Irish Freedom Committee Easter Commemoration 2006

Charlie Kerins Cumann, Chicago

On Easter Sunday, the Charlie Kerins Cumann of the Irish Freedom Committee held a graveside commemoration marking the 90th Anniversary of the Easter Rising, and the 25th Anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strikes. 

Fighting torrential downpours and massive traffic delays, a dedicated crowd assembled beneath the Clan-Na-Gael Guards Irish Republican monument at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside Illinois.  

As the skies miraculously cleared for 30 brief minutes, flag bearers flanked the monument next to Easter Lilies placed at the base.  The Easter wreath was presented in memory of all who died for Ireland, and in tribute to the many men and women who have dedicated their lives to a United, 32-County Irish Republic.  

Irish Freedom Committee member Richard Wallace began the ceremony with a reading of the 1916 Easter Proclamation.  CGRP and Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee member Colm Mistéil then read a statement from Na Claoimhte Solais, an Irish Republican Youth Movement dedicated to Republican ideals.  Veteran Irish Republican and former Political Prisoner Frank O'Neill then spoke on the pivotal role of James Connolly in uniting Irish Republican forces to fight the British in 1916, and the great need for a similar unity of Irish Republicans today to achieve the Republic.  Frank recalled his meeting with James Larkin in Dublin and referred to the importance of the labor movement in uniting the nation.

Frank then called upon observer Ruan O’Donnell, renowned author and historian from Limerick University, to say a few words; and he did not disappoint.  Ruan spoke eloquently on the enduring significance of the 1916 Proclamation, and the continuity of the struggle as represented in spirit by our gathering beneath the Clan-Na-Gael Guards monument.  He stated that the illegal partition of Ireland is a condition that cannot be sustained.   

Deirdre Fennessy of the Irish Freedom Committee then read the IFC Easter Oration, by IFC National Chairman Joe Dillon in Boston.  In strong and uncompromising words the statement referred to the “spineless” Free State government, stating that although the horrors of Long Kesh were well known, the illegal Irish government stood silently by in 1981 as ten young Irish men starved themselves to death in a British prison.  Speaking on the Free State military parades that weekend in Dublin, Joe called the Fianna Fail government “totally shameless”.  In closing Joe's words stated “Let us come together and strive mightily for true unity, bereft of personality and personal ambition, in order to attain the common goal of freedom and nationhood --Our pledge at Eastertide is Solidarity with all Republican prisoners held in both England and Ireland, as well as continuing support for their loved ones.”  

As the skies opened up once again, flooding the ground in minutes, the ceremony came to a close.

Many thanks to all who came out in the inclement weather.  An Phoblacht Abú!

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