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Rededication ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance
On Sunday, May
29, 2011 Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) held a rededication ceremony
at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, Dublin. Two
weeks previous, the Garden was hijacked with a visit by the
Queen of England as part of the campaign to normalise British
occupation of Ireland. The purpose of the ceremony on the 29th
was to rededicate the Garden to its original purpose of honoring
the men and women who have died in pursuit of Irish Freedom. RSF Vice President, Fergal Moore, chaired the event which was attended by a large crowd. In his opening remarks he stated that this rededication is for all who have died for the cause of Irish freedom – not just the men of 1916 – but for all men and women who have taken up arms to pursue the Irish Republic since 1798. NIFC’s Maggie Trainor laid a laurel wreath at the sculpture of the Children of Lir on behalf of RSF and the Republican Movement. The sculpture symbolizes the rebirth of the Irish nation and is based on the ancient legend of Lir's children, who were changed into swans after a long period of persecution. Róisín Hayden read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. Next, Kevin Trainor presented an old Irish traditional cleansing ritual which involved the laying of unbloomed whitethorn branches at the sacred site and was followed by a scattering of salt to the north, south, east and west to complete the purification. RSF Patron, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, stated in Irish and in English that the English queen’s appearance at this sacred site was an insult to the men and women who, throughout the decades and up through today, have given their all for Irish freedom. “We come today to cleanse this site and to rededicate ourselves to the cause of Irish Freedom,” he said. “The English queen tells us that there is an Ireland and a Northern Ireland. However, we know that there is only one Ireland and it is a 32 County Ireland.” He concluded by saying “There will always be a state of war between the Irish and the English as long as British troops remain on Irish soil.” Next, General Secretary Líta Ní Chathmhaoil read the Irish Declaration of Independence. RSF President Des Dalton began his remarks by stating that many Irish people are very angry about the British queen’s presence at the Garden of Remembrance and at Croke Park. Croke Park symbolizes the unity of the Irish state and the Garden of Remembrance honors those who have given their lives for a 32 County Republic. Her presence in these places, by the very person who denies the Irish people a 32 County Republic, was an insult to the Irish people, he stated. The ideal of the Irish Republic, he continued, is a sacred ideal that long pre-dates the Republican Movement. From the beginning of the Irish people, the flame of the Irish Republic will continue to burn until the last British soldier leaves Irish soil. Dalton concluded: “The Irish Republican Movement pledges to those who have never been bought nor intimidated, to pursue the ideal of a 32 County Irish Republic until that ideal is realized.” The ceremony was wrapped up with a recitation of William Butler Yeats’ poem, “The Rose Tree” by Líta Ní Chathmhaoil.
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