Volunteer Tom Smith - 50th Anniversary

12 March 2025
FOLLOWING the eruption of the conflict in the Six Counties in 1969, the Fianna Fáil government of Jack Lynch initially expressed cautious support for the plight of nationalists. By late 1972, however, his Justice Minister, Des O’Malley, was introducing repressive legislation which saw hundreds of republicans imprisoned and the jails in the 26 Counties became a political battleground. Free article
Standing in solidarity to build a better world
4 March 2025

South Down MP Chris Hazzard spoke recently at the annual Latin America Conference in London. Below we carry the speech in full. Hazzard argues that people across Europe need to develop a solidarity that is powerful, respectful, and makes a real difference with Latin America. Free article
Irish Unity - the momentum is not stalling
3 March 2025

No matter how much its opponents wish it to go away the political momentum towards Irish Unity is not stalling. It crosses party lines and even within parties its impact is highly significant. Free article
Another world is possible: The politics of self determination & national democracy
28 February 2025
The opening words which Bobby Sands wrote on the first day of his hunger strike in 1981 have been echoing in my mind during recent weeks…’I am standing on the threshold of another trembling world’.
A palpable uncertainty and instability has engulfed global affairs.
The words and actions of the US President signal the onset of a new, dangerous world order which is hostile to... Free article
A sense of duty
28 February 2025

Book review - ‘Robert Barton – A Remarkable Revolutionary’ by Chris Lawlor. Published by History Press Free article
1940 Hunger Strike
25 February 2025

First published in An Phoblacht/Republican News, Thursday, 23 February 1995 - Over the years, many hunger strikes embarked on by republican POWs have ended in the deaths of some of the participants. The fast which began in Mountjoy Jail in February 1940 was no exception. Free article
Death of Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane
21 February 2025

The death occurred on Friday 21 February of Brendan McFarlane, who was a Republican leader inside and outside the prisons, known and respected by generations of activists across Ireland and beyond. ‘Bik’ was an inspirational and well-loved comrade and his passing will be widely mourned. Free article
Beginning of 1975 Truce
19 February 2025
First published in 'An Phoblacht/Republican News', 9 February 1995, The IRA’s 1974 Christmas ceasefire, called following talks earlier in December between republican leaders and a number of Protestant clergymen, led to one of the longest and most controversial Truces during the IRA’s campaign. Free article
A pivotal moment for the Palestinian struggle
6 February 2025

Last Friday, in the Hague, Netherlands, a ground-breaking event took place with the formation of ‘The Hague Group’ by nine key states from the global south, including Namibia, Honduras, Chile, Colombia, Belize, Bolivia, Malaysia, Senegal, Cuba, and led by South Africa as an inter-governmental bloc to support the positions adopted by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and... Free article
Time to make United Ireland a reality
27 January 2025

The weekend of 18 and 19 January saw Irish republicans from Sligo, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Roscommon, Cavan and further afield mark the 50th Anniversary of the death of IRA Volunteer Kevin Coen through commemoration and reflection.
A native of Rusheen, near Riverstown Co Sligo, Kevin was a Volunteer with the IRA's South Fermanagh Brigade.
He joined the ranks of the Defense Forces in the... Free article
Remembering Ted Howell
25 January 2025

Gerry Adams penned a poignant tribute to his friend and comrade Ted Howell which was published in the 'Irish News' this week. Free article
Page 1 of 481
Follow us on Facebook
An Phoblacht on Twitter
Uncomfortable Conversations
An initiative for dialogue
for reconciliation
— — — — — — —
Contributions from key figures in the churches, academia and wider civic society as well as senior republican figures