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Éirigí mark the 91st anniversary of James Connolly's execution

category national | history and heritage | news report author Saturday May 12, 2007 23:33author by Paula Geraghtyauthor email mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie

Veteran Socialist, Republican and Civil Rights campaigner, Bernadette McAliskey, addressed the assembled crowd of republicans, socialists, and various permutations thereof.
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Brian Leeson spoke how there had been a mere seven people at the previous Éirigí commemoration and how their numbers had incrementally increased on the previous year.

Bernadette McAliskey, gave encouragement to the people present, although she wasn't speaking on behalf of Éirigí. She spoke of being older, the virtues of not being wiser and reflected on what socialism means especially for Republicans. A man in the crowd, (not the one pictured below), presented her with a bouquet of flowers. She expressed a hope that more women would be involved.
Images (c)

Related Link: https://indymedia.ie/article/82516

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Bernadette McAliskey
Bernadette McAliskey

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The national anthem
The national anthem

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Comments (7 of 7)

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author by jonpublication date Sun May 13, 2007 03:32author address author phone

Keep up the good and needed work and rememberance of the liberation fighters such as James Connolly.

While we remember as socialists, we also cannot forget that present struggle for liberation is taking place in an on-going way today and during the months of May through July in the trials of five anti-war resisters in Bristol courts. The workers state in each country abolishes the oppressors war machine and that is just what the anti-war resisters are being tried for, as they sabatoged B-52 bombers and their refueling vehicles three days before the unjust, illegal Invasion of Iraq began. This just struggle is remembered as Mary Kelly and the anti-war resisters at Shannon air port are and should be remembered.

The Bristol activist-resisters have been tried once and it ended in a hung jury, so now new trials are scheduled in the next few comming months. These world heroes are exposing the war crimes of British and American Imperialism and have earned the peoples respect world wide. We need to honour our heroes and make sure that justice to the anti-fascist side is done in full. The commonwealth of workers re-news itself from such actions. Workers of the world, unite.

author by I-Magespublication date Sun May 13, 2007 09:00author address author phone

I Like the photos of Bernadette and Am glad to hear her call for more women in activism.
I hope that it is heard by more Irish Women.

Thanx

author by Susan O'Toole - member of the publicpublication date Sun May 13, 2007 15:12author address author phone

Just want to say well done to Eirigi commemorating James Connolly in this manner. Apart from the CPI, I don't know of any other organisation that marks this day. James Connolly was a true socialist and republican in every sense. Eirigi has a quote by him in their masthead on their website and they seem to be based on his philosophies and writings. That is certainly a breath of fresh air in todays political circles. Delighted to see it, hope to see more in the future.

author by Martin - Bernadette McA fanpublication date Sun May 13, 2007 15:22author address author phone

What a coup for eirigi to get Bernandette McAliskey to speak at their commemoration! She's a truly inspiring and wonderful socialist. I have checked the eirigi website but theres no audio or text of her speech, is there any chance of getting it up? The speech by the spokesperson Daithi is fantastic and I'd like to hear Bernadette's. Does this mean we'll be seeing more of eirigi on the political stage now that you've become a party? Will we be seeing more of Bernadette getting involved in your group? Hope so to both......

author by Ciarán Ó Brolcháinpublication date Sun May 13, 2007 17:11author address author phone

There's a video of a short part of Bernadette's speech up on YouTube now.

Related Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvvM3LP_qGQ
author by DSRpublication date Sun May 13, 2007 20:24author address author phone

Audio of Daithí Mac An Mháistír and Bernadette McAliskey addresses at the James Connolly commemoration, Ger O'Leary's recital of Connolly's Last Statement, as well as Brian Leeson's address to the eirigi Ard Fheis, have been added:

http://www.eirigi.org/Ard_Fheis_07/index.html

author by wonderin'publication date Mon May 14, 2007 19:39author address author phone

dublin member of the irsp claims on their forum that they were heavily represented at this event.

how much irsp involvement is there? i would think this would hurt the irsp more in the long run as this new group seems to be along the same lines idealogically and seems to be playing the seamus costello card, they clearly see themselves as a sort of early days version of the irsp, how long before they bump heads?


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