New sculpture honours PJ Branley and Dessie McNulty

Remembering two hard working Sinn Féin party members PJ Branley and Dessie McNulty

ON Sunday 8 November 200 republicans from Donegal and Fermanagh gathered at the spot on the main Ballyshannon/ Donegal Town Road where Sinn Féin members PJ Branley and Dessie McNulty were killed in a car accident exactly a year previous.
They were there to remember and to show support for the Branley and McNulty families who had gathered to unveil a sculptured stone erected by the local Sinn Féin Cumann in memory of PJ and Dessie who were two very hard working members of the local Sinn Féin Party and who were killed so tragically going about their republican work on the morning of 9 November 2008.
PJ Branley, at the time of his death, was the Sinn Féin Councillor and Mayor of Ballyshannon. On the morning of the crash PJ and Dessie were distributing Sinn Féin leaflets around the local chapels in their area. Their vehicle was involved in a collision with a car driven by Michael O’Sullivan a young man from Ballyshannon who was also killed in the accident and also remembered on Sunday.
Fr Joe McVeigh from Fermanagh, a personal friend of PJ’s, unveiled the stone. Wreaths were laid by members of the Mc Nulty and Branley family and Sinn Féin. Letterkenny Sinn Féin Councillor Mick Quinn then said a few words on behalf of Sinn Féin. Mick outlined the devastation that was felt by the wider Republican Movement when news of the deaths of PJ and Dessie started to filter through on that awful Sunday morning.
He spoke of the great commitment and drive that both Sinn Féin members had in going about their republican work in South Donegal. He said the inspiration that PJ and Dessie provided to other members of Sinn Féin in Donegal was still very evident today when we see the turnout this morning to honour both these republicans.
In conclusion he asked that everybody present redouble their efforts to attain that which Dessie and PJ worked so hard to achieve. An Ireland united and free and where all the children of the nation are treated equally.