Manchester Martyrs Commemoration Weekend to coincide with Kilmichael Commemoration

Manchester Martyrs

THE Annual Manchester Martyrs Commemoration Weekend, which takes place this year from November 26th to 28th, has become an important date in the calendar for republicans in west Cork and further afield.
The local Sinn Féin Commandant Charlie Hurley Sinn Féin Cumann, Bandon, revived the commemoration a few years back and it has grown from strength to strength since, attracting republicans from across the 32 Counties.
Bandon Sinn Féin Town Councillor Rachel McCarthy has played a large part in organising the event annually and is particularly excited about this year’s events.
“Last year we thought we had reached our peak with regards to the success of the weekend having brought the fantastic story of  the H-Blocks ‘Great Escape’ to Bandon. This year, though, we are expecting an even greater turn-out especially as we have been able to organise the Manchester Martyrs Weekend to coincide with the 90th anniversary of Kilmichael which, coincidently, falls on the actual date of the ambush on November 28th.”
No stranger to Kilmichael herself, Rachel has been attending the commemoration for as long as she can remember. Her father, JJ, has been a member of the Kilmichael & Crossbarry Commemoration Committee for the past 20 years. She recalls attending the commemoration as a child with her grandmother and it is from attending these commemorations that Rachel got her inspiration to enter politics.
As a newly-elected member of Bandon Town Council, Rachel knows at first-hand that the last year has been a particularly difficult one for the townspeople.
Last November, following weeks of heavy rainfall, the Bandon River burst its banks. The effect this had on families living in the area and the commercial life of the town lingers. For the last year, traders in the town, along with having to deal with current economic difficulties, have also had to try and rebuild their businesses. To make matters worse, despite repeated calls by Rachel in her capacity as town councillor, the river has still not been dredged.
It is on that note that Rachel extends an invite to republicans across Ireland to come to Bandon to join with her cumann in commemorating the Manchester Martyrs as well as the ‘The Boys of Kilmichael’.
She explains that the Munster Arms Hotel, which was under eight feet of water last Novmember, will be fully reopened for the events and she is glad to report that the hotel is already nearly fully booked for the weekend.
“The owner of the hotel Don O’Sullivan and his staff are always very obliging and helpful in organising this annual event and it is great this year that we can bring so much business to him. We are expecting 200 republicans to attend the weekend’s events.”