WITH the row over the naming of the Ennis Sinn Féin cumann continuing, over 100 relatives of Peadar Clancy have signed a petition requesting that his name not be linked to any political party.
The Ennis cumann is named after Peadar Clancy (the Cranny man killed while in custody at Dublin Castle during the War of Independence) and Mairead Farrell (the Provisional IRA member shot dead by British soldiers at Gibraltar in 1988).
This week Michael Neylon, a grand nephew of Clancy’s said that many of the family are opposed to his name being used by a political party.
“One hundred and six people have signed, that’s between grand nieces, grand nephews, great grand nieces and great grand nephews. That’s what makes up that number.”
He said that many of those who have signed are from Clare, where nine families have links to Clancy.
Mr Neylon said that those who signed were very happy to do so.
“They had no problem in the world. The wording basically said that ‘We the descendants of Peadar Clancy do not wish Peadar’s name to be associated or used or linked to any political party’.”
While Sinn Féin has cited a relative who has said she is happy with the naming of the Cumann, Mr Neylon said that among Clancy’s relatives that position is not widely shared.
“I have stated and will state quite clearly, that I’m not doing this as an individual, I’m doing this on behalf of 106 relatives and this petition empowers me to speak on behalf of the Clancy family.”
He said he has written to Sinn Féin and is happy to meet with the party on the issue.
“In all the emails I have stated to them that I have no difficulty meeting as long as I know what we are meeting about.
“At all stages I have asked them to provide evidence that they have consent from the family.
“They have never, ever intimated who or what family connection it was that gave them the consent that they say they have.”
He accused the cumann’s chairman Tommy Guilfoyle of launching a personal attack on him through social media in recent days.
Speaking to the Clare Champion on Tuesday, Mr Guilfoyle denied he had done so.
“What I would say is that there has been language used online by persons who are part of the Crowe campaign and it has caused hurt to the Clancy family members that we know.
“In response to that I highlighted the fact that some of the language used might be seen as bully-boy or misogynistic.”
He said that Sinn Féin is open to meeting representatives of those who have signed the petition.
“Since the beginning of Cathal Crowe’s campaign, we have been made aware that there are family members who have signed a petition.
“We have offered to meet representatives of them numerous times and that offer remains open, in the most respectful and polite manner possible.”
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.