7 August 1997 Edition
Kevin Lynch remembered
The sixteenth commemoration for hunger striker Kevin Lynch was held in Dungiven on 3 August with a crowd of over two hundred people present.
Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle member Jim Gibney gave the oration. He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the hunger strikers and their families, who endured a ``living nightmare, one of the darkest years in the history of our struggle for our freedom and independence.''
In his address Gibney appealled to unionists to join constructively in the talks process. He stressed the need for the second IRA cessation to seen as a serious move for peace. ``When we sit across from the British government and directly challenge their claim over this part of Ireland, this will be the first time since 1920 they have faced such a prospect,'' he said.
Gibney then urged the unionist leadership to ``escape the cycle of conflict, open your minds to the possibilities created by this new situation. Republicans are determined not to allow the past to paralyse us from talking for the future, and that includes the unionist people. It is time to end the hostility.''
Wreaths were laid at the commemoration on behalf of the Kevin Lynch Memorial Flute Band, South Derry Martyrs Flute Band, and Carlon/Kilmartin Sinn Fein.
Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle member Jim Gibney gave the oration. He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the hunger strikers and their families, who endured a ``living nightmare, one of the darkest years in the history of our struggle for our freedom and independence.''
In his address Gibney appealled to unionists to join constructively in the talks process. He stressed the need for the second IRA cessation to seen as a serious move for peace. ``When we sit across from the British government and directly challenge their claim over this part of Ireland, this will be the first time since 1920 they have faced such a prospect,'' he said.
Gibney then urged the unionist leadership to ``escape the cycle of conflict, open your minds to the possibilities created by this new situation. Republicans are determined not to allow the past to paralyse us from talking for the future, and that includes the unionist people. It is time to end the hostility.''
Wreaths were laid at the commemoration on behalf of the Kevin Lynch Memorial Flute Band, South Derry Martyrs Flute Band, and Carlon/Kilmartin Sinn Fein.