John Mandeville remembered

Last Sunday, the first John Mandeville commemoration to be held for many years in Kilbehenny Churchyard was supported by people from all over County Cork. The oration was given by Councillor Brendan Mansfield from Waterford County Council.

He paid special regard to the John Mandeville Committee, which revived this commemoration after so many years. "John Mandeville's life and struggle is very relevant to us today," he said.

John was born into a life of struggle, the nephew of John O'Mahony, a Fenian leader. He was scarred at an early age due to an accident while family members were preparing shot and pellets to use against the British authorities. When he was old enough he himself joined the Fenian Brotherhood.

"But it was as a prominent member of the Land League in the 1880s that John Mandeville is most remembered. The Land League was fighting the cruel and unjust system whereby landlords and their agents could evater. The subsequent inquest was unanimous in finding that he died of his 'brutal and unjustifiable' treatment in jail.

"As we stand here today remembering John Mandeville, perhaps we can also remember Martin Hurson, another young man who was to die due to his brutal and unjustifiable treatment in jail," said Mansfield. "Twenty four years almost to the day, Martin Hurson began a hunger strike in Long Kesh jail. He and nine of his comrades were to die on hunger strike fighting for justice. Like John Mandeville before them, they showed a determination to defeat the British presence and develop an Ireland free and just.

"So while we are gathered here today remembering the past, let us also renew our commitment to building an Ireland which is free of foreign armies and which shows justice to all its people. We can see the obstruction of certain elements in the Irish establishment and the British establishment to building such an Ireland. W