Dundalk councillors reject Hunger Strike memorial
The Louth 1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee says it is
saddened but not surprised by the refusal of Dundalk UDC to grant
a licence for the erection of a memorial to the 1981 Hunger
Strikers. The committee has called on those councilors who
opposed the erection of the monument to engage in informed debate
with us to resolve the issue.
The request for the erection of the memorial was turned down at a
council meeting on Tuesday, 29 August. The Louth 1981 Hunger
Strike Commemoration Committee had requested a licence to erect a
memorial at the Fair Green. Sinn Féin Councillor Kevin Meenan
proposed that the Council grant the licence requested, a proposal
seconded by party colleague and UDC Chair, Sean Kenna.
Meenan said that the four by four foot memorial was one of a
number of events planned by the Committee to commemorate the 20th
anniversary of the hunger strikes. He pointed out that Dundalk
had been deeply affected by the deaths of the ten men and that
Paddy Agnew had been elected as a TD in the county in 1981.
``Streets have been named after the hunger strikers and memorials
have been placed throughout other towns,'' said Meenan.
There were some fascinating excuses found by some councillors to
justify their decision to vote down the proposal, which was
defeated by seven votes to three, with one abstention.
Cllr. Jim Cousins said: ``There is no memorial to those who made
Dundalk what it is.'' He suggested the men be remembered in their
own towns.
Cllr. Johnny Mc Gahon said: ``I think there should be fewer
memorials rather than more.''
Cllr. Jim Ryan said: ``If there were to be a memorial, I would
rather see a plaque. With the peace process in the North in a
volatile and delicate situation, we should avoid any problems at
all costs. I appeal to the Sinn Fein delegate to withdraw and not
put the Council through a contentious vote.''
Independent Mary Grehan said: ``There are still bombings and
killings and I don't think there is a right to kill anybody. I
don't think anybody has the right to take their own life. The
town hasn't healed properly.''
According to Cllr Seamus Byrne: ``If the memorial were to go
ahead, others, including the media, would seize the opportunity
to portray Dundalk, nationally or internationally, as a hotbed of
extremism.''
Cllr Martin Bellew, who abstained, said: ``I have mixed feelings.
I feel it's a bit premature and would rather it was deferred to a
future date when things may be different''.
In response, Kevin Meenan said that the country was going through
a conflict-resolution period. ``This doesn't mean we bury our
head in the sand. There are republicans and nationalists living
in the town that are entitled to this memorial.''
Sean Kenna pointed out that one of the men being remembered -
Michael Gaughan, a native of Mayo - had family living in the town
for the past 16 or 17 years.
Following the vote, the Louth 1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration
Committee stated that they were `deeply dismayed' by the UDC
decision. Kevin Mulgrew, spokesperson, in a statement said: ``This
memorial was to be unveiled in October to close a year of events
marking this tragic period in Irish history.
``Included in our activities were a Mass in St. Patrick's
Cathedral, an exhibition in the County Museum, which ran for two
weeks, and a play centred on the hunger strike period. Several
thousand people participated in or attended our commemorative
events, all of which were open to the public''.
He said that the committee's approach to the memorial was open
and transparent. ``We called on three occasions to residents in
the locality of the Fair Green to gauge opinions and no resident
opposed our plans and we also canvassed local councillors. Based
on this positive feedback, we met with the Town Clerk to process
the application through the proper channels.
``The councillors' excuses are weak and based on perceived image
rather than substance.
``We are particularly disturbed by the insulting intemperate
language used by some councillors, who displayed total ignorance
of the facts surrounding the Hunger Strike period and who lowered
the debate by partitionist utterances.
``Various excuses were put forward by the rejectionists. We were
told by one Councillor that to erect the monument would portray
Dundalk as a hotbed of extremism The reality is that the only
thing extreme is the councillor's language. If he takes offence
at a Celtic Cross and a marble headstone with the names of twelve
young Irish men, then surely that portrays intolerance in the
extreme.
Compare the inscription on the Hunger Strike monument - a quote
from Bobby Sands - ``The day will dawn when all the people of
Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show - It is then
we'll see the rising of the moon'', with the inscription on the
Maid of Erin monument situated in the centre of Dundalk. This
monument, to commemorate the 1798 rebellion, was erected in 1898,
``to commemorate the heroic sacrifices of those martyrs in the
sacred cause of liberty who fought and died in the struggle
against English tyranny and foreign rule in Ireland''. Perhaps the
said councillor would like to table a motion to remove this
monument, as it could be bad for the image of Dundalk due to its
``extreme'' language.
``There are monuments all over Ireland which super sensitive
people could take offence to. Our approach to this monument and
others is clear cut. People have a right to commemorate their
loved ones and their history in a manner they deem appropriate.
We should learn from our past - not bury it.''