Edentubber commemoration: ‘Republican vision offers us the hope of a better future’

The Chairperson of the Assembly Justice Committee and her Party’s Spokesperson on Justice, Victims & Legacy also told those present that modern and progressive Irish Republicanism has had to evolve and change.

Republicans have annually for over six decades gathered at Edentubber to remember the events of that morning in November 1957 when five Republicans lost their lives at this spot in a small cottage close to the border. The men have since become known in Irish republican folk history as the Edentubber Martyrs.

The five who died at Edentubber, were Michael Walters, who was the owner of the cottage, Paul Smith from Bessbrook, Oliver Craven from Newry and Patrick Parle and George Keegan from Wexford.

Ms Dillon said, “These Volunteers from opposite ends of our country brought together at this place bound by a desire to end partition and British Rule in our country.

"At their funeral - John Joe McGirl, Sinn Féin TD for Sligo/Leitrim, delivered the graveside oration.

"In the course of it he said: ‘The tragedy which brought to a sudden end the lives of five great Irishmen is a tragedy of the Irish nation, the tragedy of an Ireland that is unfree and divided. These men came from the North and the South to join together to end the tragedy of our nation and our people’.

“The journey that brought those IRA Volunteers to Edentubber that night was one of hope and one of change.

"They saw like we do that the Republican vision offers us the hope of a better future based on the fundamental change to the status quo.

"That vision has been consistent in whatever phase of struggle and in whatever era since the partition of our island and the artificial division of our people.”

The Sinn Féin MLA continued, “Modern and progressive Irish Republicanism has had to evolve and change – otherwise you become irrelevant and the cause which you aspire to becomes irrelevant also.

“We as republicans are about the future.

“I have repeatedly said I believe that Irish Reunification is within touching distance.

“But I also believe that Republicans alone cannot grasp it.

“What we need is an alliance of change makers who see a better future for them and their children, a future based upon equality and opportunity.

“And that is why it is our job to move beyond the conversation and start the planning for unity.

“Irish unity is the big idea – hope and change are the pathway to get there.

“Our job is to create the space for everyone who wants to grasp that opportunity of a better future, of better opportunities of historic change to join with us in grabbing that prize and see change makers become history makers.”

Commenting about the upcoming election on November 29, the Sinn Féin elected representative said, “The election in three weeks is another crucial milestone on the road to reunification.

“We need to leave no stone unturned, no door unknocked, no opportunity wasted to set out to the people our vision of the future.

“Change can happen. 100 years of Fianna Fail/Fine Gael rule can be ended. That is the stakes we are playing for here.

“When the island was partitioned and carved up between a sectarian elite in the north and a deeply conservative one in the South they genuinely believed that the Republican vision set out on the steps of the GPO in 1916 had been defeated.

“How stupid were they. No amount of censorship, or vilification by the political and media establishments would ever and will ever defeat an idea.

“An idea of Ireland united, an Ireland that can house its citizens, treat its sick, educate its children and look after its needy is one that the political establishment fears”.

Ms Dillon told those present that “there is an historic opportunity in front of us”.

She added: “We need to grasp that opportunity – seize that prize and see change makers become history makers.

“When Paul, Oliver, Patrick and George went on a journey to Michael Watters’ small cottage here on that morning 67 years ago Ireland was a very different place.

“The Republican struggle was in a very different place. But the vision that guided them on that journey is the vision that’s guides us.

“We have to be the generation that completes the journey.”