Sinn Féin members recall the life of 1916 rebel
SINN FEIN supporters of the annual Liam Mellows commemoration event gathered later that day in Castletown, and from there they took part in a parade to the grave of the former Sinn Féin politician, where tributes to the republican rebel continued.
By-election candidate Johnny Mythen and special guest speaker Dessie Ellis TD outlined the life, writings and legacy of the republican socialist leader at length, highlighting its and relevance to the political system today.
The Sinn Féin event was chaired by councillor Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin and included a wreath laying ceremony, as well as music and speeches that celebrated the contribution of the man.
‘From a colour party to a beautiful rendition of the ballad The Galway Rebel Boy by Grace Sheehan, the event was followed by a function in Naomh Éanna.
‘A large crowd braved the elements and paraded to the grave, as they have done every year since 1924,’ said Cllr Ó Súilleabháin.
During his speech, Enniscorthy’s Johnny Mythen said that people should strive to make Ireland the republic as envisaged by the rebels of 1916 such as Mellows a reality.
‘When commemorating Mellows we must remember that he was first and foremost a committed socialist. That is usually overlooked by many others who remember him.
‘Mellows didn’t see the point in replacing the crown with a harp on a housing eviction notice. His vision and that of other 1916 leaders is still to be realised. His legacy has never been as relevant as it is today,’ he said.
The crowd also noted that the day before, a bronze life-sized monument of Liam Mellows was unveiled in Dessie Ellis’s own native Finglas in Dublin.