From The Starry Plough

Seamus Costello exhibited a greatness of the same order as James Connolly. His energy, his intelligence, accuracy and thoroughness, his humour, quickness, and decisiveness, made him an outstanding mind and personality in this generation of Irishmen. He was both a thinker and a man of action But he was also a man of deep concern and humanity based on that affectionate nature that he shared with his wife Maeliosa and children Caoilfionn, Fionan, Aoibbin, Ronan. He saw clear and far, and dared greatly. He dared to take up the unfinished task of James Connolly.
7:08:27 AM    

From The Starry Plough

One of Connolly's major theoretical contribution was his discussion of the relations between socialism and religion. Connolly's views on that matter are fairly original and atypical. The reason why Connolly engaged with the subject is that a great proportion of the Irish working class was influenced by the Roman Catholic religion. The Catholic hierarchy was trying to keep workers away from socialism by saying that socialism and the Christian religion were incompatible and antagonistic. The priests pointed out that socialism, especially in its Marxist form, was intrinsically bound with materialism and atheism; so it is impossible for workers to be socialist and Christian at the same time.
5:58:05 PM    

from The Starry Plough

The South Derry Brigade of the INLA marked the anniversary of the death of Volunteer Kevin Lynch by laying a wreath and firing a volley of shots over his grave in Dungiven. This tribute occured on Friday 2nd August in the churchyard where Kevin was buried 21 years earlier. The Starry Plough recieved these photos along with a brief statement from the South Derry Brigade which stated the reasons why this tribute took place at this time. The INLA statement is summarised as follows...
7:12:54 AM    

The UVF is reported to be getting ready to attack innocent nationalists again.
8:14:19 AM    

Dessie O'Hare

I can only speak truthfully and accurately concerning my own case where the Irish Government have failed to implement the good Friday agreement, ie their decision to arbitrarily exclude me from the early release scheme. The scheme was set out in the GFA for the phased release of all Political Prisoners, and a completion time scale of two years meant that any POWs remaining after June 2000 would automatically be released. The Irish and British Governments passed appropriate laws to facilitate the releases and began processing the POWs which basically went on the lines of first in first out.
6:50:47 AM    

Workers Unity is Workers Strength

Thousands of Public Service workers across the six counties downed tools in what is thought to be one in a series of stopages by local government, education, libraries, social services and cleaners.
7:13:47 AM    

The 23 sacked Security workers at Aldergrove Airport received a welcomed solidarity boost as protesters turned out in support of their reinstatement.
7:47:48 AM