40th Anniversary of death of Martin O'Leary

national | miscellaneous | event notice Monday June 13, 2011 12:43 by Malachy Steenson - Workers Party

Join us in Cork on Saturday 2nd July 2011 as we celebrate Martin's life and recall his struggle, examine his legacy and look at the situation today with imposed austerity, ongoing theft of our natural resources and the planned sell-off of public assets.

We will be holding a commemorative event followed by a seminar and, later, by a social event. More details will be circulated and uploaded on this page nearer the date.".

Poster

"Volunteer Martin O'Leary was a member of Official Sinn Féin and the Cork Command of the IRA who was kiilled after a tragic accident at Silvermines, County Tipperary in July 1971 while his unit was taking action to defend striking miners who were locked out of their jobs in a bitter dispute over the unfair dismissal of a fellow miner. In his early 20s, Martin, a native of Ballyphehane in Cork City, died on 6th July 1971 in a Limerick hospital. He is buried in the Republican Plot at St. Finbarr's Cemetery, Cork.

Martin died in the struggle against vicious physical attacks on workers by strikebreaking scabs working for a major multinational. Mogul Mines, in a shabby deal with the Irish government, mined and exported metal ore from Silvermines, leaving behind dangerously polluted lands and streams when they left in 1992. Workers rights were trampled on and Ireland's resources were stolen as they continue today at Rossport in Co. Mayo and off our coasts.

Join us in Cork on Saturday 2nd July 2011 as we celebrate Martin's life and recall his struggle, examine his legacy and look at the situation today with imposed austerity, ongoing theft of our natural resources and the planned sell-off of public assets.

We will be holding a commemorative event followed by a seminar and, later, by a social event. More details will be circulated and uploaded on this page nearer the date.".