Oglach Brian Keenan

Tuesday June 03, 2008 17:02

by Barry McColgan - Ógra Shinn Féin

A short film has been produced on the passing of Oglach Brian Keenan. Thousands of republicans gathered in Belfast on Saturday 24 May to honour and mourn the passing of this legendary Republican leader and activist.

Earlier that week thousands more paid their respects in his adopted home of Cullyhanna in South Armagh as they lined the roads as his remains made their way to his close friend Michael McVerry’s Monument.

The huge number of people who turned out to honour this great man demonstrated the high regard in which he was held.

On his journey from Cullyhanna to New Barnsley in West Belfast, Brian’s remains where carried by close friends and comrades.

Pictures of our generations ‘James Connolly’ adorned the streets around New Barnsley as his coffin made its way to the Ballymurphy Republican Monument.

Having had a moving oration in Cullyhanna by South Armagh Republican Sean Hughes, Brian’s close friend’s Martina Anderson and Gerry Adams stepped forward in the Ballymurphy Garden of Remembrance to speak passionately about his life and lasting legacy.

As Brian’s coffin made its final journey out of West Belfast, the thousands of mourners knew they would never see his likes again, his irreplaceable passion and talents a great loss to our country, yet his optimism reminded us to keep going, to never give up and to fulfil the freedom which he devoted his life to achieve, as he put it himself,

‘Keep the faith and spread it!’

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Comments (10 of 10)

'Our James Connolly?'

by Marlo Stanfield - New Day Co-op

Wed Jun 04, 2008 17:04

Just a little bit of persepctive there folks, 'James Connolly?' What pray tell, did Brian Keenan leave behind in terms of political writings or analysis of Irish society? A few articles justifying whatever twist and turn the provo leadership were taking this week? A hard man image and (alleged) links to a notorious sectarian massacre? You OSF kids are sure gullible. Please read a bit of Connolly and then compare it to what Keenan stood for.

Our generations James Connolly???

by grey - none

Wed Jun 04, 2008 19:57

Man OSF had better start reading Connollys stuff before comparing Keenan to him. You guys a supposed to be picking up the tratiors batton from you supiriors in the future. Better get you act together.
If you had said some one like Bernadette Mc Aliskey or Joe Higgins I might beleave you. But the HAWK are ye guys nuts. Read you history lads our your going to make the same mistakes as your gaffers.Our generations James Connolly. What a laugh.
But my sympathies do go out to his family and friends for their loss.

Socialist politics and the road to decommissioning

by pat c

Thu Jun 05, 2008 15:13

In the extract below Anne McShane writes how Brian Keenans beliefs transcended mere nationalism. Full text at link.

Among many IRA members Keenan was a hero. Not just because of his role in the armed struggle, but for his commitment to working class politics and his opposition to constitutional nationalism. He was seen as somebody of principle, who believed in fighting for a socialist republic, not just a united Ireland.

t was during his time in prison that Keenan began to really rethink his political ideas. Although a loyal member, he was also very critical of the militarism of the IRA and the lack of debate and ideas: “There was a lot of elitism in the army. A lot of senior people were suspicious of politics. They thought it would corrupt the struggle - but the struggle was all about politics.” He began to see the need for a Communist Party and a struggle for socialism based on Marxism.

When Brian Keenan was released from prison in 1995, he was not at all enthusiastic about the new political turn of Adams and Martin McGuinness. He said even recently of the peace process: “I would prefer we were somewhere else, but we are not and that is it as far as I am concerned. Revolutionaries have to be pragmatic - wish lists are for Christmas” (An Phoblacht April 10).

But despite his obvious misgivings he was to play a leading role in cementing the success of the Good Friday agreement. He took on the role of decommissioning the IRA’s arms and negotiated the handover to general de Chastelain. It is no wonder that Gerry Adams expresses his gratitude. Here was the man who had built up the arsenal of the IRA now handing over its weapons. His work done, Keenan then retired from the leadership because of serious ill-health.

rubbish

by hawkeye

Thu Jun 05, 2008 15:46

Personally abusive comment which was "playing the player" has been removed - moderator.

"Among many IRA members Keenan was a hero. Not just because of his role in the armed struggle, but for his commitment to working class politics and his opposition to constitutional nationalism."

First of all, how does Anne McShane know whether Keenan ws viewed as a 'hero' by rank and file volunteers rather than promoted as such by Adams and Co.? Bear in mind that Keenan was always part of the top brass.

Secondly, it is some leap from this to suggesting that volunteers admired him because he was an opponent of capitalism. This might fit neatly with a romanticised view of left-nationalism, held by the CPGB, among others, but there is no evidence that his "working-class politics" were of much interest to others in the Republican Movement. He certainly never attempted to push them within Sinn Féin.

I admire Keenan and all those who engaged in armed struggle against British imperialism in the six counties, but let's not try to pretend they are anything other than what they are. The rank and file of the Republican Movement, including Keenan, were happy to find an accomodation with the status quo because, ultimately, they were reformists with guns and not social revolutionaries.

(And before you get on my case - no, I'm not an SPer, SWPer or a member of any of those Trot and Stalinist sects that did nothing during the war up north other than mouth off.)

He like the rest of SF were broken

by Pete

Thu Jun 05, 2008 22:07

Brian Keenan (RIP) bowed the head to the British presence in Ireland. What a turn around from fighting the enemy to helping run the 6 counties. Oh but maybe its a stepping stone to a United Ireland, what a farce. Keenan and others have ensured that the Britsh will be here for many more years to come. As a result many more young men and women will be tortured in British and Irish jails for oppossing British rule in Ireland.

THE FOOLS THE FOOLS

The Enigma of Brian Keenan

by other viewpoint

Fri Jun 06, 2008 16:47

In the extract below Anthony McIntyre asks how Brian Keenan's beliefs evolved over time. Full text at link.

While he went along with it all, Paisley presiding over an internal solution while a major blow for republicanism must have been a triple punch to the solar plexus of Brian Keenan. In addition to partition being underwritten on the same terms as before, the consent principle, there was the added insult to Keenan’s secularism with Provisional acquiescence in the appointment of a theocrat as first minister. On top of that his professed Marxism must have had difficulty reconciling itself to the right of centre administration his movement was now propping up to the point of inviting the leader of world capitalism to Stormont.

For this reason Brian Keenan remains an enigma, someone not easy to be definitive about. He was certainly a very committed member of the IRA and was president of the army council at the time of his arrest in 1979. Some of those critical of him today retain respectful memories of a man who took the same risks as the volunteers he commanded.

Perhaps his willingness to embrace a non republican, non socialist, non secular outcome to the struggle he give so much of his life to lay in his own self professed pragmatism. He argued after the first ceasefire in 1994 against internal critics that had the IRA been able to sustain its campaign in England and been financially solvent to the point of being in a position to fund its own existence the ceasefire need not have been called. Recently in an interview with An Phoblacht/Republican News he appeared to allude to this. He also contended that he wished the Provisional movement was in a better place, an unwitting concession of sorts to the criticism that the place it is in hardly warms the republican soul. It was also a much more honest observation than being told that another gigantic step towards a united Ireland has just taken place or that Ian Paisley is perhaps the Wolfe Tone of our times doing more to bring a united Ireland about than republicans opposed to Sinn Fein.

Og Keenan

by Chicherin

Sat Jun 07, 2008 13:45

"First of all, how does Anne McShane know whether Keenan ws viewed as a 'hero' by rank and file volunteers rather than promoted as such by Adams and Co.? Bear in mind that Keenan was always part of the top brass."

The fact that he successfully directed several bombing campaigns in Britain suggests that he was a man of ability. The fact that someone is a leader does not mean that he is unadmired by the rank and file. The real proof was in his send off. Six thousand people mostly from the working class areas of Belfast turned out for his funeral.

I wonder how many will attend hawkeyes funeral?

Where you there?

by CS

Sat Jun 07, 2008 14:49

Six thousand at Brian's funeral?? Where you there?? I must have been at a different one. There were probably no more that 3,000

CS

You Lack Credibility

Sat Jun 07, 2008 15:12

Even the Irish Times reported that 6,000 were at the funeral.

Wow!!

Sat Jun 07, 2008 21:08

Wow!! The 'paper of record'. It must be true. I must have grossly underestimated so

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Oglach Brian Keenan

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