Take it down from the mast...

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, 24th March, a group of young, enthusiastic Ógra Shinn Féin activists gathered at an unknown location on the campus of NUI Galway with the intention of disrupting the social order within the University by hoisting a Tricolour (the national flag) somewhere on the grounds of the college.
A reconnaissance officer for the college cumann had surveyed the area a couple of hours previously and set the scene for the event. At approximately 20:25 the unit of militant youths congregated outside Áras na Mac Léinn, a cosy building which houses the Student Union and various other college staff. As it kicked off and one member was in the process of tying a knot to secure the flag, an eager security official noticed what was happening and quickly acted to put a stop to the reckless adolescents.

After being instructed a number of times to remove the flag from the flag-pole the security official proceeded to further questioning of the students. He asked if the accused had been in ‘the army before’ because if not they would ‘no nothing about it’. However, as the student was not sure as regards to what ‘army’ the official was referring to, he questioned him to that extent, to which the executive responded ‘Have you ever been in any military?. This left the accused feeling somewhat uneasy and his response was to state that no one present was involved in a military of any kind, but that even if they were they would not be in a position to disclose that information to the questioner. After a short dispute the flag was eventually taken down.

Although the college authorities probably felt they had prevailed, this is not the case; this campaign is ongoing within NUIG and will continue regardless.

After the event Ógra Shinn Féin campaigner in the college Ian Daly, had this to say:

‘The fact that having a symbol such as a national flag flying over a state building is so detestable to the administration in the 26 counties is further evidence that Fianna Fáil-ure should drop their self-composed title, ‘The Republican Party’ and come to terms with the fact that they are a politically corrupt and completely incompetent political party that promote partition in the Island of Ireland and they will be wiped out come the next general election.’