Government blocking progress on Irish unity, Mac Lochlainn tells Drumboe commemoration

Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Joe Boland (North West Newspix)

Sinn Féin TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn has criticised the Government’s approach to Irish unity - and accused the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, of failing to adequately prepare for a possible referendum on the issue.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn told the Drumboe Easter Commemoration in Stranorlar on Easter Sunday that the next decade could be decisive in determining the constitutional future of Ireland.

The Buncrana-based representative, who is Sinn Féin’s Chief Whip, told a large gathering that while conversations are already “underway”, it will need “clear political leadership”.

“Ireland is changing,” Deputy Mac Lochlainn, who delivered the main oration, said. “The old certainties of partition are gone. The opportunity before us is real. A growing number of people now recognise that the future lies in unity. This is the decade in which the question of Irish unity can be resolved.

“The conversation is already underway across society. It is the most important conversation we can have, but conversation must be matched with preparation.

“The Irish and British governments cannot be allowed to continue to delay or obstruct. Unity will not happen by accident - it must be won. The time to prepare for referendums - and to win them - is now.”

Deputy Mac Lochlainn was critical of the Taoiseach, who he said had the “responsibility” to begin preparing and planning.

“Yet his approach has been marked by hesitation, avoidance, and a pathetic failure to lead,” he said. “It is telling that today the biggest barrier to preparing and planning for Irish Unity is the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael government.

“It is not acceptable for the Taoiseach to place obstacles in the way of a unity referendum. This must change. These realities cannot be ignored. The people of Ireland, North and South must have their say.”

Mac Lochlainn has been a TD in Donegal since 2020 having had a previous term in the Dail from 2011-2016. Prior to being elected to the Dáil in 2011, he had served for many years on Donegal County Council and Buncrana Town Council.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn warned that Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality is under increasing pressure. He said neutrality “reflects the values of our people” and vowed that his party would oppose any attempt to dismantle it.

He said: “At a time when the so-called rules-based international order is breaking down - when powerful states act with impunity and new wars are breaking out - the need for an independent Irish foreign policy has never been greater.

“We are seeing the consequences of a world where might is treated as right. This is not the time to abandon neutrality - it is the time to strengthen it. Weakening the Triple Lock would open the door to Irish involvement in foreign wars.”

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A colour party led the parade, which featured the Strabane Accordion Band,  from Johnston’s Corner to the Republican Memorial in Stranorlar.

Maria Doherty, the chairperson of the Drumboe Commemoration Committee, acted as the MC. 

“It was a stone’s throw from here where the Drumboe Martyrs faced a Free State firing squad rather than accept a partitioned and unfree Ireland,” Ms Doherty said. “We salute their valiant efforts and recall the struggle they engaged in with pride. The principles, ideals and the objectives for which they fought and died have been set out for all time in the Proclamation of Easter 1916.”

Ballybofey-based Councillor Dakota Nic Mheanman read the Proclamation while the Tir Chonaill Roll of Honour was read by Donal Ward and the West Tyrone Roll of Honour was read by Strabane-Derry Councillor Ruairi McHugh.

Wreaths were laid by: Paul Houston on behalf of the leadership of the Republican Movement; Councillor Michael McMahon on behalf of the Tir Chonaill Commemoration Committee; Jo Fowler from the Donegal Comhairle Ceantair; Cian O’Hagan for Ogra Sinn Féin; Paul Boggs from the Tyrone Comhairle Ceantair; and Ann Marie Love from the Tyrone National Graves Association.

Former County Councillor Tony McDaid lowered the Irish tricolour in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and the attendance included a large crowd of Sinn Féin Cumann branches from Donegal and Tyrone.

The Drumboe Martyrs - Charlie Daly, Sean Larkin, Daniel Enright and Timothy O’Sullivan - were executed in Drumboe in 1923.

The four anti-Treaty IRA volunteers were captured when their safe house was surrounded by Free State forces and they were executed on March 14, 1923 - just six weeks before the ending of Civil War hostilities.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Those young men came to Donegal to continue the fight for the Irish Republic, proclaimed by the leaders of the 1916 rising, just seven years previous.

“Their loss was a profound tragedy but their faithful loyalty to the Republic and their sacrifice have inspired us in the generations since.”