Highland Sparks

HIGHLAND SPARKS The following article, Highland Sparks, was written for bella caledonia, by George Gunn, From the Province of the Cat, 21.3.24 Let me begin by stating two things which are both true and untrue. One: Scottish theatre is full of talented and energetic artists. Scottish theatre is being pulled apart by managers and bureaucrats.…

Sinn Féin, the IRA and the betrayal of the Palestinians

In this hard hitting article by Georoid O’Loingsigh, first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland), he exposes the hypocrisy behind the Sinn Fein leadership, over its stance on Palestine and its kowtowing to Biden’s US imperialism. SINN FEIN, THE IRA AND THE PALESTINIANS Following a peace process in which the armed group, which is not the…

Memories of Alan Boylan

MEMORIES OF ALAN BOYLAN (1957 – 2024) In 1996, when socialists and communists across Scotland formed the Scottish Socialist Alliance, a larger-than-life figure came into our lives. Alan Boylan was at that time a member of the SNP Trade Union Group. A loud, brash, working class Dundonian, Alan was looking for answers and was being…

The John Maclean Centenary Concert

The following article was written by Jim Aitken and was first posted by Culture Matters. It spotlights the exceptional concert held as part of Celtic Connections in Glasgow’s Concert  Hall. THE JOHN MACLEAN CENTENARY CONCERT Celtic Connections put on a wonderful concert recently, in memory of Scotland’s great Marxist revolutionary, John Maclean (1879 -1923). Glasgow’s magnificent…

‘YesCymru’ buoyed by new report that says independence is “viable”- Is independence a step closer?

The following article was first posted by The Canary. It is the latest in a series highlighting Cymru’s dissatisfaction with the Union and the possibilities this opens up. ‘YES CYMRU’ BUOYED BY NEW REPORT THAT SAYS INDEPENDENCE IS “VIABLE” – IS INDEPENDENCE A STEP CLOSER? Campaign group YesCymru has welcomed a landmark report into Wales’s constitutional future…

Four ‘Just Stop Oil’ supporters found not guilty, as judge declares they had lawful excuse to disrupt parliament

The following article was written and posted by The Canary. It highlights a  success for a group which understands the nature of the UK state  but is still prepared to take action in defiance of this state. FOUR ‘JUST STOP OIL’ SUPPORTERS FOUND NOT GUILTY, AS JUDGE DECLARES THEY HAD LAWFUL EXCUSE TO DISRUPT PARLIAMENT…

To breathe the air of peace – review of Gerda Stevenson’s ‘Tomorrow’s Feast’

Jim Aitken has written this review of Tomorrow’s Feast by Gerda Stevenson which was first posted by Culture Matters. Tomorrow’s Feast is Gerda’s most recent book of poetry, written in English, Lallans and a short item in Gaelic. TO BREATHE THE AIR OF PEACE Tomorrow’s Feast by Gerda Stevenson is her third poetry collection. It is…

King Charles and the Counting House

The following article by George Gunn was first posted by bella caledonia. It is  another  in George’s series ‘From the Province of the Cat’, which use humour, rooted in local common sense to challenge key features of Ukania, the UK state, in this case the role and reality behind the British  monarchy. KING CHARLES  AND…

Benjamin Zephaniah’s break-up of UK and the republican dimension

Benjamin Zephaniah’s unexpected death on the 7th December at the early age 65 has been a shock to the countless thousands, maybe millions, who have come to love his work. His autobiography, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, is a very powerful book.  It draws on a range of life experiences that few others…

The cultural is political: Gig for Gaza and the rebirth of Irish cultural activism

Padraig Mac Oscair wrote this article for Rupture, the ecosocialist quarterly of RISE – Revolutionary, Socialist, Internationalist and Environment. He reviews  the recent ‘Gig for Gaza Fundraiser’ in the 3Arena, as well as highlighting the clear link between the cultural and the political in expressions of solidarity from Ireland. THE CULTURAL IS POLITICAL – GIG…