Brendan ‘Brendie’ Bonn

Tralee, County Kerry

AR AN Luan, 18 Aibreán, fuair Brendan ‘Brendie’ Bonn, Baile Mhic Uileagóid, Trá Lí bás.  Rugadh ‘Brendie’ i Londain ach tháinig sé abhaile nuair a bhí sé dhá bhliain d’aois.
Bhí suim láidir i gcúrsaí polaitiúla agus i gcursaí poblachtánacha aige agus d’oibrigh sé go dian dícheallach ar son na Poblachta.
Republicans from Kerry and beyond were saddened to learn of the death of Brendan ‘Brendie’ Bonn, of Ballymacelligott, Tralee, who went to his eternal reward on Monday, 18th April.
Brendie was born in London in February 1931 and came home to Ballymac at the tender age of 2. From a young age he exhibited a keen interest in republican politics and this resulted in him joining Fianna Éireann.
Brendie was active in the 1957 election campaign of Mai Dálaigh and republicans everywhere were encouraged when she polled over 3,000 votes.
On the night prior to the unveiling  of the monument at Ballyseedy in 1959 to those brave republicans murdered by Free State forces in 1923, Brendie remained at the monument throughout the night  to protect it from any possible attack by anti-republican elements.
Brendie met the love of his life, Kitty Kelly, from Duagh, near Listowel, and they spent 53 years of happily married life together. They had four children: JJ, Lillian, Kay and Autie.
Brendie was extremely proud when he got the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Seán Sabhat Commemoration in 2007.
He was a pivotal figure in all election campaigns and was overjoyed when Martin Ferris was elected as a TD to Leinster House in 2002. Indeed, even though he was in poor health, he made sure that he was present at the count centre in Tralee when Martin was re-elected in February this year.
To Kitty, JJ, Lillian, Kay and Autie, and to his relatives and friends, we express our deepest sympathies.  Brendie was a man who touched so many people and he has left a void in all who were fortunate enough to meet him that will be impossible to fill.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.