Murray praises Rossport Five at 1916 commemoration

SINN FÉIN’S Mayo candidate for the general election, Cllr Gerry Murray and Mayo native and MLA for South Down, Catriona Ruane were the keynote speakers at the 1916 commemoration at the Fr Manus Sweeney monument in Achill.
The event, which was organised by Achill Sinn Féin, saw the gathering march behind the Pollagh pipe band from Dookinella church to the Fr Sweeney monument, and was attended by residents from the Garvaghy Road and also Micheal Ó Seighin, of the Rossport Five.
Cllr Murray told the gathering that the present Government had abandoned the core principles and values of 1916. He said that the treatment of the Rossport Five and the exploitation of the country’s natural resources by multinationals were a prime example of this.
He voiced his support for the Rossport Five and their battle with Shell and claimed that their struggle was on a par with Michael Davitt’s fight for land reform.
“It is a timely backdrop that this year falls on the 100th anniversary of the death of Michael Davitt. Michael Davitt said that the land of Ireland belonged to the people of Ireland. Well, the resources of Ireland also belongs to the people of Ireland,” said Cllr Murray.
Catriona Ruane, MLA for South Down, also voiced her support for the Rossport Five and claimed that while Micahel Davitt fought the landlords, the modern equivalent to the landlords was the multinationals.
She said that Sinn Féin was the party of the future and called on the Sinn Féin members in Mayo to work tirelessly and campaign through all weathers to secure Cllr Murray’s election to the Dáil.
“The mood in Sinn Féin is that it is a party on the move. Sinn Féin is a party of change and the party of the future. Supporting the Rossport Five shows our commitment to creating an Ireland of equals.”
During the commemoration, the Proclamation was read aloud, as was the roll of honour of all the Mayo people who died in the War of Independence. Wreaths were laid at the monument to honour the 1916 Rising, as well of the 1798 Rebellion and to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of theH-block hunger strikers.