23 September 1999 Edition
Beneath an Irish sky
Several hundred people came from all over Mayo and beyond earlier this month to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Volunteer Michael Gaughan, who died on hunger strike in England. Gaughan, Mayo man, is buried at the republican plot at Leigue cemetery in Ballina.
For many, Michael Gaughan's struggle, imprisonment and death was only yesterday. It was yesterday for all those in County Mayo, who have been involved in this struggle down through the years. But many who came to pay respect were but children when Michael Gaughan joined Dolores and Marion Price, Hugh Feeney, and Gerry Kelly, on hunger strike for the repatriation of political prisoners to this country. They were all eventually repatriated, except Michael Gaughan, who was killed by the brutality of the British screws.
Pat Doherty, who gave the oration, recounted for those who did not remember how the hunger strikers were brutally force fed.
In his tribute to Michael Gaughan, Doherty spoke of the part which all those who have been prisoners and those who, like Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg, have died on hunger strike, the part which these volunteers played towards the development of the present stage of the struggle for the republic, which is our objective today.
Local republican from Castlebar, Vincent Woods, himself recently repatriated along with all the other republican POWs from England, spoke of the debt which all POWs owe to Michael Gaughan for his brave part in the prison struggles 25 years ago, `far away from Mayo beneath an Irish sky'.
For many, Michael Gaughan's struggle, imprisonment and death was only yesterday. It was yesterday for all those in County Mayo, who have been involved in this struggle down through the years. But many who came to pay respect were but children when Michael Gaughan joined Dolores and Marion Price, Hugh Feeney, and Gerry Kelly, on hunger strike for the repatriation of political prisoners to this country. They were all eventually repatriated, except Michael Gaughan, who was killed by the brutality of the British screws.
Pat Doherty, who gave the oration, recounted for those who did not remember how the hunger strikers were brutally force fed.
In his tribute to Michael Gaughan, Doherty spoke of the part which all those who have been prisoners and those who, like Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg, have died on hunger strike, the part which these volunteers played towards the development of the present stage of the struggle for the republic, which is our objective today.
Local republican from Castlebar, Vincent Woods, himself recently repatriated along with all the other republican POWs from England, spoke of the debt which all POWs owe to Michael Gaughan for his brave part in the prison struggles 25 years ago, `far away from Mayo beneath an Irish sky'.