Oi Polloi – Laochra Punc na hAlban!

Senan MacAoidh
Ógra Shinn Féin

Ní chífear na fir seo ina suí timpeall tine, ag caitheamh geansaithe Arrain agus píobaí tabac ina mbéal acu ag labhairt fá dtaobh den talmhaíocht. Ni hea! Puinc atá iontú agus puinc a chanann i nGaeilge na hAlban.



Go bhfios dom níl móran cáil orthu anseo in Érinn ach in Albain is scéal iomlán difriúil é, tá Oi Polloi ar cheann de na bannaí fo-chulturtha is mó i mbéal an phobail. Ta meascán mearaí daoine ann atá á leanúint, puinc don chuid is mó ach Gaeil óna garbhchríocha fosta a thuigeann agus a dhéanann nacs le líricí s’acu.

Don chuid is mó canann siad faoi cheisteanna polaitiúla, sóisialta agus faoin timpellacht. Is grúpa iontach polaitiúil iad atá ar son saoirse don albain ach ní chuireann siad náisiúinithe orthu féin. Tá siad mar pháirt den ghluaiseacht ainrialaithe sa Bhreatain agus is don bhratach dhearg ‘s dubh atá a ndílseacht mar a léirítear san amhrán ‘ Union Jack, Thall ‘s Cac!’

Ach ar scor ar bith chuaigh mé chun iad a fheicéal ag seinnt beo i nDún Éideann an Déardaoin seo caite agus caithfidh mé a rá gur iontach an gig a bhí ann. Cé go raibh an seomra measartha beag le níos lú na 150 duine ansin, bhí an t-atmaisféar ar dóigh. Bhí siad ag seinnt in éanacht le cuid punc-bhannaí agus amhránaithe eile ach nuair tháinig Oi Polloi suas chun an stáitse bhí tú in ann an fuadar a mhothú nuair a thosaigh achan duine ag bogadh i dtreo an stáitse agus an ciúnas. Ansin thosaigh siad lena gcéad amhrán don óiche ‘ar ceol ‘s ar canan’ agus d’freagair an slua le damhsa fian na bpunc.

B’iad an banna is fearr fá choinne rannpháirt an tslua iad go cinnte agus i rith cúpla amhrán chuir siad líricí simplí mar ‘Oi, Oi, Oi’ nó ‘Póg mo thóin’ suas ar phíosa chartchlár go bhfeicfeadh an slua é agus go scairteadh siad amach é ag an am caoi. Fiú ag pointe amháin thóg siad fear bocht aníos ón slua le giota beag air-guitar a dhéannamh leo ar an stáitse.

Bhí achan duine ag rochadh amach go maith an oíche sin agus ag rochadh amach le amhráin ghaeilge ach níos tabhachtaí fós, amhráin mhaithe crua! Oi Polloi abú!

http://www.myspace.com/oipolloialba

Greening the Post Boxes – DIY!

Over the past week over 50 Post Boxes across the North have been painted back to their rightful shade of Green.

The organisers behind the ‘Green Post Box Campaign’ are using the initial burst of action, as a way to promote the initiative, and encourage every young nationally minded person, to play a part in this public service and ‘Do It Yourself!’



An Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson said,

“Activists have been engaged in the greening of post boxes across the north in the previous week, to assert proudly and very visibly that we live in Ireland, and our post boxes should be green.”

“This is a practical manifestation of the All Ireland agenda, a novel way in which young nationally minded people can promote their Irishness and highlight the folly of partition. The young people involved in these actions are simply providing a public service and should be applauded for saving ‘An Post’ a job of work when we achieve Irish unity.”

“The greening of northern post boxes is a job for all young Irish people. The campaign has started, its time to get your bucket of green gloss, paint brush and ‘Do It Yourself!”

(Central Drive, Derry)

(Eden Terrace, Strabane)

(Strathroy aka 'The Roy', Omagh)

(Middletown, Armagh)

(Derry City)

(Strabane)

(Carrickmore, County Tyrone)

Ógra Shinn Féin Proudly Lead Derry Hungerstrike March

A large Ógra Shinn Féin contingent led the National Hunger Strike March in Derry on Sunday. It was the first time in its 27 year history that it was held outside of Belfast.

Throughout the weekend Ógra activists had been busy making final preparations for the march including making banners and painting murals as well as other features involved with the parade.

Ógra Shinn Féin alongside young relatives of the Hunger Strikers led the march with the Ógra activists flanking pictures of the 12 hunger strikers carried by their family members.


As well as forming up as a contingent in the march and carrying banners, Ógra activists participated in re-enactments of different events stretching the length of the prison protest from 1976 until 1981.

Two Ógra Shinn Féin activists also read aloud the Hunger Strike Roll of Honour at the Rally following the parade, and there was also a large Basque contingent present at the invitation of Ógra, who also took part variously in the Republican youth weekend preceding the march.

National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Féin, Barry McColgan said,

“It was a huge honour for Ógra Shinn Féin to proudly lead thousands of Republicans through the streets of Derry in honour of the enormous courage and sacrifice of the Hungerstrikers.”

“The huge turnout at the march, has inspired everyone present, it will no doubt bring many new members, and also encourage activists to go out and increase their activism, ensuring the successful conclusion of our struggle.”

“Young Republicans played a significant role throughout the struggle, and it was fitting that it was this generation of Republican Youth that led the march, demonstrating very clearly that ‘The Struggle Continues!”

Cúige Uladh ÓSF Meeting and Youth Canvas

Johnny McGibbon

Ógra Shinn Féin

Cúige Uladh

The next meeting of ÓSF Cúige Uladh will take place on Sat 30 August 2008, 10.30am in Enniskillen.

This will be followed by a Youth Canvas in support of our candidate Debbie Coyle, in the upcoming Enniskillen by-election. All young Republicans are asked to attend this special youth canvas.

Transport has been arranged from the following points:-

Lurgan 8.15 am
Dungannon 8.45am
Omagh 9.30am

Arriving in Enniskillen before 10.30am

The bus route will be returning to the pick-up points that evening, returning to Lurgan between 7-8pm.

We will also be attending the 20th Anniversary parade and commemoration of the Drumnakilly Martyrs, Vol. Gerard Harte, Vol. Martin Harte and Vol. Brian Mullin.

There will be a minimal charge of £5 for the bus.

Anyone interested in attending should contact:

Johnny McGibbon 028 38349675

or email: johnnymcgibbon@hotmail.com

Ógra Shinn Féin An Lorgain - AGM

John O'Dowd MLA with Ógra activists in Lurgan

Ógra Shinn Féin An Lorgain held their AGM this week, on Wednesday 20th August. Local Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd began proceedings by addressing the cumann with a short briefing and facilitating an interesting political discussion.

The Cumman then proceeded to elect a new officer board for the year ahead, before dealing with other cumann business and discussing their plans of work for the weeks and months ahead. This includes the expansion of the NARC (Not Another Ravaged Community) campaign, leading into the new school year.

Lee Casey, newly elected Chair of the Lurgan Cumann, said

“We now look forward to building in the year ahead. We will continue to build on the work we have been doing around the NARC campaign, and to spread the Republican message to young people in the area. The spirit of Republican youth is definitely still alive in Lurgan.”

Cumann member and local Cllr. Johnny Mc Gibbon also commented,

“We want to engage with our local community in the year ahead and build on the positive work of Sinn Féin and Ógra to date. We remain committed to building and spreading the Republican message to young people, and I am looking forward to the year ahead for Ógra Shinn Féin in Upper Bann.”



Interseted in joining Lurgan Ógra Shinn Féin? Or Upper Bann Sinn Féin?

Contact: SF Office on 02838 349675

Or email: osf.lurgan@googlemail.com or info.upperbann@sinn-fein.ie

http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=7603213773

Basque Youth Visit Armagh and Newry

A delegation of Basque youth is touring Ireland this week. The group which is being hosted by Ógra Shinn Fein will be engaged in a number of public meetings, and will also use the mobilisation to learn of the peace process in Ireland.

Along with their hosts from Armagh Ógra Shinn Fèin they met with Newry and Armagh Sinn Fèin MLA Micky Brady to discuss the current political situation, with the parallels between Basque Country and the North of Ireland being highlighted.

Following on from this meeting there was a tour of South Armagh with points of interest being shown to the visitors who were impressed with the demilitarisation of the area, with the removal of watch towers being the most evident sign of this.

One of the Basque youth said,

"We have seen images of these towers on television and the internet and to now see them gone is a significant development, like here the Basque people want a peaceful solution to the conflict in our country. Despite this, the Spanish and French have continued in their campaign of repression, torture and arrests. We denounce these repressive acts, which show the Spanish and French belligerence to working on a meaningful peace process in the Basque Country."

"We look to the positive progress which has been made by the Irish people through the Good Friday Agreement and we are keen to study its successes."

1916 and 1981 - Unbroken Struggle!

An Tarbh Dubh
Ógra Shinn Féin

Those of you, who attended the Derry Republican Youth weekend, would have met 3 Basque guys who had spent the week travelling through Ireland, visiting key historical sites such as Kilmainham Gaol and Croke Park.

The guys had chosen the dates to come over, to coincide with the weekend held in Derry, and the national Hunger Strike commemoration march held on the Sunday. They visited Milltown Cemetery and stood at the foot of the grave of one of the most internationally known revolutionaries, Bobby Sands.



They could tell me all about Bobby, yet they didn’t know who James Connolly was when we visited Kilmainham.

They had never seen a copy of the Proclamation, and did not know the significance of the GPO in republican history. They were unaware of the brutal internment of IRA leaders in prison camps across Britain after the rising was put down. They vaguely knew that a rising had taken place on Easter Monday 1916.

As members of the republican struggle, it is only right that we remember those men and women who gave their lives in the struggle for Irish freedom, but we sometimes forget the context in which they fought. Our comrades were educated on the sectarian state, and the struggle of the Provisional IRA, by Coiste and by a 1983 escapee, yet the education of 1916 was extremely vague.

Every Easter we march to remember those who went out on that morning to proclaim the Irish Republic, and we read aloud the words of the proclamation, that Pearse read on that Easter morn. We remember them through verse, through song and through marching. Yet we do not internationalise the 1916 rising in the same manner as we do, our most recent phase of struggle.

I do not wish, for one moment, to devalue the immense contribution the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann, made to our struggle, and to the developments we have today.

Yet we must remember the inspiration that made Kieran Nugent refuse to wear prisoner’s uniform, for our 10 H Block martyrs to starve themselves to death for political status, and for our women in Armagh to suffer degrading, humiliating treatment, to support their comrades in Long Kesh.

The 1916 proclamation declared all citizens of Ireland equal, regardless of religion, race or gender. It is the first international document to recognise the immense role that females have to play in achieving our goals.

When I think of the proclamation, I remember with pride, those valiant men and women who fought for the principles enshrined in that visionary document.

Recent flag-waving by Fianna Fáil, and the establishment parties, in an attempt to appear radical to Ireland’s young voters, has only served to spit on the grave of those who were executed by the best friends of the Dublin government.

They abandoned the ideals of an Ireland of equals long before they celebrated the 50th anniversary of the rising with aplomb.

Where were they when their fellow Irish were being burned off the streets of Belfast and Derry, and being subjected to second class citizenship?! Jack Lynch declared public support for Northern nationalists, yet acted to strengthen the artificial border imposed by the British state. This is why, my comrades, we need to internationally publicise 1916, in the way we publicise 1981. It is not enough for a young republican to wear an Easter lily and march on Easter Sunday. A young republican must cherish the 1916 proclamation! It should be o the bedroom walls of ALL Ógra members.

Every single last Ógra member must actively pursue the ideals enshrined in the document, and endorse it at every single meeting they attend, reminding our older members of the sacrifices made for the freedom that we are working towards.

Pádraig Pearse, James Connolly, Thomas Clarke, JM Plunkett, Eamonn Ceannt, Séan MacDiarmada and Thomas MacDonagh should be enshrined in our hearts, just as Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Ray McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Tom McElwee and Mickey Devine. Remember those brave martyrs cé a fuair bás ar son saoirse na hÉireann.

Tiocfaidh ár lá!

Sinn Féin – The Only Show in Town!

Seán Gillespie
Fian. Tobias Molloy Cumann
Strabane ÓSF

For us Republicans it sometimes does no harm to pause and take a good long look at the political situation, to analyse where we’re at and where we want to be, and to examine how our present strategy is going to take us there. I have often spent sleepless nights focussing on this issue and wondering weather or not we have chosen the correct path. It is often comforting to compare our strategy to that of other Republican organisations, and to draw the obvious conclusion that Sinn Féin are the only show in town in that respect.


One conclusion we can draw from this is that in terms of building popular support, and influencing the opinion of Nationalist, working class Ireland, I’d say we’re on the right track. The important element for the success of a revolutionary movement, is the need to harness popular support for the objectives of that movement. Sinn Féin currently have 5 MPs, 4 TDs, 2 MEPs, 28 MLAs, 5 Stormont ministers,243 councillors and reps in both Udaras na Gaeltacha and the Seanad. We had to mobilise popular electoral support to ensure that there was a radical Republican voice in all of the above platforms. In my opinion we done that well, but there is much more to do.

The National Hunger-strike commemoration at the weekend saw thousands of people march on the streets of Derry in support of Republican objectives. Unfortunately the weekend also saw a botched and futile attack from a group claiming to act on behalf of the Nationalist/Republican people. It has to be said, I believe that as long as the british government remain in Ireland, it is the legitimate right of every Irishman and woman to actively oppose that illegal occupation. However with that right comes moral and political responsibility. Every Republican has the responsibility to ensure that his/her actions have a realistic chance of advancing the cause of the Irish Republic in trust of the people they claim to represent. Indeed the Hunger-strikers themselves were imprisoned for their part in an armed campaign. However in the presence of a popular alternative, the armed campaign in 1981 doesn’t compare to the flawed sporadic actions of a minority of individuals at present.

The weekends rocket attack on the PSNI in Lisnaskea was irresponsible, futile and unnecessary as a political act. It is important when examining events such as these to look at the context in which it is carried out, and who gains politically from them. Immediately after the incident we had PSNI commanders stating that semtex was used for the first time since the IRA cessation, and that they believed it came from a batch brought into the country by the IRA. We then heard the DUP voice their ‘concern’ that not all of the IRA’s weaponry had been put beyond use. A convenient bargaining chip in any future stalling of the political process. Couple this with the fact that these micro-groups are wide open to infiltration by securocrats, are widely believed to be saturated with informers, and the fact that the device didn’t even explode, then we see who’s political agenda is really at work here. It certainly wasn’t the Republican struggle that benefited from the events of Saturday night.

Anyone who thinks that actions such as what we witnessed at the weekend will in any way advance the cause of Irish re-unification, is seriously misled and clearly devoid of either tactics or strategy.

Republicanism is about moving forward, and in revolutionary politics it is essential to have a clear vision of sound tactics on how to advance forward. What we see in the actions of these armed groups is that, given the presence of a popular strategy (ours) they actually move the process of revolutionary change backwards not forward.

It is hard to figure out where exactly these people are going with their “armed campaign” when all we hear in their statements in the usual anti-Sinn Féin rhetoric. Their Easter commemorations etc. are nearly always used by their members to have a good old rant about all things ‘Shinner’. (talk about knowing who your enemy is). Lets be clear, it is very easy to hide behind principles and slander other organisations, when you have no responsibility to carry forward the struggle as mandated by a large section of the people. The continued british occupation of the north in itself is not a green light for these groups to pursue an increasingly unpopular agenda. The importance of securing the support of those people on who’s behalf you struggle cannot be overlooked, that is why their strategy compared to ours becomes politically irrelevant.

It is also sad to see disillusioned “leaders” of these micro-groups polluting the minds of our young people with irrational, anti-peace process ideas which stem out of anger and frustration at being unable to contribute anything positive to the political situation.

We currently have a strategy whereby no more Irish men or women have to go to prison or worse, and Ógra have a duty to promote that strategy among our youth. The Republican movement in 1994 had a moral obligation (as well as a responsibility given the limited success of the armed campaign) to explore ways in which to continue the struggle without the loss of one more life. Now that we are embedded in a political process with a realistic chance of success, I believe that ÓSF, as the voice of Irish youth, have a moral obligation to ensure that no more of our working class young people have to go to prison or to the grave.

As the late Martin Meehan once said, he wanted our young people to live for Ireland and not to die for Ireland. I would encourage young Republicans to contribute positively to the struggle, and not to be misled by the falsely romanticised armed actions of strategically bankrupt micro-groups. Ógra Shinn Féin provide that platform from which to make a positive contribution.

The IRA with all the resources at it’s disposal couldn’t defeat the british militarily, although their contribution brought us to where we are now. The IRA gave us a chance to work politically and the change that has taken place nationwide in the last few years is a credit to them. All this has been made possible by courageous initiatives like in 2005 when they put Sinn Féin and Ógra Shinn Féin solely in the driving seat of Republican strategy. There is only one IRA, the one that has made all this change possible, not the ones who believe they can, and I quote “reach the stage where british soldiers are brought back onto the streets of the north”.

Foster or Coyle?

Community Activist
Ógra Shinn Féin

The upcoming by election in Fermanagh received a bizarre twist recently when MLA and Minister Arlene Foster, who had vacated the council, and spoke against dual mandates, threw her hat into the ring.

The heavy weight DUP candidature in what was just another by election, has given it added significance and mounted pressure on the DUP to succeed.


To many, and from engaging with activists on the ground and the electorate at the door, it is further evidence of the heightened desperation of the DUP following their current deposing of Papa Doc and Ian Óg, the internal wrangling that followed and of course the humiliating blow in Dromore, where they where outflanked by the ‘forgotten’ Official Unionists.

The DUP do not want another repeat of Dromore, and perhaps they will have Jim Allister’s TUV to thank for not standing, but then again, Fermanagh is a different kettle of fish, and not only do the DUPer’s have to contend with an area that has been traditionally Ulster Unionist, but also an electorate that have a strong legacy of electing Republican candidates, most notably Bobby Sands in 1981.

With a Sinn Féin MP, and many Nationalists and Republicans viewing this as a 2 horse race, Foster or Coyle, an engaged, energetic and vibrant Sinn Féin could realistically upset the apple cart and topple a minister.

This would have severe consequences, reverberations and be morally debilitating to the DUP and the ultra right Unionist psyche that they promote.

Strategically for Republican’s this would be a major step in dividing Unionism, weakening the DUP’s mandate in Fermanagh, and putting them on a weakened footing ahead of any future Assembly election.

The humiliation and reverberations created by Arlene Foster not being elected would not be lost on the Unionist electorate as they go to future polling booths.

If the DUP continue to suffer electoral defeats, and Sinn Féin continue to consolidate and grow, then we could become the majority party in the Northern Assembly which would have major implications, both locally, nationally and globally.

Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself, but with the insecure selection of a DUP minister to fight for a council seat which she already vacated, has changed this election utterly, and the DUP unwittingly or stupidly have presented Sinn Féin with an opportunity to land a crushing blow to them ahead of every election to come, and to stop dead in their tracks any attempts to promote Arlene as a future MP.

There is an onus on every Republican in Fermanagh and further a field to put the shoulder to the wheel and achieve a major success for Sinn Féin.

The election of Debbie Coyle in Fermanagh would not only devastate the DUP, but it would also demonstrate further growth and support for our project, and regardless of whether we are successful or not, the vigour and energy in which the election is and will continue to be fought signifies a re-emergence of Fermanagh Sinn Féin.

That is certain, regardless of a Sinn Féin success, following this by election, the party will have a heightened relevance among communities and a wealth of new recruits that come with every election trail.

The lines have been drawn, the significance has been cast, it is now down to each and every one of us as an activist to play our part in toppling a minister and ensuring a strong republican legacy is kept alive in Fermanagh.

The choice is your’s Foster or Coyle?

Ógra Shinn Féin Appalled by Israeli Oppression – Shooting Back

Ógra Shinn Féin Cúige Uladh International Officer, Barry McNally, has said he is appalled by the ongoing oppression of Palestinian people in Israeli occupied territories.

His comments come in the aftermath of reports, from a project called Shooting Back who distributed 100 video cameras in the occupied territories, over these last few weeks.

Shocking footage of the abuse of Palestinian residents, by settlers and Israeli soldiers, has been exposed by these cameras, with an increasing number of people beginning to record the abuse forced upon them.

Mr McNally, commenting on the Shooting Back project and recent footage, said,

“I am appalled at the ongoing Human Rights abuses in Palestine. This project has been running since January 2007 and has provided Palestinian people the means to record, for the world to see, the shocking abuses they have to live with at the hands of settlers and the Israeli armed forces.”

He continued,

“This recent footage is particularly interesting, exposing the Israeli actively assisting in these abuses. The most recent footage shows the Israeli army shooting a civilian protestor in the foot at point blank range. As many of us already know, the Israeli army is actively engaged in these Human Rights abuses.”

Follow the links below, to view some of the footage.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/jul/30/beaumont.palestine

http://www.btselem.org/english/Video/Shooting_Back_Index.asp

Youth Broadcast for Fermanagh By-Election

Ogra Shinn Fein have produced a youth election broadcast for the upcoming by election in Enniskillen on Wednesday 17 September.

The youth electon broadcast urges young people from the relevant electoral ward to come out and vote for Sinn Fein’s candidate Debbie Coyle and visualises the advances that Sinn Fein have made in recent times.

It also includeds a number of short interviews with Mary Lou McDonald MEP and Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew.

And it traces the strong legacy of republican candidates being elected in Fermanagh, most notably, the election of Bobby Sands MP, whilst on Hungerstrike in 1981.




Urging young people to watch the youth election broadcast and to vote Sinn Fein, National Organiser of Ogra Shinn Fein, Barry McColgan, said,

“Sinn Fein have a proven track record in promoting young people, representing their views and demanding increased funding and resourcing for youth projects and facilities.”

“Sinn Fein is committed to achieving Irish unity, building an egalitarian society and ensuring young people are placed at the centre and have a part to play in all of this.”

“We are encouraging the young people of Enniskillen to vote for our candidate Debbie Coyle, to assist in further increasing our mandate, so that we can move forward strengthened and more determined to achieve our programme of change both in Fermanagh and Ireland.”

Councillor Johnny McGibbon condemns Irish News British Army advertisements

Sinn Féin Councillor Johnny McGibbon has criticised the Irish News for their promotion of the British Army through several advertisements contained in the paper.


Cllr McGibbon said,

"I have contacted the Irish News today to highlight my opposition to these adverts. The Irish News has always claimed to be editorially opposed to violence, yet in yesterday's paper I seen several examples of hypocrisy.

Promoting education through the British Army, or "Back to School: ARMY STYLE", is surely not the most appropriate avenue for young people to re-enter education. There are many avenues available to young people to continue their education, without being involved in an Army that has a long and violent history in Ireland.


I am disappointed that the Irish News feels it is acceptable to promote British Army recruitment to people as young as 16 considering their history, and current practices in Iraq and Afghanistan."

20th Anniversary of Drumnakilly Murders to be commemorated.

The 20th anniversary of the deaths of Óglaigh na hÉireann volunteers, Brian Mullin, Gerard and Martin Harte are set to be commemorated over the last weekend in August in County Tyrone.

The three volunteers were killed in a hail of SAS bullets on the 30th August 1988. The three men had been killed in a carefully laid ambush on the main Omagh to Carrickmore road. The killings were a part of the Shoot to kill policy employed by Thatcher and the British government of the day.

The Mid Ulster Brigade of the IRA released a statement the following day. It said,

“Brian Mullin, Gerard Harte and Martin Harte were IRA Volunteers. They were killed on active service. We salute their courage and extend deepest condolences to their families.”

At the funerals of the three volunteers in Loughmacrory and Brian Mullin in Foremass, Sixmilecross the RUC and British army effectively sealed off both areas. Hundreds of RUC and British army personal saturated the local areas, despite the traditional IRA final salute being given the previous night in the Loughmacrory area.

Twenty years on from those events a commemoration committee has been formed and have released a clár of events which spans the last weekend in August to pay tribute to the three volunteers. Included on the clár, amongst other things is a Drumnakilly Martyrs memorial lecture, Gaelic football tournament, exhibition and various talks.

Also set to be unveiled over the weekend is a monument to the three volunteers which will be situated in Loughmacrory village. In addition to the numerous events taking place there is also Gaelic football shirts on sale commemorating the 20th anniversary.



Speaking ahead of the memorial weekend West Tyrone Ógra Shinn Féin Chairperson Barry McNally said

“News of the shooting at Drumnakilly spread like a shockwave around the closely-knit rural community of Mid Tyrone. Many people to this day can remember where they were and what they were doing when the tragic news came through. People also remember the disgraceful scenes of RUC and British Army saturation and intimidation of mourners attending the wakes and funerals."

"They remember the Chinooks landing during the funeral proceedings to ferry away the unwanted foreign gunmen and their RUC sidekicks. They also remember the resilience of the community in standing by the Harte and Mullin families, as demonstrated by the thousands of people from all over the country who turned out for the funerals and wakes."

“Gerard, Martin and Brian were popular figures in the Mid-Tyrone area and Irish Republicans throughout Ireland hold in high esteem the three Volunteers killed at Drumnakilly and their families.

“Throughout the weekend of events local people will remember and celebrate the lives of Brian Mullin and Gerard and Martin Harte. Their pursuit for Irish freedom remains an inspiration to the republican youth of today. I would urge young republicans to come along and remember with pride the three volunteers who were killed in pursuit of Irish republican ideals."

Ógra Shinn Féin welcome the release of Basque prisoner Iňaki de Juana Chaos

Orlagh McCauley

International Officer

Ógra Shinn Féin

Basque prisoner Iňaki de Juana Chaos has been released from jail in Aranjuez, Madrid while on hunger strike for the third time.

On July 16th, de Juana Chaos commenced hunger strike for the third time against the seizure of his property by Spanish authorities in Donostia. He was released on August 2nd having served a total of 21 years of a 3,000 year sentence.

De Juana Chaos first commenced hunger strike in August 2006. Having completed a university degree in jail and under the Spanish penal law of a maximum sentence of 30 years meant he was eligible for release. However at the First Penal Court of the Spanish Audiencia Nacional, Gómez Bermúdez contested the remission.

As his arguments against could not be sustained under Spanish law, the judge decreed his remand in custody for the alleged offence of membership of an armed group and terrorists threats.

The hunger strike lasted a total of 63 days, after reassurance his sentence was being considered and the Spanish authorities force feed him through a tube.

A second hunger strike commenced following the additional sentencing of 12 years for articles de Juana Chaos wrote in the Basque newspaper Gara. This lasted over 90 days and the photos above show how close he was to death. His sentencing was reduced to three years which concluded in August.

Get with the struggle – Txt 2 Jn SF!

Members of Ógra Shinn Féin, Ireland’s most active and fastest growing political youth movement will embark on a ‘Join Sinn Féin by text’ campaign following the announcement on Tuesday the 5th of August by party leader Gerry Adams.

The campaign is the latest in a series of successful new recruitment initiatives instigated by the party to increase the party’s membership through out the island.

Michael Grey National Recruitment Officer for Ógra Shinn Féin welcomed the initiative and stated that he believed that both Ógra and Sinn Féin would benefit from the new campaign.

‘’We have seen fantastic growth in Republicanism in recent years and an important part of that growth is building new structures and winning new recruits to the cause. This join Sinn Féin by text campaign will assist in the further expansion of our membership.’’

He continued,

‘’If young people want change, what to build a better society and above all play a part in bringing about a united Ireland, then join Ógra Shinn Féin by texting 'JOIN' followed by their name and address to 60060.”

Youth Vote is Key in Upcoming Fermanagh By Election

Ógra Shinn Féin activists joined canvass teams in Enniskillen last Thursday, engaging the public on the upcoming Council by election in Fermanagh.

Sinn Féin will be selecting their candidate at a convention tonight Monday 11 August, in Enniskillen’s Clinton Centre, but canvass teams, including activists and supporters have been out over the past number of weeks, highlighting the importance of a good turnout for this by election, and promoting Sinn Féin’s proven track record in Fermanagh.

Leading the Ógra activist’s on the canvass, Steven McGahan said,

“We received a huge level of support at the doors in Enniskillen. People are very engaged and aware of the by election, many commenting on the bizarre DUP candidature of Arlene Foster.”

“Sinn Féin has a proven track record in Fermanagh, and has constantly been the party who have promoted youth, and been to the fore in working for youth rights in the county.”

“Ógra Shinn Féin will be mobilising activists for this important by election, organising youth canvasses, and other initiatives, where we will be encouraging the young people of Fermanagh to come out and vote for Sinn Féin.”