At the Dáithí Ó Conaill Commemoration in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin on Tuesday 1st January 2013, ten armed members of the State Special Branch made their presence felt by harassing those in attendance and generally making a nuisance of themselves. However, they failed to interrupt or delay proceedings and, at 12.45pm at the main gates, as planned, those present fell-in behind the RSF Colour Party and the uniformed Na Fianna Éireann and Cumann na mBan representatives and the parade made its way to the Republican Plot, where they were welcomed by the Chairperson , Andy Connolly , Dublin.
The Commemoration began with a decade of the Rosary as Gaeilge following which a Lament for the Dead was played on the tin whistle and two wreaths were laid from the Republican Movement. A fine oration was then delivered by Fergal Moore , Monaghan, during which Dáithí's contribution to the on-going struggle against British interference in Irish affairs was outlined in some detail and a breakdown and timeline of his involvement in the formation of the 'Éire Nua' policy was highlighted by the speaker. The Chairperson brought the commemoration to an end by thanking all those present and our National Anthem was then played , following which the parade marched back to the cemetery gates and most of the attendees made their way to a local pub for refreshments. A full report and more pics will be published in the January 2013 issue of Saoirse , which goes to print on Wednesday 9th of that month. Meanwhile, we publish with this brief report some pics from the commemoration -
All concerned , except for ten of those present, are to be congratulated for such a dignified and well-planned commemoration - well done , Republican Sinn Féin , NFE, Cumann na mBan and the Colour Party : it was a fitting tribute to the man being honoured.
Thanks for reading, Sharon.
