British ‘Armed Forces Day’ – Coat Trailing Triumphalism

Chris Conwell
Ógra Shinn Féin

The recent decision by the British Ministry of Defence to hold British ‘Armed forces Day’ on Saturday June 27 and for a number of local council’s to vote in favour of hosting events to mark it in Ireland is unacceptable and must be challenged.



It is yet another attempt to glorify Britain’s Dirty War and to sweep under the carpet the fact that it was British state policy directed from the very top to murder Irish men women and children, citizens which they wished to rule.

This is a blatant act of provocation to the nationalist community, and the bigoted coat trailing triumphalism, must be opposed.

The war criminals that carried out the shoot to kill operations and state collusion should be in prison for their crimes against humanity, not being honoured by civic ceremonies in Ireland.

The only justified position for any right minded person to hold on these events is best captured in James Connolly’s last statement when he said,

“The British Government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland, and never can have any right in Ireland.”

I would encourage all Ógra activists and young republicans to email the councils hosting these events for British ‘Armed Forces Day’ to highlight your opposition and to join with Ógra Shinn Féin in their events to oppose this bigoted provocation.

At the RIR parade last year Ógra Shinn Féin made it very clear that British solders are not welcome anywhere in our country weather they are in barracks, marching through our streets, or flying in our skies.

There has been a long running campaign, which Ógra has spear headed, to ensure that the British War Machine in Ireland is Demilitarised. Massive progress has been achieved reducing that foreign occupation from over 30,000 to 5,000 British Soldiers.

That progress was made through hard campaigning, and negotiations, let us take stock of that progress and continue to progress this issue until the British War Machine is completed Demiliatrised and the last British soldier is removed from Ireland.