Notices

I nDíl Chuimhne

Apr 12th 1973: Vol Edward O'Rawe, Belfast Brigade, 2nd Battalion; Apr 15th 1976: Vol Peter Cleary, South Armagh Brigade; Apr 17th 1973: Vol Brian Smyth, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion; Apr 17th 1977: Vol Trevor McKibbin, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion. "Never had man nor women a grander cause, never was a cause more grandly served." — James Connolly. Forever and always remembered by their many friends and comrades in the Republican Movement.

McKIBBEN, Trevor (27th Ann). In proud remembrance of Volunteer Trevor McKibben killed by British forces 17 April 1977. Lay him away on the hillside along with the brave and the bold. From the McCaughey/Saunders Cumann, Ogra Shinn Féin and Amach agus Isteach.

SMYTH, Brian (31st Ann). In proud and loving memory of our dead brother Volunteer Brian Smyth,murdered by British paratroopers on 17 April 1973. Mary Queen of the Gael watch over him. Sadly missed by your loving family but always remembered for your wonderful smile and ready wit. God bless.

SMYTH, Brian (31st Ann). Proud and loving thoughts of our friend and comrade Volunteer Brian Smyth. "Life springs from death and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations". — PH Pearse. Remembered always from the McCaughey/ Saunders Cumann, Ogra Shinn Féin and Amach agus Isteach.

Comhbhrón

COREY, Margaret. The officers and members of the Hugh McCooey Cumann, SF, Scotshouse, County Monaghan extends deepest sympathy to the Corey Family on the death of their mother and mother-in-law of our Cathaoirleach Gerry McCarney. RIP.

CROTTY. Deepest sympathy to the Crotty Family on the death of Denis. From, Joe McDonnell Cumann SF Dungarvan; O Reagain/McEwlee Cumann An Rhinn; Keating/Sands Cumann Portlaw; Cathal Brugha Cumann Waterford City; Kevin Lynch Cumann Waterford City; Tramore SF; Portlairge Comhairle Ceantair; From The Republican Movement Waterford.

CROTTY. Deepest sympathy to the Crotty Family on the death of Denis. From his friend and comrade Mano.

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Denis Crotty

Bobby Sands once said of the republican struggle — Tá pairt ag gach duine is cuma cé chomh mór nó chomh beag (everyone has their part to play, no matter how big or how small).

Denis Crotty played every part, big or small, within the republican struggle. He devoted his life to the cause.

I first met Denis on a cold wet November day nearly eight years ago at a commemoration and as we remembered the past, talk drifted towards the future, Denis was always looking ahead. Little did I know that we had begun the reorganising of Sinn Féin in Waterford.

Denis was not an armchair general nor a mouthpiece republican; he just got out there and did his work. For years during difficult times, Denis and his late friend, John Michael Street, kept the republican flag flying in Dungarvan. It was John Michael Street who christened Denis "the Chief".

Denis was proud of being an ordinary working man, he was proud of his political beliefs. Denis always laughed off attempts to demonise Sinn Féin. He said these attacks highlighted the gulf that exists between the vision of ordinary working men and women and the political elite of this country.

Denis had a vision for the future that he shared with all of us. He rejected the status quo, he rejected the lazy self serving, self-promoting politics of the main political parties of this island. Denis fought all his life to change the politics of this country, which favour million-euro race horses over people on hospital beds.

We in Sinn Féin will continue as Denis taught us, to stand shoulder to shoulder with the working-class people. We will continue to fight for what he believed in, that people have a right to a home, to a job, to education, and to health care from the cradle to the grave. All of these issues were to the core of Denis's Sinn Féin activism.

I will cherish the memories I have of time spent with my "Chief", be it out cleaning monuments, selling lilies, doing "the papers", putting up the posters, or heading off to Bodenstown or the Ard Fheis with himself, Carmel, Sinéad, Gary and Alan.

What I will never forget and will miss extremely is the advice and help that was always just a phone call away. If you needed to go to Waterford, Belfast, Kerry or Derry, Denis was always ready.

While we stop to remember Denis, we must not grind to a halt, because "the Chief" wouldn't have wanted that; our struggle goes on, and if we are to unite our country, we must continue the fight.

For as Denis would say "there are plenty more battles to be fought before the war is won".

So will we continue and we will win these battles, but you will never be far from our thoughts, and I know you'll never be far from us.

Slán go fóill, Chief.

BY MANO

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