Comhghairdeas Kneecap; Irish government must join; Áras Uí Chonghaile – A world class visitor centre;

 

ComhghairdeasKneecap

Comhghairdeas Kneecap as an rath a bhí ar bhur scannán ag féile scannánSundance.

Last August Itravelled over to a studio close to Queen’s University to meet with Kneecap.The three west Belfast lads were busy putting the final touches to their moviewhich recounts – mostly i nGaeilge - how they were formed. That night they wereto do some work with Michael Fassbender but I was there to film a shortsegment.

Mo Chara, MóglaíBap and DJ Próvaí and director Rich Peppiatt all watched and laughed as I stammeredmy way through several different versions of my lines. That evening Kneecapplayed a sell out gig at the West Belfast Féile in the Falls Park.

I haven’t seenthe film yet. I am looking forward to it. Kneecap’s music is exuberant and fun.They have a sharp sense of the outrageous, the political and the ironic. Thecrowd that night in the Park was enthusiastic and we all enjoyed every minuteof the performance.

Despite criticism from the DUP and others who neverhave anything positive to say about the Irish language, the reports from theSundance Film Festival have been amazing. The festival is the mostimportant international film event for independent film makers. Kneecap beingscreened there was hugely significant. As is now well known the film receivedwidespread critical acclaim at its first night opening, with Variety, themajor entertainment trade paper, describing it as: “A triumph … to keep a languagealive it must be part of the culture now, and not only  a remnant ofbygone eras. Their music has the power to inspire those their age to learn it,to pass it on.”

To add to this success the following day the filmwas picked up by Sony Picture Classics for distribution across theUSA, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. And thenat the end of last week came the news that it had picked up the Audience Award:NEXT. The first time a non-US film had been selected to take part in thatsection of the festival.

So well done again to Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap andDJ Próvaí, Rich, Trevor and all of those who helped make Kneecap. The moviewill be shown in Ireland later this year. Watch for the ads – Agus bígí linn.

 

Irishgovernment must join

Manythanks and commendations to the government of South Africa for taking the caseto the ICJ on behalf of the people of Palestine.

Therewas widespread welcome for the decision of the International Court of Justicelast week ordering Israel to:

·        Refrain fromacts under the genocide convention

·        Prevent andpunish the direct and public incitement to genocide

·        Take measuresto ensure humanitarian assistance to civilians

·        Preserveevidence of genocide and submit a report to the Court

·        And submit areport to the ICJ in one month.

Whilethe Court did not call for an immediate ceasefire the import of its judgementis that a ceasefire is now imperative. The Court ordered that Israel ‘take allmeasures within its power to prevent’ the killing of Palestinians; causing them‘serious bodily or mental harm’; prevent the deliberate inflicting ‘conditionsof life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or inpart.’ The Court said that ‘Israel must ensure with immediate effect that itsmilitary forces do not commit any of the above-described acts. How do they dothat and wage war?

Theonus is now on the international community to increase pressure on Israel andits allies to call an immediate ceasefire and to demand that all hostages arereleased. The ICJ specifically called on Israel to ‘take immediate andeffective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic servicesand humanitarian assistance.’

However,within hours the USA, British and German governments and seven other states hadwithdrawn funding from the United Nations agency – UNWRA – that is responsiblefor providing essential services, food and water to the Palestinians. Thedecision by these states is in response to claims by Israel that 12 UNofficials in Gaza – out of 13,000 - were involved in the Hamas attack on 7October. António Guterres, the UN Secretary General has appealed for the 10 countriesto reconsider their decision. Two million Palestinians, already sufferinghunger, are to be penalised because of the alleged acts of 12 UN staff.

Thisweek Sinn Féin is to table a motion in the Oireachtas calling on the Irishgovernment to join the South African case at the International Court ofJustice.

Finally, MaryLou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill have committed to raising the Israeligenocide against the Palestinian people when they visit Washington in March. MaryLou and I discussed this issue at a public event in Cabra, in her Dublinconstituency last Friday evening. I was asked about some calls on the party toboycott the US St. Patrick’s visit. I pointed out that those calling on us not to go to the USA are not calling on us to nottalk to the British.  Sensible peopleknow that dialogue is the only means by which this or any issue of conflict canbe resolved. Our bridge into the USA is Irish America. St. Patrick’s Day isIreland’s national day. Boycotting this and denying ourselves the opportunityto advance our struggle or indeed the struggle of the people of Palestine wouldbe a mistake.

Sinn Féin disagrees with the USA administration on many issues,particularly foreign policy issues. We have always made that clear. When I met PresidentClinton in the 1990s I told him the US embargo on Cuba was wrong. I told GeorgeW Bush that his policy on Iraq and Afghanistan was wrong. I remember Martin andI urging Tony Blair not to invade Iraq. We told him it would be the biggestmistake of his leadership. We have a responsibility to raise these issues andMary Lou and Michelle will be equally forthright with those they meet in Marchabout US support for Israel’s war on the Palestinian people.

People in struggle, particularly people involved in national liberationstruggles, understand that your own struggle … has to be your primary focus. Theywill expect you to raise their issues, and we should. They will expect you tostand with them, and we should and will. But they would not expect us to doanything– any more than we would expect them to do anything – which would setback our own struggle or make space for those who are opposed to us.

 

Áras Uí Chonghaile – A world class visitor centre

Áras UíChonghaile – the James Connolly Visitor Centre on the Falls Road – was formallyopened by Uachtarán Michael D Higgins in April 2019. The Áras celebrates thelife and times of James Connolly, the key role he played in Irish history, thestruggle for freedom and the Labour Movement. It be a world class visitorcentre exploring the life of Connolly; with a unique interactive exhibition; alibrary of writings by and about Connolly; historical objects relating toConnolly, and an all year round programme of engagement with communities,schools and visitors and a bialann.

Last week the Áras received theBronze award for sustainability and environmentally-friendly practice by GreenTourism. It joins the prestigious award from the Royal Society of UlsterArchitects that it won two years ago as building of the year.

Last week Áras Uí Chonghailealso announced its Clár an Earraigh – its spring programme of debates anddiscussions for the next three months. It is an excellent programme thatincludes a lecture on Mike Quill, one of America’s best known and most respecttrade union leaders who as an IRA Volunteer fought in the Civil War beforetravelling to the USA; Winifred Carney who was in the GPO during Easter Week1916; and The Future of the Irish Language. Takura Donald Makoni who is PolicyOfficer for the African and Caribbean Support Organisation will speak onInequity and Power in a post colonial world.

It is an exciting programme.Well worth a visit. The programme and information on membership is available athttps:arasuichonghaile.com. See you there.