Donegal commemoration this Sunday: Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh (1957 to 1988)

Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh

A COMMEMORATION will take place in County Donegal on Sunday 13th March at 2.30pm to mark the 23rd anniversary of Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh, who was killed along with two other nationalists by a loyalist attacker at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast on 16th March 1988.

This Sunday’s commemoration will start at Paddy Óg’s in Crolly and proceed to Caoimhín’s monument at Leo’s in Meenaleck. Seanna Breathnach from Belfast will be the guest speaker and Pearse Doherty TD will be the chairperson.  Piper Brian McCafferty and the Tír Chonaill Martyrs Republican Band will be in attendance.  Everyone is welcome.

The attack happened while family and mourners attended the funeral of the Gibaraltar Three when a loyalist gunman fired shots and threw grenades at the crowd. Caoimhín lost his life while trying to prevent the attacker from injuring or killing people in the cemetery.

Cuimhneachán ar Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh Dé Domhnaigh 13ú Márta ar 2.30in.  Comoradh 23 bliain ar a bhás.  Marbhadh Caoimhín i gcuideachta beirt naisiúnaithe eile i Reilig Bhaile an Mhuilinn i mBeal Feirste nuair a tháinig dílseoir isteach i measc lucht torraimh Triúr Gibraltar agus scaoil sé urchair gunna ar fud na reilige.  Bhásaigh Caoimhín ag cosaint na ndaoine a bhí i láthair agus ba fhianaise an gníomh laochúil deireanach sin ar an cineál duine a bhí ann.
Caoimhín died trying to protect the mourners and that, his last selfless act, was indicative of the kind of person that he was.

Caoimhín was the youngest of a family of seven.  His mother was from Doire na Mainsear in the Donegal Gaeltacht and was known locally as Biddy Mhadgie Frainc; his father Liam was from Belfast and they brought their children up there. The Irish language was central to the family life, their mother made sure they were brought up with a good command and understanding of Gaeilge.

Caoimhín was well known locally in the Rosses and Gaoth Dobhair.  The family would spend their summer holidays in Doire na Mainsear, as children they played with local children and later as adults they became part of the community.  Caoimhín lived in Doire na Mainsear in the late 1970s/early 1980s and at the time of the Hunger Strikes he helped organise many marches throughout the county.  He had numerous friends with whom he socialised and worked, he attended a FÁS course in Gaoth Dobhair and he would be in the usual night-spots of Gaoth Dobhair and the Rosses.

It was during this time that the local community really got to know the lovely nature of Caoimhín. He was a gentle, kind, considerate and caring person.  Both old and young in the local communities took to Caoimhín’s warm personality and good nature and it was a huge blow and a grievous loss to all when the news of his untimely death came.  It was no surprise to anyone who knew Caoimhín that he died as he lived – caring for other people.

– Gráinne Mhic Géidigh