‘The M3/Tara issue in county Meath is quickly becoming another Rossport’ according to Meath Ógra Shinn Fein spokesperson David Joyce.

The National Roads Authority has proposed a route through the Gabhra valley between the hills of Tara and Skryne. Former minister for Environment Dick Roche approved the construction of the road in his last days of office. Roche signed the…. In spite of opposition from locals, archaeologists and other interest groups.

Speaking on the issue David Joyce of Meath Ógra Shinn Féin said,

“The whole idea of a motorway and interchange so close to what is an archaeological site of such importance is nauseating, Tara is of critical importance for Irish people as a symbol of national identity, it should be treasured and protected by our respective governments come what may. The determination of this Fianna Fail party and their ignorance prove that today’s Irish government care more for foreign investors than they do for the Irish public. The fact of the matter is the road can be redirected West of Tara . The redirection of the M3 west of Tara will cut the length of the motorway by seven kilometres, cut costs by up to 80 million and most importantly rescue one of Irelands most important pre-historic complexes.”


“What is certainly disturbing are the green party's excuses since it has entered government with Fianna Fail. Minister Gormley now claims he is powerless to stop the M3 from proceeding after its approval by the former minister. If the greens think that the Irish people will accept this blatant lie they are wrong, it is obvious that the building of the M3 was a concession made by the greens to FF in their pre-government negotiations. This is in stark contrast to pre-government greens that pledged to save the Gabhra valley, and even had it as one of their most important issues on their election manifesto.”

“Another disgraceful note on this disgraceful issue is the proposed double tolling of the M3. This is further proving of Fianna Fails alliance to big business, the M3 that is funded by the public exchequer is going to be privately owned. As well as this commuters in Meath may have to pay two tolls on their way to work in the morning and too on their way home. This just demonstrates the power money wields in our country in this day and age.”

“Meath Ógra Shinn Féin pledges full support the campaign to save Tara and have the M3 rerouted away from the site of massive historical importance and to bring and end to the destruction to our nation heritage. ”

Ógra Shinn Féin will be holding a National Day of Action this Saturday 16 December to highlight the plight of domestic and international prisoners incarcerated for their role in Anti-Imperialist struggle.

The political prisoner’s day of action will witness actions in villages, towns and cities across Ireland. Actions will vary from leaflet drops, information stalls, banner launches, to protests and white line vigils.

The national day of action is part of the current A.R.I.S.E campaign.

The day will be used to primarily highlight the fact that there are still IRA prisoners in jail, even after the army’s declaration to end to its armed campaign.

National Organiser of Ógra Shinn Fein Barry McColgan said,

“All IRA prisoners should have been released. Instead of this, eight years after the Good Friday Agreement and over a year after the IRA formally ended its campaign, IRA prisoners remain in prison. The Dublin government must be challenged especially, for their complete lack of political will on this issue.”

The many actions across the country will also highlight political prisoners internationally.

“Prisoners are the product of struggle and conflict. When an establishment fears change it seeks to destroy that change. In America black and Indian activists languish in penitentiaries; in Ireland we witnessed one of the most inspiring and heart breaking prison struggles, the Hunger strikes of 1981, in Spain the authorities keep Basque nationalists in jails many miles from their hometowns and families.”

“In every struggle there are casualties and there are prisoners. As part of the A.R.I.S.E. campaign, Ógra Shinn Féin is highlighting the issue of Political Prisoners the world over. We ask you to support the day of action and attend any events in your local area.”


If any area would like to recieve materials for the day of action please contact osfnational@yahoo.ie immediately.

proclamation easter 1916
POBLACHT NA hÉIREANN

THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
OF THE
IRISH REPUBLIC
TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND

IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN: In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.

Having organised and trained her manhood through her secret revolutionary organisation, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and through her open military organisations, the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army, having patiently perfected her discipline, having resolutely waited for the right moment to reveal itself, she now seizes that moment, and supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe, but relying in the first on her own strength, she strikes in full confidence of victory.

We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a Sovereign Independent State, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades in arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations.

The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.

Until our arms have brought the opportune moment for the establishment of a permanent National Government, representative of the whole people of Ireland and elected by the suffrages of all her men and women, the Provisional Government, hereby constituted, will administer the civil and military affairs of the Republic in trust for the people.

We place the cause of the Irish Republic under the protection of the Most High God, Whose blessing we invoke upon our arms, and we pray that no one who serves that cause will dishonour it by cowardice, inhumanity, or rapine. In this supreme hour the Irish nation must, by its valour and discipline, and by the readiness of its children to sacrifice themselves for the common good, prove itself worthy of the august destiny to which it is called.


Signed on Behalf of the Provisional Government,
THOMAS J. CLARKE
SEAN Mac DIARMADA THOMAS MacDONAGH
P. H. PEARSE EAMONN CEANNT
JAMES CONNOLLY JOSEPH PLUNKETT