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8 May 2017

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Martin McGuinness honoured at Belfast celebration of his life

• Martin and Bernie McGuinness’s children – Emmet, Fiachra, Fionnuala and Gráinne – with the Robert Ballagh portrait of their father

‘He was a leader, he was a warrior, he was a man of the people’

IN A NIGHT that shone the spotlight on the giant of Irish politics that is Martin McGuinness, hundreds of republicans gathered in Belfast’s Europa Hotel to honour and pay tribute to the man who committed his whole adult life to the struggle for Irish freedom.

Senior Belfast republican Bobby Storey said the night had been planned to mark Martin’s retirement from elected politics but, due to his sudden passing, became a memorial event for one of the most influential figures in modern Irish history.

Martin’s commitment to the struggle for Irish freedom – a freedom based on the principles of equality, justice and an all-embracing citizenship – was celebrated by shining lights of Irish cultural life such as artist Robert Ballagh, singer Frances Black and Matt Molloy of The Chieftains.

All of them paid tribute to Martin and his family, who had travelled from Derry to be among the gathering that saw Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD, deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, retiring West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty and senior Sinn Féin leadership figures in the audience of more than 400 last Saturday evening.

International figures included the Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, Hermes Herrera Hernandez, and Senator Urko Aiartza, representing Basque leader Arnaldo Otegi.

The highlight of the night saw internationally-renowned artist  Robert Ballagh present Martin’s family with a portrait of their father specially commissioned for the night, sadly anticipated as Martin’s retirement present rather than a memorial.

Martin’s successor, Michelle O’Neill MLA, in the only speech of the night, spoke of Martin in terms that all those gathered understood. She said of Martin:

“He was a leader, he was a warrior, he was a man of the people, he was a revolutionary, but first and foremost he was a Derry man who loved his family, his city and his country.

“Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.”

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