Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

A political conspiracist organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), that has a foothold in Galway, hasn’t gone away, you know.

The organisation that claims lineage to the IRB of the late 19th and early 20th century, has challenged the legitimacy of the State – which it refers to as the ‘Corporate State’ – by attempting to create parallel courts and councils.

It was gaining ground in County Galway last year, trying to establish ‘kangaroo courts’ and unelected ‘councils’ in the Connemara villages of Oughterard and Moycullen.

Much noise was generated – mostly online – by some locals, who were influenced by IRB leaders nationally to channel their disaffection with the state of the country, into creating a courts system and system of local government.

Essentially, the IRB’s aim appears to be to create chaos through legal conspiracy or pseudo law to provide an ‘alternative’ to existing Irish law, and local government.

Any attempt to de-legitimise our existing courts and system of local government – as imperfect as these are – is an attack on democracy.

Galway’s IRB had gone quiet recent months, prompting speculation that they had got bored and were no longer meeting.

Alas, no. They haven’t gone away. Indeed, members of all of the so-called IRB’s ‘Community Councils and Co-Ops in Éire’ gathered last week on what it calls ‘Ireland’s Independence Day’ on January 21.

“The IRB, with deference of authority to the Éire Community Council, continue with active engagement for the establishment of Community Councils throughout all 32 Counties of Éire.

“Regarding the Oughterard and Moycullen Community Councils and Co-Ops, I can confirm that all is in order and current, and progressing as per the Manifestos for those Organisations,” John D Flanagan, chairman of the IRB’s ‘Supreme Council’ told us.

Surely, this will be an issue in the Galway West bye-election?

Pictured: Chairman of the IRB ‘Supreme Council’, John D Flanagan, who says ‘all is in order’ in the organisation’s Oughterard and Moycullen Community Councils and Co-Ops.