Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Mayor of Donegal addresses Drumkeen Hunger strike commemoration

Published: 3 August, 2010

Sinn Féin Mayor of Donegal Cora Harvery has said that the most fitting tribute to the hunger strikers of 1981 is to campaign against 'the modern injustices of today's Ireland' and for Irish unity. The first Sinn Féin Mayor of the county in over 80 years was addressing the annual hunger strike commemoration in Drumkeen on Saturday. During her speech Mayor Harvey told the crowd; "We need to build Sinn Féin across this island and campaign against the modern injustices of today's Ireland. Discrimination in today's world exists in our health system and in our dole queues. It exists in the increasing gap between the rich and the poor. It exists in our banking system and it is enforced by our corrupt government. "We need to campaign for a united Ireland free from all this corruption - the Ireland which was envisaged in Long Kesh and Armagh Gaol 29 years ago. "I know that the daily grind of working and building within communities, of organising and campaigning, can all be challenging. At times, it may even be difficult to see how your efforts fit into the bigger picture. "But that's not how Bobby Sands saw it. Bobby Sands understood better, and earlier, than most the critical importance of campaigning and working on behalf of the people. After he was released from his first prison sentence, Bobby threw himself into community activism in Belfast, bringing to the task all his legendary energy and enthusiasm. When Bobby was knocking on doors in his community of Twinbrook and agitating and organising on behalf of people, he was creating the template for the Sinn Féin activists of today. "So when you take to the campaign trail, when you apply yourself to the work of the struggle, always remember whose example you are following. That is the most fitting tribute we can pay to the hunger strikers." Críoch • The annual Drumkeen hunger strike commemoration was chaired by Letterkenny Sinn Fein councilor Gerry McMonagle. • Wreathes were laid at the Drumkeen monument by local women, Margaret Bonner and Suzanne McFadden. • Michael Kelly then read a poem by Bobby Sands. • David Doherty read out the names of the ten hunger strikers while local children laid their photographs on the monument. • A lament was then played by a member of the South Derry Martyrs RFB. • Dave Muldowney then sang 'McCreesh's Farwell'