On Sunday July 3, Revolutionary Socialist Republicans from across Ireland, gathered at Bodenstown Churchyard, to honour the father of Irish Republicanism, Theobald Wolfe Tone.
Led by the Socialist Republican Colour Party, consisting of 4 women and 3 men, the large crowd assembled at the corner of the Road into Sallins, and made their way to the grave of Tone. The short, colourful march saw the Green Starry Plough of the Irish Citizen Army prominently on display, while a newly commissioned banner paraphrased Tone to state, Break the Connection with Imperialism. Other banners on display included that of Anti Imperialist Action Ireland, the newly formed Coiste na mBan, and a large banner that read Fight the Counter Revolution 1922-2022.
As the crowd entered the cemetery, they were welcomed with a rousing rendition of ‘Tone is Coming Back Again’ by Sean Óg, before the Chairperson opened the event in Irish, welcoming all present and noting the importance of Wolfe Tone to revolutionary Republicanism. A young Socialist Republican from Kerry was then called forward to read out Liam Mellows Oration at the IRA Commemoration at Bodenstown in 1922, making a clear link to the struggle of Tone to the War in defence of the Republic.
Historian, Author and Independent Republican Activist, Peter A. Rogers of the Spirit of Freedom Society, Westmeath then addressed the event, with an excellent oration outlining the importance of Bodenstown to Irish Republicans. This speech will be published in full on our website in the coming days.
Sean óg, returned to give a stirring rendition of the Soldiers of 22, highlighting the Republican soldiers who fell at the hands of counter revolutionary traitors who remain in power today.
The chair then spoke about the importance of Internationalism to Republicans since the days of Tone before introducing a Revolutionary Turkish Comrade, who gave an inspiring oration on the nature of Resistance, highlighting how resistance takes many forms from teaching a language to children, or direct confrontation to the enemy ad how every act of resistance, however small has a place in the movement. It is believed by those in attendance that this is the first time a Revolutionary from Turkey has addressed a Bodenstown Commemoration, so a bit of Revolutionary Republican History has been made.
The Chair then called a minute’s silence in honour of Wolfe Tone and the men and women of every generation who have fought and died for Irish Freedom, a struggle that continues to this day. As the impressively laid out colour party lowered the flags in honour. Looking around the graveyard during the minutes silence it was clear to see the ongoing revival of
Revolutionary Republicanism as Republican Ex- Prisoners and Veteran Socialist Republicans mixed with working class youth and Revolutionary Students. It was noted that some in the graveyard had been coming to bodenstown since the Border Campaign during the 1960s, Some were present to hear Seamus Costello’s landmark oration in 1966, others were present during the first Provisional Bodenstown in 1970 to hear the oration from Daithí Ó’Connell, Some present had been coming since the 1990s and for some it was there very first time to visit the grave of Wolfe Tone. This interesting anecdote goes to show the continuity of Revolutionary Republicanism, that at one single event those present can stretch from 2022 right back to the 1950s and the Border Campaign.
Following the minutes silence, Veteran Revolutionary Socialist Republican Sean Doyle from Wicklow,speaking on behalf of the Revolutionary Workers Union Council, stepped forward to give an outline of current Housing War, the launch of the Revolutionary Workers League by the RWU, the role that Revolutionary Socialist Republicans are playing in the campaign and called on those present to join the RHL and take up the fight against landlords and vultures.as always Sean’s contribution was inspiring as he declared if Counter Revolutionary Laws impede the People’s Justice, then they need to be broken.
Continuing the International theme of the event, the Chair then called Diarmuid Breatnach forward to sing Deportees. Before the song, Diarmuid gave an introduction and context to its background, explaining the plight of the latin American migrants flying to the US to pick fruit and linking the song to the struggles of migrant workers and refuges in Ireland today.
For the main oration, the Chair then called guest speaker Tommy, a Housing activist and Urban Geographer who presented his own research in vacancy in Ireland, the Housing Movement as well as recounting the role of Socialist Republicans in this important fight since the crash. Tommy gave a list of some of the key actions Socialist Republicans had been involved in as well as detailed information on vacancy and the struggle against landlords since the crash highlighting the victories of the housing movement and also outlining the current work of CATU on many of these issues.
As the event drew to a close, the chair reminded those in attendance that while the tide of Revolution ebbs and flows in Ireland it was clear to see that the Revolutionary tide is on the way back in in Ireland and across the world before concluding with an immortal quote from Liam Mellows in 1922 that ‘Tone knew he was fighting a loosing battle, Pearse knew it too, but they fought on, because they believed in another generation. In the name of Tone, in the name of Pearse, In the name of Ireland- Fight On!
The event was then brought to a close by Amhrán na bhFian. And as the colour party fell out, and the sound of comrades old and new from across the country greeting each other began to fill the air, there could be no-one in the grave yard left in any doubt that Revolutionary Republicanism is indeed strengthening across Ireland and another generation is rising.