North Kildare Sinn Fein politician remembers the late Martin McGuinness
Cllr Reada Cronin, who attended the funeral in Derry of former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, remembers the late Republican peacemaker.
Cllr Cronin writes: "On Tuesday 21st March Ireland woke up to discover that overnight we had lost a great republican leader. Martin McGuinness had lost his short battle with a serious health condition.
"Most of us were shocked when we saw him in early January when he resigned as Deputy First Minister due to alleged DUP corruption in the Renewable Heat Incentive. His emotional farewell to parliamentary politics ten days later in his beloved Bogside did nothing to allay fears for his health.
"Despite political commentary, including from Dáil deputies – who view corruption, bad governance and lack of accountability as par for the course – Martin McGuinness' decision to pull the plug on the Assembly was fully vindicated. This was evident in the huge turnout and increase in the Sinn Féin vote in the ensuing elections.
"Following news of Martin McGuinness' death it seemed ironic that our present Taoiseach sat beneath a painting of ruthless IRA leader Michael Collins yet labelled Martin McGuinness a terrorist. I found it gallingly hypocritical.
"The leader of “The Republican Party” (those that were not going to “stand idly by” yet acted instead as if “stand idly by” was the instruction), was also unable to pay his respects without trying to somehow de-legitimise Martin McGuinness' legacy. Weasel words from Fianna Fáil are not new.
"The fact is that our two and a half party system behaved shamefully, cynically abandoning our northern brothers and sisters to an apartheid state. The six counties were simply left to their own devices, while the smash and grab politics in the republic feathered certain nests.
"It has been said there were two Martin McGuinnesses. That is not true. There was one man; born into a sectarian Orange state. Politics wasn't an open door in the gerrymandered North, where one-man-one-vote was still an outstanding matter. Catholics were not welcome in the decision making corridors of power.
"Martin reacted to this discrimination of the Special Powers Act, the B Specials, loyalist pogroms and state collusion and violence. He did what many others did throughout Irish history to defend their besieged communities; he joined the IRA.
"When the war took a life of its own and fell into a tit for tat cycle of violence, it was Martin, along with others, who stood up at great personal risk and led republicans into a successful and lasting peace.
"I've always admired him, but I first met Martin while I was on the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle. The man I saw behind closed doors was the same man we saw on our TV screens. The undoubted highlight of last year's general election campaign was when Martin came to Kildare to canvass with the team in Naas. He expressed disappointment at the unopened shopping centre in the centre of the town and remarked it was symbolic of the way bankers and developers had failed communities.
"Feeling the immense loss of our leader, I along with members from Kildare drove to Derry to attend his funeral.
"I was in the church when the congregation spontaneously applauded the arrival of Arlene Foster. I wasn't surprised by the generosity of the welcome. It's who we are.
"The cortège arrived into the church to the strains of Amazing Grace. A fitting hymn for a man who emanated such grace in difficult political circumstances and in such abundance. Crowds of mourners followed his remains and filled his city.
"The mass was solemn and included suitably generous eulogies, both national and international and from religious leaders representing all communities. Martin's talents enabled him to form and nurture personal relationships with people from all backgrounds. The powerful Cór Cúl Aodha under the direction of Peadar Ó Riada set the musical tone for the congregation.
"I'm aware that there will be some who, not having met the man, won't understand the love and high regard we have for Martin McGuinness. While not everyone in the North joined the IRA, nor did everyone during the Easter Rising in 1916 or during the War of Independence. I respect people's rights to make their own choices. We in Kildare are lucky we were not faced with Martin's choices, as they were presented to him in the early 1970's.
"I'm proud of how my political community conducted itself during a highly fraught and emotional week. We will continue Martin McGuinness' work towards the reunification of our island. Our duty as republicans is to be oblivious to the differences carefully fostered which continue to divide the minority from the majority and reconciliation must be at the heart of that. Republicans have not and will not be found wanting. Unionism and the British government must step up and acknowledge its part in collusion and state terror.
"It was a great personal privilege for me to form part of the Guard of Honour with other elected Sinn Féin representatives, that ushered Martin McGuinness to his place of rest. He graciously owns his place among the heroes of Ireland's republican dead.
"Martin is laid to rest in the republican plot in his beloved Derry, home of the iconic “Hands across the Divide”. We commit ourselves to his legacy and to the certain and cooperative clasp of those hands.
"We think of his wife Bernie and family at this hugely difficult time. They must surely have been looking forward to his retirement that now will never be.
"I measc laochra na nGael go raibh a anam dílis. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. Imithe uainn ár ngiolla mear."