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Seán Ó NéillSeán was a staunch Republican, a fluent Irish speaker, a gifted teacher and a GAA footballer and administrator. He was in his 83rd year. At the removal to St Mary’s Church, Cahersiveen on March 15, GAA members formed a Guard of Honour. The National Flag and the flag of his local Renard GAA club were draped on the coffin. Following Mass next day a Republican Honour Guard escorted the coffin which was borne shoulder-high by relays of men for over a mile to Holy Cross Cemetery. A lone piper led the very large cortege. At the graveside, Derrick McKenna presided and extended sympathy to the four surviving O’Neill brothers, Michael and Eugene (Cahersiveen), Jerome (Dublin) and Dónal (Wexford) and to the extended O’Neill family. Dónal recited a decade of the Rosary in Irish, after which many wreaths were laid.
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President of Republican Sinn Féin and a long-time friend of Seán gave the oration:
“Sorrow is in our hearts today at our loss but also pride at the long and exemplary life of Seán Ó Néill who inspired succeeding generations of Republicans. With so many others who helped the Movement through the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, he was born in the years circa 1916. “In the early ‘30s in Drumcondra Training College he served with many fellow-students in a unit of the Dublin Brigade, IRA. He won Dublin County Senior championship medals with Geraldines Gaelic football team in 1940 and again in 1941. “Following the 1939-40 IRA Campaign in England led by Seán Russell and before the 1942-44 Northern Campaign in which his brother Maurice particularly participated, Seán was captured with other Volunteers while training at Crumlin in Dublin in May 1941. “He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in Arbour Hill by the Military Tribunal for IRA membership and on expiration of that term was interned without trial in the Curragh Concentration Camp. There Gaelic football and the Irish language were his chief interests. “In November 1942 his brother Maurice was executed by firing squad who had opened fire on him without identifying themselves. Seán was brought from the camp in total silence by military police to see his brother on the eve of his execution. “The outrageous deed that was Maurice O’Neill’s death at the hands of the 26-County State must never be repeated. The Leinster House politicians must be held in check and no opportunity given to them for the execution of Republicans. “Seán Ó Néill was among ‘the tough, hard core’ held to the very last at the Curragh until mid-May 1945. He was among those who reorganised the Movement on unconditional release and served on GHQ Staff. IRA in various capacities from 1945 to 1955. “He was most active as Secretary of the National Commemoration Committee which brought him into contact with young people all over the country to whom he was an example and a model. “Before that Seán was a powerful and forthright public speaker as anyone who heard him at Easter commemorations and especially at the George Plant Memorial unveiling in 1953 can attest. “On retirement from teaching in Dublin in the 1970s Seán and his wife Nell moved to Cahersiveen where he became Secretary of the South Kerry Board, GAA and later its Honorary President. Shortly before Nell’s death on New Year’s Day 1996, their home was raided by 26-County police. “He was a very proud participant in the highly successful 50th anniversary commemoration of Maurice’s death for Ireland and gave a half hour interview at the time to Raideó na Gaeltachta as Ghaeilge bhlasta bhinn. “Seán Ó Néill’s qualities were loyalty to the 32-County Republic, to the Irish language and to Gaelic games. He was as a rock in his steadfastness against which the tides of compromise would break in vain. “His personal integrity and his generosity to Feis na Poblachta and Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill were remarkable. He suffered and sustained grievous loss but was an inspiration to the young throughout his long life.
“The lines penned by Brian O’Higgins for his brother Maurice’s In Memoriam Card apply equally to him:
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
James (Jimmy) WallaceBefore his removal to St Patrick’s Parish Church the Tricolour was placed on his coffin by Tom O’Sullivan, Chairperson of Comhairle Chúige na Mumhan, Sinn Féin Poblachtach. A six-man Guard of Honour of Jimmy’s comrades marched alongside the hearse to the church. The same Guard of Honour accompanied the funeral to Mount St Lawrence Cemetery for the burial. In a graveside oration Republican Sinn Féin Vice-President Des Long said that Jim Wallace would be sadly missed by his family, friends and the Republican Movement. He informed the large congregation that Jimmy had joined the Republican Movement because he felt that the only way to remove the British presence from Ireland was through the Republican Movement and that he took his commitment to the aims of the Movement seriously. Des Long also said that Jim was always very concerned for the welfare of prisoners in jail and on the run. He was also concerned for the welfare of Republican prisoners’ families and worked for their needs through CABHAIR.
He extended the sympathy of the Republican Movement to Anne, Jim’s wife for 42 years, and to his four daughters, Kathleen, Ann, Bernadette and Sheila. He told Jim’s grandchildren that if they wanted a role model for their lives they need look no further than their grandfather who had displayed all the virtues of a good husband, father and Irishman.
Michael CartyMichael was a member of the local Fleming-Carty-MacBride Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin and had been an active Republican for many years. He was an uncle of Vol Patrick Carty, IRA, Dungannon, Co Tyrone who was killed accidentally on active service with Dermot Crowley of Cork and Seán Loughran (“the Crow”) also of Dungannon on June 25, 1973.
Proposing a vote of sympathy to his family at a meeting of Comhairle Uladh in Monaghan on March 23 Councillor Joe O’Neill, Bundoran said he was active to the last and was particularly concerned in raising finance for the Prisoners’ Dependants’ Fund to which he contributed generously himself.
Seán Keenan rememberedBefore the oration, delivered by Seán Mac Oscair, a member of the Ard-Chomhairle of Republican Sinn Féin, wreaths were laid by members of the Keenan family and Republican Sinn Féin cumainn from throughout the Occupied area. The largest was placed on behalf of the HQ Staff of the Continuity IRA. Within the plot are buried Seán Keenan, a founder-member and former Honorary Vice-President of Republican Sinn Féin, who died in 1993, his wife Nancy, (nee Ward) a leader of Cumann na mBan, and their son, Colm, an IRA Volunteer whose gravestone inscription reads: “killed in action with his comrade Eugene McGillen, defending Free Derry on March 14, 1972”. Seán Mac Oscair of Fermanagh outlined “the outstanding contribution to the Republican cause by successive generations of the Keenan and Ward families”. Seán Keenan was interned for a total of 16 years, and his wife Nancy spent long periods in Armagh jail, also without charge or trial. Seán Keenan travelled to the US at Easter 1970 along with the late Dáithí Ó Conaill to set up Noraid with others like Mike Flannery, Jack McCarthy and John McGowan. The Ard-Chomhairle representative went on to criticise the Fine Gael leader John Bruton and leading politicians on both sides of the border. Of the SDLP leader he enquired: “Would Mr Hume like to tell the world what it is that is so appealing to you and your party now, in the current peace process, 2,000 lives later, which did not appeal to you and your party during the IRA truce of 1975 when British disengagement was on the table?”
He continued: “In tandem with Bruton, John Hume is pushing on down the road endeavouring to legitimise the Six-County State by means of a retrospective constitutional referendum north and south of the Border. No doubt this, if it comes to pass, shall be in line with the British agenda, ie the National Question couched so that 600,000 nationalists here are constitutionally dispatched to history, at their own behest, and at the behest of the south also.”
ComhbhrónBEATTIE, Bearna Uladh, Republican Sinn Féin extend deepest sympathy to the family of Mattie Beattie, Turlough, Knockcrogh, Co Roscommon. I measc leaba na bhFíníní go raibh sé. BYRNE, Sincere sympathy is extended to Mary Byrne and family, Co Offaly, on the death of her mother Elizabeth Conroy. From Martin and Margaret McGrath, Bundoran. FEARON, Bearna Uladh, Republican Sinn Féin sends sincere condolences to the family of Daniel Fearon, Mullaghbawn, Dromintee, Co Armagh, an esteemed Republican who passed away on March 17, after a short illness. McCOMISH, Sincere sympathy is extended to the family of Michael McComish, Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, who died on March 16 as a result of an accident. From Bearna Uladh, Republican Sinn Féin. Ó NÉILL, Cumann Pádraig Ó Pearaill. Loch Garman, extends sincere sympathy to Dónal Ó Néill and his brothers on the death of Seán, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam. Ó NÉILL, Kerry Comhairle Ceantair, Republican Sinn Féin, extend deepest sympathy to the Ó Néill family, Cahersiveen on the death of Seán Ó Néill in March. Ó NÉILL, Sincere sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Seán Ó Néill, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry who died during March 1997. From the Liam Mellows Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Dublin Central. Ó NÉILL, Sincere sympathy to Dónal Ó Néill and his brothers on the death of Seán. Leaba i measc na Laochra a raibh aige. From Séamus Mac Suain. Loch Garman. Ó NÉILL, Sincere sympathy to Dónal Ó Néill and his brothers on the death of Seán. From the National Graves Association, Loch Garman. Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí dá anam. Ó NÉILL, The Ard Chomhairle, Republican Sinn Féin, extends deepest sympathy to the O’Neill family, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry on the death of Seán Ó Néill. I measc Laochra na nGael go raibh sé. TAYLOR, Sympathy was expressed in addition to the Taylor family, Twinbrook, Belfast on the death of Mrs Taylor, mother and grandmother and Michael McManus, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh on the death of his mother Sarah. WALLACE, Deepest sympathy is extended to Anne Wallace and family on the death of her husband Jimmy. From Joe Lynch, Limerick. WALLACE, Deepest sympathy is extended to Anne Wallace on the death of her husband Jimmy. From the Republican Movement, Limerick. WALLACE, Deepest sympathy is extended to Anne Wallace on the death of her husband Jimmy. From Johnny O’Brien, Limerick. WALLACE, Deepest sympathy to Anne Wallace on the death of her husband, Jimmy. From Josephine Hayden, POW, Limerick. WALLACE, Deepest sympathy to Anne Wallace on the death of her husband Jimmy. From the Larkin family, Limerick. WALLACE, Deepest sympathy to the Wallace family on the death of their father Jimmy. From Ger and Siobhán Bromell, Limerick. WALLACE, Deepest sympathy to the Wallace family on the death of their father. From the Finucane family, Limerick. WALLACE, Sincere sympathy is extended to Anne Wallace and family on the sad death of her husband Jimmy. From Republican Sinn Féin, Limerick. WALLACE, Sincere sympathy is extended to Anne Wallace on the death of her husband Jimmy. From Mick Hanley, Limerick. WALLACE, Sincere sympathy is extended to the wife and family of the late Jimmy Wallace, Limerick. From the Republican Prisoners, Portlaoise. WALLACE, Sincere sympathy to Anne Wallace on the death of her husband Jimmy. From Bobby McNamara and family, Tipperary. Contents I gCuimhneKEENAN, SEÁN – 4th Anniversary. In memory of Seán Keenan who died on March 3, 1993. Laoch Taobh an Bhogadh. Spreag sé sinn go léir. Chronaigh go fóill. Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Cathair Dhoire. KEENAN, SEÁN – 4th Anniversary. In memory of Seán Keenan who died on March 3, 1993. A good father and a steadfast Republican. Tá sé linn i gcónaí. Ó Róisín, Nóra agus a dteaghlaigh. KEENAN, COLM – 25th Anniversary. Floral tributes were laid in proud memory of Volunteer Colm Keenan, Óglaigh na hÉireann, who died on active service, March 14, 1972, by Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Cathair Dhoire. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam cróga. Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Cathair Dhoire. KEENAN, COLM – 25th Anniversary. In memory of Volunteer Colm Keenan, Óglaigh na hÉireann, who died on active service, March 14, 1972. Proudly remembered and greatly missed by all his family. Go ndéana Dia trócaire air. Ó Róisín, Nóra agus a dteaghlaigh. McGILLAN, EUGENE, — 25th Anniversary. Floral tributes were laid in proud memory of Volunteer Eugene McGillan, Óglaigh na hÉireann, who died on active service, March 14, 1972, by Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Cathair Dhoire. Fuair sé bás le Cholm Uí Chianáin i nDoire ar son Saoirse na hÉireann. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam cróga. Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Cathair Dhoire. Contents |
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