British Warship Challenged in Dublin

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Wednesday August 19, 2009 17:33

by PRO - éirígí

press at eirigi dot org

éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson has reiterated the socialist republican party’s commitment to opposing any displays of British militarism in Ireland in response to today’s visit (Wednesday) to Dublin by a British naval warship.

As the warship docked in Dublin, éirígí activists were on hand to show her crew that their presence in Ireland is not welcome. Despite receiving short notice of the ship’s arrival, over a dozen éirígí activists assembled to protest the ship’s presence in the capital city.

The activists held placards and banners reading ‘Britain out of Ireland’ and ‘Britain’s war machine out of Ireland, End the Occupation’.

Speaking at the protest, éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson said: “Today’s visit to Dublin by a British warship is another example of Britain’s attempts to pass off its relationship with Ireland as being ‘normalised’. However, there is nothing normal about the British occupation of the Six Counties or the presence of 5,000 British troops in the North of Ireland.

“éirígí has been to the forefront of opposing displays of British militarism in Ireland. Last week, several of our activists boarded a British warship in Belfast to protest its appearance at the Tall Ships festival. éirígí took the lead in opposing last November’s RIR parade in Belfast and led opposition to Britain’s so-called armed forces day in June. Today’s protest is just the latest stage in the party’s campaign against the British occupation.

“Britain’s military presence in Ireland is completely unacceptable and will be opposed by Irish republicans for as long as it continues.”
ENDS.

Note to editor 1: éirígí is an Ireland-wide, socialist republican political party, formed in 2006 to provide a vehicle for the national, social and
economic liberation of the people of Ireland.

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Comments (15 of 15)

Well done

by Young Irelander - éirígí

Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:50

Well done éirígí. Fair play comrades.

international solidarity also

by Diarmuid Breatnach - personal capacity

Thu Aug 20, 2009 13:34

Well done to Éirigí for organising this protest at short notice. However, some important additional points:
At one point I counted twenty protestors; and
not all the protestors were from Éirigí -- I, for example, am not in any such group. It is to Éirigí's credit that they are able to mobilise not only their own members but also some others on occasions such as this.

Also, the sentiments of the protestors were not only in opposition to Britain's continuing occupation and annexation of a part of Ireland, but also in solidarity with other nations invaded by British forces. Several shouts were heard to that effect from the protestors and one of the songs sung also reflected that.

The protest was quiet until the nightly ceremony of taking in the Union Jack was being held, when the British Navy personnell were subjected to a barrage of jeers, whistles and catcalls and, among others, mention of the Butcher's Apron.

The RIC -- sorry, Gárdaí -- were on hand throughout to stand between the protestors and the ship and one of their senior personnell was observed chatting cordially with one of the Brtisih naval officers.

Maith sibh, Éirigí!

Brits go home

by Redundant Republican

Thu Aug 20, 2009 20:33

Your campaign is not a popular one. Not only do the Brits occupy our country, they inhabit a large proportion of our existence. Think about the Irish people that you know that support a soccer team on the mainland.They are passionate in that support, they wear the team shirt and they travel to games each season. Think of the people that you know that buy and read daily British newspapers. Their knowledge of current affairs is controlled by the British media. The Brits occupy our country and they have managed to brainwash a large number of our people. Keep up the great work, keep the protests going and if you can convert even one person to see the injustice of the British occupation of Ireland- your protests will have been worthwhile. Well done.

Mental Slavery.

by Pete.

Thu Aug 20, 2009 21:36

"Not only do the Brits occupy our country, they inhabit a large proportion of our existence."

Obviously.

You write in English.

Not Irish.

Icelandic people(genetically 50% Irish),Norwegian,Spanish,Latvian, Estonian and Chinese write in their OWN languages.

Why do you complain about the foreigner in the foreigner's language?
.

England is not the Mainland

by Joe soap - Joe soaps brigade

Thu Aug 20, 2009 22:29

To Redundant Republican You said......

''Think about the Irish people that you know that support a soccer team on the mainland.''

Just a wee correction, we are not off the mainland of England, why do ye call England the mainland ? I hope your not reading them silly British news papers, they pollute your mind.

Thanks for reading

Thu Aug 20, 2009 23:05

Thanks lads for your comments. I did not mention England, the British mainland consists of England,Scotland and Wales. Ireland the island is a British colony to the British mainland. The British press, no not for me. I am however, of the opinion that the limited amount of the Irish language used by the occupied Irish sort of proves my point. Relax lads dont take yourselves so serious, if you are happy that the Brits occupy your country then shame on you both.

England is the Colony.

Thu Aug 20, 2009 23:26

"Ireland the island is a British colony to the British mainland."

Not really..

The wisest man in England from all of 1500 years ago, "The Venerable Bede," once said this:

"All the Nobles of England forsake their native land to go to Ireland to learn at the feet of the Irish."

England is a "Cultural Colony" of Ireland.
.

.

What a long time

Fri Aug 21, 2009 21:12

Over 1500 years ago someone said something about the Irish and it still has relevance to Pete. John Lennon wrote " give Ireland back to the Irish" 40 years ago and this still has relevance to me.

Muna bhfuil aon rud níos fearr le rá agaibh

by Diarmuid - personal capacity

Sat Aug 22, 2009 04:13

A, leads, muna bhfuil faic níos fearr le rá agaibh ar an ábhar ná na h-argóintí seo, ní fiú daoibh páipéar a bhreacadh!

clarification

by Ringo

Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:39

I thought "Give Irleand back to the Irish" was a Paul McCartney single.....followed by a returning of his OBE in protest about British policy in Ireland. (How did he get a knighthood after returning an OBE think it would have nixed his chances to the people who hand those things out?)

Could be a John Lennon (who returned his OBE over the Vietnam War) lyric off the "Somewhere in New York City" protest album tho from the Bloody Sunday track. From memory, also on that album is "If You had the Luck of the Irish"

Thanks

Sat Aug 22, 2009 13:51

Ringo thank you. I will not argue if it was John or Paul or indeed both because I am not sure. However. the words remain relevant- give Ireland back to the Irish.

Strange

by trueGreen

Sun Aug 23, 2009 22:40

Just to raise an issue here but the British army was being removed from Northern Ireland until a certain group of people decided to start shooting and killing sodliers, police officers and innocent shoppers all over again. This was of course after a peace agreement, thousands of troops being removed, the RUC being disbanded and Northern Ireland obtaining some level of peaceful and happy existence. But sure we couldnt have that now could we? Not when theres people in this nation that arent born and bred Irish Catholics running around!

Seems strange that the RIRA did the one thing that would justify the army remaining.

Also, Ireland is not a colony or any other connection to Britain. Nor is there a 'mainland' Britain. You need to seriously sit down and learn more about your enemy. United Kingdom = England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the associated islands. Britain = England, Scotland and Wales.

(personal comment) Ireland...

by james - SWP

Mon Aug 24, 2009 08:53

is NOT a colony of the UK anymore.. it's a fully functioning capitalist state with it's own rotten ruling class... the enemy is at home...

put more flags out

by Li'l lulu

Mon Aug 24, 2009 12:42

People may love 'their' nation, but have to ask themselves whether they & their families will be better served for housing, hospitals & public services under a rotten, capitalist Brit Gov't or a rotten, capitalist Republic of Ireland Gov't.

You Irish Won the War.

by Anglo-Saxon.

Mon Aug 24, 2009 18:14

You guys won.

Didn't we English hand over the "Six Counties" to Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley?

They are two Irishmen as I understand it.

All of Ireland is now run by the Irish.

(Ian Paisley may not like "The Free State" or the "Papists" but that is a squabble between Irishmen.)

We English left you to it.

Why are you Irish complaining about us NOW ?

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British Warship Challenged in Dublin

Comments (15 of 15)