Issue 120, Saoirse: Irish Freedom (April, 1997)

              he voice of the republican movement uimh 120 aibrean — april 1997 50p usa 1 wear an easter lily honour ireland's dead cumoinn pros should submit reports and photos of easter ceremonies tosaoirse during first week of april published this month irish freedom press is delighted to announce the publication during april of dilseacht the story of comdt gen tom maguire and the second all-ireland dkil by ruairi 6 bradaigh tom maguire of cross county mayo was a remarkable man as general officer commanding the second western division of the in'sh republican army he was a guerrilla leader in the 1919-1923 phase of the war of independence in 1921 he was elected a member of the second d£il ireann for south mayo and roscommon following on the defection of cumann na ngaedheal and fianna fdil who accepted partition and the leinster house assembly the all-ireland d6h continued to function it had among its members some brilliant men and women who have largely been written out of irish history by those who abandoned the republican ideal eventually in 1938 they delegated their powers of government to the army council of the ira tom maguire was steadfast in his allegiance to the republican proclaimed in 1916 and established by the will of the people of all ireland in 1919 he died in 1993 at the age of 101 years his life story is the story of the struggle for irish freedom and democracy during almost all of the twentieth century it is told in this book vividly and carefully by ruairi 6 br&daigh president of sinn f6in poblachtach ' 	 price 4.95 paperback 8.50 hardback 	 in its easter 1997 message the leadership of the republican move $ states that the more people mobilise now the nearer will be brought tlw w of ultimate victory which is not only certain but inevitable over an outdated british colonialism the statement read at republican gravesides and monuments over the easter period printed in full on page 8 inside maintains that the revolutionary republican movement of history is intact and that its objective isclear british disengagement from ireland and a totally new ireland the statement is critical of those who present the analysis that nationalist rights and equality are sufficient aims the events of last july and august demonstrated even to middle-class nationalists that there will be no equality of treatment under british rule the london government will always favour those who support the status quo in ireland against those who do not the statement adds republican sinn fein sboycott campaign of the stormont forum elections last june has been completely justified and after nine months of'useless wrangling the stormont talks are now adjourned for another three months the statement identifies the unachieved aim of the talks as the establishment of a new stormont and anew british police force in ireland which would include former nationalists it notes that the continuity army council has carried the war to the enemy by attacking the british crown forces and by striking at economic targets in the occupied area republican prisoners who were recently transferred to portlaoise from limerick and their supporters are congratulated for having won political status in the past year after months of protest real and meaningful negotiations in ireland can only take place when the british government makes that fateful decision to quit ireland for once and for all then the irish people can decide how to live together the easter statement describes the organisations which share these objectives as the vanguard of the historic freedom struggle of the irish people republican sinn fein the irish republican army under the leadership of the continuity army council cumann na mban and fianna eireann the support of irish people at home and abroad for these organisations is needed to complete the awesome task so nobly undertaken by the men and women of easter 1 9 16 - in our time the statement concludes cabfiair annual testimonial dinner and ceilf friday may 16 1997 8pm west county hotel chapelizod co dublin 1997 honorees tomconcannon leinster joe dillon usa john joe ruane connacht mick fitzgibbon munster des cox ulster tickets available from 223 parnell street dublin 1 tel 872 9747