3 December 2009 Edition
Four martyrs remembered in Andersonstown
In reprisal for the IRA’s killing of leading Free State TD Seán Hales, Volunteers Joe McKelvey, Liam Mellows, Dick Barrett and Rory O’Connor were taken out and shot.
During Saturday night’s pageant, young republicans formed a flying column and took up positions to escort a colour party which carried the national and provincial flags onto the stage.
Readings from letters and other documents outlining the thoughts and feelings of the Volunteers in the hours before their deaths were read by leading republicans from the Andersonstown area while Annie Cahill sang a song in honour of the Four Martyrs.
Ciarán Doherty, a nephew of Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty TD, played a lament during the lowering of the flags.