Ireland’s Future: Progressing Irish Unity

a Chara,

This week I attended the wake and funeral of Ted Howell. He was a Sinn Féin leader, a mentor, and a good friend.

It was a bitterly cold day. Between snow showers, tears, biting winds, and laughter we swapped stories about Ted. I was glad of the company of Todd Allen from New Jersey and Ciarán Statuton from New York and Mayo, both good friends of Ted and who acted as honor guards for part of the procession.

At his graveside, both Mary Lou McDonald and Gerry Adams gave passionate and personal orations on the loss of their friend.

Gerry Adams remembering his comrade of over 50 years finished up by stating, “So Ted is that rare thing. A successful Irish revolutionary.” I was surrounded by generations of Irish Republicans and former prisoners. Men and women, all grown grey with their heads bowed against the cold. A knowing chuckle broke out. He then added, “Struggle is a continuum and Ted’s contribution has set us up for the next phase.”

For centuries Irish Republicans had sought Independence from Britain. Many of the uprisings ended before they began, some lasted days or weeks. The Tan War and Border Campaign lasted a short number of years. At the end of each, Republicanism emerged weaker and divided. The dream of a united and independent Ireland became a distant aspiration for a future generation.

Ted was born into a divided Ireland and a state that refused to recognize his equal rights or identity. When conflict broke out, he joined the IRA, and was interned for years without a trial. He was instrumental with others in building Sinn Féin, and formulating and overseeing the implementation of what would become the peace process, including its international dimension.

The war of attrition that was the conflict in the North lasted over 25 years and could have gone on for longer.

I remember chatting to Ted about the stance of a leading republican critic of Sinn Féin. With that familiar look in his eye, he said that the critic was ideologically “right” and then added, “but politically wrong”. I was taken aback. He explained that struggle was not about basking in the self-satisfaction of being ideologically pure and continuing to do the same things as the world changed around us. It was about progressing Irish Unity, building support, banking gains and always moving forward. It was a long game.

Jokingly he once reminded us of the good news that we were more than halfway through a 1600-year struggle!

Ted Howell had no ego. He quietly got on with the work. Nor was he dogmatic. He understood the difference between irrevocable principles, and strategies and tactics. That was his great gift.

Standing in a cold Milltown cemetery surrounded by those who had fought the British for years, and are unwavering in their support for peace, I thought of the difference they had made.

Sinn Féin is the largest party across Ireland. We have a peaceful pathway to a new and united Ireland. Irish Republicanism is in its strongest position since partition.

By any measure, Ted and those of his generation are that rare thing, successful Irish revolutionaries. The journey is not complete and we have further to travel but with your support, we will honor those who came before and will build a new and united Ireland.

Have a great weekend.

Is mise,

Ciarán

Ciarán Quinn is the Sinn Féin Representative to North America