History of the Volunteer Martin Doherty Sinn Féin Cumann
Sinn Féin is the oldest Political Party in Ireland, having been founded in
1905. Our aim is the establishment of a 32 County Democratic, Socialist Republic, where all the people living on the island
determine their own future and destiny without outside political or military interference. We also believe that the wealth of the
state, created by it’s people and natural resources should be distributed for the benefit and welfare of all people living in
Ireland, as expressed in the 1916 Proclamation. Sinn Féin is a 32 County Political Party, with Cumann (branches) in most major
towns and cities in Ireland. The Party also has elected representatives in the Four Provinces including 4 M.P.’s and 18 M.L.A.’s
(Member of Local Assembly) and over 100 Councillors in the 6 Counties, 5 T.D.’s (at the time of website development) and 64 Councillors
in the 26 Counties, including one in Clonakilty. 
Belfast March - The Clonakilty Sinn Féin banner is carried through the streets of West Belfast on 12th
August 2001 on the occasion of the National Hunger Strike Commemoration. VOL. MARTIN DOHERTY
The Clonakilty Sinn Féin Cumann proudly perpetuates the memory of I.R.A. Volunteer Martin Doherty from Dublin in it’s name. He
was killed in May 1994 by a Loyalist Death Squad at the Widow Scallon’s Bar in his native city, while on door duty at a
Republican function in the building. The Loyalists brought with them a bomb, intending to leave it inside the building unaware to
the 300+ people upstairs attending the function, and then detonating it later. This would have caused massive carnage and
casualties. However, Martin Doherty confronted the death squad, and in a scuffle with them, he was shot and died at the scene.
His brave actions saved the lives of hundreds of people, but he died himself, like so many others throughout Irish history. We
are proud to have regular contact with his family. SINN FÉIN IN CLONAKILTY
There has been a continual Sinn Féin presence in Clonakilty for over 20 years, and Republican activism to one degree or another
for generations. Indeed, the only battle in the province of Munster during the 1798 United Irishmen Rising took place at
Shannonvale, a couple of miles from the town. The leader, Tadhg Ó Donnabháin Astna is remembered in the town centre where a
statue was erected to his memory and his comrades on the centenary of the Battle of the Big Cross in 1898. On 23rd July 1803,
local United Irishmen were arrested on the morning of Robert Emmet’s ill-fated Dublin Rising. The Irish Volunteers were active in
the area in the lead up to the 1916 Rising, and a number of local I.R.A. Volunteers gave their lives in various operations in
West Cork during the Tan War (1918-’21). During this period, Michael Collins was elected as a Sinn Féin T.D. for the
constituency. The town and the wider West Cork area was very active in it’s support for the Republican Prisoners during the
1981 Hunger Strike when 10 brave Irish Republicans died horrendous deaths for their comrades and country. After the Hunger
Strikes ended, a few dedicated people decided that the Republican struggle should continue in Clonakilty, and they formed a
branch of Sinn Féin. Because it was a time of political censorship, when Sinn Féin members were not permitted to be heard on
radio or television, promotion of the Sinn Féin weekly newspaper, “An Phoblacht” was a very vital organ of keeping the people of
the area informed of events in the British-occupied 6 Counties.
In 1994, it was decided that the party would contest the Clonakilty U.D.C. local elections, as a way of raising the party’s
profile and it’s social policies amongst the people. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin stood and won a seat to the surprise of everyone in
the town.
Shortly afterwards, the Cumann was re-organised, and being just a couple of months after the tragic death of Vol. Martin Doherty,
the members decided to name the Clonakilty Cumann in his memory.
Clonakilty Hunger Strike Commemoration – 1st July 2001. Republicans in Clonakilty proudly remember the
1981 Hunger Strikers at their commemoration. 
Tim Whooley Commemoration – The first of the I.R.A. memorial crosses to be restored and re-decorated by the
Clonakilty SF Cumann was in March 2003 to Vol. Tim Whooley who died at Shannonvale in 1921. A commemoration was held on his
anniversary date. Seen in the photo are Séamus de Búrca (Clonakilty SF), Tim and Julia Whooley, (nephew and niece of Tim Whooley),
Paul Hayes, (Cathaoirleach Clonakilty SF), Mary O’ Driscoll, (Piper) and Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin. ACTIVITIES
The Cumann meets monthly where a formal agenda, which has been circulated a few days in advance, is gone through. All members are
entitled to attend and encouraged to contribute to the discussions and debate. Reports of members attendances at other party/communtiy
events are given, and the Councillor reports on council meetings and non-confidential
issues he is involved in. Every year, it holds an A.G.M. where officers are elected for the following 12 months.
The Cumann is a very active one. It’s work includes the distribution of “An Phoblacht”
to local homes every week, fundraising through raffles and draws, organising social functions, the publication and distribution
of an annual Cumann Newsletter “The Rebel”, attendance at meetings of the party at other levels
including Comhairle Cheanntair (Constituency), Cúige (Munster Provincial) and the annual Árd Fheis. The Cumann also organises a
Commemoration every Easter Sunday in the town to remember the 1916 Rising and all who have died for Irish Freedom before and
since.
Easter
Commemoration 2003 – Seen at the Easter 2003 Commemoration at Astna Square were Kieran O’ Hagan, (Rúnaí Clonakilty SF, Laoise Harte,
(daughter of the late Paddy Harte), Paul Hayes, (Cathaoirleach Clonakilty SF) and Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin. 2001 was the 20th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike in which 10 Irish Republican Prisoners died in Long Kesh. The Cumann set
up a special sub-committee early that year to organise events to remember these men. In February, they organised a public meeting
in Clonakilty at which Jackie McMullen and John Pickering, both of whom were on the Hunger Strike, were guesat speakers. On July
1st 2001, they organised a very successful Commemoration in Clonakilty, at which Bernard Fox, ex- Hunger Striker and Michelle
Gildernew, who had just been elected as M.P. for Fermanagh South Tyrone (where Bobby Sands was elected in 1981). In August they
organised a coach and 50 people who attended the National Hunger Strike Commemoration in Belfast. In 2003, it decided to survey
memorials in the general Clonakilty area that were erected to the memory of fallen I.R.A. Volunteers who died in the Tan War.
After examination, it was noted that many of these had fallen into disrepair and the Cumann resolved to restore them and organise
simple commemorations on the anniversaries of those they remember. See Cumann Press Releases for
further news from Clonakilty Sinn Féin. If you or anyone you know would like to get involved, or help out in any way, please
contact 086-2202029 or e-mail: eolas@clonsf.com. |
