CONFIRMED: Killer spy in the IRA was a British agent
PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT 11 December 2025
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Delivered every Thursday (except Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2025). Published by The Portland Hibernian Society.
BRIT SPY WAS A SUPERVISED SERIAL KILLER DURING THE TROUBLES
DEVELOPING – An agent of the British Army codenamed Stakeknife was a spy at the highest level of the Provisional IRA with the full knowledge and cooperation of British authorities. He was involved in at least 14 murders and 15 abductions between the late 1970s and 1990s. He had his own unit of handlers called Rat Hole in MI 5, the FBI of England. The British government just released the Kenova Report, which acknolwedges that relationship and calls for an official apology. Here’s a BBC rundown of its shocking but mostly-already-known revelations. The secret agent is not identified, but it’s been known since 2003 that his name was Freddie Scappatici. See photo. "The agent should be named, everybody knows who the agent is," said Taoiseach Micheal Martin. "Scap" died in 2023 while in a witness protection program in England. Here’s a defense of the Stakeknife operation from a Unionist operative in NI. The PDX HI will have more coverage of the Stakeknife fallout next Thursday.
SATURDAY AT MOUNT CALVARY - CROSS DEDICATION ANNIVERSARY
This Saturday morning (Dec. 13) at eleven, some of those who masterminded the Oregon Potato Famine Memorial with its iconic Cross of the Scriptures, will be on hand for the anniversary of its dedication in 2008. We'll gather in the parking lot at Mount Calvary Cemetery at 333 SW Skyline Blvd. in Portland. Tim Birr and Rob Sullivan will pipe us up to the Cross. Coffee and donuts will be served. No-host lunch will follow at Noon at Kells Restaurant - 112 SW Second Ave.
REMEMBERING MARY MC ALEESE
Visits by Irish dignitaries to Portland have been few and far between. There was Eamon De Valera in 1921 but that was about it until the greatest such visit of all time by President Mary McAleese on December 13, 2008 to dedicate the Memorial Cross. By the time her second term as President ended in 2011 she had an approval rating of 92%. Believe it or not, it was higher than that among the 300 people who greeted her in Portland that cold day in December. The PDX HI has this update on her remarkable career.
DECEMBERSHIP – BECOME A PROPER MEMBER OF THE PHS THIS MONTH
We'll keep this short. Why should you join the Portland Hibernian Society? To connect with what's Irish, for one reason. Besides this weekly newsletter, we offer monthly get togethers, special events (see you at The Cross Dec. 13) the best St. Patrick's Day Banquet in Portland and, most of all, good company. By joining, you'll make all this possible and help fund our charitable giving in 2026.
KILARNEY NATIVE STARS AS SHAKESPEARE'S WIFE
Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley will be flying the flag for Ireland at the Golden Globes ceremony in January, having both been nominated for their acting roles in Hamnet. Jessie Buckley. Remember that name. Hamnet is her film. How much do you know about Shakespeare’s wife? Buckley, born in Kilarney in 1989, is receiving great reviews in that role. She deserves them. Paul Mescal plays the master playwright as a man who knows she’s the one with the greatest gifts: giving and living life. Golden Globes are given out on January 11.
A MADE IN IRELAND FILM MASTERPIECE TURNS FIFTY
This week marks the fiftieth anniversary of the release of Barry Lyndon, the Stanley Kubrick classic set in the 18th century. There are two solid Irish angles to this story. One: Just five years ago two movie critics at the Irish Times declared it be to The Number One Irish Film of All Time. Two: Filming in Ireland in 1974 was shut down when the production received what Kubrick believed to be credible bomb threats from the IRA. More on both angles here.
EXIT STAGE LEFT - IRELAND DROPS OUT OF EUROVISION
There’s really nothing like Eurovision in America. It’s a World Cup for musical acts from all the countries of Europe. Its final night draws more than 150 million viewers every year. It was on Eurovision that Riverdance made its worldwide debut in 1994. Ireland has won it seven times. Only Sweden has won it as many times. (Abba Effect ). So, it’s a very big deal that Ireland will not compete at Eurovision in May 2026. The issue is Israel and Gaza. When asked whether Ireland would be missed from the contest, Israeli former head of press Alon Amir told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland: “You haven't sent a decent song in 25 years. Come on, take a year off. Think about it and return stronger, and hopefully be in the top five for a change. We miss the good Irish song." Ouch. BONUS - Here's video of the Riverdance performance in 1994.
COULD BOTH TEAMS FROM IRELAND MAKE THE WORLD CUP?
The World Cup 2026 reckoning for Ireland’s men’s team is still more than three months away. The Boys in Green aren’t in next summer’s competition. But they’re not out either. It will take two wins in late March to make it to their first World Cup in 24 years. And because there are two national soccer teams on the island, here’s a rundown on Northern Ireland’s route to the World Cup too.
FORGET ABOUT WATCHING THE FIGHTNG IRISH IN A BOWL GAME
You’ve probably heard the news. Notre Dame is not one of the final twelve teams that will compete for the national championship. (Oregon decidedly is.) Too bad. It would have been fun to watch them play against BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. What do you think? Are the Fighting Irish being selfish? Or is this fair play? Notre Dame lost to Miami. Not only that, the Irish havebeaten no team with a pulse, and had no argument that could stick. Ouch.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT- WHAT'S NEW WITH GEMMA WHELAN
One of the joys of our Third Thursday meetings at Kells Restaurant this past year has been hearing Gemma Whelan read from her own work and that of Claire Keegan. The written word is a big part of Gemma’s world these days, as Daniel Curran discovered. Here’s what he wrote for the PDX HI.