Episode Details

A Chairde,

As June heads towards July the distant beat of your drums is pounding out their rhythm. The marching season for all of the Loyal Orders is well underway and the 12 July is fast approaching. One July, sitting during yet another negotiation, into the early hours with Tony Blair the ratatat of Lambegs sundered the quiet. We paused as he asked if I knew what that was. Yes ,I replied that’s the Orangemen.

“Jungle drums?” he said.

I am minded to remind you that the Battle of the Boyne was fought on the 1st July not the 12th. The date changed in 1752 when the English adopted the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory. The war was part of a much wider European conflagration – the Nine Years War. James was backed by the English Aristocracy, by France and by the Irish Catholic aristocracy. William who was James’s son-in-law and King of Holland, was backed by the English merchant class, by Pope Innocent X1, by Spain and Germany and by Protestant settlers in Ireland. At its core it was William leading a ‘Grand Alliance’ of Europeans to curb the power and expansion plans of the French King.

The Pope contributed to Williams expenses and when news reached Rome of the victory there was a Te Deum hymn sang in a “joyous proclamation of praise, thanksgiving and faith.” The Pope was front and centre of it all. So much for No Pope Here! 

Bodenstown

“To say all in one word, Ireland shall be independent. We shall be a nation, not a province, citizens not slaves.” Wolfe Tone

On 28 June Republicans from across the island of Ireland will travel to Bodenstown, County Kildare, to stand in homage at the graveside of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the founder of Irish Republicanism.

For those who know of Tone and for those who don’t I want to recommend a new publication – Bodenstown: Honouring Wolfe Tone – A Pictorial History – which tells his remarkable and inspirational story and recounts the generations who have travelled to Bodenstown each June to remember and celebrate his life.

This new publication profiles Tone and publishes photographs of many of the commemorations that have been held there. The first image of Bodenstown is of Padraig Pearse delivering the oration in June 1913. The Irish Republican Brotherhood had asked Pearse to speak and the event was chaired by veteran Fenian Tom Clarke. Both were executed by the British less than three years later following the 1916 Easter Rising. 

Cupla Focal Eile.

Another few words í nGaeilge as part of this column’s contribution to the effort to use whatever Irish we have even if it is only a wee bit.  Here are a few more bits and pieces to replace their English equivalents.

Lá breithe shona duit means Happy birthday to you.  

It also sounds really good when sung by a crowd at a birthday gathering. Or even on a one to one basis. Try it. Use the same air as the English version. 

Tiomaint go curamac means drive carefully. 

Sliothar is a hurling ball. 

Tóg go bóg é means take it easy. 

Slán abhaile means Safe home.