Issue 2 - 2024 200dpi

27 January 2025

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Time to make United Ireland a reality

• Local republicans gather at the Coen-Crossan commemorative monument in Fermanagh

A weekend of events marked the 50th anniversary of Kevin Coen, an IRA volunteer killed in 1975. Sinn Féin TDs Martin Kenny and Matt Carthy spoke at separate commemorative events in Fermanagh and Sligo.

The weekend of 18 and 19 January saw Irish republicans from Sligo, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Roscommon, Cavan and further afield mark the 50th Anniversary of the death of IRA Volunteer Kevin Coen through commemoration and reflection.

A native of Rusheen, near Riverstown Co Sligo, Kevin was a Volunteer with the IRA's South Fermanagh Brigade.

He joined the ranks of the Defense Forces in the pivotal year of 1969 in response to the tumultuous events of that year which saw conflict ignite across the north of Ireland.

While on active service on 20 January 1975 at Cassidy's Cross, Mullan, near the Fermanagh village of Kinawley and close to the Cavan border, Kevin was fired on by undercover British soldiers who were in an unmarked civilian car. Shot from a distance of just a few feet, he died at the scene.

Coen-Crossan Kevin Coen

Kevin Coen's death came as a severe blow to republicans across the surrounding countryside of Fermanagh, Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon as well as to his family and friends in his native Co. Sligo.

His body was treated in a particularly disrespectful manner while being brought to the Erne Hospital by British soldiers.

At Kevin's funeral several days later, the graveside oration was delivered by Sinn Féin's John Joe McGirl who had just been released from Long Kesh Internment Camp some weeks beforehand.

During the course of his remarks, John Joe said of Kevin:

"He felt strongly that the nationalist people of the Six Counties should not have to fight the war for freedom on their own. Kevin felt that the people of the North should not be left alone".

"One thing is clear - republicans are sincere that the Irish people should live and work together as Kevin did with his neighbors - but the intruder in Irish affairs must withdraw so that lasting freedom and peace can be brought about in Ireland". 

In the year 2000, Kevin's friends and comrades erected a monument at Cassidy's Cross to honor both Kevin and James Crossan of Sinn Féin who was also assassinated by crown forces in 1958.

It was to this monument that a large crowd of republicans made their way on Saturday 18 January 2025, to mark the 50th anniversary of Kevin's death.

Coen-Crossan Martin Kenny

• Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny speaking on 18 January

The crowd was addressed by Sinn Féin Sligo/Leitrim TD Martin Kenny who reminded those assembled of the political situation in the north in 1975 and of the treatment of the nationalist population.

He recalled the conditions of sectarian discrimination, random assassination of Catholics at the hands of unionist paramilitaries armed and directed by the British state, and the military occupation of nationalist towns and villages by the British army.

It was to end this situation that a young Kevin Coen took up arms. As someone living in rural Sligo, he could have simply got on with normal life in the 26 Counties and steered clear of direct involvement in the conflict. But his idealism, selflessness and courage led him to stand by his neighbors in Fermanagh and to fight for their freedom.

Coen-Crossan James Crossan

• James Crossan

Martin Kenny described how much had changed since the dark days of 1975, and how much political progress had been made in the intervening period.

Such progress had come at a price, not least in the sacrifice made by Volunteers such as Kevin Coen but, he said, the political struggle must be pursued now with equal vigour; that a United Ireland had never been closer and that this generation of republicans would deliver it.

A very well attended evening of reflection in memory of Kevin Coen took place in Riverstown, Co Sligo on Saturday evening.

The main 50th Anniversary Commemoration took place on Sunday, 19 January, in Sooey, Co. Sligo, where republicans paraded to Kevin's graveside.

Coen-Crossan Matt Carthy

• Cavan Monaghan TD Matt Carthy speaking at the Coen commemoration on 19 January in Riverstown, Sligo

The keynote address was delivered by Cavan/Monaghan Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy who said:

"Kevin, who we commemorate here today, is part of the story of the Irish nation. Of ordinary people who were unbowed and unbroken, who stood up against injustice, who fought for our independence and for our freedom".

"Bravely standing up for his fellow countrymen and women in the north who had been abandoned by those in power in the south.

"Those from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who were in power then, and now on the verge of forming a government together again.

"Kevin's story is part of Ireland's proud history of radicalism, resistance and solidarity".

"Ireland is different and that is something we should be immensely proud of. Our history of colonization and our struggle for independence marks who we are and how we see the world".

"It is why, almost uniquely in the western world, our empathy and support for the Palestinian people crosses the political spectrum".

"Our past informs our sense of solidarity and generosity to others in times of difficulty – in our communities, in Ireland and across the globe".

"It is also part of why we have so much potential to build a better country - a United Ireland with strong public services, a fair distribution of wealth, supporting workers, families, communities. Investing in public goods, in infrastructure, in our regions , towns and villages”.

"Now in a turbulent world we stand as a proud nation, ready to be reunited, ready to stand up for ourselves and for Irish interests".

"To make our own decisions. Strong, independent and neutral. Not dragged along in the militarization and war-mongering of other states or cowed to speak out in defense of those persecuted across the world".

"Not following the whims or ideologies that are tearing other countries apart".

Coen-Crossan Colour Party

• The color party at the Riverstown Cohen commemoration

"Not bowing down to corporate interests or millionaires, or those in other states pushing their own agendas". 

"Rather a proud nation governed by the people, for the people. 

"Recognizing that nationalism, nation states and republicanism are a force of positivity and progress, solidarity and strength".

Carthy said that we had come very far in the 50 years since Kevin Coen was killed:

"Because of those who had the courage to resist and oppose the injustice and discrimination of the northern state today, what was unimaginable when Kevin was killed in 1975 has become a reality".

"In Michelle O'Neill we have the first ever nationalist and republican Prime Minister and Sinn Féin is the largest party in the Executive and Assembly".

Coen-Crossan Wreath-Laying

• Wreath laying at the Coen-Crossan monument

But, he said that these milestones were not enough in themselves:

"We see every day how the link with Britain ties the hands of our Ministers who want to deliver more for communities across the North".

"We see that a British Government in Westminster - be it a Conservative or Labor - will never serve the interests of the people of Ireland. People in London have no business making decisions for people in Ireland".

He said an artificial border drawn more than 100 years ago was holding Ireland back as a country and from achieving its full potential:

"It is time to start making a United Ireland a reality. We have waited long enough. It is time to plan, prepare and move forward".

Despite the recent General Election not returning a Sinn Féin-led government, the party's rise had driven Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together, Carthy said.

This was something that would have been unimaginable 50 years ago, when those parties got 81% of the vote between them. In November they got just 43%.

Coen-Crossan Republicans march to Kevin Cohen's grave in Riverstown Sligo

• Republicans march to Kevin Coen's grave in Riverstown, Sligo

But again, he said this in itself was not enough: "We need to build the strength from the ground up to replace these parties in government. We must never underestimate the forces within the establishment who are opposed to Sinn Féin and everything we represent. Or how far they will go to keep us out of government".

"Only by establishing strong and deep roots in our communities and an active vibrant party organization will we secure power in this state".

"That is something which we must now focus on. We cannot achieve the kind of change we are talking about without the active participation of the people".

"We have to give people beaten down by decades of failure from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael something better to believe in.

"In the General election too many people did not even come out to vote - 40% of people did not vote. We cannot let that happen again". 

"When you see how far we have come, North and South, it is clear that the next four to five years will be crucial".  

"Here in Connacht for the first time we elected a Sinn Féin TD in every constituency. This is a big step forward and I am confident that we will consolidate and build on this in the future".

"So as the new government is formed we are not just going to oppose it. We will be focused on setting out our vision for Ireland - strong, fair, independent, and united. Showing how we will do things differently when we are in government ".

"We will be working harder than we ever have to build from the ground up so that we are strong enough as a movement to ensure that after the next general election we will have a different government". 

"And we will remember Kevin Coen and all those who had the courage to step forward, to stand up for what was right and fight for Irish freedom and independence as we make that vision for a better, fairer, United Ireland a reality".

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