We take up the story as seen via the Minutes after the January 1970 Ard Fheis, supplementing it with the story as seen by Nuacht Naisiunta.

AC 17/01/70:

TMacG, Malachi McGurran, Sean O Cionnaith, Cathal Goulding, Lian O Comain, Oliver Frawley, MJ Dunfy, Ivan Barr, Tom Mitchell, Frank Wogan, Frank Patterson, Oliver McCaul, Sean Dunne, Seamus Costello, Mick Ryan, Mairin de Bruca. Apologies from RJ, Paddy Kilcullen, Tom Kilroy, Sylvester Doolan. Eamonn Mac Tomais had been elected but had walked out. Regional representatives who had walked out were Peter Duffy, JJ McGirl, Ruairi O Bradaigh, Des Long, Ned Bailey. The position of George O'Mahony of Cork was not known.

The present writer continued as Director of Education. MdeB and Sean O Cionnaith were secretaries. Seamus Rhatigan and Derry Kelleher were treasurers. The CS was to include as well as the officers MR, CG, TM and SD.

I did not want go forward, having just then left Aer Lingus and being faced with survival in self-employed mode; I definitely felt I had to get more into a back-room situation, and out of the front line. But I was stuck with the education job and felt that somehow I had to continue with it. This meant that I continued on the CS.

It seems that one Jerry O'Keefe, who was a visitor representing the NAIJ, had assaulted Sean Mac Stiofain, so they agreed to complain to the NAIJ. The issue was raised by Tom Mitchell.

Why should a visitor take such an action? Could this be part of a prior arrangement to generate 'news'? The media would assume it was a delegate, and help to promulgate an aura of 'injured innocence' around Mac Stiofain.

Publication of the social and economic programme was to be prioritised. This appeared in the February United Irishman, under the title 'Freedom Manifesto'. Insofar as there is a focus for the 'National Liberation Front' concept, this is it.

CS 26/01/70: TMacG, Derry Kelleher, CG, RJ, TM, Sean Dunne, Sylvester Doolan; also Seamus O Tuathail editor of the United Irishman. The Labour Party invited TMacG to their Annual Conference. Sean Dunne to go. The Connemara Cearta Sibhialta movement had written supporting the 'national liberation front' concept. No reply to the statement issued by the 'breakaway group' but errors of fact were to be corrected with the UI and NN. The Westminster election was discussed, and the coming NICRA AGM. Tom Mitchell to meet with Bernadette. Malachi McGurran as NICRA Chair was considered but no decision taken.

CS 2/02/70: TMacG, DK, RJ, CG, SOC, MdeB, TM, MR, SylD. TMacG to speak in UCC on March 6. RJ to go with him, and to run an educational conference on that weekend. Some exchange of correspondence with 'caretaker executive'; the issue is arising as to who owns the name SF. The ESRI people thanked SF for talking to them; TMacG and RJ had met them; they were talking to all parties. Young Socialists had requested a speaker; Derry Kelleher and Sean O Cionnaith would go. TMacG reported on Rep Clubs meeting in Brackareilly; 90 had come; Tony Coughlan had spoken on Civil Rights and future activities. There was a poor response at question time. The mid-Ulster election question was not raised.

CS 9/02/1970: TMacG, CG, SR, DK, MR, SD, TM, RJ, MdeB. RJ, TMacG and Sean O Cionnaith to form a sub-committee to plan for a week-end educational conference. Arising from the Enoch Powell speech it was agreed to ask Clann na h-Eireann to survey the emigrants regarding their voting patterns. Votes at 18 to be referred to college republican clubs and Connolly Youth. TMacG reported on a Wexford meeting which called for 'unity', without clarity. A meeting was planned to discuss the NICRA agenda and the position of republican delegates to the elections to the executive. The booklet 'ways and means' was looked at critically; it had never been sanctioned.

The CS minutes as above were signed by TMacG on 16/02/70 but there is a gap in the minute-book record until May 11. It could be that under pressure of events record-keeping suffered. Nuacht Naisiunta acts as a partial record between these dates.

AC February 28 1970:

TMacG, LC, M Dunphy, MR, OF, CG, SR, IB, TM, SOC, PK, RJ, Tom Kilroy, DK, DMacR, OMacC, SC. This was the makings of an effective post-split national leadership, of what was the makings of an effective all-Ireland political republican movement. What went wrong? Were there avoidable blunders committed? Or was the initiative marginalised by external 'force majeure'? We hope to tease this out. RJ July 2001.

Sean Keenan in Derry 'does not want an enquiry into his dismissal' ie he is registering his opting out in favour of the Provisionals. Local Derry activists threaten to withdraw support from NICRA street protests, seeing 'education in ideology of revolution' as an alternative. They are instructed to persist with public support for NICRA events. Church gate collections called for Bombay St Housing Association.

On my various visits to Derry to interact with the activists, I had marginally encountered Sean Keenan, in a house where we met; he tended to be passively in the background, watching TV, while we tried to develop some degree of political understanding.

AF Resolutions referred to incoming AC:

the following were passed: 11, 58, 59, 65, 67, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 61.

rejected: 3, 7, 8, 40, 42, 57, 60, 62.

these ones could only be considered at AF: 12, 29, 30, 31, 32, 39.

referred to CS for implementation: 46, 47, 48, 50, 61; 50 to be discussed at next AC meeting.

Motion 52 led Tom Kiloy to propose initiating a Small Farmers Defence Association 'to be led by republicans' and this was agreed.

The full Clįr is probably available in the Workers Party archive so we need infill here.

There was a discussion on whether a membership fee should be made a condition of membership; it was left that the CC had the power to waive it. The prisoners release campaign was to be intensified. Frank Patterson was agreed as a unity candidate for S Down. Unity candidates to be discussed by the Clubs Executive. Tom Mitchell to go to Belfast to discuss current policy.

AC April 17 1970:

TMacG, MdeB, DK, Padraig Maloney, DMacR, SC, MR, LOC, OF, MD, TM. A O hAnnrachain, Frank Wogan, SR, SOC, CG. Belfast affiliation fees handed in. Bombay St collections unsatisfactory. Educational conferences had taken place in Limerick and Cork and were planned for Tyrone and Waterford. Prisoners protest meeting in TCD (SOC). Eoin O Murchu appointed Organiser for the Gaeltacht. Draft statement agreed on the North. Meeting fixed for Maghera on May 10 to organise a new 6-co executive. Bill of Rights campaign support was to be urged on Clann na hEireann at their Birmingham AGM.

CS May 11 1970: TMacG, DK, SD, CG, TM, SR, MdeB. There is reference to previous minutes being signed; there must therefore be a missing temporary minute book. Perhaps it can be found in the WP archive. Meetings on the Westminster elections had taken place. CG reported on Belfast; 5 points wee agreed: 1. FF agents to be opposed wherever identified.

2. 'Well-known people such as Gerry Fitt' should not be opposed, but movement should put forward its own policies.

3. Contest one trial seat on the abstentionist policy.

4. Circulate a questionnaire seeking views on abstentionism or attendance.

5. Attend 'unity conventions' in strength, get republican policies accepted, and our candidates where possible accepted as unity candidates.

South Tyrone urged getting CRA policies agreed by the unity candidate.

SR reported from Armagh; badly organised meeting, small attendance, no unified decision taken. There was said to have been a 'successful educational conference' on the Sunday.

In Derry they did not want a republican candidate, nor to attend any unity convention. They wanted to march on the American base protesting about Cambodia. Thee had been a complaint about picketing in connection with squatting families, without informing the action committee.

Here we again have evidence of the pincer movement on the exposed position of the movement: ultra-leftism in Derry, and probably Provisional recruiting in Armagh. Electoral strategy crippled by the residual abstentionism left by the January Ard Fheis.

TMacG reported from Mid-Ulster; they did not want an abstentionist candidate. They could select a republican abstentionist candidate and use this as a lever to get a preferred unity candidate.

AC May 16 1970:

TMacG, RJ, SOC, SC, PK, IB, DK, DMacR, MMacG, SR, FP, FW, TM, OMcC. Kevin Agnew and Kevin Murphy also present as visitors. There was a re-run of the Westminster election discussions as at the SC, dominated by the abstention incubus. It was agreed to try to recruit Labour Party drop-out dissidents. There were positive results from the organising effort, and UI sales were increasing. Agreed to call meeting of republican CRA activists with a view to enhancing the Bill of Rights campaign. Estate agents conference to be leafleted with housing action material.

CS June 2 1970: TMacG, SR, SOC, Sean Dunne, TM, CG, SD, RJ, SC. Report of a very negative meeting in Derry by TMacG; badly organised, indecisive regarding election policy, Coleraine Club was missing. SR and RJ to monitor the Common Market Study Group. RJ presented an agenda for an Organisers' Conference, planned for June 22/23. SOC to meet with LP dissidents. Dublin CC to issue a statement on local democracy, in connection with the Commissioners meeting. This sank without trace; no sign of it in Nuacht Naisiunta, that I have seen. Seamus Costello and Jim McCabe to meet with Fermanagh South Tyrone republicans to discuss candidate selection.

CS June 8 1970: TMacG, SOC, TM, MR, RJ, DK, SD, SR, CG, MdeB. Educational conference in Tralee postponed. Dundalk meeting projected. RJ invoked by Breasail O Caollai e EEC controversy in local paper. TMacG attended a Convention in Dungiven which agreed not to contest. Bowes Egan (PDs) wanted MdeB to go to Mid-Ulster to help canvass for Bernadette; this was refused as local republicans were not engaged in organised support. Attack on movement by Vincent McDowell was noted; he had been acting for the NICRA at a C na hE event. VMcD was to be banned from republican-controlled platforms.

I checked this out with McDowell; he remembered the meeting; he had blamed both sides equally for the split, and had urged them to get back together. This was a widespread public perception at the time; few outside the movement were aware of the extent of the the Fianna Fail / Provisional conspiracy, or the depth of the philosophical gulf between the militarists and the politicisers. At the next meeting of the NICRA Billy McMillan took him aside and told him about the ban.

There was a 'camp-in' at Lismore, in the castle grounds. MdeB objected to it from the feminist angle; it was a 'boys only' event, but this was a locally-imposed constraint.

The present writer made the case for a Special Ard Fheis in case there was an autumn election linked with an EEC referendum, but was over-ruled. The abstention incubus remained with us, and people were afraid of its aura, despite the walk-out. There remained a residuum of people who were 'loyal to the movement' and had not gone with the breakaway group, but who remained abstentionist, being at heart crypto-FF, and uneasy about the developing democratic socialist flavour of the movement. There was fear that these would go, if the movement became fully political.

CS June 15 1970: TMacG, SOC, MR, TM, CG, MdeB. Dublin CC to be met to discuss reorganisation (TMacG, SOC, MR). Common Market Study Group publication launch noted.

CS July 5 1970: TMacG, DK, SD, SR, SOC, RJ, TM, MdeB. NICRA collection discussed; flags but no wrappers or posters. Armagh unemployed wanted a speaker. Emigrants rally August 22. Meeting with Belfast people July 11, they agreed not to 'issue a statement'. Housing Action and Forcible Entry: need to discuss HAC work at least once monthly. RJ produced a draft new members pamphlet and TMacG was to read it.

CS July 13 1970: TMacG, TM, MR, SD, RJ, CG, MdeB. Agreed J to speak at Tuam seminar on EEC on Sept 5. Joe Sweeney in Clonmel resigns; he was to be told Tony Coughlan was not a member of the movement.

It is not clear how this resignation was related to any act of Coughlan. It could be Sweeney reacting against the emphasis given to the EEC campaign. The content of the letter illustrates the perceptions underlying the leakage of support to the Provisionals, with SC, CG and TMacG being apparently led astray by the likes of the present writer and Coughlan.

RJ to act re Waterford flat-dwellers, and ACEC closure; latter issue to be treated in Nuacht Naisiunta. This seems to have got lost.

On Belfast TMacG reported back; thee were 6 active clubs; the Falls Citizen Defence Committee was unelected; they wanted to broaden its base and give it a local government function. 5000 copies of the UI had been seized; CG wanted to have it bought up at Westminster.

Michael O'Riordain (CP) had tried to set up a unity meeting in Dublin and had asked the Provos to send a speaker, but they had refused, even for Eamonn Mac Tomais in his personal capacity. There was considered to be no point in TMacG going.

This echoes the Vincent McDowell episode noted earlier. The hard-left, in well-meaning ignorance, wanted some sort of abstract 'unity' with people who even at that moment, it turned out later, were planning a campaign of divisive terror.

CS July 20 1970: TMacG, MR, RJ, TM, MdeB, SOC. AC to hear regional reports, and fix date for next AF. Dublin CC wanted EEC material; also urged restraint in heckling Provisional meetings. £50 from Melbourne for the prisoners release fund. Educational conference planned for Tralee Aug 23; TMacG, RJ, Eoin O Murchu and Gabriel Mac Lochlainn suggested as speakers. Tuam EEC meeting: TMacG would speak, with RJ as from the CMSG.

This would suggest that I was backtracking a bit as regards public role, and that the movement accepted this.

Emigrants' rally to be addressed by TMacG, LC, Seamus Rodgers, EOM. There was to be a ceili afterwards. Various suggestions for Mid-Ulster emerged; there was a need for a campaign to get Bernadette Devlin released; repeat the Coalisland to Dungannon march?

CS July 27 1970: TMacG, TM, CG, SD, MR, RJ, DK, MdeB. Resolution on release of prisoners received from the Connolly Association. New members pamphlet (drafted by RJ) was read and approved. Draft of special pamphlet on the North to be available shortly. Ban on parades; meeting in Dungiven; release of prisoners. Week-end school? MR to check out hotels.

AC August 8 1970:

TMacG, FW, MR, IB, TM, RJ, DK, LOC, DMacR, SR, MMcG, SOC, OF, SD, AOhA, SC, OMcC. Breasail O Caollai as visiting Connaught organiser. TMacG gave an overview report of the work of the movement in support of the NICRA. There were detailed regional reports, showing a consistent high level of activity by many cumainn, all over, reflected in high UI sales. Thee were 10 active Clubs in the 6 Counties, taking up trade union and housing issues. A committee was set up to draft a short-term policy document for the movement, with a resolution, proposed by SC and seconded by MR: 'recognising that the ultimate objective of the Republican Movement is the establishment of a democratic 32 county socialist republic.... taking into account the existing political, economic and military position in the 6 and 26 counties'.

A drafting committee was set up consisting of TMacG, SR, RJ, CG, MR, OF and OMcC; this was to meet local and middle leadership N and S, and to report back to an AC meeting on the 22nd.

This initiative seems to have sunk without trace; the next AC meeting is on November 7, and I can find no mention in Nuacht Naisiunta.

CS August 17 1970: TMacG, MR, DK, SOC, SR. The sub-committee was working and reported; two drafts had emerged; both were to be presented on 22nd. AC members to be contacted. The new 6-co regional executive was: Malachi McGurran Chair, Liam McMillan vice-chair, Liam O Comain Sec, Francie Donnelly Treasurer, Oliver Frawley PRO, with Peter Morris, Malachi McBirney and Tom French as publicity committee. It seems 25 clubs were represented at the Brackereilly meeting at which the new executive was set up.

There seems to have been a long hiatus, and the August 22 event remains unrecorded.

CS September 14 1970: TMacG, TM, MR, SOC, DK, RJ, SD, CG, MdeB. Sheelin educational conference fixed for October 12-15; MR, RJ and SOC to organise the content. Status of Oliver Frawley as 6-co executive AC rep questioned by TMacG. Meeting planned for Tralee to coincide with the Manshold visit October 29; combine this with an educational conference on EEC and agriculture. The Montpelier school issue had received little UI coverage.

CS Sept 22 1970: TMacG, RJ, CG, SD, MdeB, SOC. Sacked republican teachers (Hegartys) from an RC school in Dungiven available for Montpelier. This is again the Movement playing at being the underground 'Robin Hood' State. The Sheelin conference proceedings were to be published as an educational handbook. Nixon visit would be opposed.

CS Sept 28 1970: TMacG, CG, SD, DK, RJ, MdeB. Rattigan and been 'teaching' in Montpelier, and Terry Murphy would take over next week. TMacG to speak on Tyne-Tees TV on October 16. DK and TMacG to speak on EEC at Dundalk on November 26. A meeting to exchange ideas about anti-EEC actions was planned among representatives of 'radical groups'; this should not initiate actions 'as itself' but maybe a joint group could come later. A pamphlet on the EEC and Neutrality was in preparation, by Kader Asmal.

The 'radical groups' label is a euphemism for interaction with the Communist Party in the context of the emerging 'national liberation movement' concept. The barrier posed by the existence of the Stalin incubus was however palpable. While the movement valued and respected the ideas and actions of local CP activists, we were acutely aware of the Stalinist label as a political liability. Whence the perceived need for keeping such meetings discreet.

The next AC meeting was planned for October 24 at this stage, but it got postponed.

CS October 5 1970: TMacG, J, SOC, SD, DK, MR, TM. TMacG reported on a meeting with the Dublin Regional Council of the Labour Party, a radical focus, which was keen to get joint internal meetings going to co-ordinate anti-EEC actions, for example public meetings at factory level. SOC reported on anti-EEC meetings with the Connolly Youth, and with Sligo and Bray campaign committees. Meetings with broader representation were planned.

The question of a Cumann commission on collections for the NICRA arose; it had been reported to the NICRA in Belfast by Eddie Glacken the CYM Secretary. This was a cause of friction, representing as it did a basic difference in approach to money as between SF and CP activists, illustrating, perhaps, the 'petite-bourgeois' status of the former in the eyes of the latter.

TCD had been approached to get the Exam Hall for the Ad Fheis.

CS October 12 1970: TMacG, SOC, CG, SD, DK, RJ, SR, TM, MdeB. Donation of £5 agreed for Irish Voice on Vietnam.

This again was an aspect of the 'NLF' concept. George Jeffares was the prime mover in the Vietnam context, fronted by Peadar O'Donnell. GJ was also the prime mover in the Labour Party Dublin Regional Council, which he tied to develop as a left-political think-tank and ideas-forum. He had dropped out from the CP over the question of Czechoslovakia in 1968, along with Sam Nolan, Joe Deasy and others who subsequently contributed to the 'Labour Left' tendency. It was natural for an emerging 'democratic left' tendency, wishing to escape from the dead hand of Moscow domination, to move closer to the politicising republicans. At the same time, it was natural for those among the politicising republicans who had residual military mindsets as baggage, to want to move closer to the 'official CP', Moscow domination notwithstanding. There is an empathy between Stalinism and top-down military-type organisation. These were two contradictory aspects of the republican politicisation process, which ultimately destabilised it.

The Ard Fheis was fixed provisionally for January 16-17 in Liberty Hall, scheduled round their Saturday night bingo. A weekend of events in Tralee was planned for the Mansholt visit. Maire Mac an tSaoi was to be asked, by the CMSG, to write a pamphlet on the EEC and Irish culture. Exception was taken to items in Crotty's pamphlet, and a disclaimer was to be published in Nuacht Naisiunta.

Written report from MMcG: there was to be an NICRA march against repressive legislation in November; the Movement in NI had not had spokesmen on RTE 7 Days; RTE to be lobbied on this. SR reported on a meeting in Hilltown Co Down. Des O'Hagan had attended an Irish Solidarity Campaign in Birmingham.

CS October 26 1970: TMacG, SD, MR, RJ, SR, SOC, MdeB. Speaker requested for a citizens committee meeting in Paris; no decision. Ard Fheis finalised; apology to cumainn for the delay. Anti-Manshold week of lectures was being organised by an ad-hoc committee of CYM, CP and Labour Left. The Hilltown Co Down meeting on November 15, mentioned earlier by Rattigan, was to be focused on the EEC.

The underlying strategic thinking behind all this I attribute to the influence of Coughlan, who was promoting the 'Federation' model: ie the British using the leverage of the Northern situation to influence the Irish government to come into the EEC along with them as some sort of federated close-knit unit. This concept surfaced repeatedly. The result was that the politics of Northern reform was half-hearted, leaving open a political vacuum later to be filled by the Provisionals militarily.

Tuairim requested a speaker on a motion 'that Ireland can no longer afford the luxury of a private banking system'. TMacG was to reply offering M Durkin as speaker.

The NICRA march in Enniskillen was discussed, but no evaluation or decision is on record.

AC November 7 1970:

TMacG, MMcG, SOC, MR, PK, LMcM, RJ, SD, Peadar Burke, AOhA, IB, TM, MD, SC, SR, MdeB, DMacR, J Maloney, CG, DK. Eoin O Murchu to get out from Montpelier and go back to organising the Gaeltacht; efforts to be made to find a suitable permanent teacher. Contact with 'Irish Solidarity Campaign' in Britain, which included 'English radical organisations'. Speaker requested for the Irish Club in London.

There was said to be a Peoples Democracy meeting that same night at the GPO, but no meeting took place. Cyril Toman had phoned the UI office seeking information about an SF/LP meeting, but had been told that the PD were organising it, as far as we knew. CG proposed a motion against 'blanket co-operation' with PD, but local level OK in the 6-cos. PD co-operation decisions in the 26-cos to be left to the CS. Liam McMillan proposed and RJ seconded a motion that there be no co-operation with the PDs, but this was defeated.

Costello was to speak in Belfast. The Cavan (Sheelin Shamrock) educational conference was to be limited to 50 people; CS to prepare speakers. A 'Freedom Manifesto' was to be prepared for the Ard Fheis (RJ's motion); regional meetings to take place beforehand. Topics for Sheelin were to include '19th century revolutions', 'significance of the TU movement', 'history of class struggles', 'decline of socialist movement after 1921', 'the Movement in the 40s and 50s', 'small farmers and the CR movement'. Speakers would, it was hoped, include de Courcy Ireland, Kader Asmal, Noel Harris, George Gilmore, Tom Kilroy, Dalton Kelly and various AC members.

The Sheelin conference took place, and was memorable as a relatively high point in the political development of the post-split left-republicans. It was however subject to stress from the military tradition, in that the selection of personnel to attend it was actually an Army function. Janice, who was there, shared a room with 2 other women, one of whom had a gun in her possession, and the other of whom was subsequently convicted of a serious offence involving firearms. Despite Goulding's declared policy of avoiding recruiting people on the basis of the 'romantic appeal of the gun', this was apparently continuing to happen, and of course the August 1969 events reinforced the process, strengthening the mind-set of the middle leadership who would have been doing the recruiting. Those of us who were concerned with trying to fuel the political process at the top in fact had little control over what went on in the undergrowth. Much recent Army recruitment had inevitably been in response to August 1969.

Excessive publicity given to the Provisionals was noted, especially in the Irish Press. TMacG and SOC were delegated to go and see Tim Pat Coogan.

There were doubts about the wisdom of the proposed NICRA march in Fermanagh. The NICRA Executive was to decide on Friday 13th. TMacG reported on a somewhat unproductive meeting with Bernadette Devlin, but she had expressed support for the anti-EEC campaign. The Paris convention was to be supported if after enquiries the organisers were seen to be bona fide.

No candidates were to be put up in the coming Donegal and Dublin by-elections; a campaign for vote-spoiling was to be implemented if all candidates were pro-EEC. We were of course still constrained by the abstention policy. No-one however believed in fielding abstention candidates.

CS November 16 1970: TMacG, SR, SOC, SD, MR, CG, MdeB, TM. Costello had attended the Paris convention and been well received. There was a letter of application for membership from one RA Aston Cooper who claimed to be a friend of Charlie Haughey. He was offered associate membership 'despite this friendship'. This is intriguing but I am not going to chase this trail. Why did he think claiming to be a friend of CJH would go down well? Had he simply mis-identified his target? The mind boggles.

Seamus Rodgers in Donegal was supporting the by-election campaign as agreed. SOC and MdeB had visited Belfast but meeting had been cancelled; a meeting in Swatragh had been addressed by BD. SR reported on the Hilltown meeting on the EEC which had been poorly attended. TMacG reported on an offer of a 1/4 page of the Irish Press from TPC. TMacG to draft, discuss at CS, including whether to take this up. EEC campaign to address issues relating to small shopkeepers and supermarkets, and factory employment.

CS November 30 1970: TMacG, CG, MdeB, DK, SOC, SD, TM, RJ. Agreed not to take up TPC's Irish Press offer. Agreed to approach small-shopkeeper organisations urging measures such as co-operative purchasing, to enable them to compete with supermarkets, while pointing out the EEC threat. Eoin O Murchu to speak on the EEC at Ennistymon Macra na Feirme. TMacG to contribute an article to the Independent on 'What is Irish republicanism?'. MdeB felt we had been neglecting the Housing Action Committee; a special meeting on Dec 6 was agreed. There has been criticism of TMacG's speech at Oxford but this was dismissed as 'internal doctrinaire wrangling of various left groups'. A letter by RJ on the question of the dissolved Dublin Corporation was accepted to be sent to the Dublin CC and to the Dublin Trades Council.

AC December 5 1970:

TMacG, DK, MMacB, LMacM, MR, SD, RJ, IB, PK, SR, SOC. LOC, TM, MMcG, M Montgomery, OMcC, DMacR, CG, FW, SC, MdeB.

Irish Press / TPC 1/4 page not to be taken up. Barry Doyle now teaching in Montpelier. SC had attended Paris convention. Sheelin school had been held, 50 had attended.

MMcG reported that CRA march in Enniskillen had gone off without incident, but they were expecting summonses. Regional meeting fixed for Dec 13 to discuss future march policy. Ard Fheis resolutions on electoral policy were agreed. Anti-internment meeting fixed for Dec 12, with broad platform including civil rights organisations, tenants, trade unions.

MMcG proposed 4 regional groupings of the 24 Clubs, for election of regional delegates to new AC. There was also proposed a 6-cumainn regional grouping in North Leinster. All were agreed.

It was agreed that all speakers at educational conferences should be first approved by AC or CS. It is not clear if this was just precautionary, or if some specific speaker was being objected to. I don't recollect any tension on this issue; there was general agreement on the need to promote the intellectual unity of the broad left.

CS December 14 1970: TMacG, DK, MdeB, TM, SD, SOC. Kelleher to prepare a pamphlet on the role of retail trade and the EEC. TM, SD and Proinsias de Rossa to be a steering committee for Ard Fheis resolutions. All AC members to be informed of this; it was agreed at the previous AF that it be done. Housing Action discussion postponed. Regional meetings noted. AC members to chair regional meetings. Organisers to advise on regional viability.

An anti-internment march by Northern Club was planned. Derry Kelleher was to speak in Dublin at a Barney Casey commemoration, organised by left-wing groups. Barney Casey had been shot in 1940 when in internment, and the inquest had been adjourned sine die; Kelleher had witnessed the event. MdeB urged that the re-opening of the inquest be made an issue.

There is an extensive minute of this issue in Derry Kelleher's handwriting. The issue must have been raised at this time because internment was felt to be on the agenda, this being the way in which the Northern government was reacting to the NICRA campaign; they were trying to provoke an armed response to the 1969 pogroms and their aftermath; the Provisionals were in process of organising to oblige; the left-politicisers would of course also be interned; many of the latter were also beginning to react by reverting to a military mind-set.

This concludes the year 1970; there were no more meetings until after the Ard Fheis. We take up the thread in the 1970s context, this year 1970 being taken as being the last one of the 60s decade.