Friday, May 16, 2008

Dublin next stop on Tour of Ireland

Leaving Belfast early on Saturday morning the Basque delegation en route to Dublin stopped off at Narrowwater, in Co. Down. There the British Paratroop regiment suffered a massive blow in 1979. 18 members of the British regiment were killed in an attack by Óglaigh na hÉireann. Local republican Declan Murphy was on hand to explain what happened at the spot in 1979. Following a brief stop in Co. Down the delegation made their way on to Dublin were a number of public engagements had been arranged.

Arriving in Dublin shortly after midday the delegation took part in a walking tour of Dublin given by a Dublin republican. Finishing in the Garden of Remembrance the delegation had time for reflection in front of the impressive centrepiece of the Garden Remembrance in Dublin’s Parnell square.

The Basques then made their way to the teachers club where they addressed a public meeting.

Following the conclusion of the public meeting the delegation once again headed north and to the town of Monaghan. They were greeted in Monaghan by Sinn Féin councillor Pádraigín Uí Mhurchadha. Pádraigín is a Sinn Fein councillor in Monaghan and is also a sister of IRA Volunteer Fergal O’Hanlon killed alongside Sean South in Co Fermanagh, whilst engaging British forces in 1956.

Before sitting down to a meal hosted by Monaghan Ógra Shinn Féin the delegation attended a commemoration marking the 35th Anniversary of the death of Vol. Tony Ahern. The commemoration happened just a few miles from Monaghan in Co. Fermanagh. Tony Ahern came from Cork to join the IRA in the north and was active along the border. He was killed whilst preparing a landmine to target British soldiers 3 other volunteers who were on the operation survived the blast.. A large crowd of local people as well as friends and comrades of Tony attended the commemoration.

After the end of the commemoration the delegation visited a number of monuments in the Fermanagh / Monaghan areas dedicated to IRA volunteers killed in action. Pat Treanor, a Sinn Fein councillor and life long republican activists accompanied the delegation on the tour and explained the significance of each monument. The conclusion of political events for the day came at Knockatallon, Co Monaghan with a meal hosted by Monaghan Ógra Shinn Féin.

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