A: Come Out Ye Black and Tans as performed by The Wolfe Tones
Q: Them again. And why?
A: Because of the R.I.C. (Royal Irish Constabulary) Commemoration proposed by the Fine Gael government. From 1919 to 1922 during the Anglo Irish war the R.I.C. were aided by the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries in the attempted containment of the Independence struggle. Many of those policemen were killed as they were now no longer involved in normal police work but identified with military repression. Why, asked a bemused populace, should we commemorate Black’n’Tans? The Anglo Irish War is also known as the Black’n’Tan war.
This was an indication of how removed the government were from, God help us, normal cop on and their disappearance into a void of pointless reconciliation and historical perspective. Sinn Fein reaped the benefit of this. They regard themselves as the true government of Ireland as the first Sinn Fein Parliament was never prorogued. They also did not until recently recognise the courts which prompted Myles to ask Dixon and Hempenstall the ophthalmologists to supply spectacles.
Q: Never mind all that, how did they do in the election?
A: They got the majority of First Preference votes and if they had put up more candidates would have won the most seats in the election and be in a position to form a government more easily. As the presiding officers at the count centres announced this they broke into Come Out Ye Black’n’Tans Given their free money economic policy and highly aspirational public housing programme the people of Ireland could now be singing Don’t Cry for Me, Venezuela .
Q: Where does that leave us?
A: Waiting on a coalition government which will probably include Sinn Fein. Some say let them in and they will self destruct. Interesting times. S.F. are having public meetings around the country to show that they are a force that must be recognised.
Q: And how did the pro-life supporters and candidates do?
A: I thought you’d never ask. Very nicely. All were elected and better still many of the more strident pro-abortion women candidates lost their seats.
strident voices
As I was saying in 2018 the Proportional Representation system would reflect the one third of the country who voted against repeal of the Eight Amendment. In my constituency I voted no 1 Aontu (pro-life party) knowing they would not get elected but that in the fullness of time the vote would pass to my 2nd. Preference Noel Grealish. My third was Eamonn O’Cuiv. Now when Aontu’s votes were distributed the vast majority went to Grealish and O’Cuiv both of whom had voted against repeal in the Dail (parliament). The Fine Gael whip running in this constituency lost his seat. I rejoice in his return to the private sector, a particularly mealy mouther maunderer on the Direct Provision asylum seeker issue.
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Black’n’Tans Lyrics. (Song was written by Dominic Behan brother of Brendan.)
I was born on a Dublin street where the royal drums did beat
And the loving English feet they went all over us
And every single night when me dad would came home tight
He'd invite the neighbours out with this chorus
Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Come tell us how you slew them poor Arabs two by two
Like the Zulus they had spears and bows and arrows
How you bravely you faced one with your 16-pounder gun
And you frightened them natives to their marrow
Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Come let us hear you tell how you slandered great Parnell
When you thought him well and truly persecuted
Where are the sneers and jeers that you bravely let us hear
When our heroes of '16 were executed?
Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
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