WELCOME TO RUSHLIGHT 
"The Worker and the Thinker are Manhoods only King
Rushlight wishes Rachel Good Luck for Saturday Night
Vote for Rachel Tucker (Rachel Kelly) on BBC1’s I’d Do Anything
Help make Rachel’s dream come true and put Belfast music on the map by voting for her on Saturday. Vote early and often
The Autobiography Of Jimmy Hope, I have just included this remarkable life story in the site and would hope the readers avail of the opportunity of reading it. It can be found in the "Belfast's Characters" section on the right.
.Rushlight Magazine Presenting History Warts and All
Rushlight The Belfast Magazine, is the longest existing historical publication in Belfast, and the oldest existing West Belfast Publication, founded by myself, Joe Graham, in 1972, it is aligned with no politcal party, was never a puppet to any one or organisation but steadfastly independently sought to further the republican ideals and principles of the United Irishmen , "To Unite Protestant Catholic and Disssenter under the common name of Irishmen." Rushlight has never sought or would accept any grants or funding from any source whatsoever. Preferring to have the freedom to relate and record the real, the hidden, history of Belfast and these six British occupied counties of Ireland in particular. Back in 1972 when I founded Rushlight it was the only publication available in what is now called "West Belfast" to highlight the atrocities of internment, the indignities of home raids by the R.U.C and British Forces and give a voice for the politcal prisoners and indeed raise money to eleviate the financial hardships of their families, other publications sprang up later. I through, Rushlight, also set up and ran a series of free local Newsheets like "The Ardoyne Freedom Fighter", "The Vindicator", "Scale" , I worked with the legendary Frank Card in establishing "The Republican News" late 1970. Other publications like the "Andersonstown News" sprang up out of the anti-internment protest, also the great little paper "The Patriot" ran by local republicans which became the voice of republicanism in the Andersonstown area, sadly that patriotic little paper, like the Ballymurphy "The Tattler" is now gone and forgotten. In the 'mid 1990's huge masses of money became available through grants and funding for projects and were availed of widely but I , like a dinosaur, some mercenary minded folk have said, refused all such like monetary interests and my Rushlight The Belfast Magazine remained independent and without outside influences, a standard I have always been very proud to maintain. Through the years I have recorded the stories of Belfast's colourful characters, like Stormy Weather, Silver McKee , Buck Alec Robinson, The Duke Of Millfield, Pig Minelly, Corky, Tommy Juke the bullets, Jimmy Duffin, Dr. McNab and hundreds more and they can all be found in this website. Also I have covered the old districts of Belfast, Ardoyne, New Lodge , The Market, Carrick Hill, The Shankill, Smithfield etc etc, and in those pages shown on the list on right you wil see some of the most unique photographs of old Belfast.
One of the shops in the photo was called "Spackman's", a tailors shop of which there used to be a lovely wee ditty sang by Belfast kids.
"When I was a lad I went with my dad and we got clad at Spackman's
Now I'm a Dad with many a lad and we all get clad at Spackman's"
Rushlight Presenting history .. Warts and all !
The Last Letter Of Lt. Gen Joe McKelvey I.R.A, executed Dublin
Mountjoy Prison, 3 a.m.,
Friday Morning
My Dearest, Dearest Mother,
How can I tell you the news I have to let you know? I don’t care at all for my own sake, but I grieve for the pain it will cause you, my loving mother. A document has just been read to me informing me that, as a reprisal for the shooting of Sean Hales, I am to be executed at 8 a.m. this morning.
I can honestly tell you that news hasn’t upset me one little bit, and I only hope I shall face the firing squad with equal equanimity.
Lam Mellows, Rory O’Connor and Dick Barrett are, I think, to go along with myself, at least they have been brought with me. I haven’t yet seen the Chaplain, but he is to be brought to me; however, I feel quite happy , and I hope God will accept my sacrifice for Himself.
I feel very much the fact that it is my own countrymen who have sentenced me to death, but, I pray to God that by the deaths of those of us who are to be executed by these men, it may open their eyes to the dreadful crime and wrong against their better nature; against everything we hold dear, and at the bidding of our old enemy, England; waging such and relentless war against the Republic which once they would have died to uphold.
4 a.m. — The priest (Fr. McMahon) has just been with me, and I now feel supremely happy, being completely reconciled to God’s Holy will. I am to receive the Viaticum and the Pope’s blessing.
Father McMahon has promised to write to you to let you know how I have met this. I am sending you everything I possess here, including my father’s cuff links.
Now, mother, as the time is growing short, and as I want to see my comrades before we go, I must draw to a close. So Good-bye, good-bye and keep you, my mother. Give my heart’s love to all friends. Pray for me, dearest. Your loving son, Joe
You can contact me at Rushlight123@hotmail.com or Telephone 028 90626631. Joe Graham 78 Andersonstown Park. Belfast. Ireland BT11 8FH.