NEWS FROM SAOIRSE
(freedom).
The Voice of the Irish Republican Movement.
Republican Sinn Féin
http://rsf.ie
223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
229 Falls Road, Belfast
| NEWS FROM SAOIRSE
(freedom).
The Voice of the Irish Republican Movement. Republican Sinn Féin
|
A LARGE crowd gathered at the Border Inn outside Dundalk on Sunday November 3, and marched to the Republican Monument to pay homage to five men who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. The parade was led by a colour party from Belfast and Na Fianna Éireann, the Glens Of Antrim Band and a piper.Those assembled included relatives of some of the five men who lost their lives; Paul Smith, Oliver Craven, George Keegan, Padraig Parle and Michael Watters. The commemoration was chaired by Sarah Murphy, Ard Chomhairle member, Republican Sinn Féin, South Armagh. A decade of the Rosary was recited and wreaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement and local Cumann. The flags were dipped to the sound of the Last Post and Reveille by a bugler and the piper played the lament The Lonely Woods of Upton.
The oration was given by Ard Chomhairle member John Joe McCusker, Fermanagh. In the course of his oration he said:
“It is an honour for me to be here today to address the Republican people of this never to be subdued rebel heartland.
“We remember today all those who have given their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. Especially, we remember the Edentubber martyrs: George Keegan, Paddy Parle, Paul Smith, Oliver Craven and Michael Watters. I am sure that many among you are well acquainted with the local lore surrounding this tragic event on the November 11, 1957. I am sure that many among you can empathise the events on this dark winters day.
“These men like many before them had moved to bring closure to the occupation of our country by a foreign power. Like many thousands of Irishmen and women they were prepared to challenge England's continuing interference and domination in Ireland.
“To the Republican people of this region I would appeal to you to encourage people of like mind to return to the fundamental principles that have set us apart from such as Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, SDLP, Provos and all other parties who maintain England's stranglehold in Ireland. The Republican constituency have got to recognise that our strength is in unity and that the core principles that has guaranteed our survival for many generations has been our steadfast defence of Irish nationhood and our national integrity.
“Last week it was announced that the RUC have been issued with 7,000 new guns to help maintain the Union. The SDLP are now sponsors of this armed militia and Mr Adams and his party can ‘foresee the day when they will recommend membership of this occupation force’.
“Leaving aside the wrongs of partition, which is the stem and sustenance of all discord in Ireland in modern times, where are the civil rights which have been mooted in the Stormont Agreement. An agreement signed up to by the SDLP and the Adams party which designated the fight for Irish freedom as criminal and that this criminal tag would be attached to all those living and dead throughout the democracies of Europe and the Americas. Well, I for one, do not believe that such a tag should not be attached to Irish Republican freedom fighters who engaged in a struggle for the liberation of this country.
“It is the right of every man and woman to defend their faith and the rights of every man and woman to defend their nation. In this there is no exclusion and there is no conflict of interest in the properly constructed Republic.
“We in the Republican Movement shall be about the business of expelling the English Administration from our land and about ensuring that the economic relations that exist between our countries are normalised and not used to deflect and influence Irish political opinion.
“We can assure you that Brendan O'Brien and Ed Moloney have not penned the last chapter in the long and troublesome history of Irish Republicanism.”
In her closing remarks Sarah Murphy pointed out that the ‘Provisionals now have two flags — the Union Jack, which we call the Butchers Apron, and the Tricolour when it suits them. They are England's little hirelings paid by the British.” She warned that “no man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or love the one and hate the other”. She called on Republicans to be vigilant and the ceremony closed with the playing of Amhrán na bhFiann.
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Web layout by SAOIRSE -- Irish Freedom November 9, 2002 Send links, events notifications, articles, comments etc, to the editor at: saoirse@iol.ie. |
