A large crowd assembled on the Tyrone/Donegal border near Castlederg last Sunday to commemorate the deaths of local IRA Volunteers Seamus Harvey and Gerard McGlynn.

The commemoration marked the 25th anniversary of their deaths as a result of a premature explosion and it was chaired by local Sinn Fein councillor, Charlie McHugh.

Mrs Brigid Harvey, mother of Seamus, unveiled a roadside monumental cross precisely at the spot where both men died.

Sinn Fein Assemblyman for Mid-Ulster, John Kelly delivered an oration ``offering the ongoing sympathy of Republicans everywhere to the Harvey and McGlynn families.'' He added that ``the core objectives of a united Ireland and an end to partition which moved Seamus and Gerard to action are the same objectives which guide us as Irish Republicans in 1998.''

And he paid tribute to the determination and commitment of Republicans down through the years from the Castlederg area ``where conditions were adverse to say the least.''

Roslea commemoration

``We are gathered here today to unveil a memorial to those who gave their lives in the struggle for freedom in this area over the past 200 years. Our history in Roslea is one of unbroken and unflinching resistance to British Rule. It is a history we take pride in. It is who and what we are. Long may we remain so.'' Sinn Fein Councillor Brian McCaffery chaired the proceedings in Roslea to mark among others the 12th anniversay of the execution of Volunteer Seamus McElwaine.

Accompanied by two bands as well as pikemen and women, around five hundred people assembled at Errasallagh crossroads for the five mile walk into the village. In Roslea SF Ard Comhairle member Joe Cahill unveiled a memorial before giving the oration. Referring to unionist opposition to the erection of the monument Cahill said, ``standing beside this beautiful memorial I cannot understand why anyone could object to remembering those named on it. It would be far better for Ken Maginness and others to join with us in paying tribute to these men who died to make this a better country for all of us.''

Slamming those who are trying to erect obstacles in the way of political progress, Cahill said, ``On the night before Tom Williams was executed he wrote a letter to the Chief of Staff of the IRA which was to be passed on to the people of Ireland. Tom Williams asked the Irish people to remember that the road ahead would be difficult and fraught with obstacles. He appealed to everyone to surmount the obstacles placed in front of them and to carry on to the day when we have freedom, justice and peace in Ireland. ``

Also addressing the crowd was Sean Lynch, former comrade of Vol. Seamus McElwaine and only recently released from Long Kesh. Urging support for the republican struggle, Lynch said, ``those with an agenda of opposition to change will surely not achieve their objectives.''