The crowd of around 600 heard Sinn Fein MLA Gerry McHugh pay special tribute to the IRA for having made the “greatest efforts” in the struggle for Irish independence.

    “They have played a central role in the creation of an opportunity to achieve lasting peace with justice,” said Mr. McHugh.

    He said last October’s act of decommissioning by the IRA, while causing its own difficulties for republicans, had saved the peace process.

    “I wish to commend the IRA leadership’s initiative, their patience and their tenacity,” he stated.

    Recalling the names of fallen IRA Volunteers Louis Leonard, Seamus McElwaine, Sean South and Fergal O’Hanlon, Mr. McHugh added: “It is important that we remember those who have given their lives in the struggle for Irish freedom, not just in his generation but in previous generations.”

    He said a united Ireland was the republican goal. It was not only achievable, but a just and democratic goal.

    “Our goal is to see a United Ireland which delivers real social and economic change. We are the only party with a strategy and policies for achieving Irish unity and independence,” Mr. McHugh continued.

    He called upon other political parties, campaign groups, trade unions and interested sections of the community to join Sinn Fein in creating what he described as an “Alliance for Irish Unity.”

    “Republicans have a responsibility to reach out to unionists and to others to engage with them about the nature and form of our shared future. We seek a united Ireland and we must convince unionists that we are implacably opposed to doing to them what was done to nationalists and republicans,” he stated.

    “We will never again accept the status of second class citizens. Neither will we ever impose second class citizenship upon anyone else. But unionists too have responsibilities and this includes the need to break with sectarian politics. In this process we have to remember that for many unionists the change we are embarked upon is a terrifying prospect.

    “Change is always difficult. When taken in the context of a conflict, change can be traumatic. And this can be made more difficult when there are those, both within sections of unionism and within the British political and military establishment, who still want to hold on to the old ways. In my view that is where the serious threat to the peace process comes from at this time,” said Mr. McHugh.

    Echoing attempts by the Sinn Fein leadership to reassure unionists, he added: “Our goal as Irish republicans is an Irish unity that is inclusive, that unionists will feel welcome in, that they are part of. So we have to quietly, persuasively, and as friends and neighbours, persuade unionists that they should not be afraid of taking a leap of imagination.

    “There is much work to do. But we believe that we are in the countdown to a united Ireland. We believe that together we can make further progress and truly transform society on this island for ever,” stated Mr. McHugh.

    Sinn Fein see the impending election in the Republic as another step on the path to that goal with Mr. McHugh predicting that the party would attract more votes and win more seats.

    Turning to the Peace Process he said Sinn Fein had been “working tirelessly” to make it a success, “only to be hampered at almost every turn by unionists and the British Government. He accused the Government of failing to deliver on promises to implement the Good Friday Agreement, decommission its “war machine” and create a new police force.

    He said the “only player” to have moved for the good of the Peace Process was the IRA with its act of decommissioning.

    “The IRA unilaterally decided to take an initiative in a genuine bid to create political space and save the entire process from collapse. Others must now follow this lead and honour their commitments and their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement,” Mr. McHugh stated.

    On the issue of policing he said: “Sinn Fein will accept nothing short of the new beginning promised in the Good Friday Agreement. We will not accept second class policing. We will not sit on a Policing Board whose powers ensure it is a rubber stamp for the activities of the police force.” Welcoming the growing number of young people joining Sinn Fein, he said the party was winning more and more hearts and minds right across the country.