VOL. DIARMUID O’ NEILL REMEMBERED

DIARMUID O’ NEILL COMMEMORATION

PHOTO: Bandon SF Cllr. Rachel McCarthy delivered the oration at the Diarmuid O’ Neill Commemoration on Sunday. (Photo: CÓS)

The annual Vol. Diarmuid O’ Neill Commemoration was held at his grave in Timoleague Cemetery last Sunday, organised as usual by Clonakilty Sinn Fein Cumann. Diarmuid O’ Neill was an I.R.A. volunteer who was shot dead by London police on 23^rd September 1996 in a flat where he was staying with a number of other people. The killing was widely condemned by human rights organisations including Amnesty International as O’ Neill was unarmed and surrendering when the shots were fired into his body. He was also under surveillance for several months at the time. Every September, Republicans from West Cork and beyond attend a simple wreath-laying ceremony around the time of his anniversary. A short parade, fronted by a Piper and Republican colour party led the 100 people to Diarmuid O’ Neill’s grave.

Paul Hayes of Clonakilty SF welcomed everyone to the annual event, in particular Eoghan and Shane O’ Neill, and the SF elected reps present – recently elected Cllr. Rachel McCarthy, (Bandon) and Cllr. Noel Harrington (Kinsale) as well as Cllr. Donnchadha Ó Seaghdha, (An Sciobairín) agus Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, (Cloich na Coillte). Wreath were laid by Ken Ahern representing the Republican Movement Cork, Cllr. Noel Harrington representing Bandon and Kinsale Sinn Féin Cumainn and Teddy McCarthy representing the Martin Doherty Sinn Féin Cumann Clonakilty. Following, a minute's silence, and a lament played by the piper, Cllr. Rachel McCarthy from Bandon delivered the oration. She recalled that in the 13 years since Diarmuid O’Neill was murdered, Ireland has changed dramatically. “We have witnessed economic boom – followed by economic bust. The Peace Process has opened the way to the achievement of a united Ireland. Sinn Féin has emerged as the third largest party in Ireland and we are the only party with elected representatives in every county. The methods by we pursue our goals may have changed, but the goal remains the same as that for which Diarmuid O’Neill laid down his life – “the reconquest of Ireland”, in the words of James Connolly. She quoted

the Easter Proclamation which declared “the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and the unfettered control of Irish destinies”. It asserts the intention of the republic “to cherish all the children of the nation equally”. She said every other political party in this state pays lip-service to these ideals. But what is the reality?

She condemned the re-running of the Lisbon vote and the disrespect that the government has for it’s own electorate, as she called on people present to ensure to go out on Friday and vote No. “If passed, will give away many of the rights and freedoms which were fought and died for by those patriots like Diarmuid and others that we remember today. I urge you to vote No on Oct 2^nd and do whatever you can in the remaining few days before polling day to encourage friends and family to do likewise”. The Lisbon Treaty creates a European state that will sound the death-knell for Irish sovereignty and independence. It is being rail-roaded through by a combination of every political party with the exception of Sinn Féin, supported by big-business and a biased media. Meanwhile the Fianna Fail led government, having squandered the fruits of the boom, is making sure the old, the poor and the sick shoulder the burden of the bust. While billionaire bankers and developers get bailouts, the rest of us get cutbacks and Board Snip Nua. The Fianna Fail hospitality tent at the Galway Races may be gone, but they’re still dishing out the goodies to their builder and banker friends. How does this square with the promise of the Proclamation to “cherish all the children of the nation equally”? Fianna Fail’s “republicanism” is on a level with Bertie Ahern’s “socialism”. It is nothing more than a bad joke. But a government led by Fine Gael will pursue exactly the same failed policies. That is why Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams issued a call at this year’s Árd Fheis for parties of the left, trade unions and voluntary groups to join in an alliance for change that provide a real alternative to the tweedledum and tweedledee policies of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. In the weeks and months ahead we have the opportunity to show that the legacy of Diarmuid O’Neill, of Tony Ahern and Dermot Crowley, of Kilmichael and Crossbarry, remains alive in West Cork. Never before has the economic and moral bankruptcy of the political establishment been plain. Our task is to show the Irish people there is a better way. We come here today to commemorate Diarmuid by marching to his grave – let us commemorate him tomorrow by continuing the fight for which he laid down his life”, she concluded.

The commemoration concluded with the piper leading the crowd in “Amhrán na bhFiann”