Youth theme at Dublin commemoration
The 75th anniversary of the execution of Seán Cole and Alf Colley
was marked on Sunday 7 September by a march and commemoration
ceremony in Dublin.
Vice Bgd. Cole and Commt. Colley, Fianna Eireann, were abducted
and summarily executed by Free State forces on 22 August 1922 at
Yellow Lane, in what was then still a fairly rural area on the
northside of Dublin.
There was a large turnout of republicans from Dublin North-East
as well as other areas of the city for the 75th anniversary
commemoration which began with a march from Beaumont House to
what is now Yellow Road in Whitehall where a plaque marks the
spot at which the two young men were killed. The crowd was
addressed by Eoin O Broin of Sinn Féin Youth.
Youth, and in particular the place of youth in the struggle for
freedom and justice in Ireland, was the main theme of O'Broin's
address.
He said: ``Cole and Colley were young republicans who had taken
responsibility for themselves and actively fought for freedom.
Fianna Eireann gave them the opportunity to do that. But in
recent decades the Republican Movement has failed in its
responsibility to create a similar space for young people.
``Across Belfast, Derry and Dublin young people are turning away
from the Movement because we are not addressing their needs and
concerns, because we are not giving them responsibility, because
we are not giving them their place.
``Now as we enter this new phase of struggle we must begin to
reverse this situation and build a strong youth political
movement. One where our energy and creativity can be harnessed to
create a new form of politics. One where the demand for
self-determination creates a real and meaningful link between
national and individual independence. A movement which allows
young people to take ownership of our struggle.
``As the tragic lesson of Cole and Colley's death makes clear a
movement which captures the minds and hearts of young people is
stronger and more powerful than all of the obstacles put in its
way. It's time to build a youth movement. If we fail we have only
ourselves to blame.''
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