Tag Archives: Sinn Féin

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 …

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 …

DEPUTY Cathal Crowe has said he intends to raise a Clare family’s objection to the naming of the Ennis Sinn Féin Cumann in the Dáil. The cumann is named after Peadar Clancy (the Cranny native who fought in 1916 and was killed during the War of Independence) and Mairead Farrell (a Provisional IRA volunteer, shot dead in disputed circumstances at Gibraltar in 1988). Deputy Crowe has recently re-engaged in an online spat with local Sinn Féin members, for the second time in the past two months, and he told the Clare Champion that surviving relatives of Peadar Clancy are unhappy about his name being linked with the party. “Michael Neylon is a grandnephew of Peadar Clancy, who didn’t have his own children, so Michael and other grandnephews and grandnieces are the closest surviving relatives. “Michael has contacted most if not all of them, and everyone he has contacted has the same view, that they do not want Peadar Clancy’s name …

CLARE TD Cathal Crowe has publicly rowed with Ennis Sinn Féin in recent days, over the naming of the Peadar Clancy Mairead Farrell Cumann. Originally from Cranny, Peadar Clancy was killed on Bloody Sunday, in November 1920 and Deputy Crowe was involved in a Facebook spat this week with the Ennis Sinn Fein Cumann over the use of his name. “I think it’s disrespectful and insensitive to the surviving members of Peadar Clancy’s family. They’ve made it clear that they don’t consent to his name being used, they’ve written to Sinn Féin headquarters and their complaints have been ignored. “Normally I would confine my political debating with Sinn Féin to the Dáil chamber but I do place a high value on history and historic accuracy. I don’t see how the Sinn Féin cumann in Ennis can in any way claim lineage or connection to Peadar Clancy and I think it’s disrespectful that they continue to do so with his family …

A SINN Fein senator has said he believes the party will be able to stop the transit of American troops through Shannon if it does take power. At last week’s Sinn Féin Ard Fheis amotion was passed recognising “those protesting the use of Shannon airport by the US military, in highlighting attempts to erode our neutrality”. While there have been protests against the US use of the airport for many years, the fact the Sinn Féin endorses them is potentially significant, with the party topping opinion polls consistently. Speaking to the Clare Champion this week Limerick-based Senator Gavan said, “I want to see a thriving commercial airport at Shannon and I’ve been on record, along with others in Sinn Féin, for a number of years, in putting forward positive proposals in giving Shannon a far better, brighter future. We’re very focused on that. “We’re equally clear that the US military shouldn’t be using Shannon Airport. We’re a neutral country and …

FORMER Sinn Féin TD Violet-Anne Wynne took out two loans totalling €30,626 – one to repay Sinn Féin and another one to repay Dáil allowances due to her reduced attendance as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. The Independent Deputy, who resigned from Sinn Féin last February, confirmed her former political party approved a €12,126 loan as it wanted the issue concerning rent arrears due to Rural Resettlement Ireland to be resolved after details about these difficulties emerged on the eve of the 2020 General Election. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Deputy Wynne outlined she took out a loan for €18,500 from another source with no connections to Sinn Féin, to repay Dáil allowances, which are now fully repaid. The Kilrush-based mother-of-six created a political sensation by becoming the first Sinn Féin candidate to win a Dáil seat in almost 100 years after securing 8,987 first preferences in the 2020 General Election. Dáil deputies are paid a series of …

‘ARROGANCE’ on the part of government was sharply criticised, by a Clare TD, during a debate on a new concrete levy, proposed as a method of funding the defective concrete blocks grant scheme.  A private members’ motion, tabled by Sinn Féin, called for the levy to be scrapped and the suppliers of the defective products to be pursued vigorously for redress. While a promise to modify the terms of the levy in the forthcoming Finance Bill was enough to secure the support of backbenchers, including Deputies Cathal Crowe and Joe Carey, for the government’s position, there was stinging criticism from Clare’s Independent TDs. Deputy Michael McNamara asserted that the law underpinning the new scheme – which is to include Clare and Limerick – was badly drafted. He recalled the concerns of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) at the scant level of pre-legislative scrutiny, and his own calls for legal action to be taken against suppliers. “At the time the …

HEATED exchanges characterised the first stage of a private members Dáil motion last night (October 4), urging government to scrap the proposed 10% levy on concrete products. The charge was outlined in Budget 2023 as a means of raising funds to support the revised scheme for homeowners, including those in Clare, with defective concrete blocks.  The proposal has been widely criticised by sectors including construction and farming, as well as action groups for pyrite and mica homeowners. In Clare, Dr Martina Cleary, founder of the local action group slammed the levy, saying it was letting the real culprits in the pyrite scandal off the hook.  This week Sinn Féin tabled a motion aiming to have the levy scrapped. Tuesday night’s debate was chaired by Deputy Joe Carey, in his capacity as Acting Chairperson.  Ahead of the vote on Wednesday night, Sinn Féin Councillor Donna McGettigan urged all Clare TDs to back the motion.  The Shannon representative described the plans as …