Video - Republican women honoured at Derry Easter commemoration

A HUGE crowd marched to the Republican Plot in Derry City Cemetery as part of the Easter Rising commemoration on Sunday to remember all those who lost their lives in pursuit of Irish freedom.

During her address to the crowd at the Republican Plot, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD accused the British Government of failing to live up to its commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.

The parade was led by 120 women, many former republican POWs, to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Cumann na mBan. Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute to female republicans from all generations and said there is no distinction between those republican women who died in the Tan War and Civil War, and those who died in the most recent phase of the struggle for Irish freedom.

During her speech at the Republican Plot, the Dublin Central TD hit out at the negative approach to the Peace Process being taken by political unionism and the British Government, and called for the full implementation of the Haass proposals on flags, parading and the past:

"Political unionism has either rejected the Haass proposals or prevaricated, and the negative approach of the British Government has facilitated this.

“The British have broken their commitments under the Good Friday and subsequent agreements and this is having the effect of emboldening intransigent unionism.

“The Irish Government has already agreed that Haass represents the best way forward and the British Government must now take up a clear and unambiguous position in support of Haass.

“None of the difficulties that the political process faces are insurmountable. With political will it is possible to resole the outstanding issues. But this will only happen when both the Irish and British Governments taken a leadership role in ensuring such an outcome.”

Paying tribute to all those republicans who have died, Mary Lou McDonald TD told the audience:

"We honour them all, and our task today is to complete their work. Moving forward always to a truly free, equal and united Ireland."