KERRY Sinn Féin launched their 1916 Centenary Events programme at a special event at Banna Beach on Saturday where, during his address to the crowd, Deputy Martin Ferris criticised Denis O’Brien, Bono and the Government’s efforts efforts to commemorate the event.

They came from all over Kerry and beyond for the hour long ceremony where a crowd of over 400 people saw flag-bearers from Kerry Sinn Féin and members of the Cabra Historical Society march into the car park to kick off proceedings.

The Society, dressed in 1916 period Volunteer costume with rifles, gave a demonstration on a number of military drills and sang the Volunteers song “Óró, sé do bheatha abhaile”, “Glory O Glory O To The Bold Fenian Men” and “Lonely Banna Strand”.

Geraldine Nolan read the Proclamation and Eddie Barrett, grand-nephew of Austin Stack, read the Seamus Heaney poem ‘Requiem For The Croppies’.

Martin Ferris then made a speech about Roger Casement, the commemoration of the 1916 heroes and decried the current Government’s efforts to celebrate the centenary as well as criticising Bono and Denis O’Brien, the latter being described as the William Martin Murphy of today.

“It is no wonder that the paper of William Martin Murphy, the so called Irish Independent, called for the executions of the leaders of the Rising…but the ghosts of William Martin Murphy live on today. They live on through the Denis O’Brien’s of this world, who seek to manipulate public discourse for their own greedy self interest.

The same paper that sought to demonise Republicans 100 years ago continue to demonise Republicans today. But they have failed and will continue to fail because we are stronger than them and we have faced far greater threats than the poisoned pens of their journalists.”

Deputy Ferris continued…

“Last year the government launched a video to outline their plans to mark the centenary. Does any of you remember what was in this video?

No mention of the Proclamation. No mention of the leaders of the Rising. Instead we had Bono and Michael O’Leary. You ask yourself, what in God’s name has Bono got to do with 1916? A man who keeps his money abroad so he won’t have to pay taxes in Ireland.”

“What does Michael O’Leary, the enemy of unionised Labour, have to do with the vision of James Connolly, that great socialist and advocate of workers? But it was no surprise that they chose to do this because as Gerry Adams rightly pointed out this week, they are embarrassed by the Rising. They are embarrassed by the Proclamation.”

Deputy Ferris said the work that the men and women started 100 years ago remains unfinished.

“They did not fight for a country that bails out bankers and developers while citizens are evicted from their homes and are forced to carry the debt for those same bankers and those same developers….They died for a Republic. A real Republic.

“We need to believe in a future that would do justice to these great men and women, but not just believe, we have to fight for it. So let us remember with pride and thanks, but let’s finish the work they started. Let’s build the Republic,” he concluded.

Scroll down for a short video and photos below…