Ferris addresses Easter 1916 commemoration at Drumcliffe

SINN Féin TD Martin Ferris was the guest speaker at this year’s 1916 commemoration in Ennis. There was a large turnout of party members and supporters and a special welcome was extended to the relatives of one of the men buried in the republican plot in Drumcliffe Cemetery and others who lost relatives in the republican movement.
In his oration the Kerry North/West Limerick deputy said, “We are here to remember the men and women who fought in 1916. I especially want to welcome the relatives of our fallen comrades who are here with us today. We remember their vision, courage, determination and commitment – commitment to justice for all and the common good. The Proclamation of the Republic was revolutionary in its time and is still revolutionary today.”
He added, “This state in its early decades ensured hundreds of thousands had to emigrate, that the poor were not educated properly, that the elderly were condemned to institutional homes and women and children were put into institutions, with the compliance of government and the church. It also ensured we had a political class who served their own interests instead of the common good and we are not much better off today.
“The revolution of the women and men of 1916 was carried forward by men and women of subsequent generations. Today we have agreements and the assembly in the north but not yet full freedom so we have to continue the struggle to realise the vision of the proclamation. There are criminals who were involved in the destruction of the economy walking the streets, they have ensured that thousands have to emigrate each week. They are responsible for economic treason and the robbery of the working people of the country. We have to change all that, we have to ensure the common good will prevail over individual greed, we have to ensure all the children of the nation are cherished equally.”
He described the presence of thousands of republications at commemorations all over the county, including those in Ennis as, “an indication of our commitment to what we are about to do and what we will bring about”.
He outlined, “Sinn Féin now have 14 TDs and three senators and we are in government in the north. People are coming to our message because we stand by the 1916 proclamation and the democratic programme of the first Dáil, we stand by a republic which will bring about freedom, justice and equality for all our people. Our challenge is to bring about the ideals, aims and objectives of all the men and women who fought for freedom and justice down through the years, to bring about a united Ireland, economic and social justice for all our people, living for the common good.”
Deputy Ferris concluded by calling on those present to redouble their efforts in the time ahead, saying, “So let’s leave here today determined to live up to the commitment of the proclamation and knowing that the corrupt bankers, developers and the political elite have been cast into the dust bin of history and that we Irish republicans will help lift people back onto their feet, and build an Ireland that we and our patriot dead can be proud of.”