Small acorns and mighty trees and all that.
The First Anniversary of Internment (which happened in 1971) was marked by rioting and probably death destruction and injury….in West Belfast. Thats how it was and probably the second and third anniversaries.
The West Belfast Festival…..an Féile…..is linked to that time. Sometime around the mid 1970s, someone had the bright idea that Music and Sport would be better ways of marking the Internment Week….being run over and crushed by a British Army Saracen Armoured Car is….counter-productive.
I am not exactly sure that people actually knew they were taking part in a Festival. I was around 23 or 24 at the time. And a football (soccer) tournament at St Aidans School was one of the events. Teams from the Greater Ballymurphy area. I played on one of the teams. Our best player was wearing a “real” Sunderland kit…….he was a priest from Sunderland who had been to school with the Sunderland goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery.
Essentially the Festival in its early years was all about keeping youths from West Belfast off the streets and out of prison cells and out of Milltown Cemetry.
Of course in the 1980s I was out of Belfast……but as the Festival developed, it got the reputation of being a “Provo” event. Of course being so labelled almost ensures that it became a Provo event….as respectable people stayed away and the usual suspects…….ex-prisoners and the like re-doubled their efforts to put their stamp on it.
Around the time of the Good Friday Agreement it became more “cool”……part of the whole Peace Dividend thing. Not unusual to walk along the Falls Road and come accross some Basques, ANC people and Palestinians or get socialist comedian Jeremy Hardy’s autograph.
Yet I would have resisted it being labelled “Provo” even if one of the leading 1990s organisers would become a senior Sinn Féin figure…..Caitriona Ruane. The growing respectability was reflected in the venues as the entire Falls Road was utilised…..Falls Park, Beechmount Leisure Centre, St Marys University College and Clonard Monastery ….as likely to host an event than an Cultúrlann or the Felons Club. Academics from Queens University vied to get an invite. So did BBC, UTV and media types. So did unionists.
Of course there is an element of left-wing political correctness about it all. Im not complaining of course. I am a left-wing politically correct kinda guy. I realise that there is an element of worthiness about it all. Lets hear from some women…..they have no voice. Women have been shouting that at me for years.
Reading the programme for the 2012 Féile…..bi-lingual of course (and probably there is a version on re-cycled paper somewhere)….I am struck by the appearance of DUP hard man Jonathan Bell MLA….junior Minister at the Office of First Minister Peter Robinson. An odd choice….as nothing in Bell’s record (he was a councillor in Craigavon but is now MLA for Strangford) suggests any affinity with Catholics, nationalists republicans or feminists.
Not an easy figure for an Féile people to put alongside the Basques, ANC, Palestinians or Jeremy Hardy. So what exactly is that all about? And what is a talk by loyalists ex-prisoners going to achieve?
Rightly or wrongly…..Sinn Féin claim a connexion to other leftist revolutionary movements….ETA, ANC, PLO………but are they actually doing themselves any favours by seemingly recognising some kinda parity with fascist militias.
I see it as Sinn Féin moving a further step away from their roots……and a step closer to the one party state with a green wing and an orange wing about which Mark Durkan has warned.
Keeping An Eye On the Czar of Russia 
Hmmmm, FJH, with all due respect, I know you are back in the SDLP fold but the last paragraph seems to be making its way into a lot of your posts and whilst this is your blog and undoubtedly your opinion it does smack a little of party line and nay I say, sour grapes at the opposition’s ability to organize.
Further, a DUP MLA/MP or rep coming to an Feile isn’t exactly big news either (I’m thinking Gregory Campbell years ago).
I’ve been reading your posts (I always enjoy your take on things, exception being your support of MU), but I note a sense of melancholy at the changes at an Feile. Whilst I see your point about it getting bigger, as someone who would spend most of his summer going to many festivals, whether solely music or community/village fests I would say that an Feile has struck the right chord in general. It’s a great way to showcase West Belfast in a great light but it has also done a decent job of bringing in other parts of the city or should I say other factions whilst doing this on its own terms, no one elses.
It is not the Notting Hill Carnival yet, nor do I hope it will be, nor do I think it would be able to, but I feel it has the right blend to make it big, but not too big, after all, they still have a few cover bands, the sure fire way of distinguishing the big from the not so big
Oh you make a very reasonable point. Indeed when I was composing this blog entry, I was wondering if An Feile has really changed or whether I have changed.
Indeed I told the story of my own football playing involvement as an indication of my own “journey”. Back then I would also have been in SDLP.
I tried to be honest in saying that it had changed.
I tick all the boxes about lefty “right on” causes……Vietnam, Amnesty (occasional member), anti-Apartheid (occasional member), marched on 7th October 1968 from QUB to Dublin Road (I was a 6th former), signed all the right petitions about Gaelic language, Palestinians, Israel wore the Che Guevara Tshirt at Toy Soldier conventions and Mandela Tshirts at Collectible fairs. Not to mention being an active trade unionist since the day I got a job (actually it was about a month after I got a job but it sounds better if I exaggerate) and of course support all the feminist stuff.
Indeed I have been fairly consistent about my beliefs all my adult life. Perhaps thats a fault. But Ive never really been able to play the game of adjusting to every new trend or new idea. All this explains my remarkable lack of success at most things.
But I think that say Jonothan Bell and indeed Gregory Campbell represent the worst kind of DUP politician. And loyalist ex-prisoners represent the very worst kind of loyalism. Indeed loyalists in Springmartin were heavily involved in supporting the Ballymurphy Massacre (I lived less that 200 metres from the scene of some of those fatalities).
So to me, it is incredible that the ex-prisoners from a fascist organisation are given a platform. The organisers cannot have it both ways….a trendy basically Irish, republican celebration of culture embracing world wide leftiness AND giving a platform to people who oppose all of the good stuff.
Spreading the festival out from the Falls is a double edged sword and integrity is compromised by inviting loyalist ex-prisoners…or the KKK or BNP. Or DUP.
And yes there is a certain realisation that the only SDLP involvement will be the likes of me paying to see stuff.
Ten years ago, I would have hotly defended an Féile against charges of being a Provo front. And yes at that time I was voting Sinn Féin.
Now in 2012 SF has a different agenda………and there seems a similarity between that agenda and the Festival. Am I wrong?
Of course there is an inconsistency…possibly with me….certainly with the many people actively involved in an Feile.
If its about “culture”………well why not have the Conway Flute Band march thru the Peace Line to an Cultúrlann….formerly the BRoadway Presbyterian Church…….where in my childhood, I saw Orange parades on the Falls Road.
I think its inconsistent to agaonise about Orange bands in Catholic areas and to welcome loyalist ex-prisoners on to the Falls Road.
Who really did more damage and took more lives?
Why thank you FJH.
Just to touch on a few points above.
i) Bell, Campbell et al being the worst kind of DUP pol or right-wing reactionary and being given a platform.
Agreed, they are incredibly unsavory, however, I think they should be given a platform at events and I applaud the organisers for inviting them. People like this from organisations like even the BNP or KKK need to be held to account, not laughed off or ignored. Not wishing to score any political points (I am no card carrying SF supporter, more along your own lines), but if I compare this with say who the SDLP would invite to any of their own events (not insinuating that an Feile is a SF event btw) I think an Feile are actually getting people who are not just rent-a-quote windbags (Davy Adams, that’s you) who have done next to nothing but turn up to events. The committee invite those who may have been instrumental in hurting the community that an Feile serves. Why? Understanding and dialogue amongst others. Democracy is messy but the cosy dialogue that takes place amongst pols nowadays has shut many out and whilst I hate the politics of Campbell, Bell and the raison detre of the UVF and other Loyalists, they aren’t going to go away anytime soon, so I might as well start talking to them to try and work things out, if at all possible.
ii) The SF agenda at an Feile.
To be honest, I view an Feile as being a whole lot less SF driven, so yes, I would say you are wrong. Here’s how I view it; back in the 90s a hell of a lot more SF people were working on this festival and it may have been a lot more in step with their politics than it is now. In fact, thanks to the growth of an Feile I would say it is a lot less SF-centric than before as it would not be able to get away with it nowadays.
By your own admission, 10 years ago you voted SF and would defend an Feile from being accused of being a front for SF, now you are a card carrying SDLP man and you are openly insinuating that it is a SF event. With all due respect, do you think this is a coincidence?
Also, re West Belfast in general nowadays, whilst most are clearly sympathetic to the SF cause (including myself), I have noted that those who would be militant, not in the dissident sense, nay, more motivated by politics in general, are occasionally switching away from directly supporting SF. For instance, I have a friend who was working for a Socialist in WB during the last Assembly elections who got an earful from Mary-Lou as she used to canvass for her. Needless to say, SF got the 2nd pref. What I am saying is that WB is definitely very sympathetic to SF and the cause, but that does not make events such as an Feile, or any organisation like GAA clubs, Boxing or Football clubs, subsidiaries of SF. I feel this distinction needs to be made.
iii) ‘I think its inconsistent to agaonise about Orange bands in Catholic areas and to welcome loyalist ex-prisoners on to the Falls Road.
Who really did more damage and took more lives?’
The Loyalists did, we all know that, however, former Loyalists appear willing to talk to Republicans and Nationalists while the OO seem not too keen on it. We all know what they (the OO) are keen on doing instead, antagonising their neighbours, creating havoc and keeping us in the stone ages. I hate Loyalist paramillitaries, past and present, I think they are cowards and their ‘war’ was one of ethnic cleansing where the main pols such as the UUP and DUP outsourced the dirty stuff to them, whilst they sometimes pulled some strings. However, their communities have a lot more in common with those on the other side of the peacelines and unfortunately they seem to hold sway in these areas. If we don’t talk to them and try and reach some understanding or tolerance, not acceptance, then this nonsense may stay ongoing.
I think as I have joined the SDLP it is obvious that I look for fault in other parties but I think I have a consistent record in saying that SDLP listens far too much to its opponents…Duncan Morrow, Rev Norman Hamilton and the afore-mentioned Davey Adams among them. Over-doing this has actually weakened SDLPs position with the folks it is seeking to represent.
I think Sinn Fein is doing the same.
There is possibly a disconnect between Sinn Féin and broader republicanism. Your friend who canvassed for a Socialist candidate in 2011 is perhaps an example.
But not a lot of harm done as the #2 goes to Sinn Féin…..as does mine.
For a while Sinn Féin had ownership of the republican project. There are more stake-holders now.
If any organisation invited Nick Griffin to address a public meeting in West Belfast, it would be picketed by many republicans. Yet the ex-prisoners were much more dangerous fascists. They certainly want to involve themselves in a conversation where they want to present themselves as pawns of unionist elements who have prospered better.
It is in the interests of loyalist ex-prisoners to claim a parity with Republicans.
It is NOT in the interests of Republicans to allow them to claim parity.
Republicans (perceiving themselves to be freedom fighters) cannot allow fascist thugs a form of parity without downgrading themselves.
Nor can Republicans lionise their traditional international friends in the Basque Region, Palestine and condemn their quasi-fascist enemies in Spain and Israel….and listen to ex-prisoner loyalists.
This is the dilemna of Conflict Resolution…nobody has won, nobody has lost is the official verdict. But Conflict Resolution demands a kind of parity for both sides.
Apologies for the delay with my reply FJH, a friend’s wedding over the weekend.
There is little I can disagree with above, however, I feel that whilst Loyalists are incredibly fascistic, I do not agree with them not being given a platform. I would say that we should be holding scum bags to account, challenging their opinions on matters and showing them up for what they are.
I think that SF’s perceived strategy of looking for parity with Loyalists when the republican struggle is troubling and to be frank, bone-headed. Republicans are not fascists, never have nor never will be. However, what I would say is that there is a platform now where if you disagree with this you could go down and voice in an open forum that you disagree with any side’s politics, beliefs or interpretation of events.
I fully acknowledge that you have on many occasions noted the speakers to SDLP events and how, shall I say, useless they are, however, I think that the difference between the people being invited to SDLP events and to an Feile is the fact that some of them are openly hostile to many of the beliefs held by the community an Feile has served, while those at SDLP events are of a certain class who can always be found at middle class events. How often do we get to challenge these people in an open forum because I will not hold my breath for the SDLP to start to invite them to challenge them on what they have done to others?
As for SF ‘having ownership’ of the republican project, that is a tough one. I do think that they are the main cheerleader, that electorally they seem pretty safe and need to be very wary of complacency setting in, however, and this is not a dig at the SDLP, just how I see it, I do not see anyone challenging them anytime soon. West Belfast has always appeared to be somewhere that is politically active and whilst my friend did canvass for the Socialist in West Belfast she hasn’t turned her back on SF either. If push were to come to shove she would go back in the fold and would probably acknowledge that her raising more left wing issues in West Belfast without endangering SF’s vote is a luxury she can afford while if she were to do this in other constituencies she may be seen as splitting the vote, something she and many others such as myself never forgive others of.
I cant find a quote to back this up but I have a vague recollection that Herbert Morrison the Labour Deputy Prime Minister who said that “Socialism is what the Labour Party says it is”.
In a sense thats the Sinn Féin attitude to Republicanism.
Up to the mid 1990s it was a fairly traditional vision. When they re-configured the Project, they lost an element of their support which they more than made up for with “new supporters” (including myself).
Almost twenty years later they are again re-calibrating the Project. Ex-prisoners and DUP are more part of it than twenty years ago.
As Ive mentioned, SF seem to have an interest in “bigging up” the DUP. Mark Durkan has noted that SF and DUP are building a one party state with a green and orange wing.
My point here would be that this latest re-calibration of the Project would make people (like me) think twice.
With all due respect FJH, you are just repeating yourself rather than offering an insight. I get that you are an SDLP member now and therefore you are going to look for fault in your opposition or challengers, however, you keep copying and pasting this Mark Durkan line which, I’m sorry, I disagree with. It rings of sour grapes from someone who watched over the SDLP’s demise and was unwilling or unable to organise in an effective manner to challenge SF. I’m sure he is a ‘very nice guy’, they all are, however, he was inept as a party leader and elicits sympathy from me, a dangerous commodity in politics. He appeared to be quite out of touch on most matters too so I would be wary of bandying about quotes from yesterday’s man.
I am starting to feel we are getting rather off topic which is you do not like loyalists and DUP pols being invited to an Feile. Further, you believe the organisers of an Feile are merely following a SF party line and unfortunately, you have not provided much by way of evidence but instead replaced it with a typical SDLP disregard for SF and appear to be passing comment from the sidelines, as opposed to getting involved or offering any kind of convincing evidence to back up these claims. As I noted previously, I do not like the DUP or Loyalists, however, in this instance I am now given an opportunity and forum to confront them, how is this something that is not positive? Are you actually suggesting that we should merely ignore them?
Regarding SF ‘re-calibrating’ their project, in politics, as in life, if you stand still you will be over taken by events and your competitors, for reference see the SDLP around the mid to late 90s.