Notices

I nDíl Chuimhne

Feb. 2nd 1981: Vol Liam Hannaway, Belfast Brigade, 2nd Battalion; Feb. 3rd 1973: Vol James Sloan, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion; Feb. 3rd 1999: Vol Harry Burns, Belfast Brigade, 2nd Batt; Feb. 4th 1973: Vol James McCann, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion; Feb. 4th 1973: Vol Tony Campbell, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion; Feb. 4th 1992: Paddy Loughran, Sinn Féin; Feb. 4th 1992: Pat McBride, Sinn Féin; Feb 5th 1992: Vol Joseph MacManus, Sligo Brigade; Feb. 5th 1972: Vol Charles McCann, North Antrim Brigade; Feb. 5th 1972: Vol Phelim Grant, North Antrim Brigade; Feb. 6th 1971: Vol James Saunders, Belfast Brigade, 3rd Battalion; Feb. 6th 1989: Vol James Joseph Connolly, Tyrone Brigade; Feb. 7th 1982: Vol Danny McMullan, County Derry Brigade. "We die that the Irish nation may live. Our blood will rebaptise and reinvigorate the old land." — Seán Mac Diarmada. Forever and always remembered with love and pride by their many friends and comrades in the Republican Movement.

CONNOLLY, James Joseph (15th Ann). In loving memory of my brother James Joseph Connolly, West Tyrone Brigade, IRA, who was killed in action on 6 February 1989, aged 20 years. RIP. Never forgotten by your brother Barry.

CONNOLLY, James Joseph (15th Ann). In loving memory of my brother James Joseph Connolly, West Tyrone Brigade, IRA, who was killed in action on 6 February 1989, aged 20 years. RIP. Always remembered with pride by your brother Kevin, Susie and Joseph.

CONNOLLY, James Joseph (15th Ann). In loving memory of our son and brother James Joseph Connolly, West Tyrone Brigade, IRA, who was killed in action on 6 February 1989, aged 20 years. RIP. "Never had man nor women a grander cause, never was a cause more grandly served." — James Connolly. Forever remembered with love and pride by your mother Anna, father Joseph and sister Aine.

CONNOLLY, James Joseph (15th Ann ). In proud and loving memory of Volunteer James Joseph Connelly, Tyrone Brigade Oglaigh na hÉireann who died 6 February 1989. Remembered always by West Tyrone Ogra Shinn Féin.

CUNNINGHAM, Joseph ( 32nd Ann ). In proud and loving memory of Volunteer Joseph Cunningham, killed on active service on 10 February 1972. Always remembered by his friends and comrades old E Coy, 3rd Batt, Belfast Brigade.

LOUGHRAN, Paddy; McBRIDE, Pat; O'DWYER, Michael (12th Ann). In proud and loving memory of Sinn Fein members Paddy Loughran and Pat McBride who along with Michael O'Dwyer were murdered by the RUC in the Falls Road Sinn Fein Advice Centre on February 4 1992. Thug siad a raibh acu ar son saoirse. Always remembered by Sinn Féin Bun na bhFál and the Falls Commemoration Committee.

MacMANUS, Joseph (12th Ann). In proud and loving of Volunteer Joseph MacManus, killed in action on 5 February 1992. Always remembered with love and pride by Jimmy and Conor.

McBRIDE, Pat (12th Ann). In proud and loving memory of our dear friend Pat who was murdered along with Paddy and Michael on February 4 1992. Never forgotten by Gerard and Anna.

McCANN, Charles (32nd Ann). In proud and loving memory of our dear brother Volunteer Charles McCann killed on active service 5 February 1972. I've always believed we had legitimate right to take up arms and defend our country and ourselves against British occupation. Mary Queen of the Gael pray for him. Always remembered by his loving brothers and sisters.

McCANN, Charle; GRANT, Phelim (32nd Ann). In proud and loving memory of our dear brother Charles and his comrade Phelim who were killed on active service 5 February 1972. Mary Queen of the Gael pray for them. Always remembered by the McCann family, Belfast.

McCANN, Charles (32nd Ann). In proud and loving memory of our friend and comrade Volunteer Charles McCann whose anniversary occurs at this time. Mary Queen of the Gael pray for him. Fondly remembered by McCaughey/ Saunders SF Cumann, Ogra Sinn Fein, Ardoyne and amach agus isteach.

McCANN, Charlie; GRANT, Phelim (32nd Ann). In proud memory of Volunteers Charlie McCann and Phelim Grant, whose anniversaries occur on 5 February. Always remembered with pride by the McCann/Grant/Gallagher SF Cumann. Southwest Antrim Comhairle Ceantair, SF; the Counties Antrim Derry Republican Graves Association.

McMULLAN, Danny (22nd Ann). In proud and loving memory of Volunteer Danny McMullan, who died on 7 February 1982. From the South Derry Comhairle Ceantair, Sinn Féin; McCusker/McMullan/ O'Hagan Sinn Féin Cumann, Swatragh; Casement/Kelly/ Highstead Sinn Féin Cumann, Maghera; Fergal O'Hanlon/ John Davey Sinn Féin Cumann, Lavey; Thomas McElwee Sinn Féin Cumann, Greenlough; Séamus Steele Sinn Féin Cumann, Newbridge; Maghera-felt Sinn Féin Cumann; Ballinascreen Sinn Féin Cumann; Hughes/Connolly/ McElwee Sinn Féin Cumann, Bellaghy; Counties Derry & Antrim Republican Graves Association.

O'HANLON, Leo; FITZSIMMONS Vivien (31st Ann). In proud and loving memory of Volunteers Leo O'Hanlon and Vivien Fitzsimmons, Cumann Na mBán, killed on active service 10 February 1973. Always remembered by the Republican Movement, Downpatrick.

SAUNDERS, Jim (33rd Ann ). In proud and loving memory of our friend and comrade Volunteer Jim Saunders whose anniversary occurs at this time. Mary Queen of Gael pray for him. Fondly remembered by McCaughey/Saunders SF Cumann, Ogra Sinn Féin and amach agus isteach.

Comhbhrón

FERMANAGH Comhairle CeantaIr, SF, would like to express deepest sympathies to the families of the following:Patrick Francis McGovern, Corraleehan, Balinamore; Michael Keegan, Lahard, Balinamore

O'REILLY. Sympathy is extended to Francis on the death of their grandmother. From the O'Malley/Russell SF Cumann, North Inner City, Dublin.

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Fógraí bháis

Gerry Adams Sr

My father, Gerry Adams Senior, was born into a strong republican family on 30 June 1926. His own father (my grandfather) had been a member of the IRB and like his brothers, Dominic and Paddy, my Da was involved in the ranks of the IRA throughout the 1940s.

In September of 1942, at the age of 16, he was involved in a shoot-out with the RUC. Three days earlier, Volunteer Tom Williams had been hanged in Belfast Prison and this operation was a response by 'D' Company, Belfast Brigade.

During the exchange, my Da's Webley failed to fire a number of rounds and he was struck three times. An RUC man was hit once. My Da was then sentenced to eight years imprisonment for his part in the action and was unconditionally released after five.

Approximately one year later — on 11 July 1948 — he married our mother, Annie Hannaway, who was also from a staunch republican family.

Annie's father, Willie Hanaway, was a trade unionist and well-known local republican who, at one time, had been an election agent for Eamon de Valera. Annie herself was also politically active and was always in attendance at protest marches, white-line pickets and fundraising events for the National Graves Association.

After their marriage, my parents settled in Ballymurphy, where they eventually reared a large family of ten children — five boys and five girls. My father did his best to provide for us as a building labourer, but although he was a hard worker, work itself was tough to come by, especially for a former political prisoner. Whenever he was sent looking for a job by the employment exchange, they informed his prospective employers of his record and status.

For a time, he attempted to make a living from a horse and cart selling fruit, alongside fellow ex-POW Jimmy Bannon, and he continued to maintain his republican connections.

In May of 1964, a few ex-POWs, who had been imprisoned in 'A' Wing of the Crumlin Road jail during the 1940s, held a meeting in Hector's shop on the Falls Road. The Irish Republican Felons Club was born out of this meeting and my father proudly became its very first chair.

In August of 1969, as the modern-day phase of the struggle erupted, my Da became involved with the local Community Defence Committee. Then, in June of 1970, he was beaten by British Paratroopers outside the family home. He had been returning to Divismore Park from the funeral of republican veteran Hugh McAteer and received a hairline fracture to the head as a result of the assault.

He was beaten by state forces on several more occasions during the course of the conflict and once the Paras hammered him very badly as he was coming out of Mass in Corpus Christi in Springhill.

On 9 August 1971, he was beaten again when he was arrested and interned. During the raid, the Paras wrecked our house.

Gunfire from the surrounding area outside was so severe that day that our mother decided to evacuate the younger children to safety. When our family tried to return to our home later, the Paras were in occupation. When they eventually left, the house was uninhabitable. They had not only smashed all the furniture and sinks, they had also destroyed personal effects, family papers, clothing, toys and photographs.

They had even rammed the house repeatedly with an armoured vehicle and pulled down the ceilings.

Our Da died at the age of 77 on 17 November last after a long illness. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease. Our mother Annie, the pillar of our family, preceded him by ten years.

His large funeral was attended by republicans from across Ireland and further afield, alongside a wide circle of family and friends. In an example of the esteem in which he was held by the local community, shops and businesses along the funeral route closed while the cortege passed.

He will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a committed republican and devoted family man. Throughout his life, he steadfastly fought for the cause of Irish freedom and remained a proud Felon to the end. He will be deeply missed.

Mary Queen of the Gael Pray for Him.

Slán go fóill, Da.

BY PADDY ADAMS

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