Reclaiming the Republic in West Belfast

20/06/08

Hundreds of homes in the Lenadoon area received 1916 Proclamations on Thursday evening (June 19) as part of an effort to promote the political ideas that led to the Easter Rising.

More than a dozen éirígí activists and supporters, many of them local residents, took part in the initiative and were encouraged by the response they met on the doorsteps.

The Proclamation distribution is part of éirígí’s ‘Reclaim the Republic’ campaign that has so far seen thousands of the famous documents delivered throughout Ireland, free of charge.

In Dublin alone, nearly 70,000 Proclamations have been given out in the last two years.

In Belfast every home in the St James’s and Short Strand areas had a Proclamation of the Irish Republic delivered through their letter-box at the end of April while the homes in Lenadoon received a copy on Thursday.

Belfast chairperson of éirígí, Rab Jackson, said it was the aim of the party to ensure every republican home in Belfast receives a Proclamation.

“I think this is a very exciting initiative. While nearly everybody in Ireland will have heard about the Easter Rising, it is vitally important to promote an understanding of what the Rising was about and there is no better way to do this than to encourage people to study afresh, or for the first time, the content of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

“The reaction in the areas where we have delivered Proclamations so far – St James’s, the Short Strand and Lenadoon – has been unanimously positive.’

“In the time ahead we intend to make sure every republican in Belfast has the opportunity to receive one.”

Rab continued: “Bernadette McAliskey once said that ‘There is nothing more dangerous than an oppressed people who acquire the weapons of education and organisation.’

“That is exactly what the Reclaim the Republic campaign is all about. We must collectively re-educate ourselves through the politics of the Proclamation and recommit ourselves to achieving the goals contained in it.

“We in éirígí intend to play our part in the time ahead in organising against the ills that continue to confront the people of west Belfast and working class communities across this country.”

If you would like to receive a free-copy of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, send an email to eirigibealfeirste@googlemail.com.