A Sinn Féin councillor has dismissed criticism of his party’s sponsoring of an event for an IRA man from Co Wexford who blew himself up with his own bomb in 1996.
After keeping silent on the controversy for days before the event was suddenly cancelled, Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin claimed that critics were offering “irrelevant historical nonsense”.
Social media material in his own name referred to “Vol. Edward O’Brien” and his membership of “Óglaigh na hÉireann,” which is the Irish language name of the Irish Defence Forces. Read More
Cllr Ó Súilleabháin said the name Óglaigh na hÉireann went back to 1913. Yet it was “being brought up when a family are trying to remember their son”.
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Proposed new legislation will make it illegal for anyone but the Defence Forces to call themselves Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne is calling for the title to be legally protected to prevent dissidents or political organisations from using it.
The name was first used by the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and later by the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence.
The Provisional IRA also co-opted the name during the Troubles and Senator Byrne told Newstalk Breakfast this morning that it now needs to be protected to ensure it only refers to the men and women of the Defence Forces that “serve us bravely in uniform.”
Cork South-Central: 4 seats
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is a youthful 60 but, if he stands down as Fianna Fáil leader during this term, then attention turns to whether he runs again. There’s no shortage of family members to fill his boots but passing the seat won’t be easy. Fianna Fáil Finance Minister Michael McGrath will be strong again. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin have a guaranteed seat, so the second Fianna Fáil seat is the only question. Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire will have a running mate in Carrigaline. Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney will have to manage the vote vastly better to bring in Senator Jerry Buttimer.
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