Special Mass in Ardoyne for Ireland's patriot dead

HOLY CROSS PRIEST Fr Gary Donegan officiated at this month's Special Mass in Ardoyne by the Belfast National Graves Association commemorating Ireland's patriot dead.

Hundreds of family members of men and women who died in the struggle for Irish freedom took their place on Tuesday 15 March in the congregation, which also included representatives of Belfast's GAA clubs and republican activists from across the city.

Joe Austin, Chair of the NGA, described the Mass as “a celebration of the lives of the men and women who fought for freedom from 1916 to 2016”.

Relatives of Elizabeth and Eleanor Corr, Winifred Carney and Cathal Ó Seanáin, who all played a part in the Rising, attended the ceremony.

Joe Austin added:

“This is what it means to be a republican. The Republican Movement doesn't forget. We won't forget the sacrifice made by our patriot dead and we want the families of our patriot dead to know that we won't forget them.”

Also attending the Mass was Culture, Arts & Leisure Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who described the mass as “a thoughtful celebration of the lives” of our republican dead.

“It is also important for the families to know that the deaths of their loved ones will not be dismissed by those who believe there is a 'hierarchy of victims' and that the republican dead are less worthy than anyone else,” the former Armagh Jail POW and now local Assembly member said.

H-Blocks Hunger Striker Pat Sheehan dismissed as “political pygmies” those who say that there is no connection between the men and women of 1916 and the republicans of today:

“The people we honour tonight would have been in the GPO with Pearse and Connolly.”

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