I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night

Minutes of inaugural meeting of Jim Connell branch of the O'Donovan Rossa Society (Surrey Docks)

Held upstairs at The Tyburn Martyr, Comet Street Deptford on 14 November 2010

Present

Rex Mulligan Publican of The Tyburn Martyr, Comet Street, Deptford (Provisional President/Treasurer).

Xavier MacGlynn of Tanners Hill, Deptford, Cabinet-maker (Provisional Secretary)

Malachy MacGlynn of Crossfields Estate, Deptford, Painter & Decorator.

Phil Deeds of Blackheath, Contractor

Clarence Gosling of Brockley, Import/Exporter

The meeting was first called to order at 8pm. It was then called to order again at 8.15pm but it transpired that a round had been bought at approximately 8.13pm and as the money had already changed hands and the pints were on the counter settling it was agreed by a show of hands to bring the meeting to order at 8.30pm.

The meeting duly convened at 9pm and first point on the agenda was the vote bringing into being the Jim Connell branch of the O'Donovan Rossa Society (Surrey Docks). The vote was passed unanimously and was followed by toast.

By 9.20pm, the champagne was all drunk and the second item on the agenda was reached. This being the nomination of a working party to produce a constitution for ratification at the earliest opportunity. There was again unanimous assent to the idea in principle but differences of opinion arose as to who should carry out such complex researches. Eventually it was settled on the toss of a coin and the success of the enterprise was toasted with the duties of constitutional draftsmen falling to Malachy MacGlynn and Clarence Gosling.

Mr M MacGlynn has asked for it to be categorically stated in the record that he thought this was a load of oul bollocks and all he wanted was an evening out of the house away from the missus so he could sing rebel songs and watch old IRA footage, and that he certainly didn’t expect to be reading constitutional feckin’ law.

Clarence Gosling also wanted it stated for the record that he with Malachy 100%. Bumbleclot, what did he know about constitutions?

This brought discussions on to item number three on the agenda, namely a statement of the society’s aims and objectives. On this matter, a wide range of opinions were voiced. 'Overthrow of the Ruling class' was proposed by Phil Deeds and seconded by yours truly (Xavier MacGlynn) but Rex Mulligan felt that while this was certainly an aspiration, the complete overthrow of the Ruling Class might be slightly beyond our remit and capabilities.

This discussion continued with the internationalists pressing for class war aspirations and the Irish republicans arguing amongst themselves about whether to recognise the Free State. There was a danger of a split until an adjournment was called. The meeting was brought to a formal close with a rendition of I Dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night.

Minutes signed by President and Secretary
"Freedom is a road seldom travelled by the Multitude"