Derry martyrs proudly remembered

» Peadar Whelan

‘It was republican ideals that sustained me through the long and painful years of war and the loss of so many fine friends and comrades, through the Blanket Protest and the long years of imprisonment. Those ideals have not changed and they won’t change until we secure the objectives for which the Volunteers we honour here today made the ultimate sacrifice’

HUNDREDS of Derry republicans took to the streets of the city on Sunday 30 June for the annual Derry Volunteers Commemoration.

As is now tradition, former POWs and family members of the fallen dressed in white shirts and black ties carried portraits of the Derry Brigade’s martyred dead.

Led by a republican colour party and members of Ógra carrying wreaths, the parade made its way through Creggan to the Republican Plot at the City Cemetery.

There, former POW Kevin Campbell, who has just finished his term as mayor of the city, delivered the main oration.

In his speech he reflected on his experiences of growing up in a partitioned, sectarian state and how, like many, joined the IRA.

“We all witnessed as our basic demands for civil rights were trampled upon. I marched on Bloody Sunday when the state showed us that our demands would not be realised by peaceful means.

“It was this that led us to join the IRA to bring about change.

“It was republican ideals that sustained me through the long and painful years of war and the loss of so many fine friends and comrades.

“It was these republican ideals that sustained me through the Blanket Protest and the long years of imprisonment.

“Those ideals have not changed and they won’t change until we secure the objectives for which the Volunteers we honour here today made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Those ideals still sustain me today. During the past year, when I had the honour of serving as Mayor of Derry, those ideals were with me every single day,” said the former POW.

Sunday’s commemoration coincided with the death on active service of Volunteer Brian Coyle, who was killed on 30 June 1976 as he launched a grenade attack on a British Army raiding party in the Menan Square area of the Bogside.

Former POW Martin Connolly marched on Sunday with Volunteer Brian Coyle’s portrait.

SUNDAY'S well-attended commemoration followed the successful launch of the Book of Remembrance, Derry’s unique project aimed at recognising the contributions of many people to the struggle for freedom.

Explaining the thinking behind the Book of Remembrance, Chair of Derry Sinn Féin Andrew McCartney told An Phoblacht:

“We recognise that there are hundreds, indeed thousands, of republicans in this city who have made a valuable contribution to the our struggle dating back many generations. With this in mind we are proposing to replace the Roll of Remembrance with a Book of Remembrance which can be more inclusive.

“It will become an archive of republican activism for generations to come.

“We are proposing to commission a specially designed book which will be displayed in our party offices in Ráth Mór, in the room that we have already dedicated to our fallen comrades. We also intend to display the book at the Republican Monument in the cemetery during our Easter and June commemorations.”

»  Pictures 2013 Derry Volunteers Commemoration day – part 1

»   Pictures 2013 Derry Volunteers Commemoration day – part 2