Arrangements announced for the Easter Rising 1916 commemoration in Thurles this Sunday

Thurles Sinn Féin will hold its annual Easter 1916 commemoration on Easter Sunday at 11am at the 1798 pikeman statue In Liberty Square, Thurles.

The 1916 Proclamation of Independence will beread out and a wreath will be laid in memory of those who gave their lives for Irish independence on Easter week 1916.

Separately, Sinn Féin Tiobraid Árann will hold its annual Volunteer George Plant Commemoration at the graveyard in St Johnstown, Fethard, assemble 2:30 pm.

All are welcome to both events.

Easter 2023 is particularly significant as it is falls during the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA).

The Agreement drew a line under a decades-long political conflict. A process of democratic transformation in the northern state, including the reform of policing, began.

Importantly a mechanism was enshrined in the GFA to enable the exercise of self-determination by the citizens of Ireland about the future and to democratically enable constitutional change and achieve Irish unity.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald expects a referendum on Irish unity within a decade, believing that Irish reunification “has to be done in an orderly, planned, democratic and peaceful manner”.

Seán Harty, a local Sinn Féin activist said:
“We need to plan for United Ireland now.

We are calling on the government to convene a national Citizens’ Assembly as a matter of urgency”.

Constitutional change is now firmly fixed on the political horizon.

“It’s no longer a question of if, or even when, reunification will come about. The important question is how we bring it about”, Seán concluded.

A big thanks to all the people of Thurles who supported our Easter Lily campaign this year.

We had a phenomenal response and are very grateful for your support.

Wear your Easter Lily with pride this year.