The Galway Advertiser tells us of the latest protest by the Galway Alliance against War.

The statue of Galway’s 1916 Rising leader Liam Mellows is to be clad in the notorious orange boiler suit worn by prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, as a protest against the US army’s use of Shannon Airport.

So the reason they pick him is.

The statue honours an anti-imperialist hero and his beliefs have been trodden upon by those who claim to be his followers. We are an anti-war group, we have anti-imperialist, and republican credentials

Now this was a guy who lead an armed rising in the West of Ireland and also was one of the main guys behind the seizure of the customs house which kicked off the Civil War. What ever you say about the guy being Anti-War was not one of his beliefs.Also they say.

The 1916 Rising was about winning Ireland’s freedom, but it was also about opposing Ireland playing a part in an imperialist conflict, WWI. By getting Liam Mellows dressed in an orange boiler suit we are getting him once again to oppose Ireland playing a part in an imperialist conflict.

Hence why the Proclamation of the Republic refers to Germany as our Galant Allies.  Yes not side of the Imperialist war taken there.

But maybe the rest of his beliefs do mesh well with the group.

We do not seek to make this country a materially great country at the expense of its honour in any way whatsoever. We would rather have this country poor and indigent, we would rather have the people of Ireland eking out a poor existence on the soil; as long as they possessed their souls, their minds, and their honour. This fight has been for something more than the fleshpots of Empire.

Which might explain why if it is raining the Galway Alliance against Wars protest will be held in Richardson’s pub if it is raining.  For anyone who does not know Richardson’s this is not the biggest pub in the world.