Ireland: More reports on commemoration of the Easter Rising
There have been more reports on activities in commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland.
We have previously shared a report on a commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, on the 31st of March. We now share some videos of the commemoration:
We also share an unofficial translation of a report by Tjen Folket Media on a commemoration of the Irish Republican leader Seamus Costello.
Ireland: Commemoration for Seamus Costello
Tjen Folket Media has been present at a procession and memorial for the Irish republican leader Seamus Costello (1939-1977) who was murdered by traitors to the republican movement in Ireland. He was only 38 years old.
This year’s commemoration was held in Wicklow where Costello was born and where he is now buried. Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland, non-aligned republicans and the Glasgow Republican Flute Band (GRFB) attended the commemoration. The flag bearers of the AIA walked in front, after that came the GRFB and accompanied the march, and the participants went in procession up to the graveyard under a banner with a quote from Seamus Costello: “I owe my allegiance to the working class”.
At the grave of Seamus Costello a veteran of the republican movement held a speech, in which parallels were made between the Irish and the Palestinian resistance struggle. The speaker also emphasized Costello’s leadership in the socialist republican movement and talked about the red thread from Connolly to Costello.
Another speaker spoke about the meaning of the document: “Proclamation of the Republic” which was made during the Easter Rising in 1916. The speaker spoke about how the proclamation as clearly affected by the Marxist Connolly, and that the proclamation was as valid today as it was in 1916.
Tjen Folket Media talked with many participants and one of them explained why he participates:
“I’m from Scotland, but I come here every Easter for [supporting] the Republican cause. We are here to remember Seamus Costello and other martyrs like Connolly. ”
The commemoration was characterized by a fighting and serious attitude.
A veteran of the Republican movement told Tjen Folket Media about the importance of the struggle and a little about the recent house occupations in Ireland:
“I was 16 years old in 1966, when Seamus Costello held a speech for the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising. This was as Connolly said: ‘the slave’s awakening’. […] On the 1st of May, we took over an empty building, and we called it James Connolly House. People die, from pneumonia, at the doorsteps of such buildings. The first thing we felt when we entered was the warmth.
This was a suitable tribute to James Connolly, because the homeless stood with us until we were arrested, and I remember a teenage girl with one of our posters with our slogan ‘housing for everyone’. When I saw the girl, I saw a dedication on her face. This gives new life force to the people, because the struggle is above everything, this is what Costello and Connolly meant by ‘the slave’s awakening’.”
The veteran concluded by emphasizing the importance of the Socialist Republican leaders:
“We are here because Costello and Connolly said it as it was, without making it depressing, and told people how to solve the [problems]. They are an example of leadership, knowing one’s place, as one in a leadership position, and developing the talents of comrades.”
Ireland x 6
