An Phoblacht/Republican News   ·   Thursday October 26 1995

Tomorrow is another country

BY PEADAR WHELAN

IN HIS BOOK Tomorrow is Another Country South African writer Alistair Spark traced developments in the peace process in his country, talked about the ongoing negotiations between the ANC and the Apartheid regime and described how exiled ANC activists were brought back into South Africa to play major leadership roles as the anti-Apartheid struggle moved through all party discussions to elections and the goal of majority rule.

Sinn Féin's Director of Publicity Rita O'Hare referred to the book when she delivered her address to the huge gathering of Derry republicans who came together in Letterkenny on Friday, 20 October, to honour their own internal exiles, men and women from the city and county who had to leave their families and go on the run, excluded from the Six Counties and living South of the border.

O'Hare, herself an exile from British rule, spoke of the hardship faced by republican activists, who although still living in their own country, had to endure the ostracisation and demonisation of people whose view of the North was forged by a daily diet of anti-republican disinformation.

For women the hardship of internal exile was twofold. Their isolation would have been reinforced for women whose exile took them away from their support network of mothers, sisters and friends.

Some women were on the run, wanted by the British, while others were in exile as they accompanied a partner who was wanted.

"Women felt the isolation more", maintained O'Hare, " because they ended up in a home looking after the children while in most cases the men went about their activities working and mixing with other republicans."

"Women were, out in the open too so when collecting the kids from school or doing the shopping people would shy away from the us 'northerners'."

She said that the restoration of fredom of movement in their own country to internal exiles was a vital aim of the peace process, akin to the release of prisoners.

On behalf of the Derry Volunteers Commemorative Committee Martin McGuinness then presented crystal souvenirs of the night to over a dozen men and women who have, in some cases, spent over 20 years in exile.

The Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle member made a special presentation to the family of IRA Volunteer Pól Kinsella who died last December while in prison. Kinsella's widow Cathy was to have received the bronze Cúchullain statue but as her daughter Michaela was rushed to hospital she couldn't attend.

Surprise honouree of the night was Malachy McCann from South Derry. On the run since a daring escape from Magilligan Prison in the mid-'70s McCann has become an integral part of the republican community of West Donegal where he worked hard to elect Sinn Féin Councillor Eddie Fullerton and after his assasination by loyalists, Councillor Jim Ferry.

Each year the Derry Volunteers Commemorative Committee organise their annual presentation dinner dance. It is a special night in the republican calender as it honours Derry's fallen Volunteers and is an opportunity for republicans in the city to pay tribute to people whose have dedicated their lives to the cause of Irish freedom; long may it continue.

The restoration of fredom of movement in their own country to internal exiles is a vital aim of the peace process, akin to the release of prisoners