Volunteer Eugene O’Neill South Derry

BY IAN MILNE

BY IAN MILNE

IT was great sadness that I learned of the death of Volunteer Eugene O’Neill from Clady in South Derry.  Eugene was 51 years of age, he been on the run since the mid-1970s and had only recently returned home.
Eugene was a gentleman. He would have given you the shirt off his back. He was someone you could rely on.
A committed republican, Eugene was so eager to play his part that he lied about his age and joined the IRA at just 16. He quickly found himself at the coalface of struggle in one of the most difficult periods in our history.
A true soldier, Eugene did not walk in anyone’s footsteps but led the way with comrades such as Thomas McElwee, Francis Hughes and Dominic McGlinchey.
He did not shirk from his commitment to being an IRA Volunteer and declared in the last conversation I had with him, that he was “still a Provo!”
A large crowd made the journey from across the country to his funeral. It was a fitting tribute that Eugene received a guard of honour made up of comrades from both South Derry and Donegal which flanked his remains from his home to Requiem Mass in Letterkenny and on to his place of burial.
On behalf of the Republican Movement, I would once again extend our condolences to his wife and children and the O’Neill family circle.
Go ndéana Dia trocaire ar a anam uasal.