The Burns Moley Cumann was formed in 1997 and covers the area of Silverbridge and Dorsey in the heart of South Armagh. The Cumann was named for Brendan Burns and Brendan Moley, two Volnteers who died on Active Service on 29th February, 1988.

The very first Cumann meeting took place in Donnelly's loft, Silverbridge. Throughout the past five years the Cumann has being going from strength to strength. The Cumann has now a total of 45 members, which includes members of Ográ Sinn Féin . The Cumann meets every 2 weeks. During these meetings there is an agenda to be adhered to. In 2002 the Cumann acquired it's own premises, which will be used by the Cumann, for local community meetings, classes, such as Irish classes to promote our culture. The Cumann is very active locally relaying any arising issues to the local councillor ensuring that all issues are dealt to accordingly.

In 2001 on the 20th anniversary of the Hunger Strike the Cumann erected a new monument at Fords Cross, Silverbridge; making it a permanent feature of a landmark, which was already widely known. Thousands of people gathered from all corners of the country to participate in this commeration . Attending this massive event were bands from north and south of the border, all local Cumann displayed their banners with the local people joining in behind the banner that represented their area. A member of each of the Hunger Strikers families laid a wreath, the onlookers reliving their emotions at what had happened to all of the Volunteer's that died on this inhumane hunger strike. The main speaker for this event was Pat Doherty, MP for South Tyrone. Lawrence McKeown and Paddy Quinn who were former hunger strikers unveiled the monument. Father McCreesh who is Raymond McCreesh's brother said a decade of the rosary. Again this added a personal touch to this commemoration.

'H-Blocks Is The Rock That British Monsters Shall Perish Upon For We In H-Block Stand Upon The Unconquerable Rock Of The Irish Socialist Republic ' Bobby Sands

In 1998 the 10th Anniversary of the two Brendan's occurred and for this 10th Anniversary the Burns Moley banner was unveiled. This was the first sighting of the banner. It took a full year of thoughts, ideas from both families and members of the Cumann to get the banner to its current state. Again hundreds of people gathered for the 10th anniversary. Each year more and more people are attending the Commerations . Even though both men are gone their memories are still alive within the hearts of the people who were close to them and especially the families and people of the wider Republican community.

We think of you in silence ,
No eye may see us weep,
But ever in our aching hearts,
Your memory we will keep. (Brendan Moley )

Annual commemorations are organised to the two Brendan's, in February each leap year or the first Sunday in March the other years.

You left behind some aching hearts
That loved you most sincere
We never shall and never will
Forget you, Brendan dear. (Brendan Burns)

We lend as much support to the neighbouring Cumann's as we can because at the end of the day we are all on the same team.

Sinn Féin is the oldest political party in Ireland. We take our name from the Irish Gaelic expression for "We Ourselves''. Since the party being founded in 1905 we have worked for the right of Irish people as a whole to attain national self-determination, and have elected representatives in every major Irish town and city. In South Armagh, we have 4 out of a possible 5 members of the local council. Sinn Féin seeks the establishment of a new Ireland based on sustainable social and economic development; genuine democracy, participation, equality and justice at all levels of the economy and society; and a lasting and meaningful peace with unity of purpose and action.

Through our local Sinn Féin Councillors we are constantly raising local issues such as state of the roads, street lighting, bus shelters, local funding, education, vanlisim , recycling etc. We are constantly updating the electoral register for the forth-coming elections. The Cumann would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that if you know of someone who is not on the register due to any the following please do not hesitate to contact your local Sinn Féin councillor or any member of your local Cumann.

· If you know of some one who has moved into the area

· If you know of some one who has moved address i.e. moved into a house a few doors up from their original address

· If you know of some one who has now reached the voting age

Overall the Burns Moley Cumann has succeeded in the organisation and participating in a wide variety of commemorations locally and nationally, fundraising for Sinn Féin and other local charities, in the strategy for the elections for north and south of the border, Sinn Féin's campaign to succeed in an all Ireland 32 county party. We lend as much support to the neighbouring Cumann's as we can because at the end of the day we are all on the same team. When you stop and think of what Brendan Moley and Brendan Burns dedicated their lives to, and then metoriphorically you should understand the caption on their banner…………

'Whether on the scaffold high, or on the battlefield he die, the noblest place for man to die, is when he dies for man.'