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He never talked about it. Only maybe some of his old comrades would come in and we’d listen in, and he never talked about the civil war or anything like that. He just got on with the job and didn’t hold any grudges against anybody.
MAUREEN HAUGHEY GAVE a rare interview today, with her son Seán by her side.
Charlie Haughey’s widow was speaking at the launch of Fianna Fáil’s commemoration plans for the centenary of the 1916 Rising.
Her father, Seán Lemass, was a veteran of the Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
He became leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach in 1959, serving in that role until his retirement in 1966.
Maureen said her father didn’t speak about the Rising or the Civil War, as it was too difficult for him.
His brother was killed just as the Civil War was supposed to be ended, and his body was cut up and everything – but he never spoke about it.
She said her father was just 17 years old when the Rising took place and her uncle, Noel, was 18.
Maureen recalled: “There was word that the Rising was off. They should have been in Boland’s Mill with [Eamon] de Valera, but they couldn’t get there.”
The next day, they were a day late going in, they knocked at the door of the GPO and they were let in and they were given arms.
They were there all the way and the surrender came, but when they were all lined up, you know, as prisoners, an RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) man or whatever said ‘Sure there’s the Lemasses and they’re only children, let them go.’ So they let them go so they lived to fight another day.
Maureen said she’s “delighted” Fianna Fáil has planned its own series of commemorative events for 2016 as the government is “not doing very much”.
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What a wonderful, peaceful ideology.
@George Roche: Did the IRA represent you?
@George Roche: Nothing to do with their religion. Is about money. Do u believe that Trump is about making American great?
Liberalism or Islam?
@Nick The IRA were motivated by a militant republican ideology. A criticism of that ideology would not be considered racist or an attempt to blame all Irish people; why do you treat this citicism differently?
@Vincent Are suicide bombers motivated by money?
@Nick Caffrey: the apologists are out early I see. It’s for this reason we are unable to have a proper discussion on the dangers Islam and it’s teachings. Empty vessels making the most noise as usual
@George Roche:
The term Religion of Peace that gets spouted by politicians such as Obama, Teresa May, Trudeau, I think they were referring to this… http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks/attacks.aspx?Yr=Last30
@Vincent:
Islamic terrorists have nothing to do with Islam, is that what you are saying? So when they didn’t receive their ransom for the Canadians, beheading them had nothing to do with Islamic terror?
@Nick Caffrey: you must know nothing about history to make the comparison between IRA and Islamic terrorism
This is a money making operation, they are a kidnapping gang. A Muslim thief doesn’t steal because they are Muslim, they steal because they are a thief. This is different.
These kidnappers are just doing what the Prophet Mohammed told them to do.
Apologists for these Islamic terror groups are strong on the journal. Yet they can’t understand that although they are been used as useful idiots, they are nevertheless infidels who will have to convert and accept sharia or die.The PC brigade can’t accept that a spade is a spade, you can’t change it into a shovel.
Murderous Islamic militants again. Quite busy recently; Paris-Brussels-Nice-Berlin-London-Stockholm, seems to be no place safe anymore. Very tight border controls are now essential to reduce the risk.
I hear Somalia is lovely this time of year, do people not research where they are going on holidays?
That’s not good that they’re that far north now too.
have your say