Sinn Féin ready to lead 'generation demanding change', MEP tells Drumboe Easter commemoration

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Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus told Sunday's annual Drumboe Easter Sunday commemoration that the party is ready to 'lead government'.

The Sligo-based Midlands North West MEP delivered the main oration at Sunday's event.

In June, Sinn Féin is running the largest number of candidates in the local elections, 18 of whom are standing in electoral areas across Donegal – something MacManus said is a 'statement of intent'.

The local elections will precede a General Election that is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2025

“We are determined that Sinn Fein will lead a government in Dublin,” MacManus said.

“A new generation, demanding change, is stepping forward because this is a tired Fianna Fail-Fine Gael government that is running out of road.

“Housing is out of reach because this is a government out of touch. Homeowners in Donegal and the north west can attest to that because of their failure to commit to 100 per cent redress”

During a 12-minute oration, MacManus told the crowd that he believes a referendum on Irish unity could take place 'before the end of the decade'.

He said: “More and more people are now considering the future and the shape of constitutional change. The reunification of Ireland is firmly on the table.

“We can no longer sustain two separate tax regimes, legal systems, economies, health and education service. All-island integration is vital for the development of public services, investment and economic development, social inclusion and diversity.

“Unity will benefit all of our people north and south, unlocking the potential of the island.”

The Chair of the Drumboe Commemoration Committee, Maria Doherty, said of those who fought in the Easter Rising in 1916: “Their sacrifice reawakened the spirit of the nation and Irish people and they rallied once again to the Republican ideal.”

The Drumboe Martyrs - Charlie Daly, Sean Larkin, Daniel Enright and Timothy O’Sullivan - were executed in Drumboe in 1923.

The four anti-treaty IRA volunteers were captured when their safe house was surrounded by Free State Forces and they were executed on March 14, 1923 - just six weeks before the ending of Civil War hostilities.

Ms Doherty said; “They died facing a Free State firing squad rather than accept a partitioned and unfree Ireland. We salute their valiant efforts.”

Wreaths were laid by Tony McDaid on behalf of the leadership of the Republican movement; by Sandra Haughey on behalf of the Tir Chonaill Commemoration Committee; Niamh McGuinness of the Donegal Comhairle Ceantair; Eunan Harkin of the Tyrone National Graves Association; and Ann Marie Love on behalf of the Strabane Comhairle Ceantair.

Ulick Hughes, a Sinn Féin candidate in the Letterkenny Milford area in the forthcoming local election, read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic while Dakota Nic Mheanman, a candidate for the party in the Lifford Stranorlar area, read the Tir Chonaill Roll of Honour.

Tyrone Councillor Caroline Devine read the West Tyrone Roll of Honour and Castlefin-based Donegal County Councillor Gary Doherty brought proceedings to a close by singing Amhrán na bhFiann.

The attendance included a large crowd of Sinn Féin Cumann branches from Donegal and Tyrone while Cathal McCloskey lowered the tricolour in honour of 'all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle for Irish freedom'.

MacManus said: “We recommit ourselves with the ideals and aspirations of the Proclamation as we once again listen to its noble words.

“We commit to removing the stain of partition, Britain's border in Ireland

“The division of Ireland has held back the potential of Ireland for too long. There is now a real opportunity to shape a better, more prosperous, more equal future. We now have the means to achieve an economically-strong, socially-just united Ireland.”

MacManus predicted that a United Ireland would receive the good will and support 'of the international community' and said all citizens' must have rights and be respected.

He said: “Those with British identity must be protected and respected in any unified state. We will not do to their community as they did to ours. Irish republicans are better than that.

“Diversity must be celebrated and never threatened by bigotry and hatred.”