Bandon Sinn Féin Cllr Rachel McCarthy speaking at the Diarmuid O’Neill Commemoration on Sunday

Goal remains the reconquest of Ireland 

“In the weeks and months ahead we have the opportunity to show that the legacy of Diarmuid O’Neill, of Tony Ahern and Dermot Crowley, of Kilmichael and Crossbarry, remains alive in West Cork. Never before has the economic and moral bankruptcy of the political establishment been plainer.”
So said Bandon Sinn Féin Councillor Rachel McCarthy who spoke at the annual Diarmuid O’Neill commemoration at Timoleague Cemetery last Sunday. Diarmuid O’Neill was an unarmed IRA Volunteer who was shot dead in 1996 by London police in a flat while attempting to surrender.
Paul Hayes of Clonakilty Sinn Féin welcomed everyone to the annual event, in particular Eoghan and Shane O’Neill, and the Sinn Féin elected representatives  present – recently elected councillors Rachel McCarthy, (Bandon) and Noel Harrington (Kinsale) as well as Cllr Donnchadha Ó Seaghdha, (An Sciobairín) and Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, (Cloich na Coillte).
Rachel McCarthy recalled that in the 13 years since Diarmuid O’Neill was murdered, Ireland has changed dramatically:
“We have witnessed economic boom – followed by economic bust. The Peace Process has opened the way to the achievement of a united Ireland. Sinn Féin has emerged as the third largest party in Ireland. The methods by which we pursue our goals may have changed, but the goal remains the same as that for which Diarmuid O’Neill laid down his life – the reconquest of Ireland, in the words of James Connolly.
“Meanwhile the Fianna Fáil led government, having squandered the fruits of the boom, is making sure the old, the poor and the sick shoulder the burden. While billionaire bankers and developers get bailouts, the rest of us get cutbacks. Fianna Fáil’s ‘republicanism’ is on a level with Bertie Ahern’s ‘socialism’. It is nothing more than a bad joke. But a government led by Fine Gael will pursue exactly the same failed policies. That is why Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams issued a call at this year’s Ard Fheis for parties of the left, trade unions and voluntary groups to join in an alliance for change to provide a real alternative to the tweedledum and tweedledee policies of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.  Our task is to show the Irish people there is a better way. We come here today to commemorate Diarmuid by marching to his grave – let us commemorate him tomorrow by continuing the fight for which he laid down his life”, she concluded.