Ard-Fheis report

Cllr Joe O’Neill, Bundoran, reminding those in attendance of the long hard struggle told the delegates at the opening session on November 30: “They said we could not survive but we are still here and we are gaining strength.”

The delegates agreed to redouble their efforts in the coming year to expose the current process as falsely based “so that nationally-minded people are not drawn into participating in the New Stormont, its forces and general regime”.

The Ard-Fheis condemned the failure of the US and Leinster House administrations to recognise that the British presence was the root cause of the conflict in Ireland. The Republican demands of “a British withdrawal, an amnesty for all political prisoners and the people of Ireland, acting as a unit, discussing and deciding the future of Ireland” were reiterated in a motion which was agreed by the delegates.

The main focus of the Ard-Fheis was on organisation. It was agreed that the incoming Ard Chomhairle should undertake a root and branch review of the organisation. It was emphasised that only by the activity of its members can a movement be healthy and grow. Motions calling for increased participation of Republicans in issues concerning their communities were agreed. It was agreed that Cumainn take a leadership role in their communities and produce local newsletters to inform people of Republican Sinn Féin’s policies.

Also in the political policy session it was agreed that SAOIRSE be subtitled “The voice of the Republican Movement”.

Declan Curneen reminded delegates that in 1986 Martin McGuinness told him and other Republicans that they were on their way home. “Well I have not gone home and we are still here carrying on the struggle.” He noted the existence of TV cameras in the hall and to laughter he said the reception of RTÉ was very poor in his area.

Éamon Larkin, South Armagh, referring to increased strengthening of British fortifications told the assembly that Republicans did not lose their young lives for British concrete installations or anything else but the All-Ireland Republic.

Sorcha Ní Mhurchú, Ard Chomhairle, spoke of the Orange Order and the RUC as being equivalent to the Ku Klux Klan and the Gestapo and said that her house had been used as a first-aid station for the victims of plastic bullets during the July 12 period. Joe O’Neill pointed out the psychology of the British in referring to the RUC as Irish or Ulster. “They are counter-insurgency forces used by MI5 against the Irish people and are therefore British,” he said.

Ruairí Ó Brádaigh answered journalists who asked does Republican Sinn Féin ratify the Continuity Army Council, saying that Republican Sinn Féin has no authority to do so. “That is a matter for the Irish Republican Army,” he said.

Tom Concannon of Dublin spoke of those who wear white ribbons. “For me they will never get peace by wearing ribbons and for me white is a symbol of surrender — far better they should wear white feathers.” Geraldine Taylor, Belfast, spoke of her desire for peace as somebody from Belfast she and her people were in the thick of it, but such peace cannot be achieved until the British are withdrawn from Ireland.

Resolutions supporting those who are committed to driving the British forces from Ireland in a controlled and disciplined manner and the scrapping of the Free State Public Order Act were passed.

In the electoral policy debate a motion was passed calling for a consultation process with the membership in regard to contesting the next Westminster election on an abstentionist basis.

A motion calling on the organisation not to contest the forthcoming general election in the 26 Counties was lost as it was felt it tied our hands.

A motion condemning the portrayal of the conflict in the Six Counties as one between Catholics and Protestants was passed. Geraldine Taylor informed the Ard-Fheis that she always considered Protestants as fellow Irish people.

In the session on social and economic affairs delegates expressed their unease at the plethora of multi-nationals that have opened up in Ireland. It was pointed out that these corporations exploit low tax rates and ultimately withdraw to cheaper labour markets leaving Irish workers on the scrap-heap. Attention was also drawn to the amount of British chain stores that have opened up in the country.

Referring to the amount of overtime a person may work under the recent EU directive it was felt that it would be far better to have a national demand for a minimum wage.

It was broadly agreed to welcome Telefís na Gaeilge but to keep a close eye on it. Delegates complained the service was not available in large areas of the Six Counties.

There were great cheers from the hall when Joe O’Neill praised POW Josephine Hayden for her sterling work as General Secretary of the organisation up to the time of her imprisonment last January.

In the prisoners debate on Sunday morning a composited motion was passed which sent solidarity greetings to all Republican prisoners in Limerick jail and at home and abroad who are still faithful to the 32-County Irish Republic.

Des Long criticised the atrocious Victorian conditions of our prisoners in Limerick jail. There is only one toilet for 20 female prisoners. He spoke of his great sense of pride when he visited Josephine Hayden for her dignified behaviour which gained praise from the other women prisoners. Josephine would always ask him how were the other POWs, never thinking of herself, he said.

He contrasted the actions of Leinster House politicians visiting English jails and issuing statements about conditions there while they maintain a deafening silence in regard to conditions in prisons in the 26 Counties.

The Ard-Fheis saluted the POWs for winning political status but Des reminded the assembly that the POWs are still denied segregation and prisoners from other wings are sometimes marched through the area where our POWs are being held on their way to the library. He spoke of the possibility of our prisoners being transferred to Portlaoise in the coming year.

Declan Curneen implored Republicans to make an effort to visit the prisoners in 1997.

A delegate from the Francis Hughes Cumann, Glasgow spoke of the frame-up of Welsh Republican Siön Aubrey Roberts. MI5, he said, had increased its activities in Cymru since the fall of the Soviet Union. A motion sending solitary greetings to Siön and calling for his release from an English prison was carried.

Standing orders were suspended for an emergency motion from an Ard-Chomhairle deploring the action of President Clinton in extraditing Irish political prisoners from the US to the British government.

Seán Ó Brádaigh told the Ard-Fheis that the long awaited book on Commandant General Tom Maguire is now at the printers and would be out shortly. It was agreed a study of Tom Maguire’s life was an excellent grounding in Republicanism.

Debate in the education section concentrated on the availability of the education packs for new members and the attempts in 1996 to abolish the teaching of history in second-level schools in the 26 Counties. Pádraig Ó Baoighill, Monaghan, quoted the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich who said that “it is from the knowledge of the history of the past that we must build the history of the future."

Ag moladh rún í bhfábhar Ollscoil lán Ghaeilge dúirt Pádraig go raibh an teanga ag meath in áiteanna ina bhfuil an turasóireacht ag dul i méid agus i measc na hóige. Chuir Seán Ó Sé, Ard-Chomhairle, fáilte ar leith roimh Bunscoil Baille Breac i gContae Áth Cliath atá ag feidhmiú gan aitheantas uaidh Niamh Bhreathnach, aire oideachais i dTeach Laighin. Chuir an Ard-Fheis fáilte roimh Teilifís na Gaeilge agus rinneadar comhghairdeas le foireann iománaiochta Loch Garmain agus le Michelle Smith.

A resolution condemning the US’s continuing blockade of Cuba and another congratulating the Pastors for Peace group for their success in securing delivery of computers for medical use to Cuba were passed.Motions were passed supporting the Kurds, the Palestinians and the East Timorese in their struggles for national liberation.
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Cumann na Saoirse, the Irish Freedom committee in the United States sent out a message signed on behalf of its chapters in Brooklyn, Queens and Rockland County, New York; Boston; Chicago; Indiana and Michigan.

A message from supporters in Australia signed by Seán Lavin called for a 32-County Irish Republic and “nothing less”. A message from the Continuity Army Council of the Irish Republican Army was received at the Ard-Fheis and given an enthusiastic response by the delegates.

A message was also received from the Republican Forum in England and from the Asturian (in the Spanish State) independence movement, Andecha Astur.
Archive 96 Index

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