The Jack Crowe Memorial Dublin Mountain Walk

On Saturday 11 August 2012 Republicans in South Dublin held the inaugural Jack Crowe Memorial Dublin Mountain Challenge.

A group of nearly fifty gathered at the Blue Light pub in Barnaculia in preparation for a long day on the mountains and in respect and remembrance of Dublin Republican Jack Crowe who passed away in July 2010.

We were honoured on the day to be joined by members of Jack’s family and by republicans from across Dublin and from Meath, Westmeath and Cork. We were also joined on the day by three Basque comrades who enjoyed the day immensely.

The trek was 14 miles from Bohernbreena to Barnaculia taking in Bohernabreena Lakes, The Hellfire Club, Massey’s Wood, Tibradden Mountain and Two Rock Mountain.

While it was a long and hard trek those who took part on the day all said it was very enjoyable and a fitting tribute to a life long republican who many on the trek knew well.

The Jack Crowe Memorial Cup was lifted for the first time ever by Philomena Denton of the Preacáin team from Tallaght and it was presented to them by Séan (Jack Jnr) Crowe TD.

First man across the line was John Nugent, also from Tallaght while second and third places went to Darren O’Rourke from Meath and Donncha O’Laoghaire from Cork respectively.

The first team to get all its members across the line was the Basque team of Pablo Vincente, Ibon Murua and Imanol Hernandez and all three were presented with medals from Seán Crowe on the promise that they would return next year.

After the presentations and a few refreshing pints comrades dispersed to their respective constituencies and all promised to return with friends and family next year.

A lot of work and organisation went into making this a successful event and big thanks must go to Chris Curran, Sorcha NicCormaic, Grace Costigan, Ray O’Kelly, Seán McGrath, John McGrath, Keith Sweeney, Adrian Corr, Brian Byrne, Janette Kavanagh and Kain Phoenix.

On behalf of the Martin Forsyth Cumann in Glencullen/Sandyford and the Bob Smith Cumann in Dundrum I would like to thank all those who took part, raised money, sponsored someone or helped out in any way at all.

Special mention must go to the Crowe family for allowing us to remember their father in this way, for buying into the project and for showing up and taking part on the day.

Here’s looking forward to seeing you all and doing it all again next year.

For more information on the Jack Crowe walk visit http://www.facebook.com/SinnFeinDublinMountainChallenge.

The above photo show's particpants in the walk at the finish line in the Blue Light car park in Barnaculia.  In the centre is Seán Crowe TD with the Jack Crowe Cup.

Jack Crowe:

Jack Crowe

Once described as a father figure to Dublin Republicans Jack Crowe was a stalwart of the Republican Movement right up to his sad passing in July 2010.

Christened Joseph Crowe but known as Jack, he was born into a republican family in 1929.  His father Paddy Crowe was in C Company of the Dublin Brigade of the IRA, his uncle Nicky was in A Company and his aunt Alice was in Cumann na mBan.

Jack first became active in the republican movement in 1938 at the young age of nine when he joined Na Fianna Éireann.

He married his wife Nellie in 1949 and they had five children, two boys and three girls, and the family settled in Padraig Pearse’s neighbourhood in Rathfarnham where Jack lived for the rest of his life.

Sadly Jack was widowed at a young age and he was left to raise his five children on his own.

However Jack still managed to continue his republican work and the Crowe household put up many republicans including Gerry Adams and Tom Hartley.

Times were hard and the house was often raided but Jack remained a committed republican, worked hard, reared his family and never sought any recognition or limelight.

He remained committed to the vision of Padraig Pearse and James Connolly and did everything he could to advance the cause of Irish freedom.

Jack was also known as a real Dublin character and would often entertain those in his company with his great tales of adventures around the world down through history.

Sadly Jack passed away in July 2010 and, as his son, Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe said at his funeral, ‘he left this world smiling’.

This year’s Dublin Mountain Challenge was the first of what will be an annual memorial to Jack Crowe.  It was an enjoyable day with a plenty of competition, lots of scenery and history and a lot of craic.

All funds raised will go towards the development of Sinn Féin in Dublin South and ultimately towards the campaign for a new united Ireland.

44 Bus cut from Ballyogan and surrounding areas

The 44 bus was recently extended to the Northside of Dublin to the benefit of most people on the route. However, it is the bus users from Ballyogan who have paid the price as the service has been cut from the area.

On learning that the route was to be cut from Ballyogan my colleague's and I collected more than 500 signatures on a petition to keep the service.  I have since sent this petition to Dublin Bus with a request for a meeting.

Unfortunately I have now received a reply to my letter stating that Dublin Bus does not intend reviewing it's decision in the short term.  There was no acknowledgement of my invite for a meeting.

The reality is that it only took little over five minutes for the bus to make the short journey in and out of Ballyogan.

And while the addition of the Luas Green Line to the area has been a huge advantage for the area, it does not service Sandyford Village, Stepaside Village or Enniskerry.  Nor is it connected to the Northside as the new 44 route now is.

While I understand that the use of the service has reduced since the introduction of the Luas, it is still a vital service to those people who do use it.  It should not be cut for the sake saving six or seven minutes on the new route.

Despite claims from Dublin Bus that public consultation took place throughout 2010 and 2011 the vast majority of people in Ballyogan had no idea that the service was to be cut and were fiercely opposed to the cut.

The least Dublin Bus could do is to accept my invite to meet with the residents in the area to explain its actions and I would call on them to do so.