Tuesday 31 May 2011

Republican Prisoners Protest


Protest in support of republican prisoners, organised by the Families, Friends and ex-POWs group. Sunday 5th June. Assemble at Maghaberry Gaol carpark, Antrim, at 3pm

Monday 23 May 2011

The Anti-Windsor March on Dublin Castle – Full Report


The largest demonstration of the entire Windsor state visit took place on Wednesday [May 18] with éirígí’s March on Dublin Castle. Despite the best efforts of the state and the corporate media to deter people from taking to the streets up to 350 people joined the protest, which assembled at the site of Robert Emmet’s execution at St Catherine’s Church on Dublin’s Thomas Street.

Although the start time for the first of the speakers had to be postponed by half an hour to facilitate those who had been delayed by the lockdown of Dublin city, the crowd was kept well entertained by Joe Keegan’s repertoire of rebel songs.

At 6.15pm the first of the speaker’s, éirígí Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan, took to the platform. She was followed by independent Councillor Davy Hyland from Newry, independent Dublin City Councillor Cieran Perry, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland Eugene McCartan, independent Fermanagh Councillor Bernice Swift and éirígí Rúnaí Ginearálta Breandán Mac Cionnaith.

A common theme of opposition to Windsor, and the archaic system of monarchy, class and imperialism that she symbolises, emerged from the contributions of all the speakers. Belfast singer/songwriter Pól MacAdaim’s songs of resistance resonated with those themes. Videos of all those who spoke and sang will be posted on this website shortly.

With Breandán’s contribution complete the march lined up on Thomas Street behind the lead banner which bore the words ‘Britain out of Ireland’. Behind that a black coffin bearing the words ‘British Empire’ was carried by four protesters. And behind that again the main body of the protest assembled carrying a range of colourful placards, flags and banners.

As the protest moved off a cacophony of whistles and chants rose above the Rebel Liberties, a sound that was added to by the approving claps and cheers of many of the onlookers that lined Thomas Street. By the time the march reached the top of Francis Street it has swelled in size to an estimated 350 people. It was at this point that a detachment of roughly fifty helmet-wearing, baton-yielding Gardaí moved rapidly from a side street to form a line along the right-hand side of the march, where they remained for the remainder of the protest.

By the time the March on Dublin Castle reached the Garda lines it was clear that the state had no intention of allowing the protest to get any further than Christchurch Cathedral. Hundreds of Gardaí, many wearing helmets and carrying batons, positioned themselves on three sides of the demonstration. It was a show of strength without any recent parallel in the Twenty-Six Counties, which made a mockery of the suggestion that the state was willing to tolerate opposition to the Windsor visit. The air of intimidation surrounding an entirely peaceful protest was palpable.

Cathaoirleach éirígí Brian Leeson then addressed the crowd, congratulating people on their courage and discipline in the face of the extreme provocation provided by both the Windsor visit and the security operation that surrounded it. Hundreds of black balloons were then released in memory of all of those who have died at the hands of Windsor’s official and unofficial death squads. And the black coffin of the British Empire was left at the Garda lines.

In his closing contribution Brian reminded those present that thousands of people had lined the streets of Dublin in 1911 to greet ‘King George V’ and only a couple of hundred had joined with James Connolly to oppose it. And that was only five years before the 1916 Rising. In five short years everything can change. The challenge now is to accelerate the rebuilding of the republican movement to ensure that any future British royal visit will be met not by three hundred protesters but by ten thousand.

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest220511_2.html

Anti-UDA/Windsor Protest at the Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge

The second day of Elizabeth Windsor’s state visit to the Twenty-Six Counties saw éirígí activists and supporters staging protests at Islandbridge and Dublin Castle. The first protest was called after it was revealed that up to thirty leading members of the Ulster Defence Association had been invited to attend a wreath-laying ceremony in the Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge.


Before the protest even began, however, it was clear that the Gardaí were intent on provoking conflict. As éirígí Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan arrived at the assembly point at Kilmainham Jail her car was pulled over and searched. During the course of the search a banner with the words ‘Fund Communities, Not Royal Visits!’ was seized on the spurious grounds of it being “offensive material”. A video of the search can be seen below.

By the time the Gardaí had completed their search of Minihan’s car a force of at least forty Gardaí had assembled outside of the building where the leaders of the 1916 rising were executed. There is little doubt that those brave men would have been disgusted at the prospect of the British Head of State and her UDA henchmen being afforded such an extravagant welcome by the Dublin government.

With Windsor now in the Memorial Gardens the thirty or so protesters made their way along Inchicore Road with the intention of demonstrating at the junction of Memorial Road and the N4. But this was not to be, as the Gardaí blocked access to Memorial Road with a line of rapidly deployed boys in yellow. When questioned on the legality of his impromptu roadblock, the commanding Garda replied that he was acting under the provisions contained within Section 21, a phrase that was becoming all too familiar to people across Dublin.

With their preferred route to the Memorial Gardens blocked the protesters returned to Kilmainham Jail to lay a wreath in memory of the victims of the UDA, before making a second attempt to access the Gardens. On this occasion upwards of 100 Gardaí were deployed to block the junction of South Circular Road and the N4. Although not as close to the Memorial Gardens as had been originally intended, the protesters’ voices, whistles and bodhráns loudly proclaimed their opposition to the mass murderers of the UDA.

While the protest may not have been particularly large that did not diminish from the hugely important principle upon which is was based; that it was morally bankrupt for the Twenty-Six County authorities to invite the leaders of one of the most vicious of unionist death squads to Dublin. As befitting an act of solidarity with the victims of the UDA, the protest was conducted with discipline and dignity throughout, despite the provocations of the state’s bully-boys.

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest220511.html





éirígí anti-Windsor Protests, May 17th – Full Report


Tuesday’s [May 17] day of protest against the state visit of Elizabeth Windsor began on O’Connell Street when a group of éirígí activists and supporters staged an impromptu sit-down protest beside the Spire monument. As Windsor left Casement Aerodrome, on the outskirts of the city, the chants of ‘Can you hear us loud and clear? British royals not welcome here!’ and ‘Whose streets? Our streets?’ were echoing off the historic GPO.
As more activists arrived with flags and megaphones the face of the Gardaí said it all. Despite the massive security operation that had been put in place it was clear that the voice of Irish republicanism was going to be loudly heard in the centre of Dublin. By the time Gardaí formed a line to prevent further supporters joining the protest there were already thirty people sitting on the ground, with more arriving by the minute.

Within ten minutes of the action starting there were two groups of protesters in place – one on the otherwise deserted central plaza of Dublin’s main thoroughfare and one hemmed behind the police line at the top of Henry Street. With roughly two hours remaining until Windsor’s scheduled arrival on O’Connell Street scores of Gardaí began to forcibly push protesters back down Henry Street.

When that task was completed another large force of Gardaí prepared to move on the activists sitting beside the Spire. In the face of certain arrest and removal from the streets for the duration of the Garden of Remembrance ceremony, the group of activists made their way en bloc to their comrades at the top of Moore Street.

The professionalism of the Garda was to the fore as the various top brass starting issuing contradictory orders to various sections of their yellow-coated goons. So as some Gardaí tried to arrest the protesters others opened the police line to let them onto Henry Street, and yet more started pushing protesters back down the street!

The chaotic scenes continued for roughly five minutes before the now 150-strong group of éirígí activists and supporters made their way to 16 Moore Street for a wreath-laying ceremony. The protest had lasted over half an hour, during which time hundreds of onlookers and dozens of journalists had witnessed both the dignity of the protesters and the aggression of the Gardaí.

At 16 Moore Street éirígí ‘s Ursula Ní Shionnain gave a brief speech prior to the laying of a wreath in memory of all of those who have died for Irish freedom, which was followed by a minute’s silence. With the ceremony complete the large and very loud protest moved onwards towards the Garda line at the corner of Parnell Square. Once there, the entire crowd sat down on the road where they remained for close to two hours in a remarkable demonstration of dignified and disciplined political protest.

Those who found themselves sitting on Parnell Street were an unusual mix of seasoned political activists, school children, university students, workers, the unemployed and those who call the streets of the north inner city home. For almost two hours they sang rebel songs, chanted anti-royal slogans, blew whistles and banged drums – united in their opposition to Windsor and all that she represents.

Despite the oppressive security operation and the ample provocation of Windsor’s presence in the Garden of Remembrance, the ever-swelling crowd did not walk into the trap that the forces of the state had laid for them. Instead they maintained a dignified and disciplined protest which succeeded in its objective.

Footage of the protest was beamed around the world by Sky News and other multi-national news stations. The message was unmistakable – Windsor is not welcome; Britain out of Ireland. In countless radio, television and print interviews éirígí spokespeople hammered home that same message again and again. And when Windsor finally arrived at the Garden of Remembrance the noise of the protest was deafening as hundreds of voices, whistles, drums and air-horns screamed their unmistakable opposition to the British Empire.

Although Windsor, and the apologists that joined her, may not have seen any protesters they most certainly heard them, a fact confirmed by journalists who were in the Garden and those who could hear the protest as far away as Denmark Street. All in all, it was a most unusual and most successful protest – one that sat in perfect harmony with the anti-royal protests of Connolly and Markievicz one hundred years before hand.

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest190511_2.html

Mac Cionnaith Oration at Lynagh/McKearney Commemoration

Below is the text of an oration delivered by Breandán Mac Cionnaith at a commemoration for Jim Lynagh and Pádraig McKearney on 15 May 2011 at Drumfurrer, County Monaghan.
A chairde agus a chomrádaithe, go raibh maith agaibh as an chuireadh le bheith anseo libhse inniú chun omós and onóra a thabhairt do bheirt óglach chróga a fuair bás ar son saoirse na h-Éireann.

As we gather here to remember Jim Lynagh and Pádraig McKearney, we also remember their comrades – Paddy Kelly; Declan Arthurs; Gerard O’Callaghan; Eugene Kelly; Seamus Donnelly and Tony Gormley – all of whom who died at the hands of British crown forces in a well-planned and pre-prepared ambush at Loughgall on May 8th in 1987. Anthony Hughes, a civilian who drove into the British kill-zone that evening also died. This well-maintained memorial, dedicated to Jim and Pádraig, gives expression to the esteem in which these men continue to be held.

The struggle taken up by James Connolly, Tom Clarke, Constance Markievicz and their comrades in 1916 was carried on by Republicans of the highest calibre such as Liam Mellowes and Joe McKelvey, like Sean McCaughey in the 40’s, through to Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg in the 70’s. It was the same struggle carried on by Jim, Pádraig and many other courageous men and women.

Each and every one of those who gave their lives in pursuit of Irish freedom had to face the personal difficulties and hardships which involvement in that struggle brought to them and their families. Each was an ordinary person faced with extraordinary choices in extraordinary times. They were ordinary people like each of us here today who saw the injustice caused to their people by capitalist exploitation and by the foreign occupation of their country and who decided to take action.

They could have ignored the injustice they saw around them and, instead, have chosen to have lived quiet lives. But their desire for freedom and justice in Ireland was such that they committed themselves fully to the Republican cause.

This year also marks the thirtieth anniversary of the 1981 hunger-strike which resulted in the deaths of Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Ray McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Tom McIlwee and Micky Devine in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. Bobby, Francis, Raymond and Patsy all died during the month of May.

The sacrifice made by those ten volunteers and their families politicised an entire generation, and demonstrated the sheer dedication, selflessness and bravery of Irish republicans.

It is right that we remember them and all those who died in the freedom struggle at commemorations such as this and that we also rededicate ourselves into that same struggle for an Irish Republic.

It is also right that we extend our support and solidarity to those Republican prisoners on protest in Maghaberry gaol.

Today is a time for each of us to remember two men, Jim Lynagh and Pádraig McKearney, who have given their lives in pursuit of our republican ideals and goals; two men who were close friends and comrades to some of you gathered here. It is a time to remember the sacrifices endured by their families. It is also a time for reflecting on the ideals which motivated Jim and Pádraig.

Republicans often recall the words of the 1916 Proclamation - an historic document - one of the most progressive documents of its time.

It spells out the demands for national self-determination, for social and economic justice and democracy, of cherishing all the children of the nation equally, of claiming the wealth of Ireland for the people of Ireland.

Those who came out in 1916 and in subsequent decades were men and women of principle; men and women with a vision for a new, equal and free Ireland.

The events of 1916 are quite well known - what most people are unaware of is that the legacy of 1916 led to an intense class struggle which was waged in the years between 1918 and 1923. There were 5 general strikes in southern and western Ireland between August 1918 and August 1923. Workplace occupations and land seizures began taking place and in Limerick city and other areas, workers’ soviets were declared.

The war for independence unleashed struggles by workers and small farmers for control of factories and the breaking up of large ranches. The revolt for Irish independence became a revolt of the exploited classes against their domestic oppressors as well.

That is a legacy of 1916 which is seldom mentioned – it is a legacy which all Republicans, socialists and other progressives would do well to remember, commemorate and to emulate in coming years.

The teachings of James Connolly are as relevant today as when he was alive. His socialism is ageless and as Republicans, as socialists, we must strive to ensure that the relevance of his political teachings is kept alive in Ireland today and in the future. Connolly would never have accepted the dictum from any political party that “labour must wait”. The Irish working class, the men and women of no property who for generations have been the backbone of the republican struggle, have been waiting in vain for too many years.

The two states on this island which were created through partition were, and still remain, hostile to the interests of Irish workers and have acted against the struggles of Irish workers time and time again.

The total unemployed across the 32 counties is heading towards 600,000, many thousands of others who are employed are facing wage-cuts and are hanging on to their jobs and their family homes by their very fingertips. Thousands of our young people are again being forced abroad as economic migrants.

It goes without saying what the position of Connolly would have been on present day trade union leaders who fail their members day and daily in this country at a time when capitalism is in crisis and when the working class, the unemployed, the ill, the elderly and the young are under attack across the whole island.

It also goes without saying what the position of Connolly would have been to those political parties who claim to espouse working class and republican teachings but who endorse partition and who spend their time knocking on the doors of the right-wing establishment parties seeking coalition government.

He knew only too well that partition would lead to a carnival of reaction, and that carnival of reaction has been in full flow in recent years.

In view of the events in Ireland and elsewhere; the economic crisis caused by the greed of bankers, private landlords and property speculators, culminating in the intervention by the EU and IMF in the 26 Counties; and the 4 billion pounds of cuts due to be implemented by the incoming Stormont Coalition; it is clear that the message of Connolly remains as true today as it was over a century ago when he concluded his pamphlet, Labour, Nationality and Religion, in the simplest and most straightforward terms: “The day has passed for patching up the capitalist system, it must go.”

Ireland remains divided by imperialism. The livelihoods of the vast majority of Irish people are controlled by undemocratic capitalist forces which stretch from this island to London, to Washington and Brussels. They are no different to those same undemocratic controlling forces which the Citizens Army together with the Irish Volunteers and other progressive forces mobilised against almost a century ago. They are no different to the same undemocratic controlling forces which Jim, Pádraig and their comrades mobilised against during their life-times.

Today, those undemocratic forces, are supported, both North and South, by a pliant, subservient and self-serving political class. The extent of that subservience can be seen clearly in the manner of their meekness to the dictates of the EU/IMF. It can be seen in the giveaway of our natural resources – the profits from which are destined to line the pockets of Shell, Statoil and BP, not too forget the pockets of our own modern-day William Martin Murphy: Tony O’Reilly. Instead those resources could and should be nationalised for the benefit of all the people.

The extent of that subservience by the political class can be seen in the fawning welcome being given to the visit by the honorary head of the British armed forces while Britain maintains its grip on the Six Counties and engages in war elsewhere in the world. And on that point, comrades, I would strongly urge each of you to make your way to Dublin and elsewhere this week to join in the various protests that are being organised against this visit.

The subservience of the modern political class can be seen in their daily collaboration with Britain, in their lack of active opposition to repressive and draconian British laws as they endorse and support a British police force, and their lack of opposition to Britain’s deployment of its troops “in mufti” throughout the Six Counties.

I have stated publicly before and I will re-iterate it again today - Those who support and endorse the structures of partition have placed themselves firmly in the camp of the counter-revolution.

Those counter-revolutionary forces have, to quote James Connolly, “unceasingly strove to divert the public mind upon the lines of constitutional agitation for such reforms as might remove irritating and unnecessary officialism, while leaving untouched the basis of national and economic subjection.”

Make no mistake about this, comrades, over the next five years as the centenary year of the Easter Rising draws near, the forces of counter-revolution will embark upon an unprecedented revisionist propaganda campaign aimed at trying to persuade the public mind that the objectives of 1916 have been secured through the partition of our country.

We must be prepared to confront and to challenge that propaganda campaign both north and south. We must again educate others into the nature of our struggle; that our struggle is not based on a narrow-minded nationalism; it is about achieving real political freedom, it is about delivering social justice, it is about economic equality for all.

As Irish Republicans, we must again assert, like Connolly, that “the Irish question is a social question, the whole age-long fight of the Irish people against their oppressors resolves itself, in the last analysis into a fight for the mastery of the means of life, the sources of production, in Ireland.”

While we are gathered here to pay tribute to fallen comrades, let me make it clear that I do not pretend, or presume to know, what the thoughts or attitudes of Jim and Pádraig would be on the present situation, or indeed, on any of the developments which have impacted upon our struggle over the last number of years. There are others present here who knew Jim and Pádraig well, both as close friends and as close comrades, and who are better placed than me to do so.

However, there is one fact that I can state with certainty. The objectives to which Jim, Pádraig and many others pledged their allegiance; the objectives for which they gave their lives are the same objectives which were clearly and unmistakably enunciated through the IRB Proclamation of 1867, the 1916 Proclamation and the Democratic Programme of 1919. Comrades, those objectives have not been achieved. Settling for anything less than the complete achievement of those Republican objectives was never an option for those whom we remember and honour today.

The business of establishing a free, sovereign and independent Irish Republic remains unfinished. Even the most cursory reading of those three documents reveals that the goals and objectives of those who fought, were imprisoned and who were executed are far from complete.

While today we commemorate the 24th anniversary of the state executions of Jim, Pádraig and their comrades, more importantly we must commit ourselves to continue the struggle for a democratic, independent, and sovereign Irish Republic. An Ireland whose total resources will come under the control of the ordinary working people of this island regardless of gender, religion or race - a truly free Ireland. That is our objective. To settle for anything else dishonours the vision of those we commemorate today.

Many previous generations of Republicans experienced dark and dispiriting times. They, too, experienced betrayal, division and defeat of the Republican cause. They responded by re-engaging in various facets of the struggle, by re-organising and by building new networks and new alliances with other progressive and radical forces in order to try and bring about revolutionary change.

We must do likewise. But we must also be realistic. Republicanism is once again divided and maintaining that division is central to the strategies of the enemies of radical Irish Republicanism.

We must seek to overcome that division. In attempting to do so, we can learn from and adapt the experiences of others. When we look at those who have inspired us individually and who have inspired us, collectively, as Republicans, we find that they all have certain things in common. It matters little if those who inspired us were part of our own struggle, like Jim or Pádraig, James Connolly or Tom Clarke; it matters little whether they were part of other struggles in Europe, Africa, Asia, or Latin America. The people who inspire us as Republicans all had an unquenchable desire for justice and freedom; they all shared a deep love and appreciation of humanity; they all had a willingness to step forward and be in the forefront of struggle no matter where it was and no matter what danger they brought upon themselves.

Those who inspired us also shared another common feature from which we must learn. We must learn from their ability to analyse, their ability and willingness to identify and to organise against the guilty in society no matter how great or how powerful.

But above all else, we must learn that these people offered practical solutions in extremely difficult times; solutions that made sense to the working man and woman, the tenant, the landless labourer, to the small farmer, to the oppressed and the exploited. And because they offered solutions which made sense, they provided hope, inspiration and leadership and built their movements from that solid basis. We must therefore also learn that it is not enough to analyse, it is not enough to criticise – we too must provide viable alternatives to the status quo and bring forward solutions which will make sense and will offer hope and inspiration to others.

That is the task before us today, tomorrow and every day after that. It is not an easy one, nor are there any quick fixes. The task for each of us is to help build a new Republican and revolutionary potential to drive that vision of a new Irish Republic forward and to re-awaken the inherent desire for true political, social and economic freedom and justice that exists among all people, young and old alike, in our villages, towns and cities, in our workplaces, in every one of our communities.

96 years ago, during his oration at the grave of O’Donovan Rossa on August 1st 1915, Padraic Pearse said these words: “The Defenders of this Realm have worked well in secret and in the open. They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything.”

Pearse, Connolly and their comrades were soon to prove such thinking to be completely wrong. Today, a similar thinking and assessment of Republicanism pervades the mindset of the British government. It is the same mindset which exists in the establishment parties of both the Six and Twenty Six Counties. It is the mindset which exists among those who have accepted a two state partitionist settlement and who seek to demonise and criminalise those of us who oppose partition and the corrupt, unjust political, economic and social systems which partition has spawned. As we leave here today, comrades, let us go armed with the firm intention of proving such thinking by Britain and her collaborators in Ireland to be completely wrong again.

Let us remember Jim and Pádraig, our fallen comrades and our friends with pride, not for the sake of remembrance only, but so that their example will encourage us all to continue to struggle onwards to achieve their vision of a free, and truly independent, 32 county Irish Socialist Republic.

Beirigí bua, comrades. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile.

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest190511.html

Thursday 19 May 2011

End Internment of Marian Price Now


Rúnaí ginearálta éirígí Breandán Mac Cionnaith has said the move by the British government to revoke the release license of Belfast republican Marian Price is indicative of the perilous position many republican ex-prisoners are living under.

Despite being granted bail in a Derry court earlier today [Monday], Price was detained after British secretary of state Owen Patterson revoked her release licence. She will now appear in court via video link on June 9.

Mac Cionnaith said: “The deplorable decision to incarcerate Marian Price under a decades’ old licence is evidence of the Damocles’ sword the British government continues to hold over the heads of republican ex-prisoners.

“In effect, what the British government is saying is that, if you don’t toe the line, or at the very least stay silent, it has the power to make you stay silent. This is akin to the Defence of the Realm Act which the British government used to habitually incarcerate Irish republicans in the aftermath of the Easter Rising.

“Those republican ex-prisoners living under licence would never have been imprisoned in the first place had it not been for Britain’s interference in Ireland’s affairs and its creation of an armed conflict here. Threatening to return these people to prison if they are deemed to have spoken out of turn is simply heaping injustice upon massive injustice.”

Mac Cionnaith added: “The legislation which allows for the repeated incarceration of republican ex-prisoners, without trial or conviction, should be repealed immediately and the people concerned allowed to get on with their lives.

“The first step in this process should be the immediate release of Marian Price and Martin Corey from Lurgan, who is being interned under the same legislation.”

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest160511_2.html

Saturday 14 May 2011

éirígí Poll 2,062 Votes in West Belfast

éirígí candidates in the Six County local government elections today [Monday] polled more than 2,000 votes in West Belfast.

Pádraic Mac Coitir, who was standing the Upper Falls constituency, polled 1,415 votes [11.3 per cent], while John McCusker, who was standing in the Lower Falls constituency, polled 647 votes [6.6 per cent].

John McCusker said: “Despite claims to the contrary, it has now been proven beyond fear of contradiction that éirígí has a large support base in west Belfast.

“Last Thursday, more than 2,000 people took the effort to go out and declare their support for éirígí, its strategy and the politics of socialist republicanism. On behalf of éirígí, I would like to thank these people and encourage them to get onto the streets in opposition to the cuts in the time ahead.

“The republican struggle is, slowly but surely, being rebuilt and today was another positive development in that process.

“Others brought huge financial resources, the influence of the corporate media and all the methods of black propaganda and demonisation to this election campaign. éirígí brought the politics of socialist republicanism and the dedication and determination of our members and supporters. We are proud of our campaign and the result it has achieved.

“éirígí will continue to campaign for the rights of the working people of west Belfast and for the political, social and economic liberation of all the working people of this country.”

Pádraic Mac Coitir added: “When éirígí entered this election campaign, its objective was to demonstrate a significant support base for socialist republican politics in west Belfast. Today, it is undeniable that such a support base exists in large numbers.

“I would like to thank all those republicans and socialists who came out to vote for éirígí and the politics we espouse. A vote for éirígí was a vote against the cuts, a vote against partition and a vote for a radical socialist republican alternative; large numbers of people have responded to that message in a positive manner.

“I would also like to thank the many, many republican activists who devoted so much time over the last number of weeks in fighting an effective, coherent campaign for éirígí. The contribution from every single one of them was invaluable.”

He continued: “éirígí fought this campaign on the basis that real change – an end to British rule, an end to poverty and the achievement of national independence and socialism – will not be secured through the ballot box. Our analysis remains the same.

“We must organise on the streets, in our communities and in our workplaces to build a movement for real change. We hope that all those who voted éirígí in this election, and the massive amounts of people who decided not to vote, will join this campaign in the time ahead.

Today, the support for a radical, socialist republican alternative has been demonstrated unequivocally.”