Adams to speak at Breslin, Devine 20th Anniversary commemoration

Thousands attended the Volunteers' funeral in 1985

In the early hours of Saturday 23rd February 1985, undercover British forces ambushed and summarily executed three young Strabane IRA men Charles Breslin and brothers Michael and David Devine, in the field overlooking Casement Place in the Head of the Town.

The deaths plunged the Strabane community into deep shock, sorrow and anger and on Tuesday 26 February, Strabane witnessed its largest ever funerals, as countless thousands turned out in a massive show of solidarity with the Breslin and Devine families.

The 20th anniversary of this tragic period in the history of Strabane is to be marked by a series of events running from Friday the 18th til Sunday the 20th.

February. The Organising committee, comprising of Strabane Sinn Féin, Strabane National Graves and the Strabane Memorial Flute Band, has been meeting every week since Christmas to finalise the programme of events.

Speaking on behalf of the Committee, John Kelly said,

"We anticipate that Sunday's main parade from Bridge Street to Fountain Street, where a new monument will be unveiled in memory of the three IRA Volunteers, will be the largest commemoration that Strabane has ever seen."

The Main Commemoration will be preceded by wreath-laying ceremonies at the graves of the three Volunteers at Strabane Cemetery at 11 am.

"The brutal manner in which Charlie, Michael and David were killed and the subsequent treatment of their bodies as well as the actions of the RUC leading up to, during and after their funerals had a profound impact on this community," said Kelly.

"Twenty years on and there is still palpable hurt and anger in people's voices when they talk about the events of those terrible days at the end of February 1985.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, who delivered the graveside oration in tribute to the three Volunteers in 1985, will be the main speaker on Sunday.

During that oration he said:: "Tír ghrá is the Irish expression for the English word Patriotism. Tír ghrá means 'love of country, love of one's people'. It was this love, this wish to be free, this unkillable desire to strive for freedom and to resist foreign occupation which motivated those whom we honour by our presence here today."

"It is this same motivation that has behind the voluntary effort of all those who have been fundraising and working to erect a fitting and lasting monument to Charlie, Michael and David at Fountain Street," said Kelly.

"It is the same motivation of those who established the Strabane Memorial Flute Band shortly after the three lads killings in 1985 and who have, through thick and thin, kept the band going to a position where it is now as strong as ever."

The band is going to celebrate this achievement with a 20th Anniversary Dinner Dance on Friday night, at which Human Rights Priest Fr Joe McVeigh will be guest speaker.It will also host a major Bands Competition at the Scór Site at 4pm on Sunday, with as many as 15 bands scheduled to take part.

One of the most poignant events of the weekend will be the public screening of original video footage of the funerals in Fountain Street on Saturday at 7pm. The video footage is certain to bring sad memories flooding back and allow people the opportunity to reflect on the events of that time. The Tírghrá Video, produced as a tribute to all those who have given their lives for Irish Freedom, will also be screened.