Republican News · Thursday 24 April 2003

Dublin remembers

James Connolly was the ongoing theme throughout Dublin's Easter Commemoration last Sunday. Due to continuing roadworks outside the GPO on O'Connell Street, events this year kicked off outside Liberty Hall, once headquarters of the Irish Citizen Army.

Facing the Statue of Connolly, Mary Lou MacDonald, EU election candidate for Dublin, welcomed the thousand or so present, and reminded them of the historical significance of the Irish Citizen Army's headquarters and of James Connolly.

Derek Warfield and the Sons of Erin Band opened up the entertainment with 'The Foggy Dew', and songs about Connolly.

ógra Shinn Féin members, Caoimhe Ní Allabhróin and Vicky Ní Dhuláin read out the Proclamation in Irish and English, and were followed by Jack Moylett, who read out the history of Roger Casement. Jer O'Leary read an extract from Connolly's Irish Worker.

The crowd then marched to Glasnevin, led by a colour party, the Jim Larkin Republican Flute Band from Liverpool and the local Hugh Hehir/Lisa Bell RFB.

At the Republican Plot in Glasnevin Cemetery, ógra member Joe McCabe read out the Dublin Roll of Honour, and was followed by Eva O'Carroll, who read out a message from Dublin Youth.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín ó Caoláin was the main speaker. The deputy began by praising the heroes of 1916, and Volunteers from óglaigh na héireann who have died since.

"Republicans have always said that if a viable path of struggle for Irish freedom, not involving armed action, became available, then they were obliged to employ that route," he said. "They have been true to their word. The IRA demonstrated initiative and innovation and ever since their first cessation in 1994 they have taken courageous decisions that have caused real and soul-searching difficulties for many republicans. Too often these efforts have been taken for granted by some, who were themselves hostile to the peace process at its inception. So to those who would point the finger at the IRA for the current difficulties in the peace process, I say: Get your own house in order."

He then slammed the recent war on Iraq.

"Sinn Féin stands in that proud Irish republican tradition, when we oppose the current aggressive international policies of the US and British governments. Their invasion of Iraq was wrong. The military occupation of that country is wrong and the latest threats to neighbouring countries are wrong also.

"No Irish government can claim the mantle of 1916 when it has abandoned Irish independent foreign policy and violated Irish neutrality by allowing our airports and seaports to be used for the illegal invasion of Iraq."

Caoimhghín ó Caoláin proceeded to talk about the current impasse in the peace process.

"For the past five years repeated efforts have been made to prevent the implementation of the Agreement. What is being blocked is the implementation of basic rights that should be the norm in any society, rights that will benefit all citizens, regardless of political affiliation or religious persuasion,

ó Caoláin criticised Fianna Fáil and the PDs' policy on the Six Counties.

"Five years ago at the time of the Good Friday Agreement, the Taoiseach Bertie

Ahern asked the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution to consider how the people of the Six Counties might play a "more active role in national political life. It took the Committee from 1998 to last year to report on the issue. The time for action is now and it is long overdue.

"Sinn Féin is seeking: right of attendance at the Dáil for the 18 Westminster MPs elected in the Six Counties; reform of the Seanad to include election by a national list system with people in the Six Counties having the right to vote; the right to vote in Presidential elections for citizens in the Six Counties."

He also called upon the government to act decisively on the Castlerea Five and Colombia Three. He paid tribute to the Sinn Féin negotiating team, saying that the leadership has "done republican Ireland proud".

He concluded by saying,"In the local government and EU elections next year Sinn Féin will be presenting its largest ever number of candidates. We are resolved to send strong teams of Sinn Féin councillors onto all four local authorities in the greater Dublin area. And we are also determined to elect the first ever Sinn Féin MEP when we secure the seat for our Dublin candidate, Mary Lou MacDonald.