2021-01-02

New IRA issue New Year’s Statement

There is an old tradition of issuing New Year’s Statements in Irish Republicanism. Around New Year, the various Irish republican organisations issue statements. While most political organisations issue statements, some armed organisations also publish statements. The biggest and most active of these organisations is the organisation which calls itself “the IRA”, while it is usually referred to as the “New IRA” in the media. 

Earlier today, I received the New Year’s Statement of this organisation. Since I haven’t seen it published online yet, I document the statement below. It is signed “T O’Neill”, and I have no reason to consider it as not authentic. In the statement, the organisation uses the Irish name for the “Óglaigh na hÉireann”.

Irish Republican Army: 2021 New Years Statement

The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann send New Year greetings to all our Volunteers, imprisoned comrades and supporters throughout the world. We salute all anti-imperialist revolutionaries who struggle for freedom from occupation and tyranny.

2020 was a year unlike any other that we as Republican Revolutionary Soldiers have ever faced. While the world was gripped in a fatal pandemic the British occupiers and their lackeys continued their war against Irish Republicans by deploying crown forces North and South, both overtly and covertly.

For the record, Óglaigh na hÉireann maintained a professional discipline, slowly building while advancing our own key goals both at home and internationally. We constantly did this without adding further angst to our already drained and anxious people, who felt the full force of the Covid pandemic. We salute our Volunteers for this stance. 2020 will be remembered as the year our occupiers felt they had finally defeated revolutionary Republicanism in Ireland - They failed.

Unity, cohesion and comradeship are values that we as an army are founded on. Óglaigh na hÉireann are as committed now to ending British occupation than at any time in our long history. We further proudly salute the unity shown by the recent hunger strike. This hunger strike brought into focus the fact that there are dozens of political prisoners gaoled in Ireland.

This coming year will see British celebrations of partition, a celebration of occupation, murder and tyranny. Óglaigh na hÉireann have a proud history- we will continue to play a leading role, using all means at our disposal in pursuit of full national sovereignty.

Signed

T O’Neill