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Minister Killeen officiates at Rineen Ambush 90th Anniversary Ceremony

The Minister for Defence Mr Tony Killeen TD today (Sunday 26th September 2010) officiated at the 90th Anniversary of the Rineen Ambush at a ceremony in Moy Co. Clare.

On arrival at the ceremony, Minister Killeen reviewed the Guard of Honour provided by members of the 32nd Reserve Infantry Battalion of the Reserve Defence Forces. Minister Killeen then attended the Mass of remembrance for the 4th Battalion Mid Clare Brigade and participants in the War of Independence in North Clare. Following the Mass, the Minister laid a wreath at the Rineen Monument. An Exhibition of the War of Independence memorabilia was on display at the Armada Hotel at Spanish Point. The event was attended by a large crowd including many family representatives of the soldiers involved and friends.

Speaking during the ceremony Minister Killeen said” I would like to begin by commending the Commemoration Committee for all of the hard work and effort invested in keeping the memory of this period in our history alive. With the march of time, events such as these can become lost in the public consciousness and that is why it is so important to have their memory preserved for future generations. Your committee and others like it are often at the centre of such preservation and the voluntary nature of your endeavours makes it all the more important that they are acknowledged.”

The Minister continued “Volunteers such as those who took part in the ambush were instrumental in laying the foundations for the State that we live in today Despite the ensuing reprisals, local people supported the freedom movement and took pride in the ambush and that recognition continues unabated today.”

The Minister also noted that over the next decade we will mark the centenary of many notable events in our history and that it was important that we do so in an inclusive way and operate on the first principle that commemoration should unite and not divide people of different backgrounds. “In remembrance and commemoration it is essential to bear in mind the complexities of history and the sincerity of motivation on all sides,” said Minister Killeen.

ENDS
For further information please contact: Derval Monahan Press Adviser to Minister Killeen, Department of Defence Mobile + 353876781608 or email pressoffice@defence.irlgov.ie



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