Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams

Leo finally made the right call LEO Varadkar’s resignation from the office of An Taoiseach and as leader of Fine Gael caught observers by surprise. On reflection, however, it is very much in keeping with his personality. A bit petulant. Awkward. Impulsive. He had done his best by his own lights. And his best had not been good enough, by his own admission. So in fairness he probably did the right t...

Wear An Easter Lily I did not think Easter is almost upon us. It was our oldest lad’s oldest lad who remarked to me that Easter was early this year. I was bemused that a nine - almost ten - year old would know this and describe it in these words. Of course he is probably thinking of Easter eggs. For many people Easter also marks an important date in their religious calendar. But for children espec...

International Women’s Day Last Friday was International Women’s Day – a day when around the world humankind celebrates the work of women who are active in their communities, in trade unions, voluntary organisations, business, politics, their families and across every facet of our society. Two formidable Belfast Women On International Women’s Day history was made when two statues were unveiled at t...

The Commission on the Future of Ireland held successful public meetings in Fermanagh and West Tyrone on Irish Unity.  Friends of Sinn Féin USA and various other Irish organisations held a successful summit in New York. Ireland’s Future released its ‘Ireland 2030’ proposals. Mary Lou McDonald & Pearse Doherty addressed the Irish Unity Summit in Cooper Union NYC.  In my unity roundup hope and ch...

Casement I have spent many enjoyable afternoons in Casement Park watching countless football and hurling games and playing in some of them. I have lost count of my man of the match triumphs. Especially for St. Marys or Belfast Schools in hurling. Or on Sports Days. In the past the stand and terraces or raised mounds around the pitch provided a wonderful view of the contests. Some games attracted a...

Respect On Sunday last I spoke at the 40th Anniversary Commemoration of the killing by the SAS of IRA Volunteers Henry Hogan and Declan Martin in Dunloy County Antrim. Declan was 18. Henry was 20. I was also the speaker at the funerals in February 1984. At that time hundreds of  RUC  and scores of landrovers surrounded Henry Hogans wake house and myself, Martin McGuinness, Danny Morisson and Owen...

An appeal for Information In the 1970s the IRA shot dead and secretly buried a number of people. This is a terrible legacy of that period of our history.  The families of those killed have suffered a grievous injustice. Republicans, including the IRA, recognise and have acknowledged this fact. What happened was wrong and unjustifiable. Israel’s War Against Children The accounts of the Israeli geno...

Historic Change  The restoration last Saturday of the political institutions and the election of Michelle O'Neill as First Minister marks an extraordinary turning point in the process of constitutional change for the North and for the island of Ireland. It is a significant new chapter in the transitional process of change that began with the peace process. Last Saturday something  fundamental...

Comhghairdeas Kneecap  Comhghairdeas Kneecap as an rath a bhí ar bhur scannán ag féile scannán Sundance.  Last August I travelled 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 movie which recounts – mostly i nGaeilge - how they were formed. That night they were to do some work with Michael Fassbender but...

Time for Clarity.  The question – will he or won’t he – has yet to be answered. Will Jeffrey Donaldson provide the leadership needed to persuade his party to go back into the Executive or, as Michelle O’Neill pondered at last week’s meeting of the Assembly, have we seen the final sitting of the Assembly? Irish government must recognise Palestinian State The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah...

WCNSFs – Wounded Child No Surviving Family Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the west Bank passed the 100 day mark at the weekend. By the time this column is published the number of dead at the hands of Israel’s war machine is likely to have passed 25,000, mostly women and children. That’s almost equivalent to the entire population of Newry wiped out. Irish Unity Summit...

Death of a Hero Just before Christmas my colleague Greg O'Loughlin, the Executive Director of Friends of Sinn Féin in the USA , gave  me the sad news that veteran American Civil Rights leader King Hollands had died. I had the honour of meeting King and his fellow activists Rip Patton and Richard Dinkins during a visit to Nashville in November 2018. Frank Kitson.  Richard has insisted that I w...

This Land Is Your Land.  I am a long time fan of Woody Guthrie. He is one of the worlds great song writers in the English language and many of his words  are as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. He was also an American activist who agitated and educated and sang for social equality,  immigration reform, peace and fairness. He stood against fascism, racism,  war, corruption and for a...

So, 2023 was a very busy year. Lots of activism. 2024 is already shaping up to be even busier. So, join the campaigns for a Citizens’ Assembly and for the unity referendums. Have your say on the future and help shape the new Ireland. A New Year Wish Bbliain Úr Faoi Mhaise Daoibhse Go Leir. I received this verse in a Christmas card. Very appropriate.

A Boy named Jay I did a book signing for Christmas at An Fhuiseog’s stand in the Kennedy Centre. It was a pleasant hour of banter and craic, meeting old friends and making new ones. Gerry Kelly was there just before me but he escaped when I arrived. So it was just me and the punters. And RG and Maggie who was selling all matter of gifts for An Fhuiseog.  2024 – Momentum toward Unity Polls set to i...

Shane: Last Friday I travelled to Nenagh for the funeral of Shane MacGowan. It was a sad and yet joyous event with family and friends lifting their voices and their hearts as a succession of musicians played some of Shane’s best known songs, including the exuberant Fairytale of New York, Cór Cúil Aodha, including Seán O’Sé and Seán O’Riada’s son Peadar also did what they do best. The de-humanising...

Slán Shane Shane MacGowan was a friend of West Belfast. Back in 1988 in the wake of the killings of IRA Volunteers Mairead Farrell, Dan McCann and Sean Savage in Gibraltar, and the killing of other citizens at their funerals and the killing also of IRA Volunteer Kevin McCracken in Turf Lodge this community was subjected to a vicious full frontal tsunami of vilification on the back of decades of de...

Where to for Loyalism? I have met many loyalists over a very long time. In prison. Out of prison. In secret or in private talks going back to the 1970s. And many times since then. I like to think that some of us became friends. Or at least we became friendly. Some loyalist leaders played a crucial role in the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement. They deserve great credit for that....

strength to strength  Regular readers will know that Ionad Eileen Howell/St. Comgall’s was formally opened in June by the US Economic Envoy Joe Kennedy. It came after many years of fundraising, planning and hard work by all involved – not least Eileen Howell who the centre is named after. The project is designed to promote economic, educational, social and cultural benefits for the people who live...

Fr. Alec Reid Next Wednesday – 22 November – will mark the tenth anniversary of the death of Father Alec Reid. It is a matter of wonderment that a decade has passed since he left us. Students of the Irish peace process will know that Alec was a central figure in our search for peace. He and Fr. Des Wilson were key to the beginning of that process. I won’t deal in this column with all the twists an...

The Unity Debate  Seven key Irish-American organisations have announced an ‘Irish Unity Summit – For a New and United Ireland’ to be held in New York on 1st March next year. This major initiative – coming as it will just before St. Patrick’s Day and the visit to the USA of political leaders from Ireland – is being organised by the Ancient Order of Hibernians; the Brehon Law Societies of NYC and Na...

Wolfe Tone’s Cordial Union  Last week I attended an event in Parliament Buildings at Stormont, hosted by US Special Economic Envoy Joe Kennedy. There was a panel discussion on the impact of the Good Friday Agreement which involved myself, former DUP leader Peter Robinson; former Alliance Assembly Speaker Eileen Bell; Lady Daphne Trimble, President of the Ulster Unionist Party; and former SDLP lead...

We are all Palestinians As I write this week’s column all of the scéal coming from the Israeli government and its international allies indicate that a ground invasion of Gaza is imminent. It will, according to some be a ‘surgical strike against Hamas’. From British government Ministers, to political pundits, to international allies of the Israeli government, to Israeli spokespersons the aim – they...

Ireland Should Launch A Middle East Peace Initiative. Like many of you I have been shocked and distressed by the appalling events in the Middle East. The attack by Hamas fighters which targeted civilians cannot be defended. Mary Lou McDonald spoke for all of us when she unreservedly condemned these actions and called for the release of all hostages. Waterford Assembly votes for Citizens’ Assembly...

Peace Talks Now The scale of the assault by Palestinian fighters into Israel last weekend is unparalleled. The scenes of death and destruction on both sides are heart breaking. But shock and despair at more violence in that region is not the answer. On Being Seventy Five.  I  published a version of this reflection  when I was seventy two. Following my recent 75th birthday I  think it deserves anot...