The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CHAIRMAN/PRO of the Ennis Sinn Féin cumann Tommy Guilfoyle has defended its being named after Peadar Clancy and Mairead Farrell, following criticism from Clare TD Cathal Crowe.
Deputy Crowe had claimed that relatives of Clancy were opposed to his name being adopted by the Cumann, but Mr Guilfoyle said that some people connected to him are proud of the association.
In a statement to the Champion, Mr Guilfoyle said, “Ennis Sinn Féin is proudly named the ‘Peadar Clancy Mairéad Farrell Cumann’. We have held this Cumann name for over a decade and we honour both Republicans by remembering them in our Cumann name with fraternal pride and the utmost respect.
“Our members and their families have attended the Cranny Community ‘Peadar Clancy Festival’ and we would like to congratulate the community on a fantastic festival and on the very fitting memorial monument to Peadar in the heart of the community.
“Our Cumann Officers have attended the ‘1916-1921 Committee’ commemoration to Peadar, Dick McKee and Conor Clune at Dublin Castle which takes place in November each year. We have played a part in this Commemoration alongside members of Peadar’s Family from Co. Clare and beyond. We have met and talked with numerous members of Peadar’s Family at this event.
“We presented a Clare Jersey to Chris Clancy Wilson, a descendent of Peadar. When we informed Chris of the recent comments by Cathal Crowe, she sent us the following message of support and solidarity.
“The Clancy family are proud to be associated with your Cumann. Peadar was a member of Sinn Féin (SF) and he was murdered before Fianna Fáil (FF) were formed.
“Since the formation of SF our family has been active members of SF and we are proud that Peadar was effectively one of the founding fathers of the true Republican party on the Island of Ireland.
“Peadar would be turning in his grave at the state FF have left our Country in. Peadar suffered enough in his short life, but achieved so much, and this attack on his name is beneath him.
“At no point did the Crowe campaign reach out to our family and we are very upset at the fact that he is bringing this to the Dail, while the electorate, the good people of Ireland have nothing, no food, no heat, no health service and sadly no homes.
“But the Deputy deems none of society’s problems as worthy of mentioning in the Dail but can attack Peadar’s name and Sinn Féin. We, the Clancy family, ask that Mr Crowe show respect for our murdered Granduncle and let him rest in peace.”
Mr Guilfoyle said that Deputy Crowe’s recent comments on the Cumann’s name are “just another diversionary tactic to cover up his government’s failures.”
He said that hurt and offence had been caused to relatives of Peadar Clancy and to members of the Ennis Cumann, which could have been avoided if Deputy Crowe had not raised the matter on social media. He also claimed that an offer of a meeting had been spurned.
In last week’s Clare Champion Deputy Crowe also objected to Clancy being linked with Mairead Farrell, a member of the Provisional IRA killed by British forces on Gibraltar in 1988. Mr Guilfoyle said that both figures had a lot in common.
“The attacks on the character of Mairéad Farrell and our Cumanns use of Peadar’s name is a shocking form of free-statism. This revisionist censorship would be a concern for all progressively minded people.
“We never resorted to the language or tactics used by Deputy Crowe and others in this disingenuous action. Mairéad Farrell and Peadar Clancy were murdered along with two of their Comrades in very similar circumstances, they were all murdered in cold blood/executed by British Crown Forces.”
Mr Guilfoyle said that Sinn Féin carries on the ideals of Clancy, while he said Deputy Crowe should focus on his role as a TD.
“Peadar Clancy fought for freedom, equality, democracy, liberty and a 32 County Ireland. Today we carry on that struggle through democratic means, the Good Friday Agreement and people power!
“We want to put all our energy back into pushing for a change of Government, giving the people of Ireland a better standard of living, with an exemplary health service, housing system, social contract and a United Ireland. We strongly suggest that Cathal Crowe gives up his neoliberal politics, his attacks on our Cumann and knuckles down to his current job as an elected representative.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
