Calls for Irish unity on cross-border march

Rebecca Black, PA/ Q Newsdesk

A march has taken place across the Irish border calling for the unification of the island.

Participants gathered in the Co Donegal town of Lifford in the Irish Republic before walking across a bridge into the nearby Co Tyrone town of Strabane in Northern Ireland.

There were calls for "Irish unity now" from marchers, many of whom were holding Irish flags, during the procession.

The call for ‘Irish Unity Now’ rings out from the March For Irish Unity now making its way across the border to Strabane pic.twitter.com/gOPvyFKJ6b

— Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) November 24, 2019

Addressing the crowd in Strabane, event organiser Liam Sweeney said partition has "failed Ireland".

"Our message is a simple message, if the Irish unity community can come together and co-operate on our common goal, we can successfully tackle any issues that we face," he said.

The March for Unity is welcomed into Strabane town centre by the song ‘We’re On The One Road’ pic.twitter.com/otHH6bNalC

— Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) November 24, 2019

"Using our collective people power we can build a new united Irish republic that cherishes all of its children equally.

"Partition has failed consecutive generations of Irish people, wrecking havoc on border communities. This town has been decimated by it over the years. Partition has prevented our entire island from reaching its true social, economic and cultural potential.

"A divided partitioned Ireland can only perpetuate the cycle of division. We aim to unite Ireland and its people.

"This march today will send out a clear message from peaceful, anti-sectarian, grassroots republicanism that a united Ireland will generate a transformative power on which a new republic can be built.

"March For Irish Unity is a non-party political, grassroots, anti-sectarian and peaceful initiative aiming at mobilising the collective and vibrant Irish unity community for a new and united Ireland."

Independent councillor @paulgallagher46 , one of the organisers of today’s March For Irish Unity event, says that the fact that over a thousand people turned up to march for unity proves to unionist critics that the desire for a united Ireland ‘is no fantasy’ pic.twitter.com/lm5E5fKoXq

— Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) November 24, 2019