NIFC Interview of Sinn Fein President Ruairi O'Bradaigh

by damien Wed Nov 08, 2006 19:30

A Real Republican

ON Saturday October 21, I attended a book launch sponsored by Indiana University Press at O’Lunney’s restaurant in Manhattan. The book, called Ruairi O’Bradaigh, The Life and Politics of an Irish Revolutionary, was the product of 20 years research by author Robert W. White, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and professor of sociology.

Dr. White’s comments at the event drew a clear distinction between Mr. O’Bradaigh’s position as the leader of the Irish Republican movement for the last 36 years, and Gerry Adams’ position as leader of a political party whose main agenda is sharing power in a British sectarian statelet demanding equal rights.

Mr. O’Bradaigh came to public notice at the 1970 Sinn Fein Ard Fheis (convention) when he and fellow Republicans walked out after irreconcilable differences over the 1918 Republican principle of abstention and separation from British partitioned administrations. They took with them the Sinn Fein constitution intact and its defense of the 32 county Irish Republic established in 1919 by the sovereign will of the Irish electorate.

The organization was renamed Provisional Sinn Fein and Mr. O’Bradaigh was elected its first president and held that position until succeeded by Adams in 1983. The anti-abstentionist faction became known as Official Sinn Fein.

Little did O’Bradaigh know at the time that he and fellow Republicans would be forced to do a repeat performance at the 1986 Provisional Sinn Fein Ard Fheis over the same issue of abstention. Again they walked out with the Sinn Fein constitution intact and reconvened as Republican Sinn Fein. He was again elected president and still holds that position today.

Not only did the Provisionals join Leinster House in Dublin, but also Stormont and Westminster in 1998. According to Provisional Sinn Fein Councilor Francie Molloy, they are now “prepared to administer British rule in Ireland for the foreseeable future. The very principle of partition is accepted.”

Journalist Ed Moloney, who wrote the forward to the book, also provides another detailed account of the Provisionals’ gradual departure from Republicanism into six county community egalitarianism in his recent book A Secret History of the IRA.

The Provisionals’ political rivals north and south still refer to them as Republicans, but that self-serving misnomer aids the rivals in gloating over the apparent defeat of Irish Republicanism and Sinn Fein’s absorption into a partitionist Assembly rather than remaining opposed to its existence.

The two partitioned states in Ireland were created by the British in order to suppress the infant 32 county Irish Republic. By definition, Irish Republicanism and British imperialism are diametrically opposed.

For over two centuries Irish Republicans have resisted the illegal and illegitimate British occupation, and since 1918 Republican Sinn Fein has guarded its Republican principles in support of the sovereign and free 32 county Ireland.

Vic Sackett

by "real republican" Thu Nov 09, 2006 12:03

i didnt know gerry adams attennded this!! as he is the president of sinn féin and a "real republican". victory to the shinners!!!!

by KD Mon Nov 20, 2006 21:19

Real Republican??? Gerry Adams? Victory to the shinners??? Since when has a sell out been seen as victory?

Victory to the Psni shinners more like.