Republican Sinn Fein Wexford

The people of Wexford were Saddened at the passing of Nicky Barnes on 11sept 2011. Nicky grew up in Westlands in the town and was an intelligent and Talented person who excelled at hurling in school , going on to represent wexford at U15, U16, U17 and minor before a back injury forced him to stop. Typical of Nicky he had recently returned to play with his club, the Faythe Harriers. Nicky was also very involved with hunting and coursing from a very young age and was a prominent member of the Wexford coursing club.

A dedicated Republican, from an early age, he attended pike marches in the bicentennial year of 1998. He joined Padraig o Pearaill cumann Republican Sinn Fein and quickly proved himself to be a fine and articulate orator, giving speeches at the graveside of Liam mellows and the Parle/Creane and Hogan commemorations among others. After the untimely death Of Billy Phillips he was appointed chairman of the cumin with the unenviable task of leading it forward. He did so with gusto. When he returned from the anti-British Queen protests in Dublin and Kildare black and blue from garda batons, as he protected with others who were beaten by the 26 county police, he organised the commemoration of the 30^th anniversary of the hunger strikes in the h blocks in Wexford with a sponsored 24 hour fast in aid of the republican prisoners dependants, a picket for the POWs in the bullring and a commemoration in the republican garden of remembrance where he read his favourite piece of literature, the 1916 proclamation. At republican Sinn Fein meetings, whether in Wexford or Dublin or elsewhere, he was very vocal and well able to give his opinions and thoughts on any given subject. He is greatly missed.

Wexford republicans were shocked and saddened at the recent sudden passing of their friend and comrade Billy phillips at the age of just 50. Billy had been a commited republican for overb 30 years. He joined Na Fianna Eirrean as a teenager in the elate seventies And had been at the forefront of republican activity from them until his untimely death. Only days before he passed away he had been organising and participating in the annual easter comemmorations.

It is atestament to billys dedication that following his release from portlaoise prison, where he served more than 3years as a political prisoner, that he continued to play a full role in every aspect of the republican struggle. This despite continued harassment and serious health problems. Billy was a member of Padraig o Pearaill cumin, Sinn Fein Phoblach, of which he was chairman and a member of the wexford Republican Graves Association, of which he was a long serving member. Billy was always a dedicated and determined republican who never deviated from his principles and ideals and was always ready to do whatever nessacery to bring about the establishment of a 32 county socialist Republic. He is sadly missed as a friend and comrade