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A crowd of about 40 people
attended the Concerned Group for Republican Prisoners (CGRP) Seán Sabhat
Commemoration in Limerick yesterday. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the
Republican Prisoners and on behalf of the Limerick CGRP. A wreath was
also laid on Patrick Sheehy's grave on behalf of Kerry CGRP. A message
was read out on behalf of the Republican Prisoners Group on the E4
Landing in Portlaoise and a short speech was given by the CGRP
Treasurer.
The commemoration ended with the playing of the National Anthem.
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Oration Given at Commemoration By CGRP Treasurer
A Chairde agus a Chomraidai,
Ta failte roimh ar fad anseo inniu nuair a chuimhnion muid ar Seán
Sabhat,Oglach na hEireann a fuair bas ar son saoirse na hEireann.
Just before midnight on December 31, 1956, the Pearse column of the IRA,
led by Limerickman Seán Sabhat drove by lorry up from County Monaghan to
the RUC barracks at the border village of Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh.
Theirs was one of the first attacks of the Border Campaign. Whatever the
plan was for that night, however, it was foiled when the guards at the
barracks spotted their approach. A fierce gun battle took place and two
IRA Volunteers were fatally wounded.
Their comrades retreated with them to a stone barn at the Attawark
crossroads between Brookeborough and Roslea. Despite first aid efforts
Seán Sabhat, the leader of the unit, and Fergal O Hanlon from Monaghan,
died during the night.He is buried here in this cemetery as are Paddy
Mulcahy and Art Larkin,both lifelong Republicans.
A chairde,if there were more Irish men and women like Sean Sabhat I
doubt we'd still have British rule in the 6 counties today.
We owe it to Sean Sabhat and all the other men and women who died in the
struggle for Irish freedom to carry on in the task of national
liberation,we must finish the work that they were so tragically
interrupted in.
Its not good enough to sit in the pubs singing 'Fields of Athenrye' or
even 'Sean South from Garryowen'.Its not good enough to just pay lip
service to our Republican martyrs and its definitely not good enough to
think that someone else is going to do the work.
The life of a Republican is not an easy one,but that is part of the
sacrifices that have to be made,many,like Sean Sabhat have sacrificed so
much more and we must never forget that.
Also I would like you all to remember the men who have sacrificed their
freedom on our and our beloved countries behalf,we send solidarity
greetings to the Republican Prisoners Group on E4 Landing Portlaoise.
We also send solidarity greetings to all politcal prisoners in Ireland
and all over the world.
A chairde,in this new year we in the Concerned Group for Republican
Prisoners will continue to support the POWs on E4 and their families ,
both morally and financially.We will continue to oppose and are willing
to support any other Republican organisations who continue to oppose the
criminalisation of Republican POWs.
In 2006 we will work harder than ever towards our goals - the welfare of
the POWs,Political Status,the John Brady Campaign - and the ultimate
goal of National Liberation.Anyone who considers themselves proud to be
an Irish Republican should join us in this task.
50 years on and the Brits are still only a couple of hundred kilometres
up the road.There are people who are happy enough with that
situation,well we're not.We're not English so why should we have the
Union Jack flying over part of our country?Why should we have to put up
with colonialism?In the twenty first century?
The Brits have to get out,we will never stop until they get out.And to
hell with anyone who thinks otherwise!
Tiocfaidh ar La a Chairde,
Beir Bua!
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