Large mobilisation at Bodenstown ‘07

Ógra Shinn Féin mobilised in large numbers for the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown, Co Kildare at the weekend. Amongst the Ógra delegation was a bus load of activists who came from the Coiste youth camp, in north Antrim, on Sunday morning to make the commemoration.

A large Ógra contingent fed into the main parade which was attended by several thousand people and numerous marching bands. With banners, highlighting the Ógra Shinn Féin A.R.I.S.E. campaign and others with silhouettes of Bobby Sands and Che Guevara, they provided a very colourful addition to the parade.

South Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin also formed a part in the parade. Members dressing in Ógra raincoats marched in the main body of the parade from Sallins to Bodenstown Churchyard.

The main speaker the commemoration was Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams. In his main oration he said republicanism had entered a new phase of struggle, and whilst the party must continue to advance in the north the front line has clearly shifted to the south.

Mr Adams said:

“The last six months have seen groundbreaking historic political developments. Sinn Féin successfully negotiated an unprecedented deal with the DUP restoring the Assembly and all-Ireland institutions, now has 3 Assembly members on the new policing board holding the PSNI to account and in the Assembly elections the party increased its number of seats to 28 garnering 26% of the votes cast.

“Just 8 weeks after the Assembly elections the 26-county general election took place. Expectations were high, perhaps unrealistically so and whilst our vote increased by over 20,000 the party’s vote fell in some crucial areas.

“Young republicans are emerging as effective political leaders and need as of right to take up their places as we develop the public profile of the 26 county element of our national leadership.

“Sinn Féin is an all-Ireland party operating in two jurisdictions with their own political cultures and different political realities that have developed since partition. What we are attempting to is unprecedented.

“We need to build republicanism in both parts of Ireland making it relevant to citizens in the political conditions in which they live, whilst at the same time winning support for an end to partition.

“We are republicans. We believe people are equal and should be treated equally. We have put forward clear proposals on all these matters. If we really want to be in a position to deliver our vision then we must win support for it. That means getting better at what we do and learning the lessons of this time.”