Before I start this letter I must nail my colours to the mast and declare myself as a new recruit of Sinn Fein. I have to reply to Seán O' Domhnaill's depressing and somewhat bizarre moan about Socialism. I have no problem as such with Mary MacSwiney and Seán South but he seems to suggest true republicans can't be socialist.

The Catholic church lest our friend Sean forget it, has never been much of a friend to the republican movement. Let's not forget how they excommunicated the entire West Cork flying column despite their intense loyalty to the church. Indeed it is fair to say that they lost their rebellious nature when dealing with the men of the robes. He attacks (well more of a criticism than an outright attack) Tommy McKearney, who despite me being a member of Sinn Fein, I have great respect for, for being a communist. O’Domhnaill goes on about the evils of communism compared to Catholicism. Well no offence Seán but it wasn't the commies who raped our children and ruled this country with an iron fist for so long, (Granted they did in other countries but not here) It was the catholic church. They were the hypocrites who lived in big mansions with housekeepers tucking into fish and meat on Fridays and condemned their much poorer parishioners for it. He then goes on to name those republicans who speak of God, Pearse Sands and Mitchell. Granted they talked of God al mighty but so what there is nothing wrong with that. It doesn't change the fact Bobby Sands was a socialist. It is perfectly conceivable for people to be religious and socialist. Personally organised religion is not my cup of tea but that's just me.

Padraig Pearse wasn't a Socialist by admission but evidently was very sympathetic to Connolly's ideals of Workers as well as national liberation. As for Mitchell, well it sickens me anyone could be proud of that aristocratic hypocrite. A man who vociferously supported the oppression of the aboriginal people in Australia.

Tommy McKearney quite rightly states that republicans were not fighting for "catholic nationalism if anything they were fighting against it". If the United Ireland that inevitably will come is not socialist then it is not much better than British Imperialism. I may upset some people by saying I do not love Ireland, I hate it for it has become a cesspool of capitalist corruption. What I do love is the Irish Republican Socialist cause and the Republic espoused by men such as Padraig Pearse, Bobby Sands, Mickey Devine and James Connolly.

LONG LIVE THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

Is Mise Le Meas;D O' Driscoll,

Ball Nua Den Ógra Shinn Féinn

I am writing from Christchurch, New Zealand. I have just visited you website for the first time and wanted to say how good it is to see an intelligent, left-wing critique of the Peace Process and the new Republicans. This is especially the case because you guys are not just armchair Trotskyist critics, but people who have been through it all and risked your lives, on any number of occasions. This gives you an especial credibility. I hope that Fourthwrite and your other projects flourish.

Philip Ferguson

Christchurch New Zealand