Comrades and friends,

I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to address this commemoration in memory of Commandant Michael Marren, one of the main leaders of the Irish Republican Army in County Sligo during the Tan war, who so tragically lost his life in a drowning accident in July 1921.

I welcome the holding of this commemoration organised by the South Sligo Sinn Fein organisation. It is fitting that we gather here today on the eve of the 89^th anniversary of the death of Michael Marren to pay tribute to his memory and to the significant part which he played in Ireland’s long struggle for self-determination.

Of course there are some who would prefer that we would turn our back on any remembrance of the lives of those who over the centuries have fought to obtain liberty for our country and to end Britain’s occupation of any part of Ireland. To those people I would say that it is a sad country which will not honour its heroes. As Irish citizens we should be proud of the patriotism of people like Michael Marren and we should always work to keep their memory fresh for younger generations.

Who was Michael Marren, this man whose graveside here in MountIrwin Cemetery we stand beside today? Born in MountIrwin in 1889, Michael was the son of farming stock who attended school in Killavil. Later he worked on the family farm and also developed a keen interest in woodwork, a craft at which he was reputedly very handy.

Following the Easter Rising, and increased attempts by Britain to further coerce the Irish people, many young people flocked to join the freedom struggle. In particular there was a dramatic increase in the number of people volunteering to join the IRA—Michael Marren was one of those Volunteers.

Michael joined the IRA--- possibly in 1918 or perhaps early 1919 ---and quickly became Captain of the Killavil Company which was part of the 3^rd Battalion of the Sligo Brigade. The 3^rd Battalion was based in the Ballymote area and was comprised of 10 Company’s. The actions of the 3^rd Brigade initially would have consisted of drilling, raids for weapons and the blocking of local roads to impede troop and police movements.

Due to the increased presence of British forces, particularly the “Black and Tans” and their regime of terror against the local population it soon became necessary to form a more cohesive fighting force. A full-time column was formed from the Volunteers of the 3^rd Brigade area, this group numbered about 30 and was commanded by Alec McCabe as Brigadier and with Michael Marren and Jim Hunt (Gurteen) as Commandants.

Actions carried out by this group of IRA men included the burning of Ballaghadreen Courthouse in May 1920, the disarming of an RIC patrol on the Tubber/ Ballymote road and at least a couple of raids on the Dublin/Sligo train at Kilfree Junction to relieve British forces of their weapons.

Perhaps one of the most significant of the actions of the column was the Ratra ambush, on the Ballaghaderreen/Frenchpark road on Sept.1^st 1920. Here the IRA attacked a group of well-armed RIC hoping to take their weapons. Whilst the enemy were forced to retreat, having had two of their members killed and a number injured, the Republicans also suffered the death of Volunteer Tom McDonagh from Cloonloo.

Prior to that, in August 1920, Michael Marren and Tom Hunt were almost captured by crown forces after an informer betrayed them while they visited Marren’s home, however they managed to escape.

Michael was wounded during an attack on Collooney barracks in March 1921 and on another occasion along with a few men he opened fire from Keash Hill on a group of Tans who, without firing back, ran back to Ballymote.

These are just a sample of the actions carried out by this IRA column and are a clear indication that people such as Michael Marren were prepared to take the fight to the invader and that they lacked nothing in courage or daring.

On July 11^th 1921 after prolonged negotiations a truce was called in the war with the British. We can only imagine the sense of pride and relief which must have been experienced by the Irish people with the announcement of this truce. A force of poorly armed volunteers of the IRA had brought the British government to the negotiating table and had fought its armed forces to a virtual standstill.

Nowhere can this sense of achievement have been more acute then within the ranks of the IRA, especially amongst those like Michal Marren who had been involved on a fulltime basis and who were on the run for a considerable period of time and consequently were not able to lead any form of normal life.

On the day of the truce the column dismissed and Michael along with three comrades, Tadg (Thady) McGowan, Jim Molloy and Joe Finnegan decided to head to Strandhill for some relaxation. It was there in Strandhill on the next morning, July 12^th, that Michael Marren met a sad and premature death while out swimming.

County Sligo and indeed much further afield was shocked and devastated at the loss of this brave and charismatic soldier of Ireland. His funeral to this cemetery was one of the largest ever witnessed. Thousands gathered, including an estimated 2,000 IRA Volunteers, to pay tribute to a young man who at the time of his death was a member of Sligo Co. Council but above all was a brave and selfless fighter for Irish freedom.

So, it is right and fitting that today we take some time to remember Michael and his comrades, all now gone to the great republic beyond this earth.

But as we recall their heroic struggle we should also ask ourselves a couple of simple questions. Have the goals and aspirations which inspired Michael Marren and those who stood shoulder to shoulder with him been achieved in the Ireland in which we now live?

Have the noble sentiments expressed in the Proclamation of Easter 1916 to “cherish all the children of the nation equally” been fulfilled?

Even the most cursory look at Irish society today will clearly show that the type of Ireland which was fought and died for has not been achieved. Rather than the vision of equality, justice and fairness put forward in both the Proclamation and the Programme of the First Dail, we today are left with a country still divided and here in this state the scandal of on-going government mismanagement and incompetence.

Recession and all that it brings with it is the order of the day. Working people, the backbone of this country, are been forced to carry the burden of paying the price for years of successive governments failure to live up to their responsibilities.

That price is being paid by almost half a million unemployed, by workers in public service, industry and agriculture whose incomes have been slashed, by those dependent on social welfare, by patients in hospitals and children in schools who suffer the effects of these cuts.

We know who should have paid the price - the bankers and property speculators, the so-called regulators and the corrupt politicians. But has a single one of them spent even a night in jail?   Not a chance and it is unlikely that they ever will. Shame, shame and more shame on those who govern this state to allow this to happen.

 And let it be said very clearly – it didn’t have to end up this way.  

We in Sinn Féin warned that the property bubble created by Fianna Fáil and their cronies was a disaster waiting to happen. We called for the wealthy elite to be made to pay their way. We called for the wealth to be shared. We called for a housing policy based on housing need not speculators’ greed.

They refused to listen to us and to others who warned against their folly. And now in their arrogance they try to wriggle out of responsibility for the massive social and economic mess they created.

We say to Fianna Fáil and to their Green sidekicks --- get out of office, call a General Election, let the people give you their answer and let us begin to build a new politics. However, to replace them with a Fine Gael/Labour coalition will not solve anything because there is no significant policy difference between either group---- Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

The government has abjectly failed the people and the country. It has failed the vision of Michael Marren and his comrades. It does not have any mandate for NAMA or for cuts to vital public services and social protection.

This state is urgently in need of a radical republican political agenda. In communities across this state Sinn Féin is day and daily providing a real alternative to the politics of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and of Labour.

We have put forward a realistic alternative to the Government’s slash and burn policies, and have shown where money could be raised and saved without touching frontline public services or social welfare.  We have launched proposals for retaining and creating jobs, including a specific set of proposals for creating jobs for the young unemployed.

Over the last six months Sinn Féin has been engaged with huge numbers of people as part of local and state-wide campaigns on all these issues.  People are clearly looking for an alternative.

We must be ready to meet the challenge. We have sound, sensible, principled policies. We have a record of work alongside our communities the length and breadth of Ireland. Let us be ready to give those communities the leadership they need and deserve and let us now work to elect Sinn Féin TDs across this State.

 Today as we are about to leave this hollowed spot which contains the remains of Michael Marren, patriot and soldier, let us make a solemn pledge that we will do our bit to bring to fruition the goals for which he and his comrades struggled. To those who are currently involved with Sinn Fein I would say this is a time of great opportunity for our party, let us eagerly grasp that chance by re-doubling our efforts.

To those who are not members but who support our aims I make a call to become involved. Together we can continue to build a vibrant organisation, capable of delivering on the aspirations of generations of Irish Republicans like Michael Marren. Given the sacrifices which they endured it is the least which their memory deserves.