Today a group of us took to the streets of Coolock at Northside Civic Centre where my motion regarding the history of the Artane Band and the Artane Industrial School was put before the North Central Area Committee. In what can only be described as a gross act of denial only one Councillor voted in favour of the motion. (Cllr Michael O Brien)
Denial ruled the day. It was an act of shocking violence the deafening silence. How can it be that the findings of the Ryan Report and the finding of serious Garda inquiry into child abuse, wholesale criminal and sexual violence that was perpetrated in Artane industrial school can be written out of history?
It is a great shame that the Cllrs in this instance chose to keep Ireland and it’s people in the dark and protect the Christian Brothers and their manifestation through the present Artane Band. The people of Artane and indeed the North Central Area need now to stand up to this shameless shameful act.
The paedophiles and rapists and child abusers will take great comfort in today’s decision by this area committee and its councillors. While we, the people who experienced this abuse in our childhood, carry a much heavier burden as a result of today’s refusal by the Cllrs to acknowledge the true and proven history of the Artane Boys Band, the Artane Band and the Artane Industrial School.
Like the dark days of the beginning of this journey for justice, we stood alone against the Catholic Church, the Christian Brothers and the orders of nuns. Sad today, that we stood alone again at the North Side Civic Centre.
We take comfort from the many people, local residents who we met, all of whom understood our issue and were fully supportive.
We thank you for your hospitality and we will be visiting with you again soon.
Truth and Justice are what we seek.
These two motions below were fully supported last month by all but two Councillors at the North Central Area Committee Meeting.
Again supporting a true denial of the accurate and true history of the Artane Industrial School and the Artane Boys Band – Artane Band. History repeats itself in the form of gross denial. Our lives don’t matter.
Mannix Flynn 
well done to all
Is this about sponsorship I wonder? Who is funding this project? To change a name is a simple thing. The boys will still get to play their music. Those affected by the abuse of the Christian brothers must get the recognition and healing that is their due. Shame on all who ignore this call from them for justice. Cllr.. Mannix Flynn is a man of substance and integrity. Silence is not golden in this case.
My name is Tom Connors, I was in Artane Industrial School from 1957 until 1964 the years Br. McKeon (The Macker) was in charge of the playground and Br. Joseph O’Connor (Joeboy) was in charge of the band.
I am 70 years old now and even to this day, I can still remember my school number, 13833 after all these years. But that is not all I can remember, I remember a number of incidences that involved both of these Brothers but for all the wrong reasons, all of which were of a sexual nature.
I am presently writing a book in regards to all that has happened in that hellhole of a place called Artane Industrial School, and I hope to have it published before I die.
One particular incident I have put into the book involved a chest of drawers in which Joeboy put my head in and buggered me as my head was in the drawer. Anyone who has been in Artane would remember to showers every Saturday morning and what the Macker did to every one during the showers.
The Book is called “THE CRIES OF THE INNOCENCE” Artane the scourge of my Childhood, and it will be telling everything that happened including the death of my friend Colm Dunne who did needlessly and all because of the Brother Beacon the Brother in charge of the infirmary, who had no medical knowledge whatsoever.
Colm Suffered for nearly three years with chest pains and every time he made a complaint he was told by the Macker that it was a figment of his imagination, and received a clatter for his trouble.
However, I have been in the infirmary a number of times after been sexually abused by either Joeboy or the Macker as well as other brothers named in the book. While in the infirmary, I have witnessed Br. Beacon molesting Colm Dunne two days before he died of Leukemia, and it galled me to see him, Joeboy, and the Macker throw clay into Colm’s grave, the three Brothers who sexually abused
on a regular basis.
With kind Regards
Tommy
Fajnego masz bloga. Uwielbiam tu wracać bo wszystkie wpisy czytam z zainteresowaniem. Twoje notki czyta się z przyjemnością co sprawia że człowiek się nie męczy siedząc tutaj. Tak trzymaj.
Fajnego masz bloga. Kocham tu wracać bo wszystkie wpisy czytam z zainteresowaniem. Twoje notki czyta się z przyjemnością co sprawia że człowiek się nie męczy siedząc tutaj. Oby tak dalej.
hi gerard keep up the good work
Fajną masz tą stronę Zapraszam również na moją stronkę regalszytynamiare.pl
Ciekawy blog. Lubię tu wracać ponieważ wszystkie wpisy czytam z ciekawością. Notki czyta się lekko co sprawia że człowiek się nie męczy czytając go. Tak 3maj.
I agree with the comments made in regards to the dismantling of the band, for one reason, it is a cruel reminder to those of us who had endured such evil barbarity at the behest of the so called Christian Brothers, especially where Br. Joseph O’Connor the leader of the band.
He was the most evil of all the Brothers in Artane, Nevertheless, with Artane industrial School not in existence anymore, and the band having originated at the time of Br Thomas Hoope the Brother who bought the school for £7.000 in 1872, and Bro O’Connor dead, why try to keep the band there as a reminder to all those who had to endure the pain that was created by O’Connor and company.
The band was good in it’s heyday, but when it was turned into a secret society for perverts and pedophiles then it was time to burn the place down.
Should the band wish to remain as a band it should relinquish all ties to the school and it should under ne circumstances hole any thing in memory of the likes of O’Connor.
Furthermore, the fact that the band had female members now all references to Artane should be deleted.
Kind Regards
Tommy
My name is Tom Connors, I was in Artane Industrial School from 1957 until 1964 the years Br. McKeon (The Macker) was in charge of the playground and Br. Joseph O’Connor (Joeboy) was in charge of the band. I am 70 years old now and even to this day, I can still remember my school number, 13833 after all these years. But that is not all I can remember, I remember a number of incidences that involved both of these Brothers for all the wrong reasons all of which were of a sexual nature, and I am presently writing a book in regards to all that has happened in that hellhole of a place called Artane Industrial School, and I hope to have it published before I die. One particular incident I have put into the book involved a chest of drawers in which Joeboy put my head in and buggered me as my head was in the drawer. Anyone who has been in Artane would remember to showers every Saturday morning and what the Macker did to every one during the showers. The Book is called “THE CRIES OF THE INNOCENCE” Artane the scourge of my Childhood, and it will be telling everything that happened including the death of my friend Colm Dunne who did needlessly and all because of the Brother Beacon the Brother in charge of the infirmary, who had no medical knowledge whatsoever. Colm Suffered for nearly three years with chest pains and every time he made a complaint he was told by the Macker that it was a figment of his imagination, and received a clatter for his trouble. However, I have been in the infirmary a number of times after been sexually abused by either Joeboy or the Macker as well as other brothers named in the book. While in the infirmary, I have witnessed Br. Beacon molesting Colm Dunne two days before he died of Leukemia, and it galled me to see him, Joeboy, and the Macker throw clay into Colm’s grave, the three Brothers who sexually abused on a regular basis
Ciekawy blog. Uwielbiam tu wracać bo każdy twój wpis czytam z zainteresowaniem. Twoje wpisy czyta się lekko co sprawia że człowiek się nie męczy czytając go. Tak 3maj.