Louth Sinn Fein host Easter Rising event
LOUTH Sinn Fein led commemorations of the Easter Rising in Dundalk last weekend.
Speaking at the event, Imelda Munster TD reflected on the ‘100 years since women over 30 and working class men over the age of 21 got the vote.
She said ‘ this, the reaction to the executions of our leaders in 1916 combined with Sinn Féin successfully leading a campaign against conscription in Ireland in 1918 and a number of other political factors, seen the vast majority of citizens turn their backs on Britain and vote for Irish Republicans.’
She added: ‘Citizens are turning away from the forces of old conservative Ireland. We are no longer just orange and green – we are a rainbow of colours and identities. We are building a new Ireland that includes everyone and are striving to leave no-one behind.’
Imelda Munster TD went on to talk about the goals of the leaders of 1916 .
‘ This new Ireland must be about more than just adding or joining the north to the south. We do not want a 32 county free state.’
We want a new Republic. The Republic of Wolfe Tone, James Connolly, Constance Markievicz, Mairead Farrell, Bobby Sands and Martin McGuinness.’
‘In the words of Maire Drumm, “We must take no steps backward, our steps must be onward, for if we don’t, the martyrs that died for you, for me, for this country will haunt us forever.’
The Louth TD also spoke about Brexit and the challenges ahead.
‘ There are groups that are seeking to impose Brexit and place an EU frontier or a ‘ hard border’ across our island, they want to drag us back into the dark days again when we couldn’t even drive up the road here to Newry without having to be interrogated by men in foreign uniforms as to where we were going and why?’
The organisers of the events in Louth wish to thank those who helped ensure that each parade and wreath laying ceremony was a dignified and fitting tribute to the memory of our patriot dead.