Fianna Fail leader says he will not wear a poppy
All the coverage in relation to the commemoration of the Somme mask the real intent of the politicians and the failed Good Griday Agreement
Media release from
Des Long, Chairman
Limerick Republican Information Service
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For the attention of News Editor/Newsroom…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SOMME EVENT POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM
The admission by the leader of Fianna Fail that he would
not wear a poppy in November after the joint ceremony to
commemorate the Somme is an indication of the political
opportunism of his administration, the chairman of the
Limerick Republican Information Service said today.
Des Long said that the comment by Bertie Ahern that he
would not wear a poppy because it was not part of his
tradition goes to the core of the present attempt by his
administration to normalise British rule in Ireland.
“Let us not be fooled here, there is an agenda to
normalise British rule in the island of Ireland,”
said Mr.Long.
“All these so called joint undertakings from the police playing
Gaelic football with the PSNI to now marking the Somme,
are all designed to erode our Republican traditions.
“There can be no justification for linking the Easter Rising of
1916 with the slaughter at the Somme –and people who do so
should be ashamed of themselves. There is no way an age old
struggle for national self-determination can be linked with an
Empire waging an imperial war.
“While he agrees with all this revisionism in relation to our
Republican history, the leader of Fianna Fail now baulks at the
wearing of the poppy. Why will he not wear it? He says it
is not in his tradition. Well honouring imperial wars of the British
Crown is certainly not in the Republican tradition of the Irish people.
“The real agenda here is the attempt by the failed Good Friday
Agreement to normalise British rule throughout the island of
Ireland. It will be resisted by all true Republicans.”
(Ends)
Issued on Wednesday 5th July 2006
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
for confirmation please contact Des Long, on (061) 343314
or e-mail contact: lris@eircom.net.
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4Des,
I don't know where your statement is coming from. The statement has made no sense at all. Can you please reply to me with answers to the below questions:
How is it "an indication of the political opportunism" by the leader of Fianna Fail, Bertie Ahern, not to wear a poppy? And what does he gain politically by doing this?
What is wrong with Bertie Ahern commenting that "he would not wear a poppy because it was not part of his tradition"? How does this go "to the core of the present attempt by his administration to normalise British rule in Ireland"?
Where does he link "the Easter Rising of 1916 with the slaughter at the Somme"?
Where is "the attempt by the failed Good Friday Agreement to normalise British rule throughout the island of Ireland”?
“the last sixteen months have been the most glorious in the history of Europe .. It is good for the world that such things should be done. The old heart of the earth needed to be warmed with the red wine of the battlefileds .. When war comes to Ireland, she must welcome if as she would welcome the Angel of God”
December 1915
Note - just months after the 16th composed of southern volunteers had lost 3/4 of its men at Suvla Bay (Gallipoli).
If Pearse could welcome such slaugher why can't nationalists today?
Thank god there are so few of these old dinosaurs still around. The link between the two is obvious to anyone with half a brain.
All this about a Sommeis the most hypocritical, Paddy Hart had two Sinn Fein councillors from Donegal over with him last year, when they launched a poppy with a shamrock in the centre of it, we were to wear this poppy to commemorate the Irish man of all religions who died in World War I. The Queen of England and the President of Ireland unveiled a round tower to these men. The President of Ireland should not done that in our name,the people of Ireland rejected the the first world war in the 1918 election and that should be respected for all time. The average age of those who died in the war, was 17 years and 8 months that is an obscenity,.
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.