West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Tyrone's Republican dead remembered.

Published: 14 July, 2010

Caoimghin Ó Caolain TD

Caoimghin Ó Caolain TD

Hundreds of Republicans assembled on Main Street, Cappagh on Wednesday evening to mark Tyrone Volunteers Day. The annual commemoration coincides with the anniversary of the death of Tyrone Volunteer, Martin Hurson who died on hunger strike on 13th July 1981. The commemoration was organised by the Martin Hurson/Fergal O Hanlon Cumann in association with the Tyrone Sinn Féin Commemoration Committee.

The main commemoration was preceded by the finals of the Martin Hurson memorial tournament. The men's final was won by Loughdoo, while a Tyrone select triumphed in the ladies final.

At the Republican monument located on Cappagh's main street, the proceedings were chaired by local Republican Paul Kelly, chair of the Hurson/O Hanlon Sinn Féin Cumann while a colour party was provided by members of Ogra Sinn Féin.

Following the deliberations, the Dwayne O Donnell Ogra SF Cumann was launched. Dwayne and three other Republicans were killed by pro British agents on 3rd March 1991.

Speaking at the commemoration, Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimghin Ó Caolain said:

"A Phoblachtánaigh Chontae Thír Eoghain, Tagaimíd le chéile inniu chun omós a thabhairt do na poblachtánaigh uile a fuair bás ón Chontae seo sa troid ar son na saoirse. Is mór an onóir domsa a bheith libh ar an ócáid seo.

"On this day in 1981 a son of Republican Tyrone, Martin Hurson, laid down his life for his fellow political prisoners and for the freedom of the Irish people in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. For Martin and for his nine comrades who died on hunger strike in that tragic year the words of Terence Mac Swiney, the Republican Mayor of Cork who died on hunger strike in Brixton Prison in 1920 had a real meaning.

"With Mac Swiney they believed that it was those who endured who would ultimately prevail. They did not seek out suffering or death for themselves but when they were captured by the enemy and faced with a fight for their rights, for their dignity and for their beliefs, they chose to make a stand.

"The ten hunger strikers of 1981 stand out in the story of the republican struggle because of the magnitude of what they endured and the strength of the movement they mobilised across Ireland and around the world. They were representative of the republican struggle and they are representative also of the many other republicans who died in the struggle for freedom since 1969.

"County Tyrone Republicans have borne more than their share of suffering and sacrifice during the struggle since 1969. The names of 54 Tyrone IRA Volunteers are on the Roll of Honour, as well as three members of Sinn Féin. In the month of July alone you recall the first name on Tyrone's Roll of Honour, Vol. Denis Quinn, who died in 1972, Vols. Martin Hurson and William Price, both of whom died on this day in 1981 and 1984 respectively, and Vol. Seamus Woods in 1988. These are but a few of the names recalled with great pride by the republican people of Co. Tyrone.

"We honour them all equally and we extend our continuing sympathy and solidarity to their families. No-one can measure the grief to loved ones caused by a tragic death and our thoughts go out to all the bereaved.

"Each and every one of those who gave their lives for freedom in this County and across the 32 Counties were part of a struggle that had endured through the worst that the Orange state and the British regime could throw at it.

"They were part of a struggle with a strategy, with a leadership and with widespread support. It was a struggle that was strong enough and resilient enough to adapt and change its strategy when required. It was a Movement that had the confidence to recognise that there was a time for war and a time for peace. And the Movement acted on that recognition and by doing so helped to transform politics in this part of Ireland and across Ireland.

"We owe a tremendous debt to the republicans who sacrificed so much in the past. They created the conditions which allowed the next phase of republican struggle to move forward. They fought the British government and all its forces to a stand-still. They made a new politics possible. Their legacy is a proud one and it means that today we have a peaceful way forward to our republican objectives and no young person need face loss of liberty, injury or death in the struggle.

"It was always the commitment of Irish republicans that if they could construct a peaceful path towards Irish unity and independence then they would do so. This has been the achievement of our generation of Irish republicans. We have taken up the huge challenge of dialogue and negotiation. Republicans have had the courage to move first. They have had the bravery to set aside long-held methods of struggle and to forge new ones. In this we salute the Volunteers of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Irish Republican Army, who helped to bring the republican struggle united and intact into a new era.

"A great debt is owed also to the members and supporters of Sinn Féin throughout Ireland. You have been key participants in the republican peace strategy. Over a decade ago we were central to the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement and all that can flow from it. While short of our ultimate objective, we ensured that the Agreement was based on the principle of equality and had the potential to move the struggle forward. Our judgement was correct and as a result politics on this island has been transformed.

"Sinn Féin is now in a power-sharing government here in the Six Counties. The Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement have seen the establishment of an Assembly and an Executive in which power is shared between nationalists and unionists and an All-Ireland Ministerial Council. The All-Ireland Ministerial Council and the structures for All-Ireland co-operation should be seen as opening the way to a new era of governance on this island.

"We have seen major progress on the demilitarisation of the Six Counties with the dismantling of British military installations and the withdrawal of the British Army from the streets. A new beginning has been made in policing.

"Tá dul chun cinn déanta ach tá alán le déanamh fós. Mar shampla tá na hAontachtóirí sa Tionól ag cur i gcoinne Acht Teanga do na Sé Chontae, rud a bhí geallta i gComhaontú Naomh Aindriú. Tá cearta Ghaeilgeoirí sa Tuaisceart á shéanadh dá bharr sin. Mar sin leis an gceist seo, chomh maith le ceisteanna eile, tá gá le feachtaisí pobal. Ní féidir an próiséas seo a fhagáil i seomraí le coistí. Is leis an bpobal an próiséas síochána agus Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta. Is ar a son atáimíd ag obair.

"Much progress has been made but all these issues are also works in progress. Much remains to be done. We must maintain the pressure to ensure:

  • The establishment of the North-South Parliamentary Forum
  • The establishment of the Consultative Civic Forum
  • The framing and implementation of the All-Ireland Charter of Rights
  • Accelerating cross-border co-operation and integration across all key areas of policy - notably health, physical infrastructure and job creation
  • The need for truth on collusion.
  • The complete withdrawal of British military forces.

"Since the Good Friday Agreement Sinn Féin has argued strongly for representation in the Dáil for citizens in the Six Counties. We maintain this call and will continue to campaign for it.

"One of the most hopeful signs in this new era is the developing dialogue and work at grassroots level involving republicans and unionists in the Six Counties. Sinn Féin sees that engagement with unionists as crucial. In the words of the Proclamation we seek to remove "the differences carefully fostered by an alien government which have divided a minority from the majority in the past".

"The Proclamation also speaks of equal rights and equal opportunities for all and the sovereignty of the Irish people. In both London and Dublin we have conservative governments that are attacking social and economic rights. The Tory Budget cuts being imposed on the Six Counties represent an attack on all citizens here, be they nationalist or unionist, but especially on people on average or low incomes. They are an attack on public services like health and education. Sinn Féin is resisting those cuts and we will continue to do so. And in doing so we must continue to point out that financial control from London is against the interests of the people who live in this part of Ireland and it must end. Local control is vital and all-Ireland development is the way forward.

"In the 26 Counties a golden circle of greed has caused dreadful damage to the economy and has led to a crisis which sees 450,000 people on the dole queues. The so-called solutions advanced by the Fianna Fáil/Green government are a recipe for further disaster with billions of public money being squandered to bail out banks and speculators while public services and the incomes of ordinary families are slashed. In the Oireachtas, in the councils and in communities across the 26 Counties we in Sinn Féin are campaigning for a better way forward and we have produced real and workable proposals to create jobs, protect public services and build a sustainable and equitable all-Ireland economy.

"I commend the leadership being given to the people of Tyrone by Sinn Féin in this County. It is a sign of your strength and the effective leadership you have given that today for the first time Sinn Féin holds the chairs of all four District Councils in Tyrone - Michelle O'Neill, the first woman to occupy that position in Dungannon and South Tyrone, Declan McAleer in Omagh, John McNamee in Cookstown and Michaela Boyle in Strabane. And Tyrone republicans ensured the re-election of the three Sinn Féin MPs who represent this County - Michelle Gildernew, Pat Doherty and Martin Mc Guinness. Maith sibh uile.

"These electoral advances are hugely important. They place on us a great responsibility to represent the people who elect us and to bring about the real progress to which we are committed. We need to help make a positive difference in the lives of people in all communities. But we need to do more. We need to use the political strength and platform we have been given to advance towards the ultimate goal for which our comrades died.

"That goal remains the same and our commitment to it remains undiminished. Our aim is an end to partition, a United Ireland and a new Republic on this island, a Republic truly worthy of the name. We are determined to reach that destination and we will achieve freedom. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile chun saoirse".

The commemoration was brought to a close by the playing of Amhran Na bhFiann on the fiddle by Alanah Campbell.