éirígí Mansion House Protest

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Tuesday January 20, 2009 22:56

by éirígí PRO - éirígí

éirígí Activists Drop Banner from Mansion House Roof

éirígí activists today reminded the Twenty-Six County establishment that Ireland doesn't stop at the border.

Moving into position

éirígí activists today (Tuesday) breached tight security at Dublin’s historic Mansion House to deliver a message directly to the Twenty-Six County political establishment.

As hundreds of elected representatives and other dignitaries gathered inside the building, two activists succeeded in unfurling a giant banner from the roof.

As the out-manoeuvred Gardaí scrambled into action, the banner’s message hung from the roof of the Mansion House for all to see – “90 YEARS ON – NO CLOSER TO FREEDOM – END THE OCCUPATION!”

Today’s Dublin Government ceremony to mark the anniversary of the First Dáil was yet another attempt to revise Irish history and portray the Twenty-Six County state as the complete, fully independent and democratic Ireland.

This attempt to normalise partition and the ongoing British occupation could not have been allowed to proceed without challenge.

Despite a heavy Garda presence, the éirígí activists dressed in high-visibility jackets, succeeded in breaching the ‘ring of steel’ to unfurl the banner in front of the assembled media and elected representatives.

As soon as the banner was put in position, to the claps and cheers of activists on the ground, it was clear that the Gardaí were deeply embarrassed by the audacity and success of the éirígí action. Within minutes, the two activists who unfurled the banner, Ciarán Fitzpatrick from County Meath and Darragh Burton from Dún Laoghaire, were arrested and taken to Pearse Street Barracks, before being charged with trespass and appearing at an afternoon court session in the Bridewell.

Today’s action was the first in a series of events that éirígí will be organising throughout 2009 to mark the 90th anniversary of the First Dáil and the start of the Tan War.