So You think you've got Troubles?

Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM

``So You think you've got Troubles?’’

The Popes visit to Ireland tomorrow will be the first eve visit by the head of the Roman Catholic church to Ireland. Amid massive security Pope John Paul 2^nd will kiss the tarmac of Dublin airport tomorrow at three o clock..

The Irish government is keen to put as bright a shine on this as possible. Dublin smells of fresh paint, and detergent. The Irish government is keen to remind the rest of the world that Ireland is still a place one can do business in.

The Gardai have their boots polished. Sadly one also notices the gleam from their side arms too There were more murders in Ireland than anywhere lese in Europe in the 1970’s.

Not that Church can offer much comfort in Ireland these days.

Despite the Popes visit, Church attendance in Ireland is falling. A wave of scandals about the sexual abuse of children have come to light in recent years. Although they will be kept well away from Phoenix park, and Dublin airport. Thousands of Irishmen and Irish women will greet the Pontiff’s visit with placards and demonstrations, and inevitably petrol bombs

Someone whom won’t be invited to Mass at Phoenix Park. Is Neil Blaney. Neil Blaney was head of the government of Ireland for less then two years. Yet his legacy will be felt on this island for years to come

One would have had good reason to be quietly confident about Ireland in the 1960’s. Eire was preparing to join the EEC. A move which many hoped would reduce it’s dependence of Britain, and bring prosperity. Charles Haughey would be so bold to announce in the 1960’s that Irelands economic problems were over.

The coming of TV and Popular music were moving this conservative little country slowly into the open.

Even over Northern Ireland. There was perhaps for the first time in decades. Optimism. Moderate Unionist politicians such as O’Neill, attempted reform. O’Neill visited Catholic schools. Began a

In Eire Sean Lemass began a hands across the border policy trying to build bridges with his neighbours. Moving away from rhetoric of traditional republicanism.

In Northern Ireland. Catholics marched in the streets, aping the civil rights movement of the US. Demanding their rights has British citizens rather then singing

``the Soldiers Song''.

A turbulent time perhaps but not a troubled one.

It was on stage that Blaney would play his part in the tragedy that is modern Ireland.

Blaney had been born in Donegal, the eldest of eleven children. The most Northerly county in Ireland, Donegal is odd! Historically Donegal was part of the province of Ulster. It received Protestant settlement during the plantation of Ulster, and afterward. It still in fact contains the largest number of Protestants in the Irish Republic (Indeed it is rumoured that the Border commission. The body that drew up the frontier between Ireland and her northern neighbour originally intended to award a slice of Donegal to Northern Ireland.) Soccer rather then GAA dominates the country. The Roman Catholic church managed the parishes of Donegal from across the border in Derry. A quiet backwater to the stormy sea of Ulster.

Yet Donegal retained the largest area of Gaeltacht in Ireland. Notably in the South West. Historically the Princes of Donegal, the O’Donnell’s were the last of the native Irish rulers to hold out against the English. Bonnie prince Charlie sought refuge in Glencolumbcille. Donegal was the home of Isaac butt. The Protestant founder of the Irish party. During the Irish civil war, Donegal turned out for the Diehards. Enraged at the loss of their hinterland and the betrayal of their compatriots in Ulster.

Blaney’s father had fought for the Irish republic against the British and then against the Irish. Following the death of his father, Blaney became a deputy for Donegal in 1948. He rose quickly through the ranks of Fianna fail taking the portfolio’s for Local Government, and Telegraphs and Posts. Blaney is credited with the Success of the 1963 planning act. In 1967 Blaney rose to the position of Agriculture minister. An important office in a country tied to it’s countryside

Sadly as so often in Irish history hoped turned to despair. In Northern Ireland. The Catholic civil rights movement encountered a Loyalist backlash. Scenes of Marches being attacked by Mobs. While the police stood by outraged Ireland.

As the Crisis in the North. Eire was unsure of it’s response. Their were calls for UN intervention.

Oddly there was even a sense of curious anticipation, there was a feeling that the events unfolding in the North would lead to reunification. That which was left undone would be done.

With the death of Jack Mary Lynch unexpectedly. Left Eire leaderless. Charles Haughey whom perhaps would have been the more natural successor. Was forced to resign from office when word of his affair with Terry Keane broke. Blaney became Taioseach much to the indifference of the world.

As the events across the border turned from bad to worse. Blaney decided to take a strong line. Blaney allowed his party Fianna Fail to organise across the border in Northern Ireland.

He continually told anyone who would listen that force had not been ruled out as a means to end partition. He ordered the first line reserve of the Irish army be moved to border.

Blaneys action were to throw gasoline on the simmering flame of Northern Ireland

Over the summer of 1969 Ulster sank into civil war.

At dawn on 20^th August 1969. The Irish army crossed the border at Newry. The first offensive action ever taken by the Irish military since the civil war. They were greeted with puzzlement by the locals. With the element of surprise. The Irish army seized the RUC barracks and the Newry Post office. Which aroused the ire of most of Newry’s pensioners.

The British government moved swiftly. British troops were dispatched to Newry, to contain the ``invasion’’. The British army sealed the rest of the Border.

The Irish army acted sensibly. The Irish army had only enough ammunition for three days firing. Their air cover would have been 3 elderly Vampire jets. Realising that they were out gunned and outnumbered by the British army. Irish units surrendered as soon as the encountered the British. The British Government placed an immediate embargo on Irish goods. Froze Irish assets in the UK, and closed it's ports.

Blaney tired to raise the matter with the UN. It was vetoed by UK and the US. The US found itself in the awkward position of having it’s main NATO ally ``invaded’’ Despite a strong effort. By the Irish in the UN, and behind the in the US. The US came out firmly in support of it’s traditional ally. Events in Ireland had caught the US and indeed the rest of the world by surprise.

The UK also decided to release information about Blaney's involvement in a conspiracy to supply arms to Northern Catholics. This lost the Irish a lot of support particularly in the US.

Looking back. It’s hard to see what Blaney hoped to achieve by entering the North. It is said Blaney believed that the British government was only waiting for Ireland to take the imitative

Some claim that Blaney believed that by forcing the issue. The UN or US would have to do something. Whatever he thought Blaney was wrong.

Far away from such diplomatic niceties. Ulster exploded. In Belfast led by the B Specials, Loyalist Mobs entered the Catholic ghettos. Scores of people lost their lives in the street fighting. Thousands more lost their homes and fled south. The flames from West Belfast could be seen in Scotland.

Sectarian warfare broke out across the British Isles. The army had to be called in to restore order in Glasgow. In Liverpool 12 people died in the rioting. The Irish embassy in London was evacuated. In Boston, and New York British students and Tourists were attacked.

The Irish economy already under the strain of British embargo broke. Fuel shortages had Dublin grind to a halt. The roads were packed with Northern refugees moving South. British investments and tourists were attacked across the Republic of Ireland. The British embassy in Dublin was burnt to the ground, while Gardai cheered the rioters.

After week Blaney handed the Irish President his resignation. The Irish president asked the British for a cease fire. The British agreed. Asking only that Articles 2 and 3 be struck from the Irish constitution. The part of the Irish constitution that laid claim to the whole Island. As well as some incidental claims for compensation. . The British lifted their embargo.

In response to the ``invasion‘’. The British decided to reparation Ulster. The British withdrew to the line of the Bann. Effectively dumping thousands of people in a state that could not sustain them.

After the war, or the emergency as the British refer to it. Eire stumbled through the 1970's. The war would sadly still not spell the end of the use of the Gun in Irish politics. With unemployment so high. Memories of the civil war in Ulster strong. Anger and despair turned into violence.

The northern influx into the Republic stirred resentment. As Blaney came from Donegal in the North of Ireland, and thus historically part of Ulster. Many Irishmen blamed the Northern newcomers for the troubles. No Incomers signs appeared on pubs and boarding houses.

An old forgotten resentment gained new life.

The IRSA The Irish Republican Socialist Army was created out of members of the IRA whom had managed to escape from the North. They found ready recruits among the unemployed, crammed into mobile housing on the outskirts of Dublin, and Galway. Ironically most of their arms and training had been received from the Irish government. The fruits of Blaney's attempt to arm the Northern Catholics. Combining Marxism and Irish Nationalism the ISA fought the Irish government across the 1970's. Shooting Gardai, and Judges kidnapping Businessmen, and car bombing Government buildings.

The Irish Government retaliated. Hanging IRSA leaders when the caught them. The Irish application to join the EEC died on the Gallows of Mountjoy. The 2nd Irish civil war or the ``Dirty War as it was called. Cost the Irish state 2000 lives. As well as Eire’s reputation. The use of internment and torture by the Irish government. Angered liberal sentiment across the world.

In the 1970’s The IRSA still survives to this day. With links to Leftist groups across the world. It is rumoured to control a large slice of Europe’s drug trade.

The British would eventually withdraw from Ulster in the middle of the 1970's in disgust. Leaving Ireland to face a hostile and well-armed Northern neighbour. Tension between the two remains strong. Exasperated by Eire’s drift leftward. Ulster finding friends in Rhodesia and South Africa. Border clashes between the two are a feature of the Irish summer.

Most notably the war had lead to a crisis of confidence within Ireland. The dark days of the 1970's, and the never ending dispute with Ulster. Led to international investment haemorrhaging. The IRSA tactic of targeting rich businessmen for ransom. In particular scared of US investment. The death of Rob Stuber, the US beer magnate killed after the Irish army botched a rescue in 1976. Is remembered in Wall Street Even if it its forgotten in O Connell street.

Eire's use of the death penalty, and the rise of isolationist leftist parties in the 1970's have prevented Ireland from joining the EEC.

Irish Parliamentarians are more likely to be found in Moscow, then in Washington or Brussels these days. Irish agriculture finding it self trying to compete against the CAP subsidies of the EEC Finds itself wanting. Suicide is the second most common cause of death for men in rural Ireland. After alcohol poisoning.

Thousands of Irish men and women have voted with their feet. A quarter of Million Irishmen and women since 1970 have sought sanctuary in the USA, Others have gone to Canada, NZ and Australia . Or survive as Guest workers in Germany. Those are the ones fortunate enough to get jobs. Adverts for the personal services of Irish women can be found in ``Adult'' magazines throughout the world.

This correspondent will be in Phoenix Park tomorrow. Praying for a miracle

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POD.

Neil Blaney becomes Taisosech (Prime Minster) in 1969. Jack Mary Lynch’s (Yup that was his name) Heart gives out on him. Haughey gets caught with his pants down. Blaney is head of the Government. He crosses the border. He arms the Northern Catholics; he creates a whole load of trouble and it backfires.

Yes the Irish government really thought about doing this.

In OTL 60K Catholics fled South to flee the Troubles. (Including Liam Neeson)

Eire had the death penalty up till last year. The Irish government was prepared to hang a bunch of Reds in the 1970’s. At the last minute. (Gallows in Mountjoy were ready) It was called off

No EEC. No Irish prosperity.

Most of these events did happen in the 1970's just more so and nastier.

The Pedophile scandals of the Irish church hit Eire a decade earlier. The Irish government is less simpatico to the RC church.

Rurr

Rurr2@hotmail.com