A tribute to the dead Volunteers of South Armagh

When I was asked to Write something about my memories ot the past thirty years and about Sean Boyle and Peter Cleary, I couldn't get away from the fact that although this booklet is dedicated to the memory of Sean & Peter, the other volunteers keep coming to my mind, probably because of the fact that I attended all of their funerals over the past twenty eight years. With this in mind, I want to record a brief tribute to the dead and their families.

On the 15th November 1973, South Armagh was plunged into shock, as the news of the death of Vol. Michael Mc Verry spread through out the district. While leading a gun and bomb attack on Keady Barracks, Michael was hit by an RUC bullet and although under heavy gunfire, his comrades managed to get him out of the town and to Monaghan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Michael's death was a severe blow to the republican movement. As an individual he was a born soldier and leader in his life. In his death he became an inspiration to many young men and women to carryon the struggle for freedom. His name was revered by the enemy and spoken with pride by the people of Cullyhanna and allover Ireland. His memory will stay with the republican movement forever and ever. We remember Mick Mc Verry's name with pride.

Two years later, 1975, saw the greatest loss throughout the struggle, when the republican movement lost five young men in ten months. On the 1st February 1975, Sean Boyle from Belleek was tragically killed in a car crash at Ballymascanlon. Sean's death was a tragic loss to the republican movement and to the community from where he came. His memory has been kept alive by the fact that within one year of his death, his wife and many friends erected a republican plot in the graveyard where he is buried and the Sean Boyle -Sinn Fein Cumann was formed.

Five months later, on the 4th June 1. 975, the loss of a volunteer hit the small village of Jonesborough. Francis Jordan was the third volunteer of the 70's to die. Francis was part of an active service unit on a bombing mission in Bessbrook when he was shot by a British soldier and died at the side of the road without any medical assistance. As a mark of respect to his memory, a group of local people erected a memorial and renamed a housing estate Francis Jordan Park.

The fourth victim of the current struggle was Gerry Mc Kiernan. A young man of twenty years of age, born in the border village of F orkhill. Gerry died tragically on the 13th October 1975. Gerry was aware at a young age that all was not well in our country and like many other young men and women decided to join the struggle for Irish freedom. Gerry is buried in Mullaghbawn graveyard.

Only seven weeks later, tragedy struck South Armagh again, this time on Kelly's Road, off the main Dublin Road, Killeen. Two volunteers were killed on the 6th December 1975. Jim Lochrie from Dromintee and comrade Sean Campbell, from Faughart, Co. Louth. The only thing that separated the two volunteers was the border between their homes. Sean is buried at Kilcurry and Jim is buried at Dromintee. Another sad house, another young man, cut down in his youth by the same cruel hand.' The Ballad of Peter Cleary by Joe Mc Shane. With the tragedies of 1975 gone past, the families of South Armagh were soon united in grief when on the 15th April 1976, the word spread throughout that Peter Cleary had been murdered at Tiffcrum. Peters killing was particularly cruel as it was surrounded by a tissue of lies by both the executioners and the administration at the time. Peter is buried in the republican plot in Belleek beside his comrade Sean Boyle.

January 1977 was only midway through when on a Sunday afternoon, young Seamus Harvey was gunned to death at Coolderry outside Crossmaglen. Aided by an informer, the British troops lay in wait and without warning, killed Seamus as he approached a car park. Seamus was killed on the 16th January 1977 and is buried in Crossmaglen graveyard. As an active service unit was returning from an attack on Keady Barracks, they came into contact with a serving prison officer. He was armed and opened fire on the unit, wounding two members and killing Peadar Mc Elvanna. Peadar was killed on Lagan Road, Keady. He is buried in Armagh graveyard.

'We will wear no convicts uniform or meekly serve our time. That England might brand Irelands fight, eight hundred years of crime.' The words of the song echo the resilience of the hunger strikers with no other weapon but their body. Raymond Mc Creesh joined the hunger strike in March and died on 21 st May 1981, after 61 days. He is buried in the republican plot in Camlough.

'A song can't bring them back again or heal the wounds or soothe the pain. A song can only keep alive their names.' In February 1988, a new sentence was written into Irish history with the deaths of the Two Brendans. People speak their names with pride, never one without the other. On the 29th February 1988, a double tragedy hit South Armagh. The republican movement lost two brave soldiers, Brendan Moley and Brendan Burns. Both men were buried on the same day; Brendan Moley in Cullyhanna graveyard and Brendan Bums in Crossmaglen graveyard. Their funerals witnessed the worst display of RUC brutality ever seen in the South Armagh area.

On an Easter weekend, 1996, tragedy struck the Martin family, when Eugene was killed near his home. At his funeral, Arthur Morgan giving the oration, said he was the eyes and ears of his life long friend who was blinded during an active service operation in South Armagh. Eugene was killed on the 8th April 1996 and buried in Shelagh graveyard, Co. Louth.

Four months later another family was left to grieve a young son. This time the family were from Culloville, the son was Malachy Watters. Malachy's death was a great loss to the republican movement and his family. He died on the 8th August 1996 and is buried in Crossmaglen graveyard.

In December 1990, on a grey Sunday evening, a whole community was once again reminded of the British presence in our land. Fergal Carragher was gunned down because of who he was and that associated him with a strong republican family background. Fergal Carragher, Sinn Fein, was murdered on the 30th December 1990. He is buried in Cullyhanna graveyard.

Almost 27 years later this chapter of the 20th Century was to close with the death of Gary Toner from Belleek. Gary was born the same year that Micheal Mc Verry was killed. Gary was killed on the 19th November 2000. He is buried in Belleek graveyard. It is no exaggeration that the sacrifice of the South Armagh Volunteers have had a profound effect on the direction of our struggle.

A true and fitting memory to their deaths will be when our struggle is over and our people are Free.

By Siin Fein Cllr Jimmy Mc Creesh