Dáithi Ó Conaill Commemoration.

by Sharon . - Individual . Tue Jan 01, 2008 16:30

Hi !

The Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration at the Republican Plot in Glasnevin Cemetery was held today , as planned .
A crowd of about fifty republicans (and six State on-lookers) were welcomed by the Chairperson , Des Dalton , who delivered a short history of Dáithí's role in the Republican Movement . A wreath was laid by Cathleen Knowles McGuirk , who worked alongside Dáithí in the Movement , and an ex-POW played a republican lament on a tin-whistle in memory of the man .
A member of the National Graves Association delivered a prayer , as Gaeilge , after which the Chairperson called on Josephine Hayden to give the main oration .

Josephine outlined in some detail Dáithí's role in the Movement throughout his short life , referring to the military engagements he was involved in and the political role he played in keeping the Movement on its path . His terms of imprisonment were mentioned , as were the escapes from same carried-out by the man and his comrades . It was mentioned that , were Dáithí alive today , he would be at the forefront of the 'Shell-2-Sea' and 'Save Tara' campaigns , both of which , stated Josephine to loud applause , are strongly supported by Republican Sinn Fein .

A full account of the proceedings will be published in the January 2008 issue of 'Saoirse' , which will be available from Wednesday January 9th next. Five pictures of todays event are published with this post , and a few more will be published shortly on the 'Related Link' blog .
Thanks!

Sharon.

Main oration , Josephine Hayden.

Tin-whistle lament.

Wreath laying.

National Graves Association representative.

Chairperson and National Flag bearer.

by Sceptic Tue Jan 01, 2008 22:53

DOC presided over or was in a high leadership position over a very bloody period in the IRA’s history that saw the deaths of hundreds of people, many entirely innocent. A full assessment of the historical record would also have to consider this. Whilst praise is given here for his role in the Sands election of 1981 there is no mention of the vengeance taken out on another elected MP for his opposition to the hunger strikes. Robert Bradford was shot and killed while at his advice clinic in 1982. Also shot and killed was the building caretaker, an unarmed man, who tired to stop the assassins. Bradford was as much an MP as Sands. In 1979 at a press conference DOC refused adopted a stance of stony silence and staring into space when asked about the IRA’s bombing of the “Shadow 5” boat in which two young boys and two very elderly people were killed. In this case the silence spoke volumes.

by De Pendentsy Tue Jan 01, 2008 23:08

Is the any chance the support for Tara and Shell campaigns as outlined above could be translated into some action? Picket a Shell station? Do a fundraiser and donate the money? join the frontline protests in Meath/Mayo? Anything?

by Sharon . - Individual . Wed Jan 02, 2008 00:19

Hi Sceptic !

The Bradford killing still raises unanswered questions , right enough -

http://elblogador.blogspot.com/2007/04/time-for-ulster-....html

http://books.google.com/books?id=lo8VAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA177&...Wx-CM

Hi De Pendentsy !

Are you genuinely unaware of RSF action - at street level - in relation to both of those campaigns ?
Have you never witnessed RSF people on marches/pickets/protests in support of one or other - or both - of those campaigns ? I find that hard to believe.
Wherever have you been ?

Thanks!

Sharon.

by Barry Wed Jan 02, 2008 00:49

does indeed seem quite strange that an IRA team prepared to kill a civilian who got in their way passed up the opportunity to put away a member of the very much hated special branch .

by hilly Wed Jan 02, 2008 01:35

rsf are actually involved in both Tara and shell to sea and have been since day 1

by hilly Wed Jan 02, 2008 01:38

also bradford was killed by sticks because he was meeting republicans about eire nua.

by Barry Wed Jan 02, 2008 03:14

Bradford was definitely killed by the provos . Hed made a litany of bitterly sectarian outbursts including publicly praying for outbreaks of typhoid in the h blocks during the no wash protests .

you may be mistaking this case with Unionist mp john taylor , who was indeed shot by the workers party the day before he was about to address the sinn fein sponsored Dail Mumhan project in 1972 . Taylor subsequently survived despite being shot numerous times in the head and body .

by hilly Wed Jan 02, 2008 04:09

you are 100% correct, i mixed them up some how though i cant see how i did, i apologise.

by mismatch Wed Jan 02, 2008 16:25

I went along to this and the turn out was very small and consisted mostly of older people. The messae given, seems to me, to be the same I heard 30 years ago. This group seems stuck in the past with no which to move on. I see it has having little or no relavence to anybody living south of the border. It was all quite sad really.

by GH Wed Jan 02, 2008 16:33

Looking back. I often wonder was Bobby's election really a success?

After all it didn't save his life nor any of the lads who followed him.

There are those who would say that it led to the Provo's decision to fully embrace 'Democratic Politics' which in other words meant, acceptance that N.Ireland is British until the Unionists decide otherwise.
But it wasn't until they, The Shinners, were confident of overtaking the SDLP electorally, did we have a ceasefire. Therefore in the meantime many people died including IRA Volunteers and Civilians.

Now we have to listen to how great the Shinners were to deliver on peace. They could have delivered years ago.

by Sharon . - Individual . Thu Jan 03, 2008 20:06

Hi mismatch!

There was at least fifty people present , ranging in age from early 20's upwards, which is average for this particular event.
The "same message" was given because it's the same problem that that message was addressing ie before this isle can 'move on' , politically , Westminster will have to 'move out' .
Forgive my innocence (!) , but I would have to ask why a person with such a negative attitude would bother attending a republican commemoration in the first place?

Thanks,

Sharon.

by mismatch Sat Jan 05, 2008 02:35

You only need look at the pictures to see 50 were not present. Couple of lads in 20's, few more in 30's and 40's rest 60+. 30 people max. The SB were the youngest group there.
The reason I attended was to see rsf and what message they had. I got my answer in the size of the turnout for a massive figure in the history of the republican movement and in particular RSF. I also listened to the speaches and it is no suprise only 30 turned up.

RSF appears to offer nothing of any meaning to a southerners and only a return to the war for northerners. Failed policies of no interest to the vast majority of people. As I say look at the pictures. You know they were not all at the top of the plot .

by Sharon . - Individual . Sat Jan 05, 2008 17:28

Hi again , Mismatch!

"You only need look at the pictures to see 50 were not present."
"As I say look at the pictures. You know they were not all at the top of the plot ."
All those present were not indeed "at the top of the plot" , as the pictures show - those who attended were spread-out along both sides , the top and the bottom of the plot , and comprised approximately 50 people , I believe.

"Couple of lads in 20's, few more in 30's and 40's rest 60+. 30 people max. The SB were the youngest group there."
That would mean that the Special Branch - or one/some of their number present - was/were younger in years than someone in their 20's . I don't think so!

"The reason I attended was to see rsf and what message they had."
A republican would already know what the RSF message is and would have attended that commemoration to have that message confirmed , I would think.

"I got my answer in the size of the turnout for a massive figure in the history of the republican movement and in particular RSF. "
And if hundreds turn out , someone , somewhere , will belittle that turn-out for not being in the thousands . And if thousands turn-out , the 'belittler' will comment that there should have been tens-of-thousands. And if tens-of-thousands turn-out...etc!

"I also listened to the speaches and it is no suprise only 30 turned up."
Well , it's no wonder you mis-counted . You were listening to the speeches...

"RSF appears to offer nothing of any meaning to a southerners and only a return to the war for northerners. Failed policies of no interest to the vast majority of people."
And you gathered that 'much' from an hour or so in Glasnevin graveyard on a January afternoon, did you ?
Or did you arrive at that venue with that already in mind , I wonder ?

Thanks!

Sharon.

by mismatch Fri Jan 18, 2008 01:05

O.K miss (I can count better than you, your no reppublican because you disagree with what I say) or Sharon to her friends. You are living in your own world of make believe. You called me out for saying there was a max of 30 at this commemeration. I suggest you, and anybody that is interested take a look at the above photo's and puts them together with the latest edition of Saoirse. This will give you a panorama of the turnout for this event. i count less than 30.

You should not criticise me for attending and forming an opinion. You shoud ask yourself why is your party so insignificant and unable to mobilise any support for a commemoration of what of it's greatest figures. Don't shoot me for having an opinion . I repeat I turned up to hear what RSF had to say. It said little of any meaning to anybody, that is why so few turned up.

by Sharon . - Individual . Fri Jan 18, 2008 17:18

Hi Mismatch !

The "liar" tag is a bit extreme and , to my mind , is an indication of how desperate you are to 'prove' your flawed points.

"O.K miss or Sharon to her friends."
How would you possibly know what my friends call me ?

"(I can count better than you, your no reppublican because you disagree with what I say)"
What is that about ??

" You are living in your own world of make believe. You called me out for saying there was a max of 30 at this commemeration. "
I suggested , in reply to a comment you made , that , in my opinion , 50 people present would be a more accurate assesment . And I still believe that to be the case !

"I suggest you, and anybody that is interested take a look at the above photo's and puts them together with the latest edition of Saoirse. This will give you a panorama of the turnout for this event. i count less than 30."
As you said yourself , those attending were "not all at the top of the plot " ie they were standing along both sides and top and bottom of the plot - none of the published photographs show the whole scene , just sections of it . We'll hire a helicopter for the photographer next year so as an aerial photo can be included , if that will keep you happy .

"You should not criticise me for attending and forming an opinion."
I suggested that you had attended with a negative opinion already formed , and your poor attempts at criticism on this thread re-inforce that position .

"You shoud ask yourself why is your party so insignificant and unable to mobilise any support for a commemoration of what of it's greatest figures. "
As stated - ' If hundreds attended , a begrudger would claim it to be a failure because thousands weren't at it...'
You obviously only attended in order that you might come away with something negative to talk about and/or you were on the same triple pay that the SB [some of whom were under 20 years of age , according to yourself !] were on .

"Don't shoot me for having an opinion . "
Of course not , Mismatch - you are as entitled to your opinion as I am to state that , in my opinion , you're wrong! Furthermore , I now believe you are purposely misrepresenting that commemoration to suit your own agenda .

"I repeat I turned up to hear what RSF had to say. "
And I repeat : you turned-up with a negative opinion in the hope that you would leave the cemetery with 'reason' to hold an even bigger grudge .

" It said little of any meaning to anybody, that is why so few turned up. "
The event "said little" to you , anyway . But then you went there already knowing that , as is obvious .

Thanks anyway !

Sharon.

by mismatch Sun Jan 20, 2008 17:42

liar again. you are quite sad really.

You know to the right of the speakers was Ruairi and the flag. Nobody else.

RSF no support, no significance.

by Sharon . - Individual . Sun Jan 20, 2008 18:00

Hi mismatch !

The "liar" tag , again . No need for it .

You can't prove your 'case' because it can't be proven , simple as that .
Your comment "RSF no support , no significance" supports my suspicion that you attended that commemoration for reasons other than to remember the man and support the organising group .
Are you that opposed to republicanism that you would set-out on a New Years Day holiday to a cold and windy cemetery in the hope of leaving with something to slag RSF about ?
And you call me "sad" ?

Slán !

Sharon.