Seán Sabhat remembered in Limerick

Councillor Toiréasa Ní Fhearaíosa and Maurice Quinlivan

Over 200 people attended the annual Seán Sabhat commemoration in Limerick on Sunday 2 January. Led by a local colour party and the Youghal Republican Flute Band, the march made its way through the city centre to Sabhat's grave at the Republican Plot, Mount St Laurence Cemetery.

Sabhat and his comrade Fergal O'Hanlon were killed in action in a raid on Brookeborough RUC Barracks in the early hours of New Year's Day 1957. Some 50,000 mourners followed Sabhat's funeral.

Among the attendance were local councillors from Cork City, Youghal and Kerry and North Kerry TD Martin Ferris.

The graveside proceedings were chaired by Maurice Quinlivan, vice chair of Limerick City Sinn Féin. He referred to the fact that 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Sinn Féin and said the party in Limerick is growing in strength and is actively seeking new members. A minute's silence was observed in memory of Seán Sabhat, his comrade Fergal O'Hanlon, and all who have died in the cause of Irish freedom.

The oration was delivered by Councillor Toiréasa Ní Fhearaíosa from North Kerry. In the course of her oration she said that Seán Sabhat and Fergal O'Hanlon gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom in the same way that the Volunteers of 1916, the Tan War, the Civil War and those republicans who died in the struggle since 1969. Their memory lives on in the commitment of the republicans of today to achieve the republic for which they gave their lives.

Ní Fhearaíosa referred to ongoing electoral success of Sinn Féin both North and South and predicted that these would continue this year, with gains in the Westminster and local elections in the Six Counties. She challenged Sinn Fein's detractors. "A few hacks, washed up comedians and former stickies in the Sunday Independent won't stop us. Let me say to them: You have failed to stop the rise of republicanism, You have failed in your opposition to the Peace Process and you will fail to stop Sinn Féin in the future."

She complimented republicans for their unity and discipline through testing times.

Maurice Quinlivan thanked all those who attended, particularly those from outside the city.