THE news that a man from Achill Island had given his life fighting for the freedom of Ukraine brought back memories of an event I attended at the same place off the coast of County Mayo, in my early days as a reporter, where an islander who made a similar sacrifice for the freedom of another country was commemorated.
Tommy Patten went to Spain to fight against Franco's forces in the Civil War that lasted from 1936 to '39. He died in the defence of Madrid against the fascists in December 1936. Fifty years on, 400 people gathered on Achill Island to celebrate his bravery and self-sacrifice, including four who had also fought in the conflict. The names were read out of scores of volunteers from the north and south of Ireland, both Catholic and Protestant, who gave their lives. The attendance included Labour Senator and future President of Ireland Michael D Higgins.
Patten's brother Owen recalled advising him, as he left for Spain, to watch out for the fascist bullets. Tommy replied: "The bullet that will get me won't get a Spanish worker."
The 26-year-old native Irish speaker was buried in an unmarked Spanish grave but his brother said at the Achill event: "He is well-remembered now." The words of the legendary Frank Ryan about his fellow volunteer and others who took the same path were quoted: "These were true Irishmen because they were true internationalists."
Late last week we heard that another Achill Islander, Finbar Cafferkey, had been killed fighting Russian forces near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. The military volunteer had previously fought in Syria where he helped the Kurdish militia in their battle against Isis, an offshoot of al-Qaida who brought us the horrific 9/11 terror attacks.
Aged in his 40s, he took part in the Shell to Sea protests against the proposed construction of a natural gas pipeline in the parish of Erris, County Mayo, as well as a natural gas refinery in the area, seeking instead to have the gas refined at sea. It is also reported that, some eight years ago, he spent time at the border between Greece and Macedonia, helping refugees trying to start a new life, and that he also worked on a construction project in Copenhagen.
Finbar's brother Colm wrote on Twitter: "He stood against all forms of imperialism, be it US, British or Russian, and was strongly opposed to Ireland's support of US troops and any move toward joining NATO."
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said in a tribute: “My deepest sympathies to the Cafferkey family on the sad passing of Finbar who was obviously a young man of clear principles".
In a sharp response, the Russian Embassy in Ireland "noted" Mr Martin's comment and continued: "We do not know what his principles were. What we do know, though, is that in a very big way it is the Government and media who bear responsibility for the death of Finbar Cafferkey. It has been the Government and media who have been promoting anti-Russian propaganda, distorting the truth about the conflict in Ukraine, misleading people like Finbar Cafferkey. Now they face the results of their own efforts."
The statement struck a chilling note when it added that the Russian administration did not know “if Mr Martin’s remarks signify support for the Irish to take part in combat in Ukraine, but we do know that if that is the case, then Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences”.
Fine Gael TD and former minister for foreign affairs Charlie Flanagan said the “hostile remarks are unacceptable” and added that it was “beyond time Ambassador [Yuriy] Filatov and his crew were asked to leave our country”.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the government’s position “in respect of Russia’s brutal and illegal aggression against Ukraine is crystal clear”. A spokesman added, however: “The government’s view is that diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has repeatedly called for the expulsion of Ambassador Filatov and, speaking on RTÉ television's The Week in Politics last Sunday, frontbench spokesperson Louise O'Reilly said: "For me, that vile, disgusting statement from the Russian Ambassador underlines the reasons why he should be kicked out, I think he should be expelled."
Given the consistent opinion-poll evidence that Sinn Féin could well be heading up the next government in Dublin, their views on this issue must be taken particularly seriously. The latest RedC survey published in last Sunday's Business Post shows the party on 31 per cent, nine points ahead of Fine Gael on 22 per cent and almost double the score for Fianna Fáil on 16 per cent.
In response to some other interesting questions, 45 per cent of respondents were "concerned that foreign direct investment would reduce if Sinn Féin got into power", with 33 per cent who disagreed. Turning to the hottest issue of the day, 46 per cent disagreed that "Sinn Féin in government can solve the housing crisis" as against 36 per cent who agreed with that statement.
Meanwhile, in the Fine Gael camp, five TDs who ran successfully in the 2020 general election, when the party won 35 seats, have decided not to run again in the next contest, which is due to take place by March 2025 at the latest, and there is speculation that they may be joined by up to 10 more from the same parliamentary party.
Professor of Politics Gary Murphy was quoted in the Irish Mail on Sunday as saying that this indicates the FG "brand is declining". That would appear to be the case.