by Fianna Fáil Presidential candidate Jim Gavin to withdraw from the contest means the race is now between Independent Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.

Gerry Adams: Catherine Connolly a candidate worth uniting for

ALL three candidates in the Presidential election have made commitments in support of Irish unity. Clear evidence of the growing importance of Irish unity to the electorate.

GERRY ADAMS: Let’s work to put Catherine in the Áras

IN less than five weeks’ time the next Uachtarán na hÉireann will be elected by the people of the 26 counties. Election day is October 24. That the people of the North and of the diaspora will be denied a vote is a disgraceful consequence of the efforts over recent years by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael (FFFG) to prevent the extension of the Presidential franchise. Both parties are frightened by the prospect of people who have never voted for either party voting in Presidential elections. They want to retain the status quo, not change it. This partitionist approach also influences the resistance of Micheál Martin and others to the growing potential for a referendum vote in favour of Irish unity.

GERRY ADAMS: Imperfect Stormont is worth defending

IF we were to listen to and accept at face value those in the media who criticise the Assembly and the Executive as ineffective, and who question their value or use, we would mothball both institutions and sack the MLAs.

GERRY ADAMS: Little Englanders can’t decide our future

PROBABLY more than any other politician in Britain Nigel Farage was responsible for winning the vote on Brexit in 2016. He exploited racism and anti-migrant sentiment, winning new converts over to an English-centred, jingoistic view of the world. The dangers of Farage’s xenophobic beliefs are evident daily across the British news media. Every day attacks increase on refugees and migrants.

GERRY ADAMS: I’m in awe of these extraordinary people

THE eight months of the 1981 hunger strike campaign changed the political landscape in Ireland. It was, as Síle Darragh, former OC of the republican women prisoners in Armagh Women’s Prison, said recently, “our 1916”.

GERRY ADAMS: Commemorating the hunger-strikers in Belfast this weekend

TODAY, Wednesday 20th August marks the anniversary of the death on hunger strike in 1981 of Mickey Devine. Mickey was the last of the ten men to die and several weeks later the hunger strike ended on 3 October. It was also the day the by-election was held in Fermanagh South Tyrone caused by the death in May of Bobby Sands. Owen Carron successfully held the seat as the ‘Anti-H-Block/Proxy Political Prisoner’ candidate.

GERRY ADAMS: Grave finish for fabulous Féile

WELL done to all of those who planned, organised, participated in, or generally contributed to this year's hugely successful Féile an Phobail. It was a colourful, imaginative, informative, entertaining, empowering and exhausting couple of weeks.

Belfast gets the crumbs off the table with Euro 2028 draw

Gaelic Games: St Gall's set up All-Belfast final after victory over Creggan

Soccer: Depleted Cliftonville welcome Swifts to Solitude

Soccer: Joe 'the goal' breaks 300 goals as Reds advance to last eight

Community Gardening: Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is here, time to get planting

PLATING UP: A chilli lime and coriander seasoned Basa fillet on a bed of baby beets

EYE ON THE PAST: November 1984 – Direct Rule plan for Belfast

Police treat UVF graffiti at Alliance office as a 'hate crime'

Gerry Adams

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