As the Black Lives Movement garnered more publicity in recent times following the death of George Floyd in the US, there has been a surge of posts on social media making claims about ‘Irish slavery’. It claims hundreds of thousands of Irish people were being sold as slaves in the 17th century in the Americas and the West Indies. The topic of slavery is a hard pill to swallow. The idea of Irish people being slaves is “one of the great modern lies in that particular period”.
The Vikings when they invaded Ireland the one thing they took back, which was more valuable to those that followed them, namely tales of green fields, of rich fertile soil and a land that was well worth fighting for. Hence those who came after were inclined to settle. However, there is evidence of slave raids in Leinster and south east Ulster. It declined after William the Conqueror consolidated control of the coastlines.
Through the many dreaded centuries that followed, England’s energies like the Cromwellian Settlement were concentrated upon an effort, seemingly, to annihilate the Irish race. Ireland’s sufferings, great and terrible as they had been, were yet far from ended. During the 17th century, tens of thousands of Irish indentured servants immigrated to British America. The majority of these entered into indentured servitude in the America’s for a set number of years. At least 10,000 were transported as punishment for the rebellion against English rule in Ireland or for other crimes, then subjected to forced labour for a given period. The countless of thousands who didn’t fall into those categories and who were weak, weary and starving, suffered a slow and painful death.
In the 18th/19th century there was 45,000 involuntary exiles who where part of the transportation system of punishment sent on convict ships to places like Botany Bay, Van Diemen’s Land and other British colonies for political and civil offences. The largest number of voluntary exiles – in excess of one million people – immigrated during and after the Great Famine (Gorta Mór) 1845-1849.
Other than the Viking raids, the Irish slave myth is not supported by the historical evidence. Historians note that unlike chattel slaves, most indentured servants willingly entered into contracts with another person, only served for a finite period, did not pass their unfree status on to their children, could follow up with citizenship and were still considered human.
Paradoxically, despite their hardships, the Irish all through times, took the punches, picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and got on with it, no matter what circumstances they found themselves in.
JAMES G BARRY
Templeogue, Dublin 6
Fabrication of reality
SEAN O’Fiach’s claims about Sinn Féin (July 17) are incorrect and invalid to the point that they are a denial of the republican principles of this movement.
Sinn Féin remembers the volunteers in the IRA who took part in the struggle against Britain and are proud of the sacrifices they made in the struggle for Irish freedom. They will never forget.
But today is different. The British army and the PIRA realised neither could defeat the other. The military campaign had run its time. A different avenue had to be found. This led to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
The PIRA were born as a result of the British government’s refusal to give Catholics the same rights as Protestants, the attacks on peaceful civil rights protests by the RUC and the burning of nationalist houses. This developed when the British army was placed on the streets of the north of Ireland. This then progressed to full scale conflict as the movement now believed that the only real solution was to get back independence from British rule in the six counties.
The 1990s saw the combatants on both sides acknowledge that neither could win and an alternative way forward was necessary. Sinn Féin had been examining an end to hostilities and had been in secret negotiations with the British government. The IRA agreed and in 1998 the Good Friday Agreement was signed. No one believed it was perfect but the majority of people agreed that it was the best option available.
Many decisions formerly made in London are now made in Belfast. Legislation is now in place to hold a referendum on Irish unity. A simple majority in favour of reunification will mean no more British involvement on this island. All this has been achieved by Sinn Féin using only constitutional means. So, Sean’s picture of where we are now is simply a fabrication of reality. Real republicans can see this and the massive support for Sinn Féin in all 32 counties is a direct result.
SEAN SEELEY
Craigavon, Co Armagh
Unworkable nightmare
The Big Brother mentality is alive and well at the BBC now that it has emerged that pensioners over 75 are being asked to provide the TV Licensing office with bank statements to prove that they receive pension credits which would entitle them to a free licence. This despite being told by the Director of Age UK that creating and sending copies of sensitive personal and financial documents can expose older people to I D theft and fraud. To compound the mental torture on older people they are advised to scan or photocopy pension credit documents.
The minions employed by the BBC should be aware that many over75s do not have access to photocopiers nor are they all IT literate. Labour peer Lord Foulkes put the advice meted out on the BBC hotline as “unworkable and a nightmare”.
Some of us are old enough to remember when the BBC stood for something. It had a culture, a code of behaviour and a sense of decency.
Alas, all that has gone and if they are now so far down on their uppers that they need to create a nightmare for people in the winter of their lives they should call it a day and switch off the lights.
WILSON BURGESS
Derry City
As my mother used to say – ‘never again’
Today we’re off to Donegal. Don’t think we’ll need our coats at all. On Saturday it starts to rain. Sunday – simply rained again. Monday – it is looking bleak, this rain is going to last all week. Tuesday on an empty beach, with rain, wish we could have gone to Spain.
Wednesday – the wettest of midweeks, now it’s coming down in streaks. Thursday – oh how the time does fly when you’re trying to stay dry. Friday – think I’ve lost my family’s trust, they’ve started coming down with rust. Left for home on Saturday night, the outlook now seems warm and bright.
As my old mother used to say ‘Never again.’
DOMINIC McCULLOUGH
Belfast BT15
Masking the truth
It is good to see that Sammy Wilson is emphasising the need to pay due regard to medical and scientific evidence to determine issues of concern. This no doubt will greatly reassure the geologists who are attempting to accurately date the rock formations on our north coast.
COLM DELANEY
Randalstown, Co Antrim
