6 September 2001 Edition
Dundalk councillors reject Hunger Strike memorial
The Louth 1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee says it is saddened but not surprised by the refusal of Dundalk UDC to grant a licence for the erection of a memorial to the 1981 Hunger Strikers. The committee has called on those councilors who opposed the erection of the monument to engage in informed debate with us to resolve the issue.
The request for the erection of the memorial was turned down at a council meeting on Tuesday, 29 August. The Louth 1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee had requested a licence to erect a memorial at the Fair Green. Sinn Féin Councillor Kevin Meenan proposed that the Council grant the licence requested, a proposal seconded by party colleague and UDC Chair, Sean Kenna.
Meenan said that the four by four foot memorial was one of a number of events planned by the Committee to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikes. He pointed out that Dundalk had been deeply affected by the deaths of the ten men and that Paddy Agnew had been elected as a TD in the county in 1981.
``Streets have been named after the hunger strikers and memorials have been placed throughout other towns,'' said Meenan.
There were some fascinating excuses found by some councillors to justify their decision to vote down the proposal, which was defeated by seven votes to three, with one abstention.
Cllr. Jim Cousins said: ``There is no memorial to those who made Dundalk what it is.'' He suggested the men be remembered in their own towns.
Cllr. Johnny Mc Gahon said: ``I think there should be fewer memorials rather than more.''
Cllr. Jim Ryan said: ``If there were to be a memorial, I would rather see a plaque. With the peace process in the North in a volatile and delicate situation, we should avoid any problems at all costs. I appeal to the Sinn Fein delegate to withdraw and not put the Council through a contentious vote.''
Independent Mary Grehan said: ``There are still bombings and killings and I don't think there is a right to kill anybody. I don't think anybody has the right to take their own life. The town hasn't healed properly.''
According to Cllr Seamus Byrne: ``If the memorial were to go ahead, others, including the media, would seize the opportunity to portray Dundalk, nationally or internationally, as a hotbed of extremism.''
Cllr Martin Bellew, who abstained, said: ``I have mixed feelings. I feel it's a bit premature and would rather it was deferred to a future date when things may be different''.
In response, Kevin Meenan said that the country was going through a conflict-resolution period. ``This doesn't mean we bury our head in the sand. There are republicans and nationalists living in the town that are entitled to this memorial.''
Sean Kenna pointed out that one of the men being remembered - Michael Gaughan, a native of Mayo - had family living in the town for the past 16 or 17 years.
Following the vote, the Louth 1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee stated that they were `deeply dismayed' by the UDC decision. Kevin Mulgrew, spokesperson, in a statement said: ``This memorial was to be unveiled in October to close a year of events marking this tragic period in Irish history.
``Included in our activities were a Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, an exhibition in the County Museum, which ran for two weeks, and a play centred on the hunger strike period. Several thousand people participated in or attended our commemorative events, all of which were open to the public''.
He said that the committee's approach to the memorial was open and transparent. ``We called on three occasions to residents in the locality of the Fair Green to gauge opinions and no resident opposed our plans and we also canvassed local councillors. Based on this positive feedback, we met with the Town Clerk to process the application through the proper channels.
``The councillors' excuses are weak and based on perceived image rather than substance.
``We are particularly disturbed by the insulting intemperate language used by some councillors, who displayed total ignorance of the facts surrounding the Hunger Strike period and who lowered the debate by partitionist utterances.
``Various excuses were put forward by the rejectionists. We were told by one Councillor that to erect the monument would portray Dundalk as a hotbed of extremism The reality is that the only thing extreme is the councillor's language. If he takes offence at a Celtic Cross and a marble headstone with the names of twelve young Irish men, then surely that portrays intolerance in the extreme.
Compare the inscription on the Hunger Strike monument - a quote from Bobby Sands - ``The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show - It is then we'll see the rising of the moon'', with the inscription on the Maid of Erin monument situated in the centre of Dundalk. This monument, to commemorate the 1798 rebellion, was erected in 1898, ``to commemorate the heroic sacrifices of those martyrs in the sacred cause of liberty who fought and died in the struggle against English tyranny and foreign rule in Ireland''. Perhaps the said councillor would like to table a motion to remove this monument, as it could be bad for the image of Dundalk due to its ``extreme'' language.
``There are monuments all over Ireland which super sensitive people could take offence to. Our approach to this monument and others is clear cut. People have a right to commemorate their loved ones and their history in a manner they deem appropriate. We should learn from our past - not bury it.''
The request for the erection of the memorial was turned down at a council meeting on Tuesday, 29 August. The Louth 1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee had requested a licence to erect a memorial at the Fair Green. Sinn Féin Councillor Kevin Meenan proposed that the Council grant the licence requested, a proposal seconded by party colleague and UDC Chair, Sean Kenna.
Meenan said that the four by four foot memorial was one of a number of events planned by the Committee to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikes. He pointed out that Dundalk had been deeply affected by the deaths of the ten men and that Paddy Agnew had been elected as a TD in the county in 1981.
``Streets have been named after the hunger strikers and memorials have been placed throughout other towns,'' said Meenan.
There were some fascinating excuses found by some councillors to justify their decision to vote down the proposal, which was defeated by seven votes to three, with one abstention.
Cllr. Jim Cousins said: ``There is no memorial to those who made Dundalk what it is.'' He suggested the men be remembered in their own towns.
Cllr. Johnny Mc Gahon said: ``I think there should be fewer memorials rather than more.''
Cllr. Jim Ryan said: ``If there were to be a memorial, I would rather see a plaque. With the peace process in the North in a volatile and delicate situation, we should avoid any problems at all costs. I appeal to the Sinn Fein delegate to withdraw and not put the Council through a contentious vote.''
Independent Mary Grehan said: ``There are still bombings and killings and I don't think there is a right to kill anybody. I don't think anybody has the right to take their own life. The town hasn't healed properly.''
According to Cllr Seamus Byrne: ``If the memorial were to go ahead, others, including the media, would seize the opportunity to portray Dundalk, nationally or internationally, as a hotbed of extremism.''
Cllr Martin Bellew, who abstained, said: ``I have mixed feelings. I feel it's a bit premature and would rather it was deferred to a future date when things may be different''.
In response, Kevin Meenan said that the country was going through a conflict-resolution period. ``This doesn't mean we bury our head in the sand. There are republicans and nationalists living in the town that are entitled to this memorial.''
Sean Kenna pointed out that one of the men being remembered - Michael Gaughan, a native of Mayo - had family living in the town for the past 16 or 17 years.
Following the vote, the Louth 1981 Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee stated that they were `deeply dismayed' by the UDC decision. Kevin Mulgrew, spokesperson, in a statement said: ``This memorial was to be unveiled in October to close a year of events marking this tragic period in Irish history.
``Included in our activities were a Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, an exhibition in the County Museum, which ran for two weeks, and a play centred on the hunger strike period. Several thousand people participated in or attended our commemorative events, all of which were open to the public''.
He said that the committee's approach to the memorial was open and transparent. ``We called on three occasions to residents in the locality of the Fair Green to gauge opinions and no resident opposed our plans and we also canvassed local councillors. Based on this positive feedback, we met with the Town Clerk to process the application through the proper channels.
``The councillors' excuses are weak and based on perceived image rather than substance.
``We are particularly disturbed by the insulting intemperate language used by some councillors, who displayed total ignorance of the facts surrounding the Hunger Strike period and who lowered the debate by partitionist utterances.
``Various excuses were put forward by the rejectionists. We were told by one Councillor that to erect the monument would portray Dundalk as a hotbed of extremism The reality is that the only thing extreme is the councillor's language. If he takes offence at a Celtic Cross and a marble headstone with the names of twelve young Irish men, then surely that portrays intolerance in the extreme.
Compare the inscription on the Hunger Strike monument - a quote from Bobby Sands - ``The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show - It is then we'll see the rising of the moon'', with the inscription on the Maid of Erin monument situated in the centre of Dundalk. This monument, to commemorate the 1798 rebellion, was erected in 1898, ``to commemorate the heroic sacrifices of those martyrs in the sacred cause of liberty who fought and died in the struggle against English tyranny and foreign rule in Ireland''. Perhaps the said councillor would like to table a motion to remove this monument, as it could be bad for the image of Dundalk due to its ``extreme'' language.
``There are monuments all over Ireland which super sensitive people could take offence to. Our approach to this monument and others is clear cut. People have a right to commemorate their loved ones and their history in a manner they deem appropriate. We should learn from our past - not bury it.''