This generation can achieve Irish unity - Dwyer

John Dwyer

Over 200 people turned out for the annual Seán Sabhat commemoration in Limerick. Led by a local colour party and the Ballyseedy Martyrs RFB from Tralee, the march proceeded from Arthur's Quay through the city centre to Sabhat's grave at the Republican Plot in Mount St Laurence Cemetery.

Maurice Quinlivan, Vice Chairperson of Limerick City Sinn Féin and candidate for Limerick East in the forthcoming General Election, chaired proceedings. Former republican prisoner Harry Duggan laid a wreath on behalf of the Republican Movement.

The main oration was delivered by Sinn Féin Wexford County Councillor John Dwyer. He said that Irish republicans had always rejected the notion of the sectarian division of Ireland. "We continue today to reject the notion of sectarian politics used to divide people. Our politics seeks to unite every Irish man and woman, rejecting an unequal society and the efforts of those who wish to divide in order to conquer.

"Seán Sabhat recognised that those who pledged only a short time before to fight for the republic and who took their republican views into Leinster House, soon abandoned any notions of achieving the republic envisaged by the men and women of 1916 and therein lies the lesson for republicans today. Taking seats and working institutions is fraught with dangers but we must be confident in our leaders and supporters. This generation of republicans can achieve Irish unity if we remain focussed on our primary goal."

Dwyer commended the IRA leadership and Volunteers for their courage in recent initiatives. He said that all the parties to the Good Friday Agreement must now honour their commitments as republicans have done.

"The Irish Government must become a persuader for Irish unity. They cannot be allowed to sit on the fence in the debate to come.

"Nor can they continue to hold political prisoners who should be free under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement."

Dwyer said that unionists must come to terms with the fact that the old days of subjugation and domination are over while the British state and its agencies needed to realise that their days in Ireland are numbered.