Condemning the Unionist provocations in Occupied Ireland, and supporting those standing against them

Today (27/09/26), residents of Garvaghy Road, Portadown, Country Armagh, are continuing to bravely stand against the loyalist thugs of the Orange Order and their backers in the reformed RUC-PSNI.

Today’s events come after the Parades Commission reviewed the ban on the Orange Order marching through the heart of a Irish Republican community. For nearly 30 years, the Orange Order has been banned from marching through this area due to their blatant desire to harass, intimidate and attack Irish people living in their own communities.

For many on Garvaghy Road, the events of today echo back to the sectarian violence their community faced nearly 30 years ago, and that they still continue to face today. Violence, pogroms and state-sanctioned murder is in the living memory for many in this community.

Those who enabled this provocation are now hypocritically calling for “calm” and “order”. The fact is that under British Occupation, Ireland will never fully have either.

Chris Bryant, MP for the Rhondda and Ogmore, was elevated to the position of Secretary of State for “northern Ireland” only a few weeks ago. He was not chosen by the people of Ireland but handpicked by Andy Burnham. Already he has managed to bring tensions to a level hardly seen since the late 90s.

Bryant is personally responsible for the threat of violence that will hang over the residents of Garvaghy Road for the next few months at least. As Secretary of State for Occupied Ireland, Bryant could have made the correct choice to maintain the ban on this sectarian hate-march through an Irish community. Bryant, and the people he answers to in Westminster, will have the blood of anyone injured or killed in the aftermath of today’s events.

Bryant, Burnham and the Labour Party in Westminster have again proven themselves to be the friendly acceptable face of colonial violence and a keen supporter of Unionist oppression in the occupied 6 counties.

The people of Garvaghy Road demand our solidarity here in Wales as they face off against loyalist bigots and their thugs in the RUC. We encourage everyone to spread the truth about what is going on and share the statements of our Irish comrades.

For those in Wales unfortunate enough to have Chris Bryant as their MP, you can show your solidarity with our oppressed Irish comrades by calling 02072198315 or emailing chris.bryant.mp@parliament.uk to tell him that you oppose his attempts to re-ignite The Troubles.

These efforts to bully and demoralise Irish communities into silently consenting to British occupation must fail and they will fail. Garvaghy Road is Irish, and the Six Counties are Irish. No amount of unionist violence or intimidation can change that.

The Orange Order was not welcome 30 years ago, and are not welcome now. Plaid Gomiwnyddol Cymru stands in unwavering solidarity with those defending Garvaghy Road.