35 Years Ago

A Flash Back to 1964

Men who were imprisoned during the 1940's founded the Irish republican Felons Club in 1964. Originally the Association was named the Ex-Penal Serviced Prisoners Club as membership consisted solely of long-term sentenced prisoners. However during 1964, the members decided to admit short-term prisoners to their association and consequently changed the name to Irish Republican Felons Club. What follows here is a short account of the Clubs formation based on the carefully recorded Minutes of 1964. Throughout the Minutes of that year, many familiar names appear, unfortunately too many to record here, but hopefully this short account will bring back fond memories to those who formed the Club and made it what It is today.

The story of the Irish Republican Felons Club starts with two men, Joe Campbell and Gerry Adams. Both men were released from "A" Wing, Crumlin Road Jail in September 1946. Much later in the first few months of 1964, they got together and after prolonged discussion about former times, they decided to form an association of ex-Penal Servitude Prisoners with whom they had been imprisoned during the 1940's. The main objectives of the proposed association at this embryonic stage were to foster and develop the friendships of the prison years and to keep alive the ideals and aspirations for which the Forties men and women had suffered imprisonment.

In the first fledging weeks Gerry and Joe spent many hours seeking out old comrades. After a considerable amount of walking, telephoning and writing, they soon realised they had set themselves a tough task, but they managed to contact about forty old comrades. Their idea of an association was met with an enthusiastic response. Despite many ex-prisoners having been out of jail for some time now, they looked forward to renewing old contacts and promised support in this worthy endeavour.

Inaugural Meeting

In the days that followed the 'Forties men' received their invitations to attend the Inaugural Meeting on Tuesday, April 21st, 1964, they made their way to 54 Cyprus Street where at 8.3Opm the meeting was declared open and the Irish Republican Penal Servitude Prisoners Club was born. In the Minutes of the Inaugural Meeting are listed, those in attendance that night. Their names read like a litany of those who fought during the 40's and experienced lengthy imprisonment: - Liam Burke, Art Steele and Gerry Adams, Kevin McNufty, Joe Campbell and Albie O'Rawe, John Graham, Paddy Corrigan and Joe McKenna. Many others are now since departed - Frank McKearney, Danny Rooney and Anthony McMenamy, Liam Hannaway, Harry McGrogan and Jimmy Weldon, Jimmy Grimes, Jimmy Bannon, Joe McManus, James Perry and Francie Notarantonlo who was murdered at the hands of the UFF. Among those who became members but were unable to attend that night were "Seamus Steele, Jack McCaffney, Bob McMillen and Gerry Watson. An election of officers took place and unanimous votes were given for Gerry Adams as Chairman, Jimmy Perry as Secretary and Joe Campbell as Treasurer. Also elected unanimously to the Committee were Liam Hannaway, Bob McMillen, Pat Magennis, Jimmy Weidon, Jimmy Bannon and Paddy Corrigan.

The new Chairman then opened the meeting for business, which took the form of a lively and interesting debate on the Constitution. After much deliberation a new Constitution was agreed upon:

The Constitution now reads:

Article 1: To foster and develop the friendships obtaining during the prison years.

Article 2: To foster and encourage by every possible means the common welfare of the entire Club members.

Article 3: To foster and develop those ideals which were the bases of all comradeship's and loyalties obtaining in the prisons.

Article 4: To seek to inculcate into others a love for things Irish.

Article 5: To bring together all Irish Republican Penal Servitude Prisoners."

Having agreed a Constitution on the Inaugural night, the Chairman declared the meeting closed. In the Minutes of the Meeting, Jimmy Perry, the new Secretary recorded with satisfaction: "The members were then treated to liquid refreshments through the generosity of a member. The Chairman then gave a toast to the new Club". Following the toast, at a brief Committee meeting, Kevin McNulty and Joe McKenna were co-opted onto the Committee. Thus passed the Inaugural Meeting of the ex-Penal Servitude Prisoners Club.

Hard work ahead

In the weeks and months that followed, the Committee and members of the club worked vigorously to consolidate and expand their newly formed association. There were many tasks, which had to be undertaken- and ex-Penal Servitude Prisoners, living in rural areas and abroad had to be contacted and informed of the club; premises had to be found and money had to be raised to pay for their rental. A permanent name for the Club had to be agreed upon and Club activities had to be organised. For the most part of the latter initially consisted of fund-raising due to the lack of finance, but despite this, a debating Committee and a Welfare Committee were set up with the aim of stimulating interest in current political affairs and attending to the welfare of club members

Dinner Céilí

One of the first ways in which the Club raised finance was by weekly subscriptions from each member of 2 shillings although the Treasurer frequently complained that not everyone paid their "dues". A popular fundraising activity was the Ceilidhe Dinners, which allowed the comrades to have a re-union whilst making some much-needed finance for the Club.

The first Ceilidhe Dinner was held in the International Hotel, Belfast on Saturday, 4th July 1964 with guest artists providing the entertainment and Liam Burke doing a commendable job as "Fear a-Tighe". Although the evening was enjoyed by one and all, the club Chairman later complained that the "Ceilidh Dinner had fallen short of being a complete success due to too much drink and a certain lack of order after the Dinner"

Club Membership

Although Club members were busy raising finance other issues were often debated. One such issue was the question of membership to the Club. Some Club members, among them Billy McKee, Kevin McQuillan Martin Clarke and Frank McKearney agreed that Club membership should be open to internees or "short-term prisoners" as they were then known. On 28th April 1964, the Club meeting passed a motion accepting "short-term prisoners" as associate members but it was not until 14th March 1965 that the ex-internees became accepted as full members of the Club. At a Club meeting on that date, Patsy Quinn proposed that the internees be admitted to full membership of the Club. Seconded by Kevin McNulty, the proposal was passed by a majority vote.

Membership for Women

The question of the membership of women to the Club was also raised at a very early stage in the Club's history. The minutes of May 10th, 1964 read as follows: -

"Billy Mckee proposed that Mary Nash and other women who had served imprisonment should be honorary life members. This was seconded by John Graham. As there were no objections the proposal was carried".

Mary Nash became the first woman to be made an honorary life member and subsequently many more women ex-prisoners were admitted to full membership of the club. One of these was Nora McAteer who was interned during the 1940's. Nora still serves as an active member of the Republican Prisoners' Welfare Committee and of the Club committee.

New Name for the Club

Apart from membership of the Club, the matter of an agreed name for the Club was often the source of much discussion and debate. At a series of meetings a variety of names were proposed until on the 17th May 1964 the Club members decided that a name would have to be settled on once and for all: -

"The Chairman then said that the Club was to have a name and asked for proposals to aid in this matter. He stated that whatever name was accepted at the meeting, that name would have to remain.

"The first proposal came from Jimmy Weldon, that the Club be named Cumann ham Mhic Alastair - Traolach de Poire. This was seconded by Bob McMillen.

"The next proposal by Kevin McNulty seconded by John Oliver was for the name to be the Binnbeal Club. Proposal number three from Martin Clarke to name the Club the Irish Felons Club was amended by him to the Irish Republican Felons Club and as such was seconded by Tommy Mcllroy. A fourth proposal by Paddy Corrigan to name it the Four Provinces Club failed for want of a seconder."

"After a vote was taken it was declared that the "Irish Republican Felons Club" was passed by a majority

Finding Premises

Perhaps the main problem facing the members of the "Felons" at this stage was the need for premises. Some Committee members approached Estate Agents with a view to renting premises but any premises, which were available, were generally situated in downtown locations with rental to match. Gerry Watson and Geordie Shannon explored the possibility of purchasing land on which to build a Club but again this proved difficult. Eventually on May 24th, 1964 the Chairman reported that premises above Hectors at 83 Falls Road had been found and that John Graham Liam Burke and Jack McCaffrey had agreed to act as guarantors. On the word of this good news, Harry Cordner proposed that the Committee should be congratulated on the "good work done" and Club members responded with enthusiasm, offering to gather furniture, dart boards, chess sets and souvenirs of prison crafts for the new premises.

Finance Raising

The provision of premises brought with it added financial responsibilities but Club members organised further Ceilide Dinners, Scouts Doubles, Ballots, Pin-hole Cards and the like to raise the necessary £4 per week rental of the premises. A Building Fund Committee was established to look at ways of raising capital for a permanent home for Club. This was a major task as on 2nd August 1 964, the Treasurer reported to Club members that the total assets of the Club were £1.15s 6d!

Debating Committee

But having premises also facilitated the other very important business of the Club. A Debating Committee was formed which included Martin Clarke, John Graham, Kevin McNulty, Joe McKenna, Gerry Kerr and Albie O'Rawe. They invited guest speakers to talk to club members about current topics of interest which included discrimination in housing and employment - something endured by many republican ex-prisoners. Among those who were to address the Irish Republican Felons Club were Desmond Fennell and Fr. Dessie Wilson.

Francie Duffy

A room in the Club premises was also put at the disposal of those attempting to bring home the body of Francie Duffy who had died in Panama, among them Liam Burke. Having central premises also meant that delegations to Edentubber and Bodenstown could be more easily organised. This was seen by Club members as being an important activity at a time when Republicanism in Belfast was at a much lower ebb, than it is today. Among 'those delegated with the task of organising buses and collecting finance for Bodenstown was Geordie Shannon.

Welfare Committee

A Welfare Committee was also set up at this time whose organisers included Joe Campbell, Albie O'Rawe and Paddy Corrigan. The main object of the committee was to provide assistance for members whom had fallen ill. In later years, the Irish Republican Welfare Committee was to be instrumental in assisting the refugees of Belfast and Prisoners of War in the 6 Counties, England and further afield.

Conclusion

The Minutes covering the first year of the Club's formation conclude on Sunday, 11th April 1965. Sadly the Minutes for that day record how Club members stood in silence as a token of respect for a comrade and member, Tommy McIIroy, who had died that week. The year 1964-65 was a dynamic one in the Club's history. Members worked with enthusiasm to find premises, raise finance and organise the Debating and Welfare Committees as well as attend Republican commemorations. The Minutes record that every effort was made "to foster and develop the friendships obtaining during the prison years" and to "develop those ideals which were the basis of all comradeship's and loyalties obtaining in the prisons."