29 May 1997 Edition
Raymond McCreesh remembered
``The name of Raymond McCreesh, IRA Volutneer, a son of Camloch and H-Block martyr, is forever etched not only in the hearts and minds of this close-knit Camloch community, but throughout South Armagh and indeed the whole of Ireland,'' said newly elected Newry and Mourne Sinn Féin councillor Breandán Lewis at the hunger striker's sixteenth anniversary ceremony in Camloch on Friday 23 May.
He said that while there was a great sense of achievement and satisfaction in the air, this sombre and sad occasion recalling the dark days of 1981 was a stark reminder to all of the enormity of the struggle for justice and freedom. He saluted Raymond McCreesh and his fellow hunger strikers and assured the McCreesh family that they were constantly in the thoughts and prayers of many, their pain and hardship never forgotten.
``Raymond McCreesh epitomised all that is good about the Republican Movement. He showed no thoughts of self interest when he joined the Republican Movement to play his part in brining about what today are the same ideals for us all, a free independent sovereign Irish republica for all the people of Ireland. When he was captured and imprisoned he again cast aside all thoughts of self interest when he took part in the campaign to secure for all prisoners their basic human rights, a campaign that eventually was to cost him his life. Raymond and his comrades planted the seed and today we are the reapers of the harvest.''
At a packed function in Camloch later that evening, newly elected Councillor Jim McCreesh, a first cousin of Raymond's, paid tribute to the hunger strikers. He plotted the growth of Sinn Féin from the time of the hunger strike and stated that when victory had been achieved the sacrifices of Raymond and the many others will have borne fruit. Councillor McCreesh warned everyone who tried to dismiss the growth of Sinn Féin with feeble excuses that they did so stupidly. ``Sinn Féin in the Fews, Slieve Gullion, Newry and Mourne and throughout the island is surging forward, we have our honesty, openness and integrity,'' he said.
He said that while there was a great sense of achievement and satisfaction in the air, this sombre and sad occasion recalling the dark days of 1981 was a stark reminder to all of the enormity of the struggle for justice and freedom. He saluted Raymond McCreesh and his fellow hunger strikers and assured the McCreesh family that they were constantly in the thoughts and prayers of many, their pain and hardship never forgotten.
``Raymond McCreesh epitomised all that is good about the Republican Movement. He showed no thoughts of self interest when he joined the Republican Movement to play his part in brining about what today are the same ideals for us all, a free independent sovereign Irish republica for all the people of Ireland. When he was captured and imprisoned he again cast aside all thoughts of self interest when he took part in the campaign to secure for all prisoners their basic human rights, a campaign that eventually was to cost him his life. Raymond and his comrades planted the seed and today we are the reapers of the harvest.''
At a packed function in Camloch later that evening, newly elected Councillor Jim McCreesh, a first cousin of Raymond's, paid tribute to the hunger strikers. He plotted the growth of Sinn Féin from the time of the hunger strike and stated that when victory had been achieved the sacrifices of Raymond and the many others will have borne fruit. Councillor McCreesh warned everyone who tried to dismiss the growth of Sinn Féin with feeble excuses that they did so stupidly. ``Sinn Féin in the Fews, Slieve Gullion, Newry and Mourne and throughout the island is surging forward, we have our honesty, openness and integrity,'' he said.