Éirígí Attends 1916 Societies Commemoration For Volunteers Sabhat And O'Hanlon
On Sunday the 7th of January, Éirígí For A New Republic activists attended a 1916 Societies organised commemoration for Volunteers Seán Sabhat and Fergal O'Hanlon in Altawark, County Fermanagh.
The commemoration for these fallen volunteers, which was organised by the Matt Fitzpatrick 1916 Society Newtownbutler, took place exactly a week after the 67th anniversary of their deaths on New Year's Day, 1957.
The memorial in Altawark, County Fermanagh to Volunteers Seán Sabhat and Fergal O'Hanlon.
Sabhat from Limerick City and O’Hanlon from County Monaghan, were mortally wounded during an Irish Republican Army raid on Brookeborough RUC barracks at the beginning of the IRA’s ill-fated ‘Operation Harvest’.
The main oration on the day was given by Seán McAlinden, Chairperson of the 1916 Societies. In his speech McAlinden pointed out that the independent, all-Ireland Republic for which Sabhat and O’Hanlon made the ultimate sacrifice has yet to be achieved.
McAlinden also made the point that the Ireland of their time was heavily defined by partition which is still very much the case. The contradiction of partition, which led to the creation of two conservative, sectarian, capitalist states, must be ended.
McAlinden then finished his contribution by stating that the need for a radical republican movement that demands nothing less than an independent, all-Ireland Republic is as strong as it ever was.
An Rúnaí Ginearálta, Mickey Moran laying a wreath on behalf of Éirígí.
The commemoration included a wreath laying ceremony, where a wreath was laid on behalf of Éirígí by An Rúnaí Ginearálta, Mickey Moran.
Music was provided by the Newtownbutler Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann group, who closed the commemoration with a rendition of Amhrán na bFhiann.