Funeral Oration for Gino Gallagher

Delivered by IRSP Ard-Chomhairle (National Executive) member Michael
McCormick at Milltown Cemetery, West Belfast - 2 February 1996

Comrades, it is our sad and painful duty to gather here by this
graveside to bury our friend Gino. We do so with regret, pain and
anger.

With regret; for a life cut short as it moved into such a promising
phase; for Gino, belying the media caricatures of him was an astute
thinking revolutionary, determined to forward his movement into a new
phase of working class activity and development.

There were no airs and graces about Gino, he was almost diffident in
putting forward his views, but his quietness hid a thoughtful and
determined man. He was unshakeable in his Republican Socialism and
in his belief in the eventual liberation of the Irish working class.

With pain; for our own loss, for each of us gathered here today, have
their special memories of this man. His energy and commitment were
unequalled and acted both as an inspiration and example for us to
follow. We each of us will miss some little aspect of Gino but in our
pain let us remember the good memories of this man and ensure we
never forget them or him.

It is our solemn duty as revolutionaries to exorcise our pain by
taking up Gino's standard, and moving forward with the Irish working
class towards liberation.

With anger; for we carry as great an anger towards those who
directed, arranged and ordered the political assassination of Comrade
Gino as much as we have anger for the fool who carried out this foul
deed.

Small minded people, self interested and self serving, they act as
the objective agents of the British no matter how they may wish to
portray themselves. Those who assassinated Gino Gallagher carried out
the work of the foe.

Let there be no doubt about that. If they think that his death will
throw this movement off course, they may think again.

Our response will be calm, measured, considered and at all times
political. For while personally our hearts may cry for immediate
vengeance, our heads tell us that this is exactly what those who
planned this deed want.

Gino knew exactly the risks he was taking, but he took them, not for
glory, not for high office, not for crumbs from the rich man's table,
but for the betterment of his class, and for the betterment of his
people.

That must be the criteria that we ourselves use as we continue the
struggle for socialism.

Gino's politics were the politics of the movement which he devoted
his life to and for which he died. He was determined that the
Republican Socialist Movement should return to its roots, as a
socialist organisation and when he assumed leadership position he
quickly established open democratic discussions in the movement, and
waged a political campaign against elitist, militaristic and non-
political attitudes in the movement.

Within a few short months he, along with others, revitalised the
Republican Socialist Movement. He identified with the working class,
was unashamedly republican and socialist, and was determined that his
class should not once again be sold out.

He saw the current peace process as fatally flawed, for even if all
party talks are convened will there be sufficient gains to justify
the sacrifices of the past 25 years?

But Gino was no oppositionist posturing from the sidelines.

Although more accustomed to the rough and tumble of republican
activism, he set out on a path to explore the full limits of the
peace process. He led delegations of the IRSP in meetings with many
bodies and individuals who themselves supported this peace process
and he patiently explained the movement's reservations.

However, he fully accepted that there could be no unilateral return
to violence.

As a socialist, Gino had no desire to see working class communities
at each others throats and he fully supported moves to open up
channels of communication with representatives of Protestant working
class opinion.

Lest there be any doubt about it, this movement stood unashamedly for
the establishment of an Irish Socialist Republic, and Gino saw as
part of his mission to revitalise that ideal. He wanted to place
firmly back on the political agenda the struggle for a unified
socialist Ireland.

His death may be a set back and it is a tragedy for his family and
all of us who knew him, but it will not stop us from moving on.

As we stand here in this graveside once again, our thoughts turn to
his family. No words of ours will ease their pain, but if it is any
consolation to them, Gino Gallagher's spirit will live on.

Wherever there is resistance to injustice, wherever there is a
striker, wherever there is a picket line, wherever there is a freedom
fighter, that's where you will find the spirit of Big Gino.

Comrades, Volunteers and friends, let not black despair cloud your
thoughts and dreams, or hatred pierce your heart. What would the Big
Fellow, Gino, have done?

He would have gone the path he laid out, organising, agitating and
preparing this movement for the long hard slog for socialism.

Finally, as we lay this Volunteer and Comrade in the soft green soil
of his native land, remember him each time you gaze into the stars
and see there etched across the sky the Plough and the Stars.