PSNI challenged directly by SFRY in Belfast

Following recent reports of spontaneous instances of PSNI harassment towards young Gaels carrying hurling sticks across Belfast city, Sinn Fein Youth (Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth Committee) have set about formulating and organising a direct campaign to highlight the clear disregard for Irish sporting heritage and culture from elements within the PSNI.

However, it is common knowledge that this is not a new issue for young nationalists. In July 2009, the then Chief Constable Hugh Orde was forced to clarify the position regarding the PSNI’s attitude to Gaelic Games following an incident in the Waterside area of Derry when a group of teenagers were told that their hurls constituted “offensive weapons”.

At the time policing board member Martina Anderson (MEP) said, “I raised this matter directly with the Police Ombudsman and the PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde. “He has now confirmed to me that a hurling stick is not – in itself – regarded as an offensive weapon. “Like any other instrument, it can only be regarded as an offensive weapon if the person in possession of it intended to use it as such. That could be true of a hockey stick or a golf club, just as much as it could be of a hurl. “Any suggestion that police officers would attempt to criminalise Gaelic games would be entirely unacceptable and I hope Hugh Orde’s response will communicated to the rank and file in the PSNI so that there is no repetition of this incident. I also welcome the fact that the local Area Commander has offered to meet the family concerned in order to address their concerns.”

Unfortunately, nearly five years on from this one case, the PSNI continue to discriminate and threaten young hurlers with prosecution for no more than simply going about their business with hurl in hand.

On Saturday March 8th following reports of a 14 year old girl being stopped for possession of a hurl in the Ballymurphy area of West

Belfast, well over 100 attended the “Hurling Is Our Heritage” rally organised by the Mairéad Farrell Sinn Féin Youth Committee. Speaking at the protest policing board member and West Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said, “As a matter of urgency we will be raising the issue with the PSNI at the highest level. Gerry Kelly and I discussed the issue yesterday and we intend to raise it at the next Policing Board meeting with the Chief Constable and his senior executives.

In early February of this year, an Antrim minor hurler & MFRYC member was harassed by the PSNI in similar circumstances. In this instance, the young man and his friends were approached by four PSNI officers who proceeded to quiz them and later threaten said young man with expulsion from college and told that he would “never leave the country again”. As the Republican Youth of this Island we deem it as our responsibility to highlight this disgraceful approach from the PSNI and to give the youth of our communities a platform to voice their anger.

 Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth Committee Chairperson Eóin McShane outlined this anger at the rally & subsequently at a meeting with the most senior PSNI officers in West Belfast on Monday 10th March.

“I met the PSNI on Monday afternoon along with MP for West Belfast Paul Maskey and Belfast Sinn Féin Chairperson Sam Baker. I made our sincere anger and frustration known and the PSNI assured me there and then that they would brief their officers on the issue and carry out internal investigations into the information we received from our public appeal for information, with feedback to follow.”

At the meeting the question about hockey sticks, tennis rackets and the PSNI’s attitude towards other forms of sporting equipment was posed.

“It is my view that the onus is on us as not only as Irish Republicans, but as the voice of the Republican Youth of this city to defend our peers with integrity and to ensure that our culture is at all times respected. Respect and equality are at the fundamental bedrock of what it means to be an Irish Republican.”

It is with regret that we were contacted on Wednesday 12th March around tea time following another recorded approach from PSNI officers in similar circumstances, this time however, in the Holylands area of South Belfast. In this instance, the PSNI threatened a group of young males whilst they had a poc about and proceeded to issue one young man with an official PSNI caution for “Disorderly Behavior” for “Playing ‘Hurley’ in Street”.

That evening Sinn Féin activists and supporters took to twitter to outline their condemnation and disgust to what had happened. Pat Sheehan MLA later released a statement and on Thursday (March 13th) appeared on Radio Ulsters’ Talkback programme.

“What happened on Wednesday evening is a despicable act of disregard and disrespect for our national identity. The ‘Hurling Is Our Heritage’ campaign will continue until our national sport is accepted and respected by members of the PSNI” said Eóin McShane.

Urging all gaels and the GAA to endorse the campaign, U21 All-Ireland Hurling finalist & MFRYC member Cónall Morgan said, “It is a very live issue. It is clear from the publicity it has received this week alone that there is a very real sense of frustration at the PSNI right across the board”

Get your new Sinn Féin-Republican Youth half-zip today!

A chairde,

In recent days, Sinn Féin Republican Youth have worked with O’Neills to produce a new range of high-quality SFRY ‘Apex half-zips – the ‘Apex’ design is not on public sale with O’Neills until June 2014!

The response so far to the new-range has been overwhelming and with demand only expected to increase over the next few days, a £20 deposit is required up-front in advance of an order being placed. To guarantee your order, a strict ‘No deposit, No order’ policy applies.

The full price will be £35 and the remainder of your payment can be paid in January.

Similar to the now iconic Ógra Shinn Féin hoodies, the new and improved range will undoubtedly provide Sinn Féin activists with a greater sense of identity and confidence that will only help popularise Sinn Féin politics at a national level; may it be on campus or on a canvass.

It is advised that any activist wishing to place an order should do so through their local Sinn Féin Republican Youth or university cumann structures. However, half-zips can be ordered individually where applicable.

Half-Zip sizes are as follows;

Child – Age 13/14 (slightly smaller than small)

Adult – S, M, L, XL, XXL

*All £20 deposits need to be in before Wednesday 18^th December 2013*

Please note: The order will be ready for collection in early February 

Send name, address, half-zip size and deposit to;

Eóin McShane

Teach Mairéad Farrell

Unit 2W, Diary Farm Centre,

226 Stewartstown Road

Belfast

BT17 OAW

Midlands Óige Phoblachtach hold successful youth launch of SF Pre-Budget Submission

 

On Friday, 11th October at 6.30pm in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone, Sinn Féin Óige Phoblachtach launched Sinn Féin's Pre-Budget Submission with Mary-Lou McDonald TD. The public meeting, entitled 'Sinn Féin's Alternative Budget: A Better Choice for Young People', was chaired by Athlone Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Hogan and it aimed to discuss some of the core proposals outlined in Sinn Féin's detailed Pre-Budget Submission and how these would specifically address the issues faced by young people in the midlands and across Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

 Youth activists such as David McWeeney (South Roscommon) and Mairéad Farrell (Galway City East) facilitated discussion of the proposals and Sinn Féin Vice-President Mary-Lou McDonald T.D. gave the keynote speech along with a piece from EU Parliament Candidate Matt Carthy.

Speaking after the event, Cllr. Paul Hogan - first elected to Athlone Town Council in 2004 at the age of 21 - said that the event was an absolute success. 'This public meeting provided an excellent opportunity for the young people of Athlone and surrounding counties to come along and hear why Sinn Féin is the only political party that has concrete, practical solutions which will radically tackle the concerns of Irish youth in today's society' said Hogan.

'Young republicans and socialists in Sinn Féin realise that our proposals can, and will, get Ireland back to work. Sinn Féin is the fastest-growing and most progressive force in Irish politics, north and south; the growing numbers and calibre of young people in our party are testament to this. Tonight's contribution's by David McWeeney, Mairéad Farrell and Brendan Killeavy, all of whom will be standing as candidates for Sinn Féin in the 2014 Local Elections, were nothing short of inspiring. It is becoming clearer every day that this country urgently needs a fresh approach to how we do politics. Inequality, corruption and the gombeen man have been a blight on our political landscape for far too long and now is the time for change. Young people remain under-represented on public forums across Ireland, they are completely disenfranchised with the political system. If you want an alternative to the failed politics of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party, you should join Sinn Féin Óige Phoblachtach.'

 

 

 

Note: Midlands Óige Phoblachtach would like to express it's sincere condolences to Martin O'Reilly on the recent loss of a family member. Martin is a central cog in our local youth movement and a great representative for his community in Daingean, Co. Offaly.

Acampada Jove - Different nations, the same struggle: Independence and Socialism!

Alt scríofa ag: 

Seán Fearon

Armagh SFRY Activist Seán Fearon represented SFRY at Acampada Jove in Catalonia last weekend. 

There are few sights as peculiar as a child scampering to the top of a tower constructed of only three other people, their only support being the shoulders of the person below them; more so when this tower, a spectacular Catalan tradition, is erected on the main road in the centre of a town on a Saturday. One would expect, based on the usual experiences and attitudes found within Irish society, a line of angry motorists, shocked onlookers and remarks all carrying the general sentiment of: “look at those eejits”. However, having spent three days soaking in a culture and a festival that shattered all my presupposed expectations of Catalonia, it was, at this stage, perfectly natural to see motorists applauding, onlookers still infatuated with by this ostensibly repetitive spectacle, and to hear the air filled by the cheers and the spirit of a crowd that was typical of any crowd at Acampada Jove in Montblanc from the 18^th-20^th July 2013. This small moment now seems to embody everything that makes the Catalonian struggle for independence the beacon for those struggling likewise around the world: the self-respect and appreciation of their culture, the dizzying scale of the demonstrations of the Left Republican movement, and, at the risk of sounding too grandiose, the unstoppable forward momentum, the climb to the stars, earned by JERC and Esquerra in their fight to secure their inevitable liberation from the Spanish state.

I spent four days in Catalonia as a delegate at Acampada Jove, a music festival quite unlike any that will likely appear in Ireland in the near future. Eighteen years ago JERC (The youth wing of ERC, or Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, commonly referred to as just Esquerra) launched a small music festival focused solely around celebrating the ideas of Left Republicanism and Catalonian culture that has since become the biggest music festival in the province, drawing a crowd of anywhere between 15,000-25,000 young people, all paying to see the most popular music acts of the Catalan countries. Apart from the size of the event itself, what is more impressive is the fact that this festival is almost entirely set up by JERC activists, about 450 this year (almost half of the entire membership of JERC), who devote endless hours to meticulous planning, promotion and manual labour to create something that they are justifiably proud of. Bar work, security, stage assistance and the actual creation of the camp, everything except the construction of the main stage (which, by law, must be erected by professionals) is carried out by activists aged 14 to 28. Many work 12 hour shifts, to be rewarded with a 3 hour sleep, only to rise again to work. What seemed like a gruelling endeavour was carefully expounded by Gerard Gomez (National Spokesperson of JERC) when he addressed a crowd of activists on the first night, calling on people to honour their republican principles: “if you don’t do your one hour, someone else must do two hours. We are republicans”. Quite simply, Acampada Jove would not happen were it not for the unshakeable dedication and inspiring comradery of hundreds of JERC activists.

It should not surprise many that such a crowd will flock to a festival that is so politicized, where the main stage is flanked by two massive banners displaying the focal points of the Left Republican movement in Catalonia: Socialism, Feminism, Republicanism, Sexual Freedom, Independence, Jobs, Houses, Language, and Solidarity. After all, recent polls in the state of Catalonia suggest 75% support for independence from Spain, a lot of which can be put down to the economic treatment of Catalonia by the Spanish parliament in Madrid. Catalonia receives 16 billion Euro less than it provides to the federal government and comprises 24% of the Spanish economy, including 30% of its exports. 10% of the GDP of Catalonia is taken by Spain; appalling considering German states for example can lose only 4% by law to the national government. 75% of all toll bridges in Spain are situated in Catalonia, not a cent of the revenue of which will ever remain there. Of course, this support was exemplified in the monstrous demonstration on 11^th September (the Catalan national day, commemorating the day that Catalonia was defeated by the French monarchy in 1714 and became entirely subject to a Spanish state headed by a relative of the French monarch, a legacy which remains to this day) last year in which 1.5 million people, a fifth of the population of the state of Catalonia, took to the streets of Barcelona to demand independence from a crumbling Spanish state. It was organised by the ANC (Catalan National Assembly) who, this September, will follow this momentous occasion by drawing the world’s attention to the unity and the determination of the Catalan people to win independence by forming a human chain 400km long (from the East coast of the Iberian Peninsula to the Catalan-Spanish border) that will require the participation of 400,000-600,000 people. Think of 1/3 of the population of the Six Counties linking hands. No words can do justice to the sheer magnitude of this movement, one that enjoys overwhelming support, in Catalonia at least.

As for the rest of the Catalan countries, poll results remain dubious. My guide, Rubo, assured me that Valencia remains steadfastly in favour of a union with Spain, while the Catalan islands of Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca show signs of increased support. This prompted an interesting discussion between me, members of JERC and of the Basque delegation at a riveting question and answers session on Saturday. Currently, the plan for Left Republicans is to see the state of Catalonia gain independence in 2014 through a referendum. This will, of course, mean excluding the remaining Catalan countries. The Basque movement plan to attempt something similar, assuming electoral support is sufficient, by separating from Spain but leaving the French occupied region behind. Parallels were immediately drawn between these plans and the partition of Ireland and the effect splitting a nation into two or more parts can have on the momentum of nationalist sentiment and the apathy that will invariably rise in a liberated region, regardless of the fate of colonised comrades. Both the Catalan activists and the Basque delegation reaffirmed their willingness to work and their belief that partial independence will act as a stepping stone and an inspiration in areas where the idea is less popular (Valencia, for instance). There are little other options available, however I remain unconvinced – it is hard to imagine the aforementioned energy that exists within Catalonia being apparent in years to come, and one must remain sceptical of the power of apathy and it’s crippling effect on political activism.

One thing that was made clear to me was the incredible support that exists for Irish Republicanism within the Left Republican movement in Catalonia, as evidenced by the ceaselessly hospitable JERC activists and even the townspeople of Montblanc. Long Kesh T-shirts were on display and many were even wearing Irish soccer jerseys, with more pride than many in Ireland have been able to muster in recent years. In fact, the first Catalan Republican party, Nosaltres Sols, was named after Sinn Féin, the Catalan translation to English being some variation of “we ourselves”.  For the first few days it was impossible to pay for any meals, for example, and my annoying habit of asking an endless string of awkward questions was accommodated graciously by all who suffered it. I learned of the violent history of the Spanish Civil War and the devastating effect it had on the Republican independence movement. Three months after its formation in 1931 Esquerra won 74% of the popular vote and an absolute majority in the Catalonian parliament. Following the outbreak of civil war it merged into a popular front to combat General Franco and the Fascist coup, during which 40,000 party members were killed in fighting. The President of Esquerra at the time, Lluis Companys fled the country following Franco’s decision to slaughter his political opposition, but was caught in France in 1940 by the German Gestapo and executed following a military trial.

The Left Republican movement as it is presently is something extraordinarily different than that of which exists in Ireland. Hundreds of esteladas (the Catalan flag) are shown proudly, from balconies, from tents, from public buildings and restaurants, from market stalls and bus shelters, from backpacks, clothes and those that hang on the backs of elated campers and activists alike. This incredible movement as conveyed at Acampada Jove is exemplified when literally thousands of people, at the camp or in Montblanc, periodically erupt into seemingly habitual but invariably awe inspiring roars of their cry for freedom: ‘in, inde, inde-pendenc-ia’. It is a movement that is embodied by the seas of young people who share a love for their music, their culture, a love of all things Catalan; but, above all, share the desire, the belief and a shared sense of inevitability that someday, soon, victory will be theirs. Cap a la llibertat!

Reminder - Deposit Deadline!

Don't forget - The deadline for all deposits for this year's Hunger Strike Youth Weekend is this Friday, the 26th of July. Deposits of £15/ €20 must be sent with a completed booking form.

For more information or to book a place contact Barry on 07885569940 or Leanne on 07742593106.

Ná déanaigí dearmud - is é an Aoine seo, an 26ú Iúil, spriocdháta na n-earlaisí do Deireadh Seachtaine na Stailceanna Ocrais. Caithfear £15/ €20 a sheoladh ar aon le foirm áirthint. 

I gcomhair tuilleadh eolais nó chun do spás a chuir san áireamh téigh i dteangmháil le Barry ar 07885569940 nó Leanne ar 07742593106.

Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth does a clean-up!

Despite the sweltering heat, during Ireland’s brief heat wave, members of the Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth were out helping with a clean-up. A fence leading into the Lagmore estate in West Belfast was damaged by offensive graffiti and so SFRY along with local councillors decided to paint over the graffiti.  

Speaking after the clean-up, Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth activist Bronagh Bradley said: “It was a terrible act of vandalism that ruins the image of the Colin area and I feel it is the duty of members of SFRY to help out and improve their local community, no matter how small a job it is. With many members of SFRY being off school/ university for the summer, and with the sunny weather, it is a perfect time for members to take part in activism such as cleaning up local areas.”

 

 

If you are interested in the Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth , contact them on Facebook!

Quinn calls for legal action for local tyre bonfire

Alt scríofa ag:

Mary Kate Quinn, Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth Committee (Béal Feirste)

Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth member Mary Kate Quinn has expressed her outrage at a bonfire in her local area in South Antrim. She has called for legal action to be taken against those responsible for constructing and lighting a bonfire made of tyres in Stoneyford. The bonfire also included posters of Sinn Féin election candidates and flags. 

"The people of Stoneyford not only have to endure their lives being disrupted throughout the year by the behaviour of a sectarian band but now they have to endure toxic fumes from a bonfire on the 11th of July."

"The actions of those who built the bonfire were wreckless, irresponsible and offensive. The burning of tyres is illegal and a serious environmental issue, particularly given the toxic fumes that are given off. It can cause permanent damage to the health of anyone who inhales them."

"Those responsible also decided to add insult to injury by placing tricolors  and election posters of myself and my Sinn Féin colleagues on top of the bonfire. This achieves nothing but to incite hate and is certainly not an expression of culture. I therefore call on the relevant bodies to take immediate action against those responsible."

Sinn Féin Republican Youth will be publishing a series of opinion pieces on the blog, please mail us on our Facebook page if interested. 

Óige Phoblachtach Chontae Lú Weekend!

Tháinig slua mór daoine ó Óige Shinn Féin go Ómeith Mara, Contae Lú de hAoine 13ú Meitheamh do deireadh seachtaine naisiúnta na hóige. Thirty young people from all over Ireland stayed in the Granvue Hotel, Omeath to take part in the educational weekend which was opened by Uachtaran Shinn Féin and TD for Louth, Gerry Adams. Gerry welcomed the activists and spoke of how delighted he was to see so many young people in the local hotel.  

The weekend, organised by Óige Phoblachtach Shinn Féin Lú, also gave those present a political update on the Narrow Water Bridge Project ‘Ag aontú Éireann droichead amhain ag an am!’ ‘Uniting Ireland one bridge at a time!’ with Caitríona Ruane and Chris Hazzard both MLAs for Dún Theas, Cllrs. Jim Loughran and Edel Corrigan from Tuaisceart Lú.

Saturday brought a tour of Dundalk Old Gaol (and for some a very early morning after the night before!), where the Watters Brothers Sinn Féin Cumann in Dundalk presented a tribute to the 6 volunteers executed in 1923 in the Gaol and the history leading up to their executions, this included the volunteers’ last letters to their families and the letters received by the families notifying them of the young men’s death. This was a thoroughly moving experience that concluded with the Roll of Honour with the 77 known names of those executed by the Free State forces during the Civil War.

Saturday afternoon; Dundalk Outcomers Society, PIPS Newry, local community activists and Newry Rainbow Community held a workshop around suicide awareness and LGBT equality. The focus was on the use of language and labels surrounding mental health and sexual orientation as well as the role Sinn Féin activists particularly the younger generation have to play in promoting equality. Megan Fearon MLA chaired the workshop discussing how mental health has affected her personally and how as an MLA, Megan is pushing for the better distribution of the healthcare budget in the north to include much needed support to mental health and positive wellbeing. Megan also discussed Sinn Féin’s input to the equal marriage debate earlier this year in Stormont and stated simply that she has no doubt that marriage equality will pass along with the wide range of other issues associated with it including the right to adopt and also to give blood. Óige Shinn Féin members took part in a lively discussion and offered insight into the issues in their own areas with these two highly important and emotive topics – one in particular was how to encourage support from rural communities for those most vulnerable in society.

Damien McKevitt, Newry Rainbow Community, “You are not more prone to suicide because you are gay, it is society that creates these feelings of despair and inability to cope”.

A local Omeath man, took the (now exhausted!) group of young activists on a 3.5 mile walking tour of Omeath as Gaeilge, John explained some of the local history of Omeath and surrounding areas including legends of the likes of Cuchulainn, the Long Woman’s Grave and Fionn Mac Cumhaill.  We were lucky to have the most beautiful weather of the whole weekend for this walk and breathtaking views of the Cooley and Mourne Mountains are now all over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram thanks to the townies that were there!

Finally, Cllr. Míchéal Mac Donncha concluded the weekend with a lecture on the 1913 Lockout and its legacy. Not only did Míchéal talk about the relevance of the Lockout in 2013 in terms of poverty and abuse of power Irish citizens are feeling, he also talked about his own first youth weekend and encouraged young people present to be at the forefront of social change, and of commemorating the decade of centenaries upon us.

We were well looked after from start to finish by staff at the Granvue Hotel Omeath, and the feedback we got from local people and the young activists alike was outstanding. The ceol beo both nights topped the weekend of events off and sparked debate among comrades into the early hours. A great weekend had by all, many I’m sure are still recovering, I know all at Óige Phoblachtach Shinn Féin Lú definitely are!

With young people like we had in Omeath, its not a case of ‘Tiocfaidh Ár Lá’ anymore because a chairde, tá ár lá ag teacht… go luath!

Annual Hunger Strike Youth Weekend - 3rd - 4th August

This year's annual Hunger Strike Rally is taking place in Monaghan on Sunday the 4th of August. It was in the Cavan - Monaghan constituency that Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty was elected TD to Dáil Éireann during the 1981 General Election.

The weekend will run from the 3rd to the 4th of August, ending with the annual Hunger Strike Rally in Monaghan. In order to book a place completed booking forms and a deposit of £15/ €20 must be returned by Friday the 26th of July. For more information or to book a place please contact Barry on 07885569940 or Leanne on 07742593106.

Encouraging activists to attend, Sinn Féin Republican Youth member Mairéad Farrell said 'The annual Hunger Strike Youth weekend is one of the key dates in the SFRY calender and as such one of our best attended events every year. Members from across Ireland gather to remember all those who died on Hunger Strike whilst also educating themselves on all that happened in 1980 and 1981.'

Clár

Saturday 3rd August

10am: Registration and Check In

10.45am: Fáilte and ground rules

11am: ‘On The Blanket’ Talk by Freddie Toal

12.30pm: Lunch

1.30pm: Tour of Armagh Women’s Gaol

3pm: ‘A Border Poll on Irish Unity’ – Discussion & Workshop

8pm: ‘The 1981 Hunger Strike’ Talk by former Hunger Striker Pat Sheehan MLA in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan

10pm: Irish Night in The Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan

Sunday 4th August

10am: Breakfast

11.30am: Republican Tour of Monaghan

2.30pm: National Hunger Strike March & Rally

*Clár subject to change

Christopher O'Neill - A fantastic, capable and talented young Republican

Christopher O'Neill was a dedicated republican. By the age of 22 he was already chairperson of his local Sinn Féin cumann in Kilrea. He ran, for Sinn Féin, in the Skerries ward in Coleraine Council in the 2011 election, coming very close to taking the seat. His death is a deep loss for Sinn Féin Republican Youth and wider Republican circles. Sinn Féin Republican Youth would like to express their deepest sympathy with the family and friends of Christopher O'Neill and Declan McKenna.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams gave the main oration at Christopher's funeral, which can be found here.  Sinn Féin Republican Youth activist Seán Bateson alson spoke on the day:

“It is with great sadness that I stand before you at the graveside of Christopher O’Neill to pay my respects on behalf of Sinn Féin Republican Youth.

As you are well aware coming from the many comments and remarks from everyone over the past few days, Christopher was an exceptional young lad who had his whole life ahead of him but instead it was tragically taking from him in the early hours of Saturday morning  along with his close friend Declan McKenna.

I knew Christopher well, he was a comrade but also a friend of mine and it was only last Thursday that me and him sat outside the front of my house chatting about politics and this and that and the other.

Unfortunately like the rest of you it will be the last time I will ever get to speak to Chrissy again.

 But that’s the type of lad Chrissy was. He was an exceptionally kind, generous, down to earth and warm hearted lad who had all the time of the day to sit and chat away to everyone regardless of who they were. These are the type of attributes which made Chrissy such a fantastic, capable and talented young Republican and he took these with him as he served the role of Chairperson of the local Sinn Féin Cumann here in Kilrea.

Coming from a large republican family with his grandfather being John Davey, a Sinn Fein Councillor from Lavey who was murdered by loyalists acting in collusion with British state forces in 1989, Christopher knew fine well about the struggle for equality, justice, unity and freedom here in Ireland and this is what propelled him to take on such a role within the republican movement.

His untimely death at such a young age is a great loss to the republican movement and of course to his family and friends and the wider community here in Kilrea and beyond.

I want to extend my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the O Neill and McKenna families on behalf of Sinn Féin Republican Youth. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time."

Unregulated private development of large Turbines must be addressed now.

Alt scríofa ag:
Martin O Reilly SFRY, Midlands

Local representatives from numerous different Action Groups on Wind Turbines met with TDs in Leinster House on Tuesday 16 July, to discuss their concerns over the unregulated development of Turbines in the midlands.  This was a cross party meeting organised by Sinn Féin. 

Speaking at the meeting were concerned residents based in Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Kildare and Meath.  One speaker from Roscommon, spoke of his distress at having to live beside a Turbine located just 700 meters from his family home and the constant health problems he has suffered as a result.  Many areas of concern were raised by the Wind Turbine Action Groups to the TDs, such as; height, noise, health, impact to the land and devaluation in cost to local properties where turbines are proposed to be built. 

In attendance at the meeting also was North Offaly Sinn Féin representative Martin O Reilly. Mr O Reilly was also involved in the organising of the meeting in Leinster House for the Offaly Action Group, which is based in Rhode and Castlejordan.  After the meeting had concluded Mr O Reilly stated ‘The current situation regarding the unregulated and unlegislated development of large Turbines is a huge mistake and needs proper attention from our government ministers.  What we need here is cross party support and co-operation to address this huge rural problem.  If we do not act now, we will have a Ghost Estate like situation on our hands with Wind Turbines built on unsuitable sites close to family homes.  This will be to the detriment of local communities and individuals. 

Sinn Féin TD, Brian Stanley pledged his continued support to the action groups based in Laois and Offaly at the meeting also.  

Remembering Joe McDonnell

Today, July 8th, marks Vol. Joe McDonnell's 32nd anniversary. He was the fifth Hunger Striker to die, having spent 61 days on Hunger Strike. 

Republicans from across the country, and indeed all over the world, remember him with pride today. Over the course of the weekend, the Lenadoon Commemoration Committee hosted a series of events, including kids football tournaments, before the main annual commemoration last night in the Roddy McCorley Club on the Glen Road where Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth chairperson Eóin McShane was honoured to have given a short speech before the main speaker, Bik McFarlane.

Below is the text to Eóins' speech - very worthwhile read for any young, or indeed not so young, Irish Republican.

'As the chairperson of Mairéad Farrell Belfast Sinn Féin Youth it gives me great honour to be standing before you all here this evening - I have never done this before, so you may need to bear with me - and that's my disclaimer!

Being born some 10 or more years after the 1980/81 hunger strikes, i never had the privilege of knowing brave Volunteer Joe McDonnell. But being born and bread in west Belfast, surrounded day & daily by the republican ethos and imagery - of which I am very proud - I feel deeply inspired by his sacrifice, and deeply angered, and motivated to pick up the fight and carry on with the struggle that Joe gave his life for.

This weekend marks the 32nd anniversary of Óglach Joe McDonnell. As a young man, like myself, Joe became politicised, and indeed Republicanised, by the injustices that surrounded him day & daily. Joe, like many of his comrades at that time, probably weren't born Republicans; but Joe quickly adopted to the circumstances of the struggle at that time by joining the republican movement.

To me, Joe, along with his Belfast comrades from 1st Battalion Oglaigh na hÉierann, Kieran & Bobby, and their comrades Francis, Raymond, Patsy, Kevin, Martin, Tom & Mickey epitomise everything that it means to be a republican. What Nelson Mandela is to the open-minded free thinkers of the world, the revolutionaries of 1980/81 are to me & the scores of other young republicans across every pocket of this island.

To me, in 2013, this is very much the same struggle - a struggle for the right to national self determination of the Irish People. Granted however that yes, the circumstances are very different, we must not let this deter us from the work that still needs done. We owe our thanks to men and women like Joe McDonnell for this reality, but for me this isn't enough. The only fitting tribute that we can give to Joe and his comrades is to see the current fight right through to the very end.

Much like Joe, we need to adopt to the circumstances that suit this stage of the struggle. It is our duty as Irishmen and Irishwomen to fulfill Joe's vision of a Republic - we can make this a reality and I have never been more confident that this generation WILL deliver Irish Unity.

In my capacity as chairperson of Belfast Sinn Féin Youth I would like to take this opportunity to urge all the like minded, republican youth to join this fight and make Irish Unity more than just a dream or a fairy-tale.

We need to use the stories of Joe McDonnell and remember his sacrifice as we tackle head on the new challenges that face us. These challenges should be embraced and as Irish Republicans we need to lead by example.

I am very proud to be here today in honour of Joe McDonnell, the same sort of pride that we all know is felt by Joe's family feel in relation to his own specific contribution.

As a young republican activist i feel it is only appropriate for me to pay tribute to Fian John Dempsey. Fian John Dempsey was murdered by the brits just hours after Joe McDonnell's passing as he set about expressing his anger at this news on July 8th 1981.

It is fitting, and somewhat coincidental that merely a fortnight ago, Belfast Sinn Féin Youth occupied a once militarised stretch of land in West Belfast and set up a "Freedom Camp" in open protest and in open defiance of the G8 summit and the injustices that the 8 leaders present represent.

Fian John Dempsey was murdered less than 50 yards just over the road from where our protest took place. He was 16 years of age. 

To me, this again illustrates very clearly the unbreakable bond of Irish Republicanism.

As Republicans we thrive the challenges that come to face us. And we win. In 1980/81, Thatchers government tried to criminalise our struggle. And they failed. In 2013, Stormont Ministers, Insignificant Nationalists & Unionist Dinosaurs tried to do the same. They will also fail.

Sue Ramsey often tells me about how we are all learning each and every day. Shes right. Each and every day brings its very own specific challenges. It is from these challenges that we use the determination & unquenchable thirst for freedom shown by brave Volunteer Joe McDonnell to conquer these and further our struggle as effectively, and as efficiently as possible.

At the graveside oration of Joe McDonnell, a very symbolic and relevent quote from P.H Pearse was used - "They may seem the fool who has given his all, by the wise men of the world; but it was the apparent fools who changed the course of Irish History"

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.'

Eóin also used the opportunity to offer condolences, on behalf of Belfast Sinn Féin, to the family, friends and comrades of Chrissy O Neill & Declan McKenna who tragically died in a car accident in the early hours of Saturday morning.

‘Three Volunteers’ 40th Anniversary Commemorative Weekend

A weekend of events has been organised by Sinn Féin to commemorate the 40^thAnniversary of the ‘Three Volunteers’ Óglach Dermot Crowley, Óglach Seán Loughran and Óglach Patrick Carty who were killed on active service on the Gortin Road, Omagh on 25^th June 1973.

The events will include the Dermot Crowley Memorial lecture in The Venue at 8pm on Friday 28^th June, exploring the courageous life of this young 18 year old Cork City native. The lecture will be delivered by a fellow young Cork man, Donnchadh O’Laoghaire, and Stan Corrigan from Tyrone who knew the three men personally. Music will be provided afterwards by Liam Lappin in the Glebe Bar.

 

Martin Ferris TD will deliver the main oration at the ‘Three Volunteers’ commemoration at Strathroy Republican Monument at 1pm on Saturday 29^th June. Later that evening at 9pm, a Big Summer BBQ will be held in The Boe Inn Dromore, with music by legendary rebel band, The Irish Brigade.

Encouraging people to attend the events, Cllr Martin McColgan said,

“We are inviting you to join us in remembrance and to commemorate the 40^thAnniversary of the ‘Three Volunteers’. We have organised this programme of events to remember Patrick, Seán and Dermot’s ultimate sacrifice for Irish freedom and to keep alive their names. Fuair siad bás ar son Saoirse na hÉireann.”

Vol. Dermot Crowley's 40th Anniversary Commemoration

On Sunday 16^th of June Republicans from Cork and further afield braved the horrific weather to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of Cork Brigade Volunteer Dermot Crowley, who alongside his comrades Volunteers Paddy Carthy and Seán Loughran were killed when a bomb they were transporting on the Goirtín Road outside Omagh, Co. Tyrone exploded prematurely.

The crowd assembled at Rathcooney Fruit Farm for the commemoration march and were led by the MacCurtain/MacSwiney Republican Flute Band to Rathcooney cemetery where Dermot is buried. Once there local Sinn Féin Representative for Cork North East, Pat Coughlan, welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming along. From there wreaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement by Arnie O’Connell, on behalf of Ex-POWs by Leo Mullins, on behalf of the Ahern/Crowley cumann by Jim O’Donovan and on behalf of Sinn Féin Óige Phoblachtach Chorcaí by local activist Chris Kelleher. A short lament was played by the piper and the colour party lowered their flags in memory of Volunteer Dermot Crowley and all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom.

 

The main speaker on the day was Tyrone MLA Francie Molloy who made the long journey to Cork for the commemoration. Francie spoke of the importance to remember the sacrifices the Volunteers of Óglaigh na h-Éireann made during the course of the struggle and how we would not be where we are today if it was not for them, he also spoke of the importance to commemorate those who gave their lives in the cause of Ireland’s freedom and to continue that same struggle today which they fought and died for. The tactics may have changed but the overall goal remains the exact same. The subject of the recent arrest and charging of Donegal Republican John Downey was mentioned in Francie’s oration and he condemned the British Government for going against what is enshrined in both the Good Friday Agreement and Weston Park Agreement.

 

The ceremony then concluded with the MacCurtain/MacSwiney RFB playing with Amhrán na bhFiann.

 

Speaking on the day’s events local Óige Phoblachtach activist Dave Barry had this to say,

“It’s fantastic to see so many people turn out today despite the bad weather to honour and commemorate Volunteer Dermot Crowley. I’m glad to see such a strong youth presence here today also as Dermot was only 18 years old when he was killed on active service in Tyrone. He was just an ordinary young person who stepped forward when his country needed him the most to play his part, and unfortunately lost his life in the process. The month previous Dermot’s death his friend and comrade Tony Ahern had been killed while on active service in Fermanagh fighting the British forces of occupation. Both Dermot and Tony remain a big influence on all Óige Phoblachtach activists here in Cork today, and no better tribute can be paid to them by continuing on to achieve that same goal which they gave their lives for.”