1916 Societies Béal Feirste

19/08/2026

His face they fear, his words they would rather bury, his influence they would prefer to be forgotten.

Brendan Hughes rightly called out what he knew to be a leadership that had long sailed from the values that they claimed to hold. His words today are just as relevant as the day the ink went to paper.

28/07/2026

We’re looking forward to playing our part in what promises to be a historic and exciting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast.

As thousands of people come together to celebrate Irish culture, music and heritage, the 1916 Societies will be bringing the conversation on Ireland’s future onto the streets through the One Ireland, One Vote campaign.

On Friday 7 August and Saturday 8 August, we'll be hosting a mock Unity Referendum, with polling booths located across the city, alongside the opportunity to vote online via QR code.

This is an opportunity for people to engage in a conversation about the future of Ireland through democratic participation. Every vote, whether cast in person or online, will be counted equally, reflecting the campaign's message of equal democratic participation.

We look forward to meeting people from across Ireland and beyond, hearing their views, and adding to the conversation throughout this landmark cultural celebration.

Join the conversation. Have your say. One Ireland, One Vote.

Today’s 1916 Societies Coiste. A reinvigorating event where we discussed the upcoming Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast and how we could use the event to promote Irish Unity through the One Ireland, One Vote campaign.

On Friday 7th August and Saturday 8th August the 1916 Societies will hold a mock unity referendum, with various polling booths placed throughout the city. As well as an opportunity to vote online using a QR code which will be on displayed at key points.

This is an excellent opportunity to give Fleadh revellers a chance to have a say in the future of Ireland, though democratic self determination.
The mock referendum is a prefigurative politics, it doesn’t wait for permission; it enacts democracy now. It shows that unity isn’t a distant goal, but a live, ongoing democratic exercise.

Crucially, using the Fleadh, a non-partisan cultural festival to prove that democracy is inclusive, not sectarian. Rights are universal, not tribal. Democracy must be active, not passive! Citizenship isn’t just about voting; it’s about participating and shaping the Republic.

The One Ireland, One Vote campaign embodies this: every single ballot both physical and digital is counted equally. Most importantly it undermines the Unionist veto logic.

COLONIALISM IS TYRANNY

Colonialism is tyranny, because it denies people the right to frame their own laws.

The One Ireland, One Vote Campaign is Democratic insurgency. The mock referendum reclaims the ballot box as a weapon against the colonial legacy of partition, forcing the question of unity into public space.

Holding it in Belfast (a city deeply scarred by partition), you’re physically occupying contested ground and challenging the colonial cartography that divided Ireland.

21/07/2026

Since the Good Friday Agreement was signed on 10 April 1998, 15 British Secretaries of State have come and gone, but British rule in Northern Ireland remains. Chris Bryant is the latest British addition without the right or mandate to administer colonial rule in Ireland.

1. Mo Mowlam (1997–1999)
2. Peter Mandelson (1999–2001)
3. John Reid (2001–2002)
4. John Murphy (2002–2005)
5. Peter Hain (2005–2007)
6. Shaun Woodward (2007–2010)
7. Owen Paterson (2010–2012)
8. Theresa Villiers (2012–2016)
9. James Brokenshire (2016–2018)
10. Karen Bradley (2018–2019)
11. Julian Smith (2019–2020)
12. Brandon Lewis (2020–2022)
13. Shailesh Vara (2022)
14. Chris Heaton-Harris (2022–2024)
15. Hilary Benn (2024–2026)
16. Chris Bryant (2026-

Each has acted as the political face of British colonialism, defending partition and denying the Irish people the right to exercise national self-determination. Different names, the same policy, maintaining Britain's veto over Ireland's future. The time for British governments appointing colonial administrators over part of our country has long passed.
Ireland's future belongs to the Irish people alone.
Time for Britain to end its interference.
Time to go.

"The British Government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland and never can have any right in Ireland"
James Connolly

17/07/2026

HENRY JOY McCRACKEN - FAITHFUL TO THE LAST

On this day in 1798, Henry Joy McCracken was executed in Belfast.

Born in Belfast in 1767, Henry Joy McCracken came from a prosperous Presbyterian family.

He was a man of privilege who could have lived a comfortable life and kept his head down instead, he chose to stand with the oppressed and dedicate himself to the struggle for freedom, equality and the liberation of Ireland.

McCracken became a leading member of the Society of United Irishmen a movement that sought to unite Irishmen and Irishwomen across religious and political divisions.

Their vision was of an Ireland where Catholics, Protestants and Dissenters could stand together as equals.

In 1798, Henry Joy McCracken took command of the United Irish forces in County Antrim.

On 7 June, he led thousands of men in the Battle of Antrim in the fight against British rule.

The rebellion was defeated. McCracken went on the run, but was eventually captured.

He was offered his life in return for betraying his comrades and naming other United Irishmen.
He refused.

Henry Joy McCracken remained faithful to his principles, faithful to his comrades and faithful to the cause he had dedicated his life to.

On 17 July 1798, aged just 30 years old, he was hanged in Belfast.

His sister, Mary Ann McCracken, stood by his side as he faced the gallows.

Henry Joy McCracken had every opportunity to choose comfort over struggle. Instead, he chose to stand up and be counted.

He remained faithful to the last.

His life reminds us that freedom is never handed down by those who hold power it is won by ordinary people who are willing to sacrifice, to stand together and to remain true to their principles.

The ideals of the United Irishmen unity, equality and Irish freedom remain as relevant today as ever.
Remember Henry Joy McCracken.

16/07/2026

🇮🇪 1916 Societies Béal Feirste 🇮🇪

Today we were back at it, beginning work on our new Ireland/international mural in beechmount.

We’ll be working hard over the coming weeks to get this finished for the community.

Once completed, we’ll be holding an official unveiling for everyone to come along to, with talks, music and more. 🎶🎤

If you would like to get involved in community-based activism in Belfast and help us build a stronger, more engaged community movement, give us a message and get involved today.

1916 Societies Béal Feirste Building from the grassroots up. ✊🇮🇪

09/07/2026

Today, some of our activists were out across West Belfast putting up our new stickers in different areas as we continue to spread the message of Irish unity and grassroots activism.

We have also been engaging with like-minded people and speaking with members of our communities about the need to build support for a grassroots campaign for Irish unity.

Ár bhfeachtas believes in "Éire Amháin, Vóta Amháin" (One Ireland, One Vote) an all-Ireland referendum on Irish unity.

We believe that rebuilding our communities and achieving a united Ireland must come from the people themselves through a strong, community-led movement.

Ár bhfís is for an all-Ireland approach that puts communities and working people at the heart of shaping the future.

Ar aghaidh linn le hÉirinn Aontaithe.

Join the 1916 Societies Béal Feirste today.

Tóg pobal níos láidre, tóg todhchaí níos fearr.

An Phoblacht Abú! Ar aghaidh chuig an bPoblacht.✊🏼🇮🇪

09/07/2026

08/07/2026

The 1916 Societies béal feirste remembers Nora McCabe and stands in solidarity with the McCabe family in their continuing campaign to end the use and stockpiling of plastic bullets in Ireland.

Nora McCabe, a 33-year-old mother of three young children, was struck by a plastic bullet fired from an RUC Land Rover on 9 July 1981.

She had been walking from her home on Linden Street, just off the Falls Road, to a local shop when she was hit in the head.

She died from her injuries the following day.

In the aftermath of her killing, the RUC claimed they were not responsible and alleged that the only plastic bullet fired had been aimed at two petrol bombers.

However, footage captured by a Canadian television crew contradicted this account, showing that the fatal shot came from an RUC Land Rover and that there were no petrol bombers present.

No one was ever prosecuted for Nora McCabe's death. Instead, the RUC commander for West Belfast, who was present in the vehicle from which the fatal shot was fired and who gave evidence denying that the RUC had been near Linden Street, was later promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable.

Secret British government papers, released in 2014, revealed that a senior RUC officer had given the order to fire the shot that killed Nora McCabe.

The information had been contained in a report submitted to the then British Secretary of State, Douglas Hurd, in 1984.

These documents exposed further attempts by the authorities in the Six Counties to conceal the truth surrounding the killing of a young mother of three.

The year 1981 was one of immense suffering. During the Hunger Strike, the British Government under Margaret Thatcher and the unionist administration sought to break the resolve of the nationalist community. Many people lost their lives, including Volunteer John Dempsey and Nora McCabe.

More than four decades later, the McCabe family continue to wait for truth, accountability and justice.

The 1916 Societies béal feirste stands with the McCabe family in their campaign to ensure that plastic bullets are permanently withdrawn, banned and never again used on the people of Ireland.

Ní neart go cur le chéile.

03/07/2026

Join the 1916 Societies Béal Feirste Today

Bígí linn! (Join us!)

Let's fight for unity, respect and equality.

Let's organise and build something for the people, by the people.

Ar son na Poblachta let us continue the vision of James Connolly and Bobby Sands.

Onwards to freedom for all the people of Ireland.

Éirímis le chéile!

We only want the earth ✊🏼🇮🇪