Successful Easter commemorations across South Derry draw huge crowds

Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin has congratulated organisers of a number of wreath laying ceremonies and commemorations across South Derry which seen big numbers in attendance across the board.

On Easter Saturday, republicans flocked to the Loup where the annual commemoration in honour of Brigadier Sean Larkin seen a particularly special celebration for the 100th anniversary of his death. A reenactment of Larkin's last moments before he was shot by a Free State firing party in Drumboe Castle was accompanied by a pagentry parade, with members in period dress.

South Armagh republican Sean Hughes addressed the crowd, making reference to the tumultuous period which followed the partition of Ireland, namely the civil war which took the lives of Sean Larkin and his three comrades at Drumboe. In the time since, politics in Ireland have changed immeasurably, and the path to a new and United republic has never been clearer. Hughes spoke of the election last May which put a republican into the office of First Minister, which obviously has been unfortunately blocked by those who cannot accept democracy. This cannot last forever and it is clear that change will not be stopped indefinitely.

The change in date of the traditional Loup commemoration was to facilitate the journey of many South Derry republicans to the very spot where Sean Larkin was killed, at a special commemoration outside Stranorlar, in Drumboe Woods. The crowd at Drumboe listened to a speech from Pearse Doherty TD, who all present agreed is likely to be the next minister for Finance in the 26 counties, and who reminded the crowd of the damage that successive conservative governments have done to the state - damage that a Sinn Féin government can and will change.