Proceedings got under way with a re-enactment of the 1916 Easter Rising, choreographed by Gerry Cunningham and led by young republicans from Ógra Shinn Féin. The street theatre traced the key moments of the Rising with the Patrician Hall and its Pillars providing a very appropriate backdrop. The sound effects, and the authentic uniforms immersed the crowd in the action and the scene with the execution of the 7 signatories of the Proclamation was extremely emotive.
Following the re-enactment, the crowds assembled to start on the annual march around Carrickmore, and then to the Garden of Remembrance.
The march was led by a republican colour party which responded to commands in Irish.
There was a colourful display of Sinn Féin cumann banners at the march, with a large presence of young people in attendance with the Martin Hurson Memorial Band and the Coatbridge Republican Flute Band playing throughout.
When the march reached the Garden of Remembrance, Sinn Féin Commemoration Committee Chairperson Councillor Sean Begley chaired proceedings.
Pádraig Quinn from Derrytresk read aloud the 1916 Proclamation, and Kerry McColgan from Omagh read the Tyrone Brigade Roll of Honour. This was accompanied by a lament played on the fiddle by Álanna Campbell.
Marie Claire Devlin from Pomeroy delivered the Ógra Shinn Féin statement.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement, the Old IRA, Sinn Féin, in memory of the Hunger Strikers, and by Ógra Shinn Féin.
The main speaker on the day was newly elected TD for Donegal South West, Pearse Doherty whose speech was followed by a very powerful and evocative rendition of Amhrán Na bhFiann sang by Niamh McElduff from Carrickmore.
Delivering the main oration, Pearse Doherty TD said,
"It is a privilege and honour to be standing here before you today in Carrickmore to pay tribute to Ireland's republican dead on the 95th Anniversary of the Easter Rising. As we honour the men and women of 1916, let us also remember all those republicans who gave their lives for Irish Freedom.
Tyrone was and is to the fore in the struggle for Irish freedom, you only have to look at the huge sacrifice borne in the most recent phase of the conflict with 57 IRA volunteers and 3 Sinn Féin activists on the Tyrone Brigade Roll of Honour.
Let us also remember here today all the Republicans in Tyrone who have dedicated their lives to the cause of a united Ireland, to the achievement of freedom, justice and peace, who have passed away since last Easter.
"It is a privilege and honour to be standing here before you today in Carrickmore to pay tribute to Ireland's republican dead on the 95th Anniversary of the Easter Rising. As we honour the men and women of 1916, let us also remember all those republicans who gave their lives for Irish Freedom.
Tyrone was and is to the fore in the struggle for Irish freedom, you only have to look at the huge sacrifice borne in the most recent phase of the conflict with 57 IRA volunteers and 3 Sinn Féin activists on the Tyrone Brigade Roll of Honour.
Let us also remember here today all the Republicans in Tyrone who have dedicated their lives to the cause of a united Ireland, to the achievement of freedom, justice and peace, who have passed away since last Easter.
The principles set out in the Proclamation have yet to be put fully into effect on this island.
At the core of it, are Irish independence, sovereignty and equality. It is up to us to interpret these principles for our time, and to work together to achieve the type of free, just and equal Ireland envisaged by the men and women of 1916.
In 1916 we saw the coming together of republicans; nationalists, Irish Language activists, trade unionists and the women's movement in the cause of Irish Unity.
Today we need to build similar alliances not just to make Irish unity a reality but to ensure that it is an Ireland based on equality and justice. There has never been such a need for republican politics. The big questions of sovereignty, of people's rights, of citizenship are more relevant today than they have been for many years.
In these difficult times the absolute logic of political and economic reunification has never been easier to understand. The achievement of a United Ireland is within our reach. The peace process and the political developments which have grown from it have ensured huge change - Irish Language rights have been advanced, society demilitarised, second class citizenship has gone, and republicans are in the lead of a power sharing government.
But that is only part of the journey - we need to build support for Irish Unity. We need to engage with unionists about the future. We need to use our increased electoral strength to put pressure on the Irish government to begin preparations for re-unification. One very simple thing they could do immediately is to ensure that people in the 6 counties have a vote in the Presidential elections, which will take place later this year.
While commemorations are important it is not enough for us to come here every Easter, the only true commemoration of our republican dead is to finish the struggle for which they died for. We must rise to the challenge and to go from here and make our fallen comrades proud as they have made us."
At the core of it, are Irish independence, sovereignty and equality. It is up to us to interpret these principles for our time, and to work together to achieve the type of free, just and equal Ireland envisaged by the men and women of 1916.
In 1916 we saw the coming together of republicans; nationalists, Irish Language activists, trade unionists and the women's movement in the cause of Irish Unity.
Today we need to build similar alliances not just to make Irish unity a reality but to ensure that it is an Ireland based on equality and justice. There has never been such a need for republican politics. The big questions of sovereignty, of people's rights, of citizenship are more relevant today than they have been for many years.
In these difficult times the absolute logic of political and economic reunification has never been easier to understand. The achievement of a United Ireland is within our reach. The peace process and the political developments which have grown from it have ensured huge change - Irish Language rights have been advanced, society demilitarised, second class citizenship has gone, and republicans are in the lead of a power sharing government.
But that is only part of the journey - we need to build support for Irish Unity. We need to engage with unionists about the future. We need to use our increased electoral strength to put pressure on the Irish government to begin preparations for re-unification. One very simple thing they could do immediately is to ensure that people in the 6 counties have a vote in the Presidential elections, which will take place later this year.
It is now less than a decade to the 100th anniversary of 1916 and we are now closer to bringing about a united Ireland.
But none of this will happen by chance. We need to organise, build support for Irish unity; expand the all-Ireland institutions, and force the Irish government to begin practical preparations for unity.
Sinn Fein is the only party with a strategy for the achievement of Irish Unity. In Tyrone Sinn Féin are leading the way with 3 MPs, 7 MLAs and 30 Councillors. We are using that mandate to create necessary change in communities and lead the demand for a united Ireland.
Our priority must be to further advance the republican objective of a united, independent Ireland. To keep making steady progress, and not to be deflected.
Sinn Fein's ability to negotiate successfully is ultimately dependent on the political strength of republicanism.
A few weeks ago Sinn Fein's newly elected TD's joined with our MLA's and MP's in Belfast. This was a powerful symbol of an All Ireland political project in action. This was real leadership across Ireland.
Although more still needs to be done, we need to build the party in every parish across Ireland. I call on everyone here to come forward and join Sinn Fein - people who were involved in the past, those who have helped out in election time, ex POWs, republican families, young and old - we need everyone to become involved.
This year will have an Assembly Election and local Council Election.
The elections on May 5th will be very emotive and significant because they fall on the 30th Anniversary of the death of IRA Vol. Bobby Sands.
We need to build on the momentum of our success in the 26 counties. That means an All Ireland effort. It means activists from every county in Ireland playing their own part in this campaign. It means continuing the process of change. The future lies in Irish unity and national equality.
We owe it to the Volunteers and to all those who have died throughout our struggle to reassert our efforts to see our struggle for independence through to an end.
But none of this will happen by chance. We need to organise, build support for Irish unity; expand the all-Ireland institutions, and force the Irish government to begin practical preparations for unity.
Sinn Fein is the only party with a strategy for the achievement of Irish Unity. In Tyrone Sinn Féin are leading the way with 3 MPs, 7 MLAs and 30 Councillors. We are using that mandate to create necessary change in communities and lead the demand for a united Ireland.
Our priority must be to further advance the republican objective of a united, independent Ireland. To keep making steady progress, and not to be deflected.
Sinn Fein's ability to negotiate successfully is ultimately dependent on the political strength of republicanism.
A few weeks ago Sinn Fein's newly elected TD's joined with our MLA's and MP's in Belfast. This was a powerful symbol of an All Ireland political project in action. This was real leadership across Ireland.
Although more still needs to be done, we need to build the party in every parish across Ireland. I call on everyone here to come forward and join Sinn Fein - people who were involved in the past, those who have helped out in election time, ex POWs, republican families, young and old - we need everyone to become involved.
This year will have an Assembly Election and local Council Election.
The elections on May 5th will be very emotive and significant because they fall on the 30th Anniversary of the death of IRA Vol. Bobby Sands.
We need to build on the momentum of our success in the 26 counties. That means an All Ireland effort. It means activists from every county in Ireland playing their own part in this campaign. It means continuing the process of change. The future lies in Irish unity and national equality.
We owe it to the Volunteers and to all those who have died throughout our struggle to reassert our efforts to see our struggle for independence through to an end.
While commemorations are important it is not enough for us to come here every Easter, the only true commemoration of our republican dead is to finish the struggle for which they died for. We must rise to the challenge and to go from here and make our fallen comrades proud as they have made us."
1 comment:
"The peace process and the political developments which have grown from it have ensured huge change - Irish Language rights have been advanced, society demilitarised, second class citizenship has gone, and republicans are in the lead of a power sharing government."
...and yet if these things have been achieved within a Northern Ireland and UK context then the potential benefits afforded by union with the Irish Republic can only be diminished.
Irish Republicanism is at its most alluring when it plays the victim card. If you achieve parity of equality in Northern Ireland there will be far less need to change the political status quo...
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