Thomas McElwee to be remembered in Bellaghy on Sunday

A COLOURFUL and vibrant parade which will conclude with a ceremony of commemoration will take place in Bellaghy on Sunday to remember IRA Volunteer Thomas McElwee who died on hunger strike 35 years ago on 8 August 1981.

The ceremony of commemoration will include a short historical re-enactment incorporating drama and music as well as words from seminal moments in Ireland’s history as part of the 1916 Easter Rising cententary programme.

The parade which will include marching bands and the County Derry 1916 Re-enactors will assemble at 2.30pm sharp in the village at the junction with Gulladuff Road.

Sinn Féin Republican Youth are expected to have a strong contingent in the parade.

Speaking in advance of the parade, local Sinn Féin MLA Ian Milne (pictured), a former Blanket Protest prisoner in the H-Blocks, said:

“As the Hunger Strikers were all young men, leaders and an inspiration to generations of Irish republicans and revolutionary peoples all over the world, it is important that young republicans get a chance to play their part in our commemoration for Thomas McElwee. They will be the new leaders down through the coming years who will take our revolutionary struggle to the next step.

“When we gather in Bellaghy on Sunday we will pay our respects to the H-Block Martyrs and all those other brave Irish republicans who died on hunger strike or in other ways down through many years in the struggle for Irish freedom.”

Everyone is welcome to attend.