Ógra Shinn Féin Easter Statement 2008

On this the 92^nd anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Ógra Shinn Féin proudly remembers all of those who died for the freedom of Ireland.

We would like to extend our fraternal greetings to all our imprisoned comrades, to their families and also to all the families of our patriot dead.

As we gather throughout Ireland this weekend paying homage to the sacrifice made by Ireland ’s patriot dead, we are ever mindful of the tasks that lie ahead.

92 years ago the Easter Rising shook irreparably Britain’s colonial hold on Ireland. It rekindled the flame of freedom in Ireland, and today, that flame continues to burn strong.

What was started in 1916 is unfinished business, Ireland is still occupied and huge inequalities are evident throughout Irish society. Ógra Shinn Féin is committed to the task of achieving and building a 32 County Democratic Socialist Republic and we would urge young republicans gathered to play a part in this momentous task by joining the struggle.

Young people have always been to the fore of successful liberation struggles throughout the world. Whether this be in Cuba, South Africa, Palestine or here at home in Ireland. Indeed the first Republican Youth Movement Na Fianna Éireann, founded in 1909, played a significant role in the struggle and suffered huge losses. Next year marks the 100^th anniversary of Na Fianna’s formation and Ógra Shinn Féin will be organising significant events across Ireland to remember the unbroken line of republican youth in struggle, their role and sacrifices.

We believe in community led socialism, in empowering communities to organise, yet we see the hugely negative impact Drug and Alcohol abuse is having on our young people and communities, which is why we are currently involved in a National Drug and Alcohol Awareness campaign called NARC ‘Not Another Ravaged Community.’ It is an issue that we collectively need to tackle, and we would appeal today for people to engage in the campaign.

We are also Internationalists, and we condemn the ongoing repression of the Basque Youth in Segi, and the KSM Young Communists in the Czech Republic. We send solidarity greetings to oppressed people’s across the world and again repeat our call for the ending of the illegal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Republican’s have worked tirelessly and suffered huge losses in the pursuit of Irish freedom, and we believe this will ensure achievement of our objectives. These sacrifices cannot be in vain, which is why we need to be very focused on the encroaching Lisbon Treaty. The Lisbon Treaty if not rejected will contravene Irish neutrality, create inequality, attack workers rights and erode Irish sovereignty, and republicans need to campaign to ensure the Irish people vote no.

What was started by the United Irishmen in 1798, and came to rise in 1916 is all unfinished business. We in Ógra Shinn Féin vow to play our part in completing the task and break the connection between Britain and Ireland. It is then we will see the rising of the moon.

Beirígí Bua!

Naoi mbliana 's nócha ó a bhí éirí amach na Cásca ann, cuimhníonn ógra le bród ar iad siúd uilig a d'éag ar son saoirse na hÉireann.

Gabhann muid ár mbeannachtaí lenár gcomrádaithe uilig ata i ngéibhinn, lena gclainn agus fosta le clainn ár dtírghráthóirí mharbh.

Agus muid ag bailiú ar fud na hÉireann an deireadh seachtaine seo, ag léiriú ár meas dóidh siúd a chailliú, tá muid ag meabhrú fós féin ar na dualgais atá amach romhainn.

Naoi mbliana 's nócha ó shin scrios Éirí Amach na Cásca greim chóilíneachta na breataine ar Éireann. D'ath-las sé lasrach na saoirse in Éirinn, agus inniú, leanann an lasrach sin ar aghaidh ag dó le neart.

An eachtra a tharla i 1916, níl sé réidh fós, tá Éire fós gabhtha agus tá an sochaí fud na tíre neamh-ionann. Tá Ógra Shinn Féin tiománta chun Daon-Phoblacht Shóisialach 32 chondae a bhaint amach agus gríosann muid na daoine óga anseo chun páirt a ghlacadh sa thasc ollmhór seo trí dul sa streachailt.

Bhíodh daoine óga i gcónaí chun tosaigh ar streachailtí saoirse rathúla ar fud an domhain, pé áit é seo, Cúba, Aifric Theas, an Phailistín, nó anseo in Éirinn. Fiú an chéad ghluaiseacht phoblachtach ógra, Na Fianna Éireann, bunuithe i 1909, bhí ról lárnach aige agus d'fhulaing siad cailliúintí móra. 'Sé an bhliain seo chugainn comóradh céad bhliain ar na Fianna agus beidh Ógra ag eagrú imeachtaí shuimiúla ar fud na nÉireann le cuimhniú.

Creideann muid i bpobal sóisialachas, ag tabhairt seans don phobal eagraíocht a dhéanamh, ach go fóil is feidir linn feiceal an éifeacht diúltach mór ar na ndaoine óg agus an phobal mar gheall ar mí-usaid drugaí agus alcól. Agus is é sin an fáth go bhfuil muid ag glacadh phairt i feachtas Naisiúnta faoi mí-usaid drugaí agus alcól, NARC (Not Another Ravaged Community). Caithfidh muid trealamh a dhéanamh ar an eagrán seo le cheile agus tá muid ag deanamh achomharc ar daoine óga chun pairt a ghlachadh san feachtas seo.

Tá muid in ar Idirnaisiúntí comh maith agus tá muid in éadan an smacthú atá ag dul ar aghaidh faoi lathair ar an gluaiseacht óg na mBasque i Segi agus ar na Cummanaí Óg KSM san Czech Republic. Cuireann muid teachracht dlúthchomar chun na ndaoine faoi chos tríd an domhan agus arís deanann muid ghlaoigh chun deireadh a chur leis an atháitithe neamhdhlíthiúil i Afghanistan agus Iraq.

Ar lorg Saoirse na hÉirinn, d'oibrigh Phoblachtanaí go crua agus chaileamh cuid mhór, creideann muid go cinntigh sé seo eachtanái s'againn! Ní feidir le na iobhairt seo a bheith in aisce mar sin de chaithfidh muid focás mhór a chinéal ar an Conradh Lisbon. Má leanann an Conradh Lisbon ar aghaidh, déanoidh sí sáraigh ar neodrach Éire, cruathaigh sí éagothroime, déanfidh sí ionsaí ar ceartaí na hoibrithe agus creim ar cheannasacht Éire agus caithfidh Poblachtanaí a bheith ag feachtadh chun cinnte a dhéanamh go bhfuil Eireannaigh ag Votáil NÍL!

Rud a thosaigh Fír Aontithe Na hÉirinn i seachtdeag nocha hocht agus a d'éirigh amach sa bhlian naoi déag sé déag, is gnó gan críochnú é! Móidaigh muid atá phairt de Ógra Shinn Féin, pairt s'againn a ghlachadh chun an tasc sin a críochnú agus an céangal idir an Bhreatain agus Éire a bhríseadh!! Ba é sin nuair a feicimíd an gealach ag éirí!

Beirígí Bua!