MANY OF Socialist Outlook's readers will have worked with, or heard of Maire O'Shea. STEVE COHEN offers this obituary in memory of a friend and comrade. Maire O'Shea Psychoterrarist World communist Irish republican Motorwoman from hell Maire O'Shea Died aged seventy six Forever young Forever in her nicotenes. Don't have a minutes silence In honour of Maire O'Shea Instead have a loud polemic Don't give up smoking in memory of Maire O'Shea towards the barricades fuse behind a bomb Simultaneously Towards the barricades Surprise the enemy Terrify your friends Starting with Ireland Instead make it compulsory Join the Maire O'Shea brigade And follow her silvery trail of cigarette ash The silvery trail of ash that followed our Maire like a Participate in the Maire O'Shea grand prix Drive your car in all directions Pull down borders for Maire O'Shea To the memory of our Maire A friend who never stopped arguing A comrade who never stopped fighting A smoker who never stopped missing the ashtray A political autopsy revealed fifty three petition sheets in her handbag For fifty three different causes Along with numerous leaflets for numerous demos Assorted medical reports to spring insecure patients from secure hospitals The entire tobacco stock of the state of Virginia Bright red lipstick And a request to mount a picket in case of cardiac arrest To the memory of our Maire A Catholic who became a catalyst An atheist who followed the teachings of St Audacious An opponent of all know privilege It was a privilege to know her. So remember the Birmingham Six The Guildford Four And the Maire O'Shea One. Probably the only revolutionary who fell asleep during her own conspiracy trial And still beat the rap.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 81, April 8 1995, Page 12.