Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

Once more the process of normalising British rule continues with the latest visit by members of the British Royal family, and the shameful decision by Cork City Council to fly the British Union flag over City Hall. The flying of the Union Jack over Cork City hall is a grotesque act of shooenism in the city of MacCurtain and MacSwiney. Both Tomás MacCurtain and Terence MacSwiney were Lord Mayors of Cork who died at the hands of the British state because of their belief in Ireland’s right to nationhood. No other self- respecting nation would behave in this manner. Would a French town or city display the symbols of German occupation and oppression from their public buildings?

Nobody should be surprised or shocked by the actions of Provisional leaders Mary Lou McDonald, Michelle O’Neill and Gerry Kelly in meeting Charles Windsor in Cork and Belfast. This is simply the logical outworking of their abandonment of even an Irish nationalist, let alone, an Irish Republican position on Ireland’s historic integrity as a 32-county nation. The Provisionals are now simply yet another constitutional nationalist party, who have acted as administrators of British rule in Ireland. The meeting yesterday (June 14) was simply a further example of their acceptance of British rule in Ireland.

While the British occupation of the Six Counties continues there cannot be normal relations between Ireland and Britain. Partition, and the ongoing British political and military presence is a grievous wound on the historic Irish nation. This is a wound that can only be healed by ending that occupation once and for all and by the creation of a New Ireland, based on the principles of the 1916 Proclamation.

Today Republican Sinn Féin will be holding protests in Co Kerry, at 11.am at the Square in Tralee and at 2.pm near Quills in Killarney.

Críoch/Ends

Contact Republican Sinn Féin: 872 9747 or email: saoirse@iol.ie

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