Irish Republican News: Archives

March 29, 2017

Brexit triggered, negotiations to begin on Irish border

The European Union has confirmed that the Tory government in London has triggered article 50, beginning a two-year process that will see Britain, and possibly the north of Ireland, fall out of the European Union.

March 27, 2017

Talks given extra time as Brokenshire fudges deadline

The British government has called for further talks to restore the Stormont Executive after efforts so far fell well short of reaching today’s ‘deadline’ for forming a power-sharing administration in the Six Counties.

March 26, 2017

Sinn Fein pulls out of talks

Sinn Fein has withdrawn from all-party talks at Stormont on restoring the Six County Assembly after reporting no substantive progress in any of the issues under discussion. The talks involving the Democratic Unionist Party and the Dublin and London governments had a deadline of tomorrow afternoon.

March 24, 2017

‘Freedom fighter’

Grief turned to pride for Sinn Fein this week as tens of thousands paid their respects to a leader who came to symbolise peace in Ireland and the process through which the Provisional IRA gave birth to a political powerhouse.

British PM faces Brexit confrontation in Belfast

British Prime Minister Theresa May will receive a very clear message that the north of Ireland wants to stay in the European Union before she triggers Brexit on Wednesday, Sinn Fein has said.

DUP MP suggests ‘poodle’ Sinn Fein could back down in talks

A senior MP for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said there is “virtually no chance” of a deal being struck for the restoration of the Stormont Assembly in Belfast ahead of the looming deadline next Monday. Sammy Wilson described Sinn Fein’s position as “unworkable” and claimed the party are “overplaying their hand”.

Support for Bus Eireann workers over strike action

Drivers and other employees of Ireland’s state-run bus company have said they feel they have “nothing to lose” as a nationwide bus strike has focused attention on the crisis over wages in the public transport sector.

Kenny accused of hypocrisy over immigration

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been urged to do more to help those coming to Ireland to escape global conflicts following his comments on immigration in the US last week, which received unprecedented international media attention.

Bill Clinton’s eulogy for Martin McGuinness

The full text of remarks made by former US President at the Requiem Mass for former Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Martin McGuinness was a committed republican - Adams

The death of my friend and comrade Martin McGuinness has left a deep void. It is a huge blow to all of us who knew and loved him, especially his wife and family.

Prospect of a united Ireland is inevitable

For the first time in my lifetime, the Irish question is no longer a question of if, but of when.

March 23, 2017

Oration at the grave of Martin McGuinness

The graveside oration for Martin McGuinness delivered by Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams at his funeral today.

Large crowds attend funeral of Martin McGuinness

Senior political figures and officials from the Irish, British and US establishments have joined thousands of mourners from across Ireland to attend the funeral in Derry of Martin McGuinness.

March 21, 2017

Crowds gather to honour Martin McGuinness

Thousands of people have attended the removal of Martin McGuinness in advance of his funeral in his native Derry.

Tributes paid following death of Martin McGuinness

Sinn Fein is in mourning today and tributes have been paid across the Irish and British political establishment as news spread this morning that Martin McGuinness had succumbed to his serious illness.

Martin McGuinness has died

The death has been announced of Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein’s chief negotiator in the peace process. He passed away early this morning at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.

March 17, 2017

National rights denied as Tories assert English rule

There has been an angry response in both Ireland and Scotland after British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would block referendums on Irish unity and Scottish independence following the Brexit vote to leave the European Union.

UDA feud erupts with cold-blooded murder

The failure of the authorities at Stormont and in London to challenge loyalist paramilitary violence has been highlighted after a UDA faction murdered a man in broad daylight this week.

Protests vowed as Trump gets St Patrick’s Day invite

There has been a broadly negative reaction to an invitation issued by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to US president Donald Trump to visit Ireland. Protests opposing his visit are already being planned by left-wing parties.

Information on state killings ‘can never go out’ - Tories

Some information about British state killings during the conflict can never be made public because it would “put lives at risk”, British Direct Ruler James Brokenshire has declared.

Legacy of scandals overshadows talks

Continuing allegations of unionist bigotry and corruption hang over power-sharing talks, which face a potential deadline next week when the British government could call another snap Assembly election or reimpose full direct rule from London.

Families made homeless for St Patrick’s Day

Families given emergency accommodation in hotel rooms are spending St Patrick’s weekend on the streets after they were pushed out to make room for tourists.

The Milltown massacre

An account of the attack on Milltown cemetery, 29 years ago this week, carried out by loyalist serial killer Michael Stone.

Thinking about the unthinkable

How much of our thinking is wishful? Quite a bit, I suspect.

March 13, 2017

Scottish government to seek post-Brexit independence vote

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she plans to trigger another independence referendum. She said the new poll should be held between autumn 2018 and spring 2019.

March 12, 2017

Referendum on voting rights for emigrants, northerners

In an announcement timed to coincide with the run-up to St Patrick’s Day, a referendum is to be held on whether to allow Irish citizens living abroad or in the North of Ireland to vote in Presidential elections.

March 10, 2017

Growing consensus that time has come for unity

There have been vocal and widespread calls for Irish reunification in the face of the British government’s determination to leave the European Union and a historic election result last week which has delivered unprecedented political strength for nationalism and Sinn Fein.

‘One-sided’ British governor warns of fresh elections

The British Direct Ruler James Brokenshire has threatened to rerun last week’s historic election after Sinn Fein walked out of a meeting with him over his government’s refusal to allow inquests into state killings to proceed.

Tuam mass grave inquiry may be expanded as Kenny blames mothers

A South African-style ‘truth and reconciliation commission’ is being considered to deal with the terrible legacy of Ireland’s homes for single mothers following the confirmation this week of the find of a mass grave at a shelter run by an order of nuns in the west of Ireland.

PSNI lacks independence needed for investigation - judge

In a very significant decision, a High Court judge has ruled that the family of a woman shot dead by the British Army in west Belfast 45 years ago has been let down for decades by the criminal investigation system.

Two jailed in ‘supergrass’ trial

There have been warnings that the 26 County government is once again operating a supergrass system against political activists after an alleged paid informer played a part in the conviction of two men in Dublin this week.

No charges, no evidence, no justice - Free Tony Taylor

The family of jailed republican Tony Taylor are to stage a protest this Saturday afternoon, 11 March, at Strand Road PSNI base in Derry to mark the first anniversary of his internment without trial. This petition explains the case and all republicans are urged to show their support.

We need to manage the transition to unity - now

If ever citizens needed proof of the power and the importance of their vote, it was this election, writes Gerry Adams.

Voters didn’t back Sinn Fein in order to get the DUP

Let’s make a couple of points clear because the media commentary in the last few days has been couched within the parameters set out by the NIO, by wishful thinking and by hand wringing from bleeding heart getalongers, the so-called ‘middle ground’ which doesn’t amount to a hill of beans north and west of Royal Avenue.

March 6, 2017

Stormont talks deadlocked as Foster refuses to shift

Talks to revive the Stormont Executive have hit a stalemate after less than a day as DUP leader Arlene Foster resisted demands by Sinn Fein for her to step aside First Minister.

March 4, 2017

Election transformation

Thursday’s election has significantly altered the make-up of politics in the north of Ireland as a more focussed and energised Sinn Fein enticed republican voters back to the polls and historically ended the unionist majority at Stormont.

Tough negotiations expected after Stormont game-changer

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has said this week’s Assembly election would have a historic significance that would “resonate for years”. However, political parties and leaders now “have a job of work” to negotiate an agreement that delivers on the outstanding elements of all of the previous agreements.

Derry anger as politicians ignore PSNI oppression

There were heavy PSNI raids lasting for over four hours against the homes of republican families in Creggan, Derry on Monday, February 28, 2017, just three days before the Stormont Assembly election.

Travellers acknowledged to be ethnic minority

Irish Travellers have been recognised as an indigenous ethnic minority in a historic declaration in the Dublin parliament.

Nightmare confirmed at Tuam home for single mothers

Human remains of a significant number of babies and infants up to three years of age have been found on the site of a former ‘mother and baby’ home in Tuam, County Galway, confirming horor reports of an effective holocaust against those children at the home run by the Bon Secours order of nuns.

‘Water charges are gone’, says FG Minister

Anti-water-charge campaigners have celebrated after Fine Gael’s Minister for Housing and leadership contender Simon Coveney finally stated that “water charges are gone”, although there are still concerns the party may try to reintroduce them in the future.