Republican News · Thursday 29 May 2003

Camloch remembers Raymond McCreesh

Up to 1,000 people turned out in Camloch, South Armagh, this past weekend to pay tribute to H-Block Hunger Striker Raymond McCreesh.

McCreesh died on 21 May 1981 after 60 days without food. He became the third republican prisoner to lose his life on the hunger strike.

A memorial was held at Carrickcruppen Chapel on the morning of Sunday 25 May, and later that afternoon those paying their respects were led to McCreesh's resting place in the nearby cemetery by an all-woman colour party and the Burns Moley band.

The graveside oration was given by Sinn Féin Assembly candidate Raymond McCartney, who had himself taken part in the first H-Block hunger strike in 1980.

"For many of us here, Raymond was a friend and he was our comrade," McCartney said. "We have our own memories of the quiet unassuming lad from Camloch, his friendly manner, his great love for the Irish language and its cultural traditions.

"And for you his family - he was a son, a brother and an uncle. Only you and anyone who has endured the same loss can understand the pain and emptiness that you bear. I hope that our coming together brings to you some understanding of the high esteem in which he is held by his comrades and friends here in Camloch, throughout South Armagh and beyond."

McCartney told the crowd that republicans must seize each and every opportunity to promote and strengthen the struggle.

"In the course of this struggle we have endured and shared many hardships and we have experienced many lows. The loss of our ten comrades on hunger strike in 1981 was such a low point. Struggle by its very nature is difficult and demands much of those who participate in it.

"From 1976 to 1981 within the H Blocks and in Armagh Prison men and women, volunteers and republican activists, resisted all attempts to criminalise the struggle for Irish freedom. Britain's criminalisation policy not only failed - it was demolished. It was demolished because of the fortitude and fearlessness of freedom fighters like Raymond McCreesh.

"None of us are prophets, nor can we predict the future. But what we have is the resolve and the desire to continue in struggle - to deliver for all Irish men and Irish women a republic based on equality.

"I have no doubt that we are the generation that will ensure that Ireland will take her place among the nations of the earth. We are the generation which produced volunteers like Raymond McCreesh. He died on hunger strike so that we, his comrades, would be recognised as political prisoners. He died on hunger strike so that his vision of the Republic would become a reality.

"Today, this remains our historic task and it is our foremost revolutionary duty. Our work will continue until that day comes."