Jack Weir

I WAS sorry to hear of the passing of Dr Jack Weir, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and hasten to express sympathy to his family and friends and to his associates in the Presbyterian Church.

I met Jack Weir just once but under dramatic circumstances -- at the famous Feakle, Co Clare meeting between representatives of Republican Sinn Féin and of the IRA with Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churchmen.

Jack Weir played a leading part in the proceedings and my recollection is that he was very impressive. Dáithí Ó Conaill for his part felt that his was an “authentic voice” of the Protestant community north of the Border and of the unionist viewpoint.

Following an alert the IRA leaders, who were on the run, departed and the clergymen withdrew to frame the wording of a suggested Declaration of Intent to disengage from Ireland by the British government. Soon about 60 Special Branch men burst into the hotel carrying sub-machine guns and lined us all up against the wall.

It was a genuine attempt at conflict resolution and had immediate results although these came to naught in the long run.

The Feakle meeting required courage on the part of Jack Weir and his companions. It is sad that 26 years later Jack Weir’s work has not been completed.
-- Ruairí Ó Brádaigh
Contents

	Type or paste text or Web address (beginning with http://) here: Translate from: English to FrenchEnglish to GermanEnglish to ItalianEnglish to PortugueseEnglish to SpanishFrench to EnglishGerman to EnglishItalian to EnglishSpanish to EnglishPortuguese to English
	Powered by Systran

Alfie Lane

AT his funeral held recently in Cork, comrades of Alfie Lane paid their respects to him, remembering him as a courageous soldier who spent his life as a Republican, whose ambition was the re-establishment of the All-Ireland 32 County Republic and the driving out of the British Army of occupation in our six north-eastern counties.

The Tricolour covered his coffin, which was accompanied from the funeral home to the Church and from the Church to his last resting place by comrades who served with him in the 1956-62 campaign.

At the graveside, Des Long, Vice-President of Republican Sinn Féin reminded the large attendance that Alfie had joined the Republican Movement in the late 1940s. He first became a member of Fianna Éireann. Then in early 1950 inspired by IRA efforts to rearm by raiding British Army barracks he joined the local Unit of the IRA in Cork city.

In October 1956 he was sent to North Derry to organise so that area would be ready to play its part in the campaign which started on 12 December 1956. Alfie based himself in the Dungiven area and it was from this base the activity was organised and carried out.

After the end of the campaign in 1962 Alfie was one of those who set up the comrades organisation in Cork. The aim of this group was to prepare for the next phase of the campaign.

In 1969 and 1986 when the Republican Movement was under threat from those who were prepared to accept the 26 and Six-County Statelets, Alfie was foremost in opposing this treason and he worked and organised to re-build the Republican Movement on both occasions.

To conclude his oration Des Long extended the sympathy of the Republican Movement to his wife Kathleen who stood shoulder to shoulder with him throughout their married life.

He also extended sympathy to his sons Rory and Fergal and his daughter Marie and his grandchildren. He also sympathised with his comrades, all of whom will miss this brave, honest and sincere Republican.
Contents

Michael Ward

Republicans in Co Tyrone were saddened by the death in mid August of Michael Ward, Brackey, Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone.

A lifelong Republican, Michael Ward was a founder member of the National Graves Association in Tyrone in the mid-1960s and was treasurer of the Tyrone Branch. Up to his death he was a trustee of the national Graves Association Garden of Remembrance in Carrickmore. He was a member of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) and was chairman of the Tyrone branch.

Coming from a Republican background, Michael was a nephew of the late Frank Ward, who was shot by British Crown Forces during an ambush and died in the Mater Hospital on April 4, 1922 at the age of 24.

Michael Ward was well aware of the history of his country and could recount the activities of the United Irishmen in his native district of Brackey in the days when the famous ‘Liberty Bush’ was the recognised community centre 200 years ago. In 1986 Michael Ward remained faithful to Republican principles and refused to accept the 26-County State and all that came from that. He was a member of Republican Sinn Féin until his death.

A large attendance, including members of Republican Sinn Féin, paid tribute to him as he was laid to rest on August 18 in St Colmcille’s Cemetery in Carrickmore. Deepest sympathy is extended to his brother, family circle and friends. I measc Laochra na bhFíníní go raibh sé.
Contents

Comhbhrón

DWANE, Deepest sympathy is expressed to Ger Dwane on the death of his father John. From Republican Sinn Féin, Limerick.

DWANE, Deepest sympathy to Ger Dwane on the death of his father John. From Joe Lynch and Mick Hanley, Limerick.

GROGAN, In memoriam Helen Grogan, Co Tipperary. A close friend of the late Michael Flannery and his wife Pearl. To her husband Jim Grogan and family, deepest sympathy. The cause of Ireland’s full freedom is diminished by Helen’s passing. The best tribute we can offer her is to complete her unfinished work. Respectfully, George Harrison, New York.

HEGARTY, Comhbhrón le Mick Hegarty i bpríosún Phortlaoise ar bhás a dhriotháir sna Stáit Aontaithe. Ó Ruairí agus Patsy Ó Brádaigh.

HEGARTY, The Corrigan/McKearney Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Armagh city sends condolences to Mick Hegarty on the death of his brother.

LANE, The Ard Chomhairle, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, extends deepest sympathy to Kathleen Lane and family circle on the recent death of Alfie Lane, Cork. I measc na bhFíníní go raibh sé.

LANE, Comhairle na Mumhan, Sinn Féin Poblachtach extends deepest sympathy to the family and comrades of Alfie Lane, Cork who died recently.

LANE, Cumann Mac Curtáin/Mac Suibhne, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Corcaigh extends deepest sympathy to Kathleen Lane and family on the death of Alfie Lane, Chairperson of the Cumann. Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí dá anam uasal.

LANE, Deepest sympathy is extended to Kathleen Lane and family, Cork on the recent death of Alfie Lane. Leaba i measc na bhFíníní go raibh acu. From Cumann na mBan, Corcaigh.

LANE, Deepest sympathy is extended to Kathleen Lane and family, Cork on the recent death of Alfie Lane. I measc Laochra na nGael go raibh se. From the Republican Comrades, Cork.

LANE, Deepest sympathy is extended to Kathleen Lane and family, Cork on the recent death of Alfie Lane. From Líta Ní Chathmhaoil.

O’KEEFFE, Deepest sympathy is extended to Josephine Hayden and her family on the passing of her father, Joseph O’Keeffe. Gina Sigilitto, New York.

O’KEEFFE, The National Irish Freedom Committee extends deepest sympathy to Josephine Hayden and her family on the death of her father Joseph O’Keeffe.

O’SULLIVAN REDMOND, Sympathy is extended to the family of Mary O’Sullivan Redmond, Bishop Moynihan Crescent, Killarney, Co Kerry. From Denis Coffey, Marian Place, Killarney, Co Kerry.

O’SULLIVAN REDMOND, Sympathy is extended to the family of Mary O’Sullivan Redmond, Bishop Moynihan Crescent, Killarney, Co Kerry. From Danny Leen. Brosna, Co Kerry.

TONER, The Corrigan/McKearney Cumann, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Armagh city extends condolences to the family and friends of Olive Toner, who died recently in Armagh city.
Contents

I gCuimhne

McGARRY -- 16th Anniversary. In proud and loving memory of Mary McGarry, Cumann na mBan, who died on September 25, 1984. Alwats remembered by the Trainor family, Armagh city. Mary, Queen of the Gael, pray for her.
Contents

Beannachtaí

CROSSAN, The James Connolly Cumann, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Ennis, Co Clare sends solidarity greetings to Tommy Crossan, Republican prisoner, Maghabery jail and pledge to campaign tirelessly on his behalf to highlight the injustice that is being carried out on him as with all POWs.

HEGARTY, The McKelvey/Steele Cumann send get well greetings to Mick Hegarty, Portlaoise jail.
Contents

Na Fianna Éireann: Beware of imitations

IN A statement on August 31, the Patsy O’Connor Sluagh, Na Fianna Éireann, Dublin said:

“It has come to the attention of Na Fianna Éireann that the 32-County Sovereignty Movement has conjured up people who claim to be Na Fianna Éireann but who in actual fact support the group of Provisional dissidents that split from the mainstream Provisionals in 1997.

The ‘Real IRA’ as they call themselves and the Provisionals have recognised the legitimacy of Leinster House, one of the institutions that divides Ireland into two States and have thereby broken with Republican principles; they were never given any order by any legitimate body to go down the road that they have gone.

“Following a split in the Republican Movement in 1986 there were two groups calling themselves Fianna Éireann. The group which supported the Provisionals was eventually disbanded by its own people while the group which supported the position of Republican Sinn Féin continued to exist.

Now, following the latest split in the Provisionals the dissident section has resurrected the title of Fianna Éireann for its own use. Once again, people are being confused by the existence of two groups calling themselves Fianna Éireann.

“Na Fianna Éireann is a revolutionary movement which supports Republican Sinn Féin in its fight for Brits Out and a New Ireland, a path that must and will be followed.

Na Fianna Éireann, to quote our constitution, ‘recognises not Treaties or Boundaries which make of Ireland anything less than a Sovereign, Independent State from the centre to the sea’.

“Na Fianna Éireann will never stray from this task and will never shirk its responsibilities to the Irish nation to protect and to serve it against the foreign oppressor that has taken so much from our land,” the statement concluded.
Contents