The RCN received the unanimous backing of the Edinburgh branch of RIC to ask the RIC National Steering Committee to organise a session at the second national RIC conference on November 23rd in Glasgow, entitled ‘The break-up of the UK – the case for ‘internationalism from below’’. This was then unanimously agreed by the Steering Committee, subject to…
Seamus Heaney – A Tribute
Seamus Heaney, the celebrated Irish poet, died earlier this year on August 30th. He was a frequent visitor to Scotland and friend of Sorley Maclean and Norman MacCaig. He wrote the acclaimed translation from the Early Anglo-Saxon of the founding epic poem of England, Beowulf. Heaney was a great Irish internationalist. Mary McGregor has written…
2nd Radical Independence Conference ‘Emancipation & Liberation’ Special
Our Emancipation & Liberation Radical Independence Conference Special will be available at the conference on Saturday, November 23rd. CONTENTS Editorial(also posted below) Scottish Self-Determination: For a Scottish Wannabe Ruling Class or for Scotland’s People? – RCN Why is Venezuela relevant to Scotland’s Radical Independence Movement? – Ewan Robertson Women and Independence –…
SEAMUS HEANEY: THE DEATH OF AN “INTERNAL EMIGRE”
Mary McGregor (RCN) writes this appreciation of the celebrated Irish poet, Seamus Heaney, who died on August 30th. Heaney was a poet of international acclaim. His skill and ability to convey emotions in words and images is exceptional. He was part of the land and appreciated its importance in shaping its sons and daughters. For…
Michael Marra – A Tribute
Mary McGregor, who lives in Dundee, has written the following tribute to the acclaimed singer songwriter, Michael Marra, who died on October 23rd. Every obituary and tribute to Michael Marra seems to begin with I met Michael in… or I have known Michael since … and when I sat down to write about him, I…
Michael Marra
Michael Marra, the acclaimed Dundonian songwriter and singer died on October 23rd in his home city. Here we publish Mary McGregor’s tribute from the forthcoming issue of Emancipation & Liberation, being produced for the forthcoming Radical Independence Conference. This is followed by Hermless,[1]For those less acquainted with the Dundee dialect ‘hermless’ is harmless. Michael Marra’s tongue-in-cheek submission for…
Dave Douglass Reviews Gregor Gall’s ‘Tommy Sheridan, From Hero To Zero?’
Tommy Sheridan, From Hero To Zero? – A POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY Welsh Academic Press, 2012, pp384, £25 Tommy and Gail Sheridan: a giant conspiracy? Given the still raw emotions, ongoing political bitterness and entrenched sectarian positions around Tommy Sheridan, this is a remarkably objective and balanced work. It is also extremely well written and presented. The…
Mary McGregor reviews ‘The Last Calendar of Events’ by Jim Aitken
Jim Aitken is a regular contributor to Emancipation & Liberation. He has published several books of poetry. Here Mary McGregor, also a teacher of English, reviews Jim’s Last Calendar of Events, which covers his last year of teaching. “And I gave them ideals and have held on to then still a youthful spirit unbroken.” On…
Mary McGregor reviews ‘Downfall: The Tommy Sheridan Story’, by Alan McCombes
Like many others who have been members of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) for a number of years, I did not want to read Downfall: The Tommy Sheridan Story by Alan McCombes. As a founder member of the Scottish Socialist Alliance (SSA) and then the SSP, I had been filled with hope (but with no…
Edwin Morgan 1920-2010
When I left school in 1975, Edwin Morgan had not yet pushed his way on to the syllabus for Higher or sixth year English. When I returned to school 4 years later as a student teacher, he was taught to all years and has stayed there for the best part of 30 years. When he…