Raymond McCreesh remembered
``The name of Raymond McCreesh, IRA Volutneer, a son of Camloch
and H-Block martyr, is forever etched not only in the hearts and
minds of this close-knit Camloch community, but throughout South
Armagh and indeed the whole of Ireland,'' said newly elected Newry
and Mourne Sinn Féin councillor Breandán Lewis at the hunger
striker's sixteenth anniversary ceremony in Camloch on Friday 23
May.
He said that while there was a great sense of achievement and
satisfaction in the air, this sombre and sad occasion recalling
the dark days of 1981 was a stark reminder to all of the enormity
of the struggle for justice and freedom. He saluted Raymond
McCreesh and his fellow hunger strikers and assured the McCreesh
family that they were constantly in the thoughts and prayers of
many, their pain and hardship never forgotten.
``Raymond McCreesh epitomised all that is good about the
Republican Movement. He showed no thoughts of self interest when
he joined the Republican Movement to play his part in brining
about what today are the same ideals for us all, a free
independent sovereign Irish republica for all the people of
Ireland. When he was captured and imprisoned he again cast aside
all thoughts of self interest when he took part in the campaign
to secure for all prisoners their basic human rights, a campaign
that eventually was to cost him his life. Raymond and his
comrades planted the seed and today we are the reapers of the
harvest.''
At a packed function in Camloch later that evening, newly elected
Councillor Jim McCreesh, a first cousin of Raymond's, paid
tribute to the hunger strikers. He plotted the growth of Sinn
Féin from the time of the hunger strike and stated that when
victory had been achieved the sacrifices of Raymond and the many
others will have borne fruit. Councillor McCreesh warned everyone
who tried to dismiss the growth of Sinn Féin with feeble excuses
that they did so stupidly. ``Sinn Féin in the Fews, Slieve
Gullion, Newry and Mourne and throughout the island is surging
forward, we have our honesty, openness and integrity,'' he said.
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