Busy Easter For Na Fianna

Na Fianna have been busy this Easter remembering Ireland’s patriot dead who both fought and died in 1916 and who fought for the Republic after the rebellion of Easter Week.

On Saturday, 4th of April, members of Na Fianna led parades in both Carlow and Kildare. Gathering at the gates of the cemetery in Carlow, led by the Tri-Colour and the Flag of Na Fianna(sunburst), those in attendance marched to the Republican Plot where the commemoration took place. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Republican Movement followed by a minutes silence and a dipping of the flags, the Proclamation was then read by a member of Na Fianna and then a statement was delivered by Veteran Republican Matt Conway on behalf of the leadership of the Republican Movement.

Members of Na Fianna also led a parade in Kildare on the same day to the Republican plot, where wreaths were laid, the Proclamation was read by a member of Na Fianna and a statement on behalf of the Republican Movement was delivered by Veteran of the Republican Movement and Cumann na mBan Josephine Hayden.

On Easter Sunday, Na Fianna also took part in commemorations in Wexford and in Dublin. In Wexford, a colour-party of the Republican Movement gathered in the town along with members of Na Fianna from Wexford and from Dublin, and marched through and around the town and back to the point of assemble before getting a bus to the Republican Plot for the commemoration. There was a fine turnout in Wexford on the day. A member of Na Fianna got the honour of delivering the main oration in full uniform.

On the same day, members of Na Fianna also took part in commemorations in Eamon Ceannt Park in Dublin and in Deansgrange, Dublin, at the Republican Plot. A member of Na Fianna read the Proclamation in Deansgrange.

On Easter Monday, members of Na Fianna held their annual commemoration for Fian Sean ”The Boy” Healy who was shot down by a British sniper during the Rebellion of Easter Week, 1916. The proceedings were chaired by a senior member of the Republican Movement, the wreath was laid by a Junior Fian, the Proclamation was read by another senior member of the Republican Movement and the oration was delivered by a senior Fian and officer.

When their commemoration ended, they route marched back into the City Centre and got ready to take part in republican SF’s Easter Commemoration.

They gathered at the Garden of Remembrance at 1.45, fell in behind a colour-party of the Republican Movement and members of Cumann na mBan, and then marched into the City Centre. They were forced to take a different route than they usually take due to Free Staters blocking of the GPO and parts of the road, so the Republican Movement marched down Parnell St, up Moore St and onto Henry St and stopped at the side of the GPO where the commemoration took place.

The commemoration was well attended and the Movement made clear the ideals and principles of the leaders of 1916 and those who fought, and also made clear that the British Occupation, in which those in 1916 fought to get rid of, remains in Ireland to this very day(North-Eastern Counties of Ireland).

A statement on behalf of the leadership of Na Fianna was delivered by a senior member and officer of Na Fianna.

When the commemoration ended, they marched back up onto the historical Moore St where the leaders and Volunteers took their last stand, and held another short commemoration, particularly for the O’Rahilly who was shot down on that very street during the Rebellion.

A full report of the commemorations held by the Republican Movement will be published in ‘SAOISRE -The Voice of the Republican Movement’ during this week.