Photo: A Sinn Féin Flying Column in west Belfast gets ready for Easter
On this the 93rd anniversary of the 1916 Rising the leadership of Sinn Féin extends its solidarity to the families of all our patriot dead. We remember with pride those comrades from every generation who gave their lives for the cause of Irish freedom. We extend solidarity to those Irish republicans in prison. We are immensely proud of our patriot dead and of their families. Last year in the course of a series of meetings across the country the Sinn Féin leadership engaged with the families of our patriot dead. These engagements were very informative and helpful. As a result Coiste Náisiúnta an Tírghrá (Patriot Dead National Committee) was established. Anyone wishing to assist in this programme of work should make contact locally. The ideals and principles of the Proclamation are as relevant today as they have ever been. The realisation of those ideals and principles is among the many tasks that we must complete in the time ahead. In the coming months our party will contest elections North and South and there will be a new referendum on the Lisbon Treaty later in the year. Everyone has a role to play in the forthcoming elections. Get involved now. The current economic crisis affects us all. While this is a global crisis it is has been exacerbated by flawed Irish government policies and mismanagement. We must reach out to and join with those political parties, voluntary and community organisations and trade unions that want to see real political change across the island of Ireland. Irish unity remains Sinn Féin’s primary objective. We have a strategy to achieve that objective. Others disagree. But they offer no alternative. We are right to resist those who have attacked the Peace Process. This includes those in the British establishment who would seek to use recent events as an excuse to rush back to the days of militarisation and the abuses that flow from that. In Ireland today there is an alternative to armed struggle. A small number of militarist factions oppose Sinn Féin’s peace strategy. Many are involved in criminal actions. Moreover they have no political programmes or strategies. There is no feasible alternative to Sinn Féin’s strategy for a United Ireland. Our objective now must be to consolidate the Peace Process and maximize popular support for national and democratic objectives. Our greatest challenge in the time ahead is advancing our republican goal of a free, independent United Ireland. We need to build Sinn Féin everywhere. We need to make political alliances and to campaign on social and economic issues. We also need to build support internationally. We need to build the politics of republicanism and to unite Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter. We believe that Irish unity can deliver social, economic and cultural equality for all of our people. As we celebrate the lives of our comrades and commemorate the sacrifices of our patriot dead let us re-commit ourselves to the achievement of our republican objectives.
Ráiteas na Cásca ó Ceannaireacht Shinn Féin
Ba mhaith le ceannaireacht Sinn Féin dlúthpháirtíocht a thairiscint do theaghlaigh ár dtírghráthóirí marbh inniu, ar chomóradh 93 bhliain ó Éirí Amach na Cásca. Is cuimhin linn le bród na comrádaithe ó gach glún a fuair bás ar son na cúise, saoirse na hÉireann. Ba mhaith linn dlúthpháirtíocht a thairiscint chomh maith do phoblachtánaigh na hÉireann atá i bpríosún. Tá múid iontach bródúil as ár gcuid tírghráthóirí marbh agus na teaghlaigh s’acu. Bhuail muid le chéile agus labhair muid leis na teaghlaigh seo le linn do cheannaireacht Sinn Féin ag déanamh sraith cruinnithe fud fad na tíre. Bhí na cruinnithe seo thar a bheith faisnéiseach agus cabhrach. Bunaíodh “Coiste Náisiúnta an Tírghrá” mar thoradh air. Más mian le duine ar bith a bheith páirteach leis an chlár oibre seo ba chóir daoibh teagmháil a dhéanamh go háitiúil. Tá na hidéil agus na prionsabail i bhForógra na Poblachta chomh ábhartha inniu ‘is a bhí a riamh. Tá cur i gcrích na bprionsabal sin agus na n-idéal sin ar an iomarca tascanna amach romhainn anseo. Beidh muid ag seasamh sna toghcháin sna míosa amach romhainn sa tuaisceart agus sa deisceart, beidh reifreann eile ann ar an Chonradh Liospóin i mbliana. Tá ról ag gach duine sna toghcháin seo. Bígí linn gan mhoil. Téann an ghéarchéim gheilleagrach reatha i bhfeidhm ar gach duine againn. Cé gur géarchéim domhanda í seo tá sé dianaithe ag na polasaithe lochtacha de rialtas na Fiche Sé Chontae agus ag mhíbhainistíocht s’acu. Caithfidh muid an lámh a shíniú amach leis na páirtithe polaitiúla, na heagraíochta phobail agus deonacha, agus leis na ceard chumann a bhfuil sé de rún acu fíor athrú pholaitiúil a fheiceáil ar fud oileáin na hÉireann. Maireann aontú na hÉireann mar phríomh cuspóir ag Sinn Féin. Tá straitéis againn an cuspóir sin a bhaint amach. Tá daoine eile ann nach n-aontaíonn linn, tá dualgais orthu rogha eile a cuir chun tosaigh, níl sé sin déanta acu. Tá sé de cheart againn seasamh in aghaidh iad siúd a rinne ionsaí ar Phróiseas na Síochána. Tugann muid san aireamh iad siúd i mbunaíocht na Breataine atá ag súil le himeachtaí ar an mallaibh le brostú ar ais chuig sean leatha na míleataíochta agus chuig an drochíde a d’éirigh as sin. Sa lá atá inniu ann, in Éirinn, tá malairt ann don streachailt armtha. Tá líon beag de faicsin míleataí a chuireann in éadan straitréis síochána de chuid Sinn Féin. Tá a lán de na daoine sin atá bainte le cúrsaí coiriúla fosta. Ina theannta sin, níl idir cláir pholaitiúla na straitéisí acu. Níl malairt indéanta ann de straitéis Sinn Féin le haghaigh Éire Aontaithe. Caithfidh go mbeidh sé mar cuspóir againn anois ná próiseas na síochána a dhaingniú agus an tacaíocht phobail dár gcuspóirí díbhlíonacha agus daonlathach a uasmhéadú. ‘Sé an príomh dushlán atá romhainn ná cur chun cinn na haidhme poblachtach ar son Éire Aontaithe saor agus néamhspleach. Caithfidh muid Sinn Féin a thógáil in achan áit. Caithfidh muid comhghuaillíochta polaitiúla a thógáil agus lán ar aghaidh le feachtais sóisialta agus eacnamaíochta. Caithfidh muid fosta tacaíocht a thógáil go hidirnáisiúnta. Caithfidh muid polaitíocht Poblachtánach a thógáil agus sin ag iarraidh Protastúnaigh, Caitlicigh agus Easaontóirí a aontú. Creidimid go dtig le háontas na hÉireann comhionannas sóisialta, eacnámúla agus cultúrtha a sheachadadh dár bpobal uile. Agus muidne inniu ag déanamh cuimhniú ar bheatha ár gcomrádaithe agus ar íobairtí ár dtírghráthóirí marbh, tiomnaímis féin do bhaint amach na gcuspóirí poblachtacha.
1916 Easter Commemorations 2009
Honour Ireland’s patriot dead – Wear an Easter Lily and Attend your local commemoration
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As a result Coiste Náisiúnta an Tírghrá (Patriot Dead National Committee) was established.