March On Dublin Castle For The Windsor Banquet
On the evening of the second day of her state visit to the Twenty-Six Counties the British Head of State, Elizabeth Windsor, is to attend a lavish banquet in her honour in Dublin Castle. This event will serve as the focus for an Éirígí-organised March on Dublin Castle which will start assembling at the site of Robert Emmet’s execution, beside St Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street, at 5.30pm on Wednesday May 18th.
While the exact list of attendees at the Windsor banquet has yet to be revealed it can be safely assumed that it will be made up of a cross section of Britain and Ireland’s ruling classes. There is little doubt that hundreds of the wealthiest and most powerful people in Ireland will gorge themselves on the best of food and wine while all around them the people of Ireland struggle to survive.
Many of the politicians, business people and journalists that will attend this sickening banquet are the very same people that have surrendered one part of Ireland to Britain and the other part to the banks, the IMF and the EU. The prospect of this rogues gallery of parasites raising their glasses of champagne to the health of the Commander-in-Chief of the British military would be hard to take at the best of times. But for it to happen at a time when vital public services are being slashed to fund the bank bailout is particularly galling.
Speaking in advance of the March on Dublin Castle, Éirígí Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan said, “Like other aspects of the Windsor visit, the banquet in Dublin Castle smacks of the arrogance that defines the political establishment in this state. At the height of the worst economic crisis in generations they decide to hold the most lavish of state banquets and expect people not to have a problem with it!
“It is fitting that Dublin Castle is to host this night of excess. For centuries it served as the headquarters of the British occupation, a place to be feared and loathed in equal measure. And now in 2011 the British occupiers are to be lauded within its halls by the gombeen politicians and gangster bosses of the Twenty-Six Counties.
“And it is fitting too that our march on Dublin Castle will assemble at the site of Robert Emmet’s execution on Thomas Street. The contrast between what Emmet fought and died for and what the Windsor banquet represents could not be more extreme. We are hoping that the people of Dublin and beyond will join the march and take the opportunity to send a very strong message to our so called leaders. We need to get back to the core demands of Irish republicanism, an Ireland controlled by the people of Ireland for the people of Ireland. We serve neither queen nor chancellor but Ireland.
“We are asking the people of the liberties and the wider south west inner city, in particular, to join the march on Dublin Castle. For generations the ruling elite have neglected these communities and treated them like second class citizens. Now they have the neck to spend countless millions entertaining Windsor and her entourage. And they are doing it within a stone’s throw of the very communities that are suffering the most because of the current cutbacks. It’s time for people to get on the streets for a protest that cannot be ignored and will not be forgotten.”
The March on Dublin Castle will start assembling from 5:30pm on Wednesday, May 18th at St Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street, Dublin 8. The march will depart for Dublin Castle at roughly 6.30pm. The protest which will include speeches, music and street theatre is expected to last until at least 8:00pm. If you are opposed to the Windsor visit join the March on Dublin Castle and add your voice to the demand for Irish national and economic freedom. If you are interested in helping with the organisation or promotion of the March on Dublin Castle email stopthevisit@gmail.com.