A peaceful protest

Republican Sinn Féin held a protest in Kildare town against the visit of the Queen to the Irish National Stud,while a Naas based food company was delighted to get the opportunity to cater for the Royal party.

The demonstration organised by Republican Sinn Féin was a peaceful one and went off without any incident. It was timed to coincide with the Queen’s visit last Thursday morning and began with a march around the market square where wreaths were laid at the 1798 Monument to the 350 people murdered by British forces at the Gibbet Rath on the Curragh and the monument to the seven men executed by Free State forces on the Curragh on December 18 1922.

During the protest songs of resistance were played and the crowd was also addressed by the Kildare based President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton from Athy. He said the protest was intended to send out a clear message that while Britain continues to occupy and partition Ireland its head of state would not be welcome in any part of Ireland. He also saluted the GAA counties who did not attend the visit of the Queen of England to Croke Park on the previous day.

“By their actions they have salvaged the honour of the GAA and have spoken for GAA members throughout Ireland who opposed this hijacking of the GAA in order to normalise British Rule in Ireland,” Des Dalton said.

At noon the crowd marched out to Grey Abbey cemetery where a short ceremony was held at the Republican Plot. Here the 1916 Proclamation was read by the General Secretary of Republican Sinn Féin Josephine Hayden. A minute’s silence was then held in memory of the Irish men and women who died for Irish freedom and the ceremony concluded with the playing of the national anthem.

Published in Kildare Nationalist, direct link: http://www.kildare-nationalist.ie/tabId/201/itemId/10209/A-peaceful-protest.aspx

Kildare protest at visit of British Queen

Kildare Republican Sinn Féin held a very successful demonstration in Kildare Town on Thursday May 19 from 10am to 12 Noon against the visit of the Queen of England to the nearby National Stud.

The protest began with a march around the market square where wreaths were laid at the 1798 Monument to the 350 men murdered by British Crown forces at the Gibbet Rath on the Curragh and the monument to the seven men executed by Free State forces on the Curragh on December 18 1922.

During the protest songs of resistance were played and the crowd was also addressed by the Kildare based President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton from Athy. He said the protest was intended to send out a clear message that while Britain continues to occupy and partition Ireland its head of state would not be welcome in any part of Ireland. He also saluted the GAA counties who did not attend the visit of the Queen of England to Coke Park on the previous day. “By their actions they have salvaged the honour of the GAA and have spoken for GAA members throughout Ireland who opposed this hijacking of the GAA in order to normalise British Rule in Ireland.” Des Dalton said.

At 12 Noon the crowd marched out to Grey Abbey cemetery where a short ceremony was held at the Republican Plot. Here the 1916 Proclamation was read by the General Secretary of Republican Sinn Féin Josephine Hayden. A minutes silence was held in memory of all the Irish men and women who have died for Irish freedom. The ceremony concluded with the playing of Amhrán na BhFiann.

Garden of Remembrance cleansing ceremony

Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a cleansing ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin on Sunday May 29 at 12 Noon.

The purpose of the ceremony is to cleanse the Garden of Remembrance of any residue of British Imperialism as a result of the recent visit there by the British Queen.

Republican Sinn Féin salutes GAA counties boycott of British Queen

Statement by President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

Republican Sinn Féin salutes the decision of eight of the nine counties of Ulster not to attend the visit of the Queen of England to Croke Park on May 18. By their actions they have salvaged the honour of the GAA and have spoken for GAA members throughout Ireland who opposed this hijacking of the GAA in order to normalise British Rule in Ireland.

The GAA and Páirc an Chrócaigh where the All-Ireland Football and Hurling Finals are staged each year embody the essential unity of the Irish Nation. Bringing the head of the British State - whose occupation of six of the nine counties of Ulster is a denial of the Irish Nation’s essential right to unity and freedom - to Croke Park contradicts the principles upon which the GAA was founded.

Republican Sinn Féin protests at visit of English Queen

Members of Republican Sinn Féin marched from Parnell Street, Dublin up Dorset Street and placed a picket at the junction of Frederick Street North and Dorset Street, as close as possible to the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, where the Queen of England will lay a wreath at the memorial to all those who died for the freedom of Ireland from British rule.

While England rules any part of Ireland the British monarch is not welcome here and Republican Sinn Féin will protest throughout the visit.

What price the British bailout of Ireland

“The price to be paid by the 26-County State for the British ‘bailout’ has eventually surfaced,” said, Josephine Hayden, PRO of Republican Sinn Féin for Leinster.

It was announced on May 14 that up to 120 members of the “London Metropolitan Police's royalty protection force armed with Glock pistols and Heckler & Koch submachine guns will join Gardaí” to operate in Dublin and Cork (at least) “to protect” the British Queen on her visit from May 17-20 -- “permission granted without hesitation” by the 26-County Administration.

The statement continued: “The visit by the Queen has been flagged as if it were the most normal visit in the world, yet the abnormality of the security measures in force give lie to that.

“Within the last month two state visits have taken place by other countries to the 26-Counties (itself an abnormal state) without a single person being inconvenienced or a street blocked off. That was normality. From May 17 to 20 what will pertain will be abnormality with Dublin city center as a ring of steel encircles Dublin.

“As long as there are British troops on Irish streets, as long as British rule is administered by Stormont and as long as British police (RUC/PSNI) patrol, harass, intimidate and arrest Republicans, resistance is our duty,” said Josephine Hayden.

An open letter to the President of the GAA

12 Bealtaine / May 2011

Criostóir Uasal Ó Cuanaigh

Uachtarán

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael

Páirc an ChróaighBaile Átha Cliath

A Uachtaráin, a chara,

On behalf of Republican Sinn Féin I wish to place on record our opposition to the invitation which has been extended to the Queen of England to visit Páirc an Chrócaigh.

We object to this visit on the grounds that a visit to any part of Ireland by the head of the British State is inappropriate while that state continues to occupy part of Ireland.

Elizabeth Windsor is head of the British state and holder of the British Crown. This is a state and an institution, which claims sovereignty over six of the nine counties of Ulster, enforcing that claim with an army of occupation.

Furthermore the presence of the Queen of England on the site of a massacre of 14 unarmed Irish citizens –including a 14-year-old boy – by British Crown Forces on November 21, 1920 is particularly offensive. These events are not merely a matter of history but continue to have relevance today because of the continued British occupation of six of the nine counties of Ulster.

The purpose of this visit to the 26-County State is part of a carefully orchestrated campaign designed to normalise the partition and British occupation of Ireland.

The GAA has played and continues to play a pivotal role in the sporting and cultural life of our nation. As Uachtarán of Sinn Féin Poblachtach and also as a member of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael I wish to protest at this hijacking of our Association in support of this campaign of normalising British Rule in Ireland.

The founder of Conradh na Gaeilge Dúbhghlas de hÍde called for the de-anglicising of Ireland. Cumann Lúthchleas Gael was to the fore among the national movements who spearheaded this political, sporting and cultural revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This visit contradicts the very principles upon which the GAA was founded.

Páirc an Chrócaigh is a place of huge cultural and historical significance for the Irish people. The senior All-Ireland hurling and football finals each year are a showcase of which the Irish people are rightly proud and are a symbol of our nationhood, indeed many of our members are also members of the GAA and rightly take pride in the associations contribution to the sporting, cultural and social life of communities throughout Ireland and the Irish community abroad.

We must not allow this proud history to be turned on its head by allowing our Association to be used in the Anglicisation of Ireland in the 21st Century.

Is mise

Des Dalton

Uachtarán

Protest at British Queen’s visit in Kildare Town

Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a protest at the visit by the Queen of England to Co Kildare in Kildare Town on Thursday May 19 at 10.am.

All who wish to voice their opposition to this parade of British pomp and imperialism and the corrupt state which has organised this visit - at a cost of €20 million to the Irish people - are invited to join the protest.

The protest will be preceded by the laying of wreaths at the 1798 Rising monument in the Market Square as well as the monument to the seven Irish Republicans who died in defence of the All-Ireland Republic at the hands of Free State forces on the Curragh on December 19 1922.

Assembly points for protests at visit of British Queen

Republican Sinn Féin will be holding a series of protests during the visit of the Queen of England to Dublin on May 17/18 and in Kildare on May 19.

On May 17 Republican Sinn Féin will assemble at the Black Church, St Mary’s Place (facing Granby Row and the Maldron Hotel) in Upper Dorset St at 12 noon. (Garden of Remembrance).

On Wednesday May 18 we will assemble at the junction of Summerhill Parade and Portland Row at 12 noon. (Croke Park).

On that evening of May 18 we will assemble at the junction of New St and Nicholas St near St Patrick’s Cathedral at 5pm. (Dublin Castle).

On Thursday May 19 in Kildare Town at 10am in the Market Square. (National Stud)

Some venues may be subject to change; for up to date information contact Republican Sinn Féin Ard Oifig at: 01 8729747 / 087 9374277.

Neil 'Plunkett' O'Boyle commemoration

Republican Sinn Féin will be holding its annual Commandant Neil ‘Plunkett’ O’Boyle commemoration in Knocknadruce Co Wicklow on Sunday May 15 at 3.pm. Those taking part will assemble in Hollywood village at 2.30pm.

The oration will be given by Paddy Tidd, Co Kildare.