Who Fears to Speak of Easter Week

Easter 2020 will without a doubt feel strange for us. Truly, these are testing times, and the public health crisis that we face is something that we have never had to come to grips with. 

Usually, come Good Friday, the last of the Easter preparations will have finished, and we would wait, for what would feel like weeks, for Easter Sunday. Since I was ‘no age’, my Easter Sunday would’ve been hectic. Heading to take part in the parade, then to the graveyard to listen to the speeches and visit lost loved one’s graves. Then scuttering around a plethora of West Belfast venues helping my Da set up his drums. As I started to get older, and somewhat more aware of the world around me, the inevitable question was, what was Easter all about? As I’m sure is the same for most Republicans, Easter was less about chocolate eggs, and more about a rebellious group of Irish women and men in Dublin city.

From the stories of romantic revolutions came more. In the excitement and activity over Easter, sometimes we can forget the great sadness that can engulf this time of year for the Republican community and the families of our patriot dead. Easter for them, and for all Republicans, is a time to remember friends and comrades, sons and daughters and all the heroes of Ireland. We must never forget those who came before us, who fought and died for Irish Freedom. We owe it to them to build the Republic, and we owe it to the generations that come after us to keep the flame burning strong.

This Easter will be trying for us all. 

There will be no parades, the thousands strong crowds will not line streets, and we will not stumble across old friends across the weekend. For the benefit of everyone, we will stay at home. 

This may seem a bleak picture, but we are Republicans and resilience is written into our DNA. 

We will use this Easter, as always, for reflection. We will think back to days long gone by, the wars, the risings and the struggle. We will take inspiration from the revolutionaries of times past, and as any year adorn an Easter Lily in memory of them. 

As Republicans do, we must also look forward. Our republic will be shaped by our martyrs and built for the people. As we look back, we have to rededicate ourselves to a nation that the Rebels in the GPO, the Rebels in the H-Blocks/Armagh and the Rebels around us can be proud of. The best way to keep alive the memory of our martyrs, is to keep alive the dream of the Irish Republic. Our heroes may be gone “but the Republic of 1916 will never die” (Bobby Sands MP). 

We are at a critical juncture in our national liberation struggle. Irish reunification is on the horizon. 

We, the current generation on which the struggle falls, must see it through to the end. It is our job to secure, fight and win the dual referenda on Irish Unity. We must look to build alliances wherever possible and bring this nation to a point where the critical mass of the people of Ireland have the desire for freedom. It is our role to bring the politics of Irish Unity into every corner of our lives. We must bring the benefits of Unity to our families, communities, schools, colleges, workplaces, trade unions and every battleground on which we can build towards reunification. 

Irish unity means nation building and our job does not end with two referenda. We must remain rooted and relevant in our communities. We must remain true to the ideals of the Republic. We must present our vision of unity and popularise it among the masses of the Irish people, working towards that certain day where Ireland is free “from the plough to the stars.” 

Nation building does not happen overnight, and just as the gallant Wolfe Tone envisioned, we must “Unite the whole people of Ireland… Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter.” As young Republicans, with a firm knowledge and understanding of Ireland’s history, but also free from the pain of it, we can be the generation to unite our people, as well as our island. We must be forthcoming and open with the people we share this island with, being so confident and proud of our Irishness that we may welcome our British friends and neighbours to share this island with us. We will ensure that all the people of Ireland, regardless of their allegiance, have a genuine stake in the Irish Republic.  

Indeed, every major political challenge we face, from our economic position to the environment is relatable to the artificial divisions imposed on our island and our people. We must be resolute and unwavering in our positions so that we may tackle the folly that is partition. 

This Easter, despite the situation that we find ourselves in, we have a unique opportunity. We have an opportunity not only to reflect on the past and the great deeds of those who came before us, but we have an opportunity to look forward. We have an opportunity to fight for the future.

Although we may be in our homes and unable to celebrate as we normally do, take this opportunity to talk about Easter. Take this opportunity to speak to your family and your friends about what Easter means and the ideals of the rising. Talk about the vision of Connolly, the vision of the Seven signatories and the vision that we have for a new Ireland. Speak to your family about what Irish unity will mean for you, what it will mean for your community and what it will mean for the people of this island. 

This may seem like a small gesture, but the smallest spark can set the heather blazing. 

Rally around the spirit of 1916. Rally around the spirit of 1981. Rally around the spirit of 2020 where we as young Republicans, steadfast in our vision for unity, Not only dream of an Irish Republic but demand the referenda to make it possible.

Our day is coming. We will be the generation that will see the rising of the moon. With the memory of our Martyrs in our hearts and a clear vision in our heads, we will move forward until that certain day.

“Onwards to the republic and the liberation of our people.” Tiocfaidh ár lá.

le Caoimhín McCann, Cathaoirleach Náisiúnta