Derry republicans attend Independent Wolfe Tone commemoration

A number of Derry republicans attended the national Independent Wolfe Tone commemoration on Sunday.
Veteran Derry republican Danny McBrearty laid a wreath at the grave of Wolfe Tone in Bodenstown in memory of ‘the father of Irish republicanism’.
Mr McBrearty was joined by around 1,000 independent republicans from Derry and across Ireland in Sallins, Co. Kildare for the commemoration.
The event was chaired by republican former prisoner Sean McGuinness from Armagh. The main speaker was John Crawley.
Speeches were also made by Sean Whelan of the National Graves Association and John McDonagh of Radio Free Éireann, who brought soil from the grave of Tone's wife, Matilda, in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, and scattered it at the graveside.
Speaking about the event, former republican prisoner and Blanketman Dixie Elliott said: “There was a great turnout yesterday (Sunday) in County Kildare to remember the life and mark the death of the founding father of Irish Republicanism, Theobald Wolfe Tone in Bodenstown churchyard.
“Following the traditional walk from Sallins to Bodenstown we stood in sombre silence with independent Republicans from across Ireland and listened to great speeches from the former Republican prisoner Sean McGunness, Sean Whelan of the National Graves Association, John McDonagh of Radio Free Éireann in New York and former US Marine and IRA Volunteer John Crawley.
“The most poignant moment of the day came when John McDonagh scattered a handful of soil, which he had brought over from the grave of Wolfe Tone's wife, Matilda, in Green-Wood Cemetery New York and scattered it on his grave.
“As was expected John Crawley gave yet another excellent address and in doing so added his name to the long list of great Republicans who have spoken at Tone's graveside. I must here emphasise 'Republicans' who had spoken.
“As well we know, John is a very humble human being and a gentle man who is only too delighted to give time to the many Republicans to want to speak to him and have their photos taken with him.
“June 8, 2025 was a day that will live long in the memory.
“It was hopefully a new beginning, a ray of sunshine breaking through the dark clouds of the recent past. A day of great company, of friends and comrades, Republicans meeting for the first time.”
In his address Mr Crawley referred to Tone’s anti-sectarian message.
He said: "We stand today beside the grave of this remarkable patriot to honour his service and sacrifice and to reaffirm our commitment to his ideals.
“We stand here not as southern or northern Irishmen and women, not as Catholics or Protestants, not as inhabitants of this ‘island’ nor advocates of insipid All-Island institutions, but as United Irishmen and women,” he concluded.