I was standing in the middle of the crowd outside the GPO. A union steward on the stage urged people to keep moving along O'Connell street to make room for the people still arriving. A group of people waving Arthur Morgan (SF) placards were unresponsive to his calls.
Next the steward announced we will be starting shortly and then "The wife of Mr Hannifan has lost him. Would Mr Hannifan from Newcastlewest please come to the back of the big screen." Roars of laughter. "He's gone to the pub for a break from her", "I saw him in Ann Summers across the road".
It then kicked off; Fintan O'Toole leading the show, the crowd were a bit surprised but accepted him. He was fired up. He spoke of a proud nation, of democracy and freedom and of how our leaders have abandoned us.
A middle aged lady of some gravitas then read out the 1916 proclamation. 94 years later the words echoed. The crowd stood in silence listening. Echoes of sovereignty, equality and a call for freedom. Loud cheers greeted the end, people waving Irish flags in the air. A great grand niece of the person who raised the Irish tricolour in 1916 rose it aloft. More loud cheers. I got the feeling Sinn Féin will do will in the next general election.
O'Toole spoke again of being a free people and how what is happening with the IMF is undemocratic. There was a strong mood to get the current government out. O'Toole lead the charge with "Out, Out, Out!" for one minute. This and some foot stomping kept our feet warm. We Irish are only new comers to this marching stuff.
Francis Black sang. The song was very wordy but she put her heart into it.
A group of four young Dublin lads in their twenties next to me were enjoying the proceeding "Tis is deadly stuff", "Ya brilliant". At the start when some pop music was being played they roundly criticised it "This is not a bloody night club, how about some Luke Kelly". They then noticed O'D's ex-girlfriend on the stage. "What is she doing up there?" "Taking a some photographs."
Next their friend O'D walked up to the mike and they were thrilled and texting. O'D is an unemployed plumber and spoke of how as an apprentice he has put down 3 or so years to the trade but now is unemployed and like 8,000 others unable to finish his apprenticeship. He spoke with a strong Dublin accent, young and from the heart. Of wanting to work, of loving his country, of feeling let down by the leaders. The
crowd loved him. He raised both hands in defiance to the situation, basking in the adulation.
O'Toole saw that he went down well and skipped after him, clapping him on the back. Returning to the mike "That was Keith O'Driscoll" and raised his hands in a similar fashion. The crowd responded warmly. O'Toole ain't bad at this, I wonder did he do something like this before.
Next a pensioner spoke, in her Sunday best and well spoken, the crowd clapped a bit. A young lady from a Community Group then tore up the four year deal and went headlong for John Gormley, perhaps sensing a weakness. She gave out Gormley's landline number and urged people to ring it now and for the next few weeks.
Jack O Connor spoke amid boos and shouts. For some reason the crowd did not like this guy. He got into a rant and spoke with an unusual accent. David Begg kept it short and his words echoed better with the crowd and were able to jump over the boos.
Finally Christy Moore came out to great applause. The Ordinary Man, we all sang, hearts sad but they can be warmed up. He then tried another song. It sounded like it was penned the night before, a bit wordy and rusty. Still the crowd appreciated it, some good will and that was that.
The crowd rumbled around. One fellow on the street shouted passionately "Let's march on the Dáil and give the papers something to write about." These guys are media aware. And so they did.
Walking to O'Connell bridge a large group gathered at Daniel O'Connell's large statue. Richard Boyd Barret spoke of this only being the first of many marches. Next big one on the 7th Dec, budget day. A guy in the crowd lit a flare, the like you'd see in the San Siro.
Next Joe Higgins spoke. This man has a great voice, the strongest voice of all today. He spoke of democracy and poured scorn on the IMF and the bondholders. He spoke of joining with the workers across Europe, particularly in Portugal and Spain. Here was the only clear recognition that this current crisis is Europe wide and that perhaps can only be solved with a European consciousness. Joe's sojourn in Brussels and Strasbourg must be doing him good.
As I left the guards were looking on, no large numbers or riot squad in sight. On Wicklow st later a battalion of eight gardai in riot gear on horses trotted quickly Dáilward, a few protests to quell.
An Irish style march.
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