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Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on May 21, 2008 17:53:23 GMT
I was reading the notes of 'Brigadista: Bob Doyle' by Harry Owens and came across this little bit of info on a guy called 'John O' Beirne', a Spanish Civil War volunteer. Its interesting to me because I dont live a heck of a distance from Balbriggan and have seen the structure (see below) before, not knowing some of the history attached to it. I bothered to have another look and take some photo's. And yeah, some hell of a climb to get up it. No grips no nothing. Some guy! There isnt much information about him AFAICS on the internet. But he is mentioned here: www.geocities.com/IrelandSCW/ibvol-MoR1.htmHe also went by the name John Berkely as referred to in the article. "" John O’ Beirne
John O’ Beirne, known as ‘the guy who jumped through the drum’ among Sinn Fein supporters, disrupted a British Army recruitment parade through his home town of Balbriggan during the first world war. An IRA volunteer during the Irish War of Independence, he climbed the towns mill chimney one night and hung the illegal Irish flag from the top. The British Army couldn’t believe anyone could have climbed it. They had to shoot it down.
After the Truce he emigrated to the USA where he helped train Palestinians in guerrilla warfare (they were then rebelling against the British administering Palestine) before joining the American volunteers coming to Spain. He never took out an American passport, so he wasn’t eligible for repatriation to the US and went back to Ireland, bringing his strong sense of equality, and love of Jazz and Negro spirituals, especially the songs of Paul Robinson.
He rarely spoke of the war even to his family but had recurring nightmares of the time before being captured when he was hiding in a cupboard and searching Moors killed a comrade hiding in the same room. His favourite Spanish phrase became a family saying: ‘Muchas mananas, si si camaradas.’""           Also, photo's of Balbriggan Harbour and the Martello tower.   |
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Post by anticapitalist on May 21, 2008 21:57:22 GMT
very good clear photos of the chimney, the detail of the top and brickwork is excelent, must be a very good make of a camera,
could never see how anyone could get up the outside of that building without a scaffold, a rope or some sort of a grip, it was good to see Balbriggan harbour, have not been there in years, we went to stay in sunshine house for a week every year as young teenagers, it was supposed to be a holiday but we reckoned it was to prepare us for ST.Pats
was reading the article on the Spanish civil war very good information have to have another look over it, i did see reference to O, Beirne in it.
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Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on May 21, 2008 22:18:11 GMT
Its one of these www.dpreview.com/news/0407/04072805fujifinepixs5500z.aspIts good but 4 mil pixels isnt great these days, some phone cameras nearly have that. The St. Patricks parade? what did you need to prepare for? Balbriggan has a small st pats parade each year, its so small they go up and down the road twice. A cuz of mine got paid to dress as dracula in the last one in balbriggan. Have you got a copy of the book? |
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Post by anticapitalist on May 22, 2008 22:27:21 GMT
Still don't know how to quote sections of posts i will have to learn more or give up posting as it can lead to misinterputation,
thanks for the details on the camera,
i ment St. Patricks institution, sunshine house was supposed to be a holiday camp, for young people from less well off families in the late seventies early eighties, it had a terrible regime at times, like st pats, i think the majority of the lads who went to sunshine ended up in there
i was referring to the article that you posted re the Spanish civil war, i don't have a copy of the book
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Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on May 25, 2008 23:57:47 GMT
To use the quotes, just highlight the text you want to quote and press the button thats like a sheet of paper with a blue arrow pointing to the right. Sorry for the misunderstanding  |
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Post by anticapitalist on Jun 1, 2008 21:28:24 GMT
I feel stupid only coming back on this many days after your reply, but which button is like a sheet of paper with a blue arrow ponting to the right, i also tried to highlight and am stuck on this aswell, any more help would be highly appreciated,
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Post by anticapitalist on Jun 1, 2008 21:31:13 GMT
I feel stupid only coming back on this many days after your reply, but which button is like a sheet of paper with a blue arrow ponting to the right, i also tried to highlight and am stuck on this aswell, any more help would be highly appreciated, Thanks i got it now, it was the button beside ctrl, it is white on my computer, at least now i can pick out sections, when replying |
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Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Jun 1, 2008 23:44:56 GMT
Glad you found it  |
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Post by RedFlag32 on Jun 21, 2008 20:25:17 GMT
Anyone think we should do a poster which details the importance of this chimney and plaster them alover it? I was thinking of hanging a tri-colour on the top,but theres no way im climbing that.
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Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Jun 21, 2008 20:33:20 GMT
I was thinking the same minus the flag ;D. Id be up for it, but not just the chimney, maybe the surrounding area aswell...
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Post by anticapitalist on Jun 21, 2008 21:12:39 GMT
Anyone think we should do a poster which details the importance of this chimney and plaster them alover it? I was thinking of hanging a tri-colour on the top,but theres no way im climbing that. 40 or 50 euro, each from 4 or 5 of us would hire a cherry picker out for an hour or so, and then youse could get a couple of flags around it, at least close to half way up, |
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Post by voxpopuli on Jun 22, 2008 0:11:36 GMT
I'd be interested.
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