GOOD FRIDAY CALL
THE Good Friday Agreement must be “defended to the nth degree” by both the Irish and British Governments.
That’s the message from the Sinn Féin Easter Commemoration which took place in Sligo at the weekend.
Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin said that the “potential impact of Brexit could be calamitous for the border counties, including Sligo.”
The Cavan-Monaghan Deputy addressed a crowd of several hundred at the Sinn Féin Easter Commemoration in Sligo Cemetery on Sunday.
The ceremony was chaired by Sligo County Councillor Chris MacManus.
Following the reading of the 1916 Proclamation and County Sligo’s Roll of Honour, Deputy Ó Caoláin delivered his keynote address.
“We are, as a people, facing many challenges today, not least from the British decision to exit the European Union.
“The potential impact of Brexit could be calamitous for these border counties, including Sligo.
“If the worst case scenario presents in twelve months’ time the consequences for all of Ireland will be serious.
“As Irish republicans we neither want a hard or a so-called soft border. We want no border in Ireland.
“An Ireland without borders offers all who view this island, or any part of it, as home, the best prospects of economic survival and development post Britain’s exodus from the EU.
“At this Eastertime, when we mark the 20 th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, I urge both the Irish and British governments to adhere to their shared responsibilities as co-guarantors of the Agreement.
“There must be no unravelling of its construct and promise. It has served this island and all its people well and it must be defended to the nth degree.
“There can be no ifs or buts about that. The ceremonies were concluded by the playing of Amhrán Na bFhiann.
Earlier in the day a wreath-laying ceremony took place in Ballisodare at the graveside of 1916 veteran Martin Savage, killed at Ashtown Road in 1919.
Cllr MacManus gave the oration which criticised “those on the side of the status quo who will try and frustrate change, to demonise republicans.”
“They cannot and will not succeed be they rejectionist unionists, Tories in Westminster or the elites in Dublin.
“These are the groups seeking to impose Brexit and EU frontier across our island.
“They care not for our citizens, our rights or our economy.
“They are now attacking the Good Friday Agreement. An Agreement that belongs to the people or all Ireland, not the Tories in London,” he told the 50 or so audience.
Cllr MacManus also gave a 1916 oration in Pettigo, Co. Donegal yesterday.