Republican News · Thursday 24 April 2003

Belfast honours Ireland's fallen

Led by the pipe band of Píobairí na Meirleach and one of the largest colour parties in years, the main Belfast commemoration got underway on Easter Sunday under bright sunny skies. Thousands took part as the procession moved along the Falls Road to Milltown Cemetery.

This year, a special invitation to attend had been extended to the families of all deceased IRA Volunteers, and they received a warm welcome from the massive crowd. The main speaker was Belfast Mayor Alex Maskey, who took the opportunity to comment on the ongoing political negotiations.

"Last week, both governments acknowledged yet again that the IRA's desire and commitment is unprecedented, and I believe that coupled with the tireless efforts of our leadership, this will ensure that second-class citizenship will become a thing of the past and that the unionist stranglehold on the peace process will be brought to an end," said Maskey.

"We have never allowed our rights or expectations to be lowered by those who are unable to accept the kind of fundemental change that the agreement promised. This party will not lie down. This party will not let you down, because you won't allow us to.

"We will not accept a second rate police force. We will not accept some equality, we will not accept that our mandate will ever become the subject of the whim of Ian Paisley or Jeffery Donaldson, or David Trimble or Tony Blair or even an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

"Acts of completion have become the flavour of the month for the last number of months, both publically and privately. The freedom to live free of sectarian harassment which was agreed on Good Friday five years ago, is one of those acts of completion which we have not yet seen."

Maskey closed by telling the crowd that he believed a united Ireland was closer now than at any other time since partition.

Greencastle

Although there were serious attacks by loyalists last Easter, this year's parade passed off on Easter Saturday without incident and Sinn Féin's Joe O'Donnell addressed an enthusiastic crowd.

O'Donnell called for the release of Irish political prisoners at home and abroad, and paid tribute to the Volunteers of óglaigh na héireann.

He went on to say that republicans must make it clear to unionists that there is no desire to see anyone move into the space being vacated by nationalists.

O'Donnell encouraged the crowd to exercise their right to vote in the forthcoming election.

"Every vote really does count," he said, and he added: "The message I want you to take away from today's commemoration is - prepare for re-unification - because this party, this movement, this leadership, will take you there."

Newington/New Lodge Road

Belfast Mayor Alex Maskey addressed crowds in the Newington and New Lodge areas of North Belfast on Easter Monday.

Though the weather had turned to rain it did not dampen the spirits of the hundreds of republicans who turned out on the New Lodge Road. Both parades were led by a colour party and followed by pipe band and members of local ex-prisoners associations. Special mention was made of the late Paul (Pa) Kane, who passed away suddenly this past week. Pa was a founding member of the Newington Sinn Féin cumann and a lifelong friend of the republican family.

The Roll of Honour for the area was particularly poignant, with more than 120 people being remembered by the gathered crowd, including those killed in the McGurks pub bombing, the New Lodge Six, Peter McBride and lawyer Patrick Finucane.

"Walking around these streets, it was quite emotional for all of us I'm sure, and certainly for myself," said Mayor Maskey, "I am truly honored to be here - back to my own roots, back to the area where I was born and reared, back to the area which shaped me to be a republican in this city.

"From the murder of the McMahon family to the murder of Pat Finucane - what a price this area has paid for Britain's interference in our affairs."

Maskey paid tribute to all those who had worked to bring about the demand for an inquiry into the shooting deaths of the New Lodge Six.

"This is a proud community. This area stood firm against all of the opposition," said Maskey, "They have to be applauded and they will go down in Irish history as one of those communities that made sure we got ourselves closer to an Irish independent republic."

New Barnsley

A local turn out of about 150 people paid their respects on Tuesday as Sinn Féin's Michael Ferguson gave the oration on Easter Tuesday. Marie Moore was also in attendance.

Speaking of the upcoming election, he reminded the crowd, "We are three percent of the vote away from being not the second largest party in the north of Ireland, but 3% of the vote away from being the second largest party as a whole. We are preparing for re-unification."

Ardoyne

More than a thousand people gathered in Ardoyne on Easter Tuesday to pay tribute to Ireland's dead and listen to an address by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams. A large colour party led the parade with crowd joining in enthusiastically. Here too, the reading of the role of honor was particularly striking, with more than a hundred people's names being read aloud as a lament was played.