Hunger Strikers, Guevara and McElwain inspire at youth event!

national | miscellaneous | press release

Wednesday July 19, 2006 14:31

by Ógra B - Ógra Shinn Féin

Coiste Youth Camp a great success

Up to 70 young people attended the Coiste na nIarchimí fourth Annual Youth Camp on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June. Organised under the republican ex-prisoners Processes of Nation Building Programme and funded under European Peace Funding, Campa Náisiúnta Óige took place in Sliabh Beagh Tourism Centre in County Monaghan.

Youth camp participants listen to former Hunger Striker, Laurence McKeown

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin welcomed the participants from nine counties across the island and praised the organisers for their choice of venue before formally opening proceedings.

The theme of this year's camp was Che Guevera - his Irish connection, and the 25th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike.

Sharing his memories of previous elections, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin pointed out that he had been unsuccessful in three previous election campaigns for Sinn Féin. These results, republicans in Cavan/ Monaghan found frustrating but each time they dusted themselves down, analysed where they had gone wrong and came back stronger each time.

Perseverance paid off in that Sinn Féin is now the largest party in the constituency and gained more first preference votes in the last election than the combined vote of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. This, Ó Caoláin stressed, can be achieved countrywide if activists put their mind to it.

Participants were treated to a film documentary on the life and times of Che and a presentation from the Cuba-Ireland Solidarity Network. This was followed by a short presentation by Jim McVeigh, the last O/C of republican prisoners in Long Kesh. He outlined the various roles Che had played as guerrilla fighter and later in finance and industry, helping build a new Cuba.

As well as the serious political discussion and debate, Barry Kerr and friends provided musical entertainment. Barry is rapidly becoming recognised for his song-writing talents and a voice that uncannily sounds like Dick Gaughan, the Scottish folk singer who Kerr supports on his forthcoming tour in the Six Counties.

Saturday's events began with a tour of the local area by Jimmy Cosgrove and another former O/C of republican prisoners in Long Kesh, Seán Lynch. On return to Sliabh Beagh, Lynch expanded on the tour by sharing with the participants his reminiscences of IRA Volunteer Séamas McElwain. McElwain had lived in the Sliabh Beagh area and was a close friend and comrade of Lynch.

In a poignant moment, Lynch described how both he and Séamas were intercepted by the SAS while on active service. McElwain was shot dead, some 20 minutes after his capture by the SAS and it was only through the inability of the SAS to immediately capture Lynch that saved his life.

Seán Lynch praised the involvement in politics of those who attended the Youth Camp and played down any notion that involvement in armed struggle was a glorious, romantic adventure. "Yes," he said "armed struggle was necessary and correct but it was also hard and brutal and where alternatives are available these alternatives should and must be taken up."

The day ended with Lá Spóirt Kieran Doherty. Based on the 'Laughter Of Our Children' quote, the Lá Spóirt was modelled on a school sports day format. Complete with an egg an' spoon and sack race, it was a fitting end to two great days of activity.

Praising the enthusiasm of participants in the Youth Camp, Dominic Adams, Coiste Youth Outreach Worker said: "Each year Campa Náisiúnta Óige grows in size and attendance. It is becoming an All Ireland event and already we are planning for next year. The participants were great in their enthusiasm, not only for the craic which was had but also for their politics and awareness."

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Comments (4 of 4)

McElwain was Republican

by provo set ups

Wed Jul 19, 2006 18:55

Séamas McElwain, like many other Volunteers who supported traditional Republicanism were killed by the sas, conviently for the adams leadership whom these Vol.'s deeply distrusted. Séamas was part of a large group of volunteers who campaigned strongly against the dropping of abstentionism and against the adams leadership in general. within a year of this they - many of whom would be prime alternative leadership material - would be dead.

Séamas's family remained committed to authentic Republicanism, his father leading the local cumann in its commitment to the Republic proclaimed easter week 1916, when others wished to support partitionist parliments such as leinster house and remained with ( Republican) Sinn Fein.

If these young people truly wished to support Republicanism, they should indeed think of Séamas McElwain, and turn their backs on the provos and reformism. They should also support the Republican prisoners in maghaberry who are today fighting for political status, a status given away in concession by the provos to the brits. True Republicasnism will always remain, be a part of that, a cairde. Stand by the Republic. RSF abu!

Shooting criminals

by Maire

Fri Jul 21, 2006 18:40

Perhaps someone could enlighten as to why republicans always moan about the killings of "volunteers" like Séamas McElwain.
The IRA always killed any Brits it managed to take prisoner, so why insist that the SAS should act differently? Sounds like double standards to me.

re: Maire

by owen

Sat Jul 22, 2006 01:15

The British government has never acknowledged that it was at war with the IRA and the republican community in the occupied six counties, and therefore shooting down British subjects isn't something a supposed democracy is meant to do on a regular basis, even to its "criminals".

Owen

Sat Jul 22, 2006 18:25

Ok, that's a fair enough position, and one which explains why the SAS/army/British state should have never executed IRA prisoners out of hand.
But it's only half the argument - if you get me?
I'd like to hear a rationale for why it might have been legitimate for the IRA to act in a different manner by shooting unarmed off-duty UDR men or executing British soldiers AFTER they had been captured.

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Hunger Strikers, Guevara and McElwain inspire at youth event!

Comments (4 of 4)