Easter Rising relatives attend Belfast launch of Sinn Féin 1916 events

THE MAGNIFICENT Clifton House on North Queen Street in north Belfast was the inspired choice of venue for the launch on Friday of Sinn Féin's calendar of events to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

Founded in the 1770s by the Belfast Charitable Trust to cater for the city's poor, Clifton House became synonymous with the Joy and McCracken families, in particular Mary Ann McCracken who, as a revolutionary in her own right, was an advocate of the rights of women and children.

After her brother, Henry Joy's, execution she devoted her life to the welfare of the residents of the Poor House.

At the age of 88, as an ardent campaigner for the abolition of slavery, Mary Ann was to be found on Belfast docks handing out leaflets denouncing the practice.

Friday was also a first for Sinn Féin (in conjunction with the Belfast Commemoration Committee and the National Graves Association) to stage an event in such prestigious surroundings, a moment of history in its own right.

And it was only fitting that the importance of the building, which as Tom Hartley who chaired the launch pointed out, not only matched the status of those in attendance but mirrored the many other sites of historical significance in the area such as Crumlin Road Jail.

Those gathered were honoured to be in the presence of relatives of people whose actions in 1916 shook the British Empire to its foundations – a tradition which was taken on and carried forward by the republicans of today.

Among those in attendance were David Ceannt, a grand-nephew of Eamon Ceannt, a signatory of the Proclamation; Patricia McAree, whose uncle, Charlie Monaghan, unfortunately died as he went to rendezvous with Roger Casement at the Banna Strand; and Desy Cassidy, whose grand aunt, Winnie Carney, was in the GPO alongside her commanding officer, James Connolly.

Patrick Cooney, founder of the Save Moore Street Campaign, was also present.

Among today's generation of republican leaders were Martin McGuinness MLA, who delivered the main address, Gerry Kelly MLA and Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA.

In the audience were veteran strategists and activists Jim Gibney, Seán Murray, Alex Maskey MLA and Joe Austin.

Michelle Gildernew MP, Mary Doyle, Rosie McCorley MLA and Councillor Mary Ellen Campbell – inheritors of the Mary Ann McCracken tradition – were among the many women activists in the audience.