7 January 1999 Edition

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Fógraí bháis: Sean McCarrick

The Sligo community and local republicans especially have been enveloped in a deep sense of shock and grief since the tragic Christmas Eve drownings of brothers Sean and Cronan McCarrick of Joe McDonnell Drive, Cranmore.

The brothers, Sean (21) and Cronan (19), tragically lost their lives when one of them went for a late night swim in the Garavogue River and the other brother jumped in, in an effort to help him. Local rescue services' attempts to help the two men were in vain.

Sean was a staunch republican who, though only involved in the republican movement for a number of years, had come quickly to the fore within the local Sinn Fein organisation.

An intelligent, confident young man, never afraid to air his own views, Sean was prepared to show the conviction of his beliefs though continuous activity both on the ground and behind the scenes. As local Youth and Education officer he had only some weeks back organised a public meeting aimed towards youth, debating Sinn Fein within the Peace Process. He was also a Sligo delegate at the recent SFY National Conference and had attended many seminars and internal meetings since its inception. Within the party locally he was a key member of the Electoral Strategy Group, aiming to secure the successful election of Sinn Fein candidates next June.

Sean's republican socialist beliefs didn't end with his involvement in Sinn Fein. He was the PRO of the Volunteers Joe McManus/Kevin Coen Memorial Committee and a spokesperson for the local branch of Saoirse, having spoken on the plight of prisoners on various occasions on local radio. Sean was also actively involved in the local Cuba Support Group branch.

`Sleepy', as some comrades knew Sean, pursued many interests outside of his political activities. A vociferous reader, he had a fondness for all books, but particularily those slanted towards international history. Also an avid music buff, his love of 70s and alternative rock, highlighted by an attendence at the recent Page/Plant concert, was a source of constant amusement and `worry' to many of his numerous friends. His less than mainstream tastes also extended to the movie screen, where he was in the midst of assembling a library of foreign and critical classics.

Sean and his brother Cronan were brought to their final resting place following funeral mass on the morning of 28 December. The noblest tribute paid to Sean and his beliefs were the dozens of green ribbons worn by his former schoolmates and social friends. Sean would have been proud.

To Sean and Cronan's parents, Guida and Conor, their surviving sister Jenny and their extended family and friends, the republican movement in Sligo extends its deepest condolences.


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Ireland