NIFC 2007 Easter Commemoration Report -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Mon, Apr 09 2007, 21:19:52 PDT
Author: National Irish Freedom Committee
Subject: NIFC 2007 Easter Commemoration Report
In reply to: National Irish Freedom Committee 's message, "NIFC Easter Message 2007" on Sat, Apr 07 2007, 23:22:58 PDT

Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta
National Irish Freedom Committee
http://irishfreedom.net

2007 Easter Commemoration Report

On a clear, cold and windy Easter Sunday morning, members and supporters of Cumann Na Saoirse N�isi�nta (the National Irish Freedom Committee [NIFC]) gathered at the graveside of Joe Stynes in Woodlawn cemetery in the Bronx.

Joe was a man whose life was guided by his dedication to the All-Ireland Republic. A veteran of the Dublin Brigade of the Irish Republican Army, Joe was active in both the Tan War and the counter-revolution/civil war that followed the first betrayal of the 32
county Republic. It should also be noted that Joe was a renowned Gaelic footballer. Internment in the Curragh kept him out of the 1922 All Ireland final, however he was released in time to play in the 1923 game and had the distinction of scoring the last two points that would led to Dublin's win over Kerry by 1-5 to 1-3.

Many Republicans broken-hearted and blacklisted fled Ireland after the civil war, many finding their way to America. Among these men and women was Joe Stynes. However, Joe never forgot Ireland's plight. He quickly became active in Clan Na Gael, the Republican organization in America. He worked for decades in the Clan, ensuring that the Fenian faith was kept alive in his adopted land. He also continued to assist the Republican Movement back in Ireland.

Down through the years, Joe remained steadfast in his commitment to Irish freedom. As others wavered or walked away from the Republican path, Joe maintained his allegiance to the All Ireland Republic. In 1986, after the Provisionals abandoned Republicanism, he was one of the first to speak out against the treachery of Adams and company. Joe, together with Michael Flannery and George Harrison founded the Cumann Na Saoirse N�isi�nta in 1987.

Joe Stynes was a true Gael, who gave a lifetime of service to Irish freedom and embodied the spirit of 1916, with all this in mind it is fitting that we honor the Republican ideals of Easter 1916 at his grave.

Brian M�r � Baoighill served as master of ceremonies and spoke briefly about his former comrade Joe Stynes. Brian said that Joe had a keen sense of humor and a great sense of history. He then introduced S�amus � Dubhda who read the Easter Proclamation in Gaeilge. S�amus was followed by Liam � Murchu who read it in English. Brian then introduced P�draic Mac Liam who read the statement from the leadership of the Republican Movement in Ireland.

The Easter message from the National Irish Freedom Committee was read by Bruce Mac Giolla Ph�dhraig

Tiokasin Ghosthorse, a member of the Lakota Nation and a longtime friend of the National Irish Freedom Committee, spoke in his native tongue before reciting Pearse's oration at the graveside of O'Donovan Rossa.

During the ceremony the participants were treated to a flight of wild geese that seemed most appropriate for the occasion. A little later in the ceremony, a low flying helicopter gave a perfect demonstration of what a menace noisy hovering British occupation helicopters can do at similar ceremonies in the British occupied six counties

Liam � Murch� closed the ceremony by delivering a brief but concise history of the modern part of the struggle for Irish Independence.

Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta
National Irish Freedom Committee
http://irishfreedom.net

>Cumann na Saoirse N�isi�nta
>National Irish Freedom Committee
> >href="http://irishfreedom.net">http://irishfreedom.net<
>/a>
>
>
>
>Easter Message 2007
>
>
>
>
>On this weekend ninety one years ago, Padraic Pearse
>proclaimed on behalf on the Irish people, the right of
>the Irish people to a sovereign 32-county Irish
>Republic. That historic Proclamation was read from the
>steps of the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin at
>the onset of the military uprising against the British
>Empire�s seven century long colonization of Ireland.
>
>
>This is the 91st anniversary of that historic event.
>That proclamation and the subsequent uprising was a
>defining moment in modern Irish history. It is
>considered the most sacred of days in the Irish
>Republican calendar. Republicans have never missed an
>Easter commemoration since then either in Ireland or
>here in America.
>
>
>This is a particularly important anniversary that we
>commemorate here today because politicians in both the
>twenty-six and six county partitionist sectarian
>states are redoubling their efforts to maintain and
>safeguard the status quo, thus securing their own
>selfish interests as well as Britain�s illegitimate
>occupation of the six county state.
>
>
>The latest betrayal by the Provisionals, who abandoned
>Republican principles in 1986, is by far the most
>insidious and blatant of all the betrayals to the
>32-county sovereign Republic proclaimed by Pearse on
>the steps of the GPO in 1916. Prior betrayals,
>although unforgivable, did not reach the level of
>deceit and treachery as did the Good Friday /St.
>Andrews Agreement embraced by the Provisionals.
>
>
>Other erstwhile comrades who abandoned republican
>principles did not join forces with the British
>partitionist establishment to rule on their behalf.
>What they did instead was embrace the partition of
>Ireland created by British Government of Ireland Act
>enacted in 1920, establishing their own ruling elite
>in the 26-county state and proceeded to rule
>accordingly. They did not defile the Republican cause
>by holding on to the name �Sinn Fein� as have the
>present-day Provisionals.
>
>
>
>On the other hand the Provisionals became fully
>integrated into the British establishment, recognized
>and embraced Britain�s governing institutions in the
>occupied six counties and paid de facto allegiance to
>the British crown. After 30 years of conflict and the
>loss of over 3,500 lives this was what the
>Provisionals achieved. The loss of so many Volunteers
>and innocent citizens did not faze the Provisional
>leadership whose aim, all along, was to get, what they
>considered to be their rightful reward, a piece of the
>British controlled partitionist pie.
>
>
>All of these erstwhile comrades including the
>Provisionals will continue to profess allegiance to
>the Proclamation of 1916 and will undoubtedly attend
>various commemorations to mark the anniversary. They
>will make speeches pontificating over the blood
>sacrifice of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising and
>will, unashamedly, claim commonality with their cause.
>How ironic that those who signed on the Good Friday
>/St Andrews agreement have the gall to claim
>allegiance to a 32-county sovereign Irish Republic
>that so many have died for over the centuries.
>
>
>Politicians who signed that agreement or any other
>agreement that supports or recognizes any British
>claim to Irish soil is akin to affixing their belated
>signature to the death warrants of Padraic Pearse and
>his sixteen comrades.
>
>
>As their reward for embracing and promoting the Good
>Friday/St. Andrews agreement the British gave the
>Provisionals their piece of the pie which amounted to
>legislative and ministerial positions in their
>reconstituted Stormont puppet government. They were
>also afforded personal protection by the British
>security forces, and a free hand to control opposition
>to the continued British presence in the six occupied
>counties.
>
>
>Pearse himself was well aware that everybody who
>claims to be republicans was not necessarily so. He
>wrote during Christmas 1915, mere months before the
>Easter rising;
>
>
>
>�If we today are fighting for something either greater
>than or less than the thing our fathers fought for,
>either our fathers did not fight for freedom at all,
>or we are not fighting for freedom. If I do not hold
>the faith of Tone; and if Tone was not a heretic, then
>I am. If Tone said, �BREAK the connection with
>England�, and if I say �MAINTAIN the connection with
>England�, I may be preaching a saner (as I am
>certainly preaching a safer) gospel than his, but I am
>obviously not preaching the same gospel. Separatism,
>in fact, is the national position. Whenever an Irish
>leader has taken up a position different from the
>national position he has been repudiated by the next
>generation. ... The chain of the Separatist tradition
>has never once snapped during the centuries�
>
>
>
>It is clear from Pearse�s prophetic words who will be
>repudiated. Yet, the Republican Movement continues to
>safeguard the ideals of Easter Week.
>
>We, the Irish Diaspora in America gathered here today
>reaffirm our commitment to the same.
>
>
>We will continue to support and publicize the plight
>of Irish republican prisoners in HM Maghaberry Prison,
>who are fighting for political status while engaged in
>an on going prison protest in conditions that are
>eerily reminiscent of the period prior to the hunger
>strikes of 1981.
>
>
>We will also continue to promote the Eire Nua program
>that proposes a federal solution based on the four
>historic provinces of Ireland. This comprehensive
>Irish authored political program is designed to
>achieve a just and lasting peace in the context of a
>British withdrawal.
>
>
>
>National Irish Freedom Committee
>Cumann na Saoirse N�isi�nta
> >href="http://irishfreedom.net">http://irishfreedom.net<
>/a>

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Re: NIFC Report of FoIF Mass/Commemoration -- National Irish Freedom Committee, Mon, Apr 09 2007, 21:52:41 PDT