Reports from Easter commemorations across Ireland which were held over from last week's issue.

Antrim

Greencastle


What is believed to be the first ever Easter commemoration in the Greencastle area of North Belfast took place in Whitewell Crescent on Easter Wednesday.

Leading North Belfast republican Martin Meehan gave the main oration and hit out at the loyalist elements responsible for the sectarian intimidation of Catholic families in the neighbouring Graymount Estate.

Cavan

Sinn Féin is not about to renegotiate the Good Friday Agreement and the Joint Declaration issued by the two governments on Holy Thursday would be judged by republicans on the basis of whether it could advance the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. This was the message from the main speaker at the County Cavan Easter commemoration last Sunday.

Mícheál MacDonncha, Ard Chomhairle member and Dáil Secretary to Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin, gave the oration at the 1916 commemoration, which was held at the graveside of the late Joe Ennis at Drumkilly, Kilnaleck. Joe Ennis was a long-time member of the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle representing County Cavan.

Joe Ennis was ``a man of integrity and culture, a staunch republican and political prisoner'' said MacDonncha. He was ``part of the Hidden Ireland, the censored Ireland, but also the resurgent Ireland which thwarted all attempts to defeat it''. MacDonncha praised Joe Ennis's contribution to the rebuilding of republicanism in County Cavan and beyond.

Cork

Cork City


Several hundred people braved the wind and rain to take part in the annual Easter commemoration in Cork City from the national monument on Grand Parade to the Republican Plot in St Finbarr's cemetery.

Don O'Leary, Sinn Féin candidate for Cork North West, chaired the proceedings and called on Tom Hanlon, Sinn Féin candidate for Passage Town Commission and Cork County Council, to read the Proclamation. Jonathan O'Brien, Sinn Féin candidate for Cork North Central, delivered an address on behalf of Ogra Shinn Féin.

Don O'Leary urged those present to to get involved in the local election campaign and reiterated Sinn Féin's continuing opposition to service charges. He went on to say that it would continue to be Sinn Féin policy to name and shame those involved in the drugs trade.

The main speaker of the day was Sinn Féin Assembly member for Tyrone, Francie Molloy, who called on the Dublin and London governments to implement the Good Friday Agreement and warned against trying to renegotiate it.

Youghal


Over 200 people took part in the Easter commemoration in the seaside town of Youghal. The ceremonies in North Abbey Cemetery were chaired by Tony Hennessy, who called on those present to ensure the re-election of local Sinn Féin Councillor Martin Hallinan in June.

The main speech was delivered by Cobh Sinn Féin Councillor and County Council candidate Kieran McCarthy. He said the Irish people were looking for a change from the `brown envelope' political culture in the South and from military dictatorship in the North. He said Sinn Féin was the party of that change and called for an immediate inquiry into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

Cobh


Up to 100 people took part in this year's Easter commemoration in Cobh on Easter Monday. The commemoration was chaired by Sinn Féin Councillor Kieran McCarthy and the main speaker was Francie Molloy. McCarthy called on those present to get involved in Sinn Féin's local election campaign in the area being fought by himself and running mate Geraldine Scanlon.

Donegal

Drumboe


The annual County Donegal Easter commemoration was held at Drumboe, Ballybofey, on Easter Sunday, when several thousand republicans marched from Johnstone's Corner in Stranorlar, through the Twin Towns to the memorial at Drumboe Avenue.

The parade and the subsequent dignified ceremony at the memorial was a fitting tribute not only to the Drumboe martyrs, but to all the Irish patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice and who are honoured every Easter.

At the ceremony itself, the chairman of the Tirconaill Commemoration Committee, Tom Dignam, Sinn Féin candidate for Stranorlar in the forthcoming local government elections, welcomed those in attendance. The main speaker was Sinn Féin candidate for Connacht/Ulster in the EU Elections and Ard Comhairle member Sean MacManus of Sligo.

Kerry

Easter Sunday in Tralee and Listowel, and Easter Monday in Killarney saw the biggest turnouts in more than a decade to hear Sinn Féin's Martin Ferris deliver the Republican Easter message, despite atrocious weather conditions throughout both days.

Introduced by Sinn Féin local election candidates Anthony Curtin, Risteard O'Fuarain and Cathal Foley, Ferris said:

``I am proud and privileged to stand here today and pay tribute to the Volunteers of Oglaigh na hEireann whose commitment and sacrifice have brought us to the position we are in today, and I make no apologies for doing so. Without the dedication of the IRA volunteers, there would have been no negotiations and no Good Friday Agreement. I also send solidarity greetings to our imprisoned comrades both at home and abroad and applaud them for their courage, patience and steadfastness.''

Limerick

About fifty people attended the annual Easter commemoration held in Athea in honour of Volunteer John Mulvihill, who died in 1973. The main oration was delivered by recently released political prisoner Ella O'Dwyer, who said the integrity and cohesion of the republican movement would ensure that the objective of an independent, sovereign republic would be realised. She said that the leadership of the republican movement would not renege on these aims and would not renege on the Irish people.

Earlier in the day O'Dwyer spoke at the annual Easter Commemoration in Broadford. Over 150 people attended including Fine Gael TD Dan Neville, Fianna Fáil Senator John Cregan, and Fianna Fáil Councillor Jack Roche.

On Easter Monday a brief wreath-laying ceremony was held in Colman's Well at the graveside of Volunteer Tadhg Fitzgerald, who died in 1995. A short wreath-laying ceremony was held afterwards at the republican memorial in Ráth Loire County Cork.

Tyrone

Aghyaran


Sinn Féin Vice President Pat Doherty addressed the Easter Sunday commemoration in Aghyaran, County Tyrone. Sinn Féin Councillor Charlie McHugh chaired the ceremony, which was attended by over 100 local people, including Shanaghan, Harvey, McGlynn, Connolly, McHugh family members.

Broughderg


Former republican prisoner Vincent Donnelly was the speaker at Volunteer Eoin Mc Namee's grave in Broughderg on Easter Sunday morning,.where Sinn Féin Councillor Sean Clarke presided.

Carrickmore


Patrick Grimes welcomed local people to the local Carrickmore commemoration at the graveside of Volunteer Frank Ward. Those in attendance were addressed by Sean Clarke, chairperson of Omagh District Council. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the republican movement.

Cranagh


Veteran republican, Frank Morris delivered the oration at the Easter Sunday morning commemoration at the grave in Cranagh of Volunteer James McNally, killed at Sperrin in the 1920's. Councillor Martin Conway chaired the proceedings.

Drumagh


Members of Sinn Féin from Tattyreagh and Omagh laid wreaths on the graves of Colm Grimes and Laurence O'Hagan on Easter Sunday afternoon in Drumagh. Councillor Mickey McAnespie described the deaths of both as ``hugh losses to the Sinn Féin organisation''.

Dunmoyle


Local republicans gathered at the grave of Volunteer Brian Mullin in Dunmoyle.

Greencastle


Mickey Clarke chaired the commemoration in Greencastle at the grave of Volunteer Patrick Morris just before midday on Easter Sunday. Vincent Donnelly gave an inspiring oration before urging those present to attend the county commemoration, later in the day

Edendork and Eglish


Barney McAleer from Loughmacrory addressed the Easter Sunday commemoration in Edendork, where seven Tyrone Volunteers killed in action are buried. A crowd of around 200 attended, and Barney McAleer also delivered the oration at the graveside of Volunteer Dan McAnallen in nearby Eglish.

Altmore, Galbally and Aughnagar


Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff addressed local commemorations in Galbally and Aughnagar on Easter Sunday morning. Brendan Donaghy chaired the Aughnagar ceremony at the graveside of Volunteer Tony Gormley while Briege O'Donnell, mother of Volunteer Dwayne O'Donnell, oversaw the Galbally commemoration which was attended by over 200 people.

Mick Murphy delivered the oration at nearby Altmore, where Volunteer John Quinn and Eugene Kelly lie buried.

Clonoe


Fermanagh-South Tyrone Assembly Member Michelle Gildernew addressed the early afternoon commemoration in Clonoe on Easter Sunday. She paid tribute to the strong tradition of republicanism in the small, rural Clonoe area which ``has suffered disproportionately'' in the struggle for freedom.

Donaghmore


The commemoration, at Donaghmore was addressed by South Tyrone Sinn Fein Chairperson, Sean McGuigan. This commemoration was held at the graveside of Volunteer Joe Donaghy, who died some years ago in County Monaghan.

Pomeroy, Kildress and Rock


Paddy Grogan, Frank Ward and Mickey Morgan addressed commemorations in Pomeroy, Kildress and Rock respectively. Each were attended by significant local crowds.

Moy and Tullysaran


Again, large local attendances were the order of the day at the Moy and Tullysaran commemorations. Former Antrim POW Gerard Magee addressed the latter at the graveside of Volunteer Gerard O'Callaghan. Wreaths were laid at the graves of three local volunteers in the Moy.

Loughmacrory


Mid-Ulster Sinn Fein Assembly Member, John Kelly addressed over 200 people at the graveside of Volunteers, Gerard and Martin Harte.

Councillor Mickey McAnespie chaired this local commemoration which is traditionally among the best attended in Tyrone.

Coalisland


South Down Sinn Féin Assembly Member Mick Murphy addressed a huge crowd of upwards of one thousand people in Coalisland on Easter Saturday afternoon. The crowd assembled at Gortgonis Playing Fields before proceeding to the Republican Plot at the Brackaville Road Cemetry, where Coalisland's patriot dead were honoured.

Ardboe


Monaghan Councillor and Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle member Pat Treanor spoke to a large Lough Shore commemoration on Easter Monday. Over 500 people braved the wintry conditions to march to the local Garden of Rememberence, precisely at the car-park location in Ardboe where Volunteers Hugh Heron and John Pat Mullan were shot dead by the British army in 1972. Here, Sinn Féin's Cookstown District Council Chairperson Pearse McAleer presided. A masked IRA Volunteer read the Easter statement from the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann.