12 November 1998 Edition
Wexford pikes on the border
New links between the border counties and County Wexford were forged last weekend when a group of 60 pikemen and pikewomen travelled to Monaghan and Cavan for a series of events celebrating the 200th anniversary of the 1798 Rising and the continuing struggle for freedom.
The appearance of the pike contingent could not have been more dramatic. On Friday night 6 November republicans were gathered in the Hillgrove Hotel for Monaghan Sinn Féin's annual Honorees' Presentation Dance. Seven County Monaghan republicans were honoured for their years of service to the cause of Irish freedom - Patrick Treanor of Tydavnet, Eddie Gallagher of Monaghan town, Tommy Murphy and Frank McCaughey from Clones, Kathleen Quigley and Patsy Meegan from Inniskeen, and Hugh Carville of Mullyash.
A special presentation was made to the family of Volunteer Ed O'Brien of Gorey, County Wexford, and this was accepted on their behalf by Ann O'Sullivan and Eamonn Nolan.
All the honorees found out about their awards only on the night but the biggest shock of all awaited Matt Murphy, a Wexford republican long resident in Monaghan. The doors of the function room opened and in marched a piper leading the 60-strong pike contingent, many of them old friends of Matt from his native County. Matt received from Caoimhghín O Caoláin a special 1798 Commemorative Presentation and was joined on stage by his family while the Wexford contingent led the crowd in a rendition of Boolavogue.
The next day the pikes of Wexford came face to face with the British army - not this time red-coated pageant participants as so often before this year, but real British soldiers skulking behind the fortifications of Gortmullan checkpoint on the Ballyconnell to Derrylin Road on the Cavan/Fermanagh border. The pike men and women led the demonstration from the town of Ballyconnell to the British post. The event was organised by Cavan Sinn Féin Youth whose chairperson Shane O'Neill opened the public meeting outside the base. Caoimhghín O Caoláin, Declan Fearon of the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee and Peadar Neary of Cavan Sinn Féin were the speakers. They called for complete demilitarisation along the border and throughout the Six Counties.
Among the Wexford contingent were Bob Kehoe and Liam McGarry another veteran of the 1950s border campaign. Both are the only survivors of the 15 Wexford men interned in the Curragh during the `50s campaign. Emotional tributes were paid to them on Saturday night at a music session in The Chieftain in Monaghan town. The Wexford people were hosted by families in Monaghan and on Sunday travelled to Edentubber for the annual commemoration.
The appearance of the pike contingent could not have been more dramatic. On Friday night 6 November republicans were gathered in the Hillgrove Hotel for Monaghan Sinn Féin's annual Honorees' Presentation Dance. Seven County Monaghan republicans were honoured for their years of service to the cause of Irish freedom - Patrick Treanor of Tydavnet, Eddie Gallagher of Monaghan town, Tommy Murphy and Frank McCaughey from Clones, Kathleen Quigley and Patsy Meegan from Inniskeen, and Hugh Carville of Mullyash.
A special presentation was made to the family of Volunteer Ed O'Brien of Gorey, County Wexford, and this was accepted on their behalf by Ann O'Sullivan and Eamonn Nolan.
All the honorees found out about their awards only on the night but the biggest shock of all awaited Matt Murphy, a Wexford republican long resident in Monaghan. The doors of the function room opened and in marched a piper leading the 60-strong pike contingent, many of them old friends of Matt from his native County. Matt received from Caoimhghín O Caoláin a special 1798 Commemorative Presentation and was joined on stage by his family while the Wexford contingent led the crowd in a rendition of Boolavogue.
The next day the pikes of Wexford came face to face with the British army - not this time red-coated pageant participants as so often before this year, but real British soldiers skulking behind the fortifications of Gortmullan checkpoint on the Ballyconnell to Derrylin Road on the Cavan/Fermanagh border. The pike men and women led the demonstration from the town of Ballyconnell to the British post. The event was organised by Cavan Sinn Féin Youth whose chairperson Shane O'Neill opened the public meeting outside the base. Caoimhghín O Caoláin, Declan Fearon of the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee and Peadar Neary of Cavan Sinn Féin were the speakers. They called for complete demilitarisation along the border and throughout the Six Counties.
Among the Wexford contingent were Bob Kehoe and Liam McGarry another veteran of the 1950s border campaign. Both are the only survivors of the 15 Wexford men interned in the Curragh during the `50s campaign. Emotional tributes were paid to them on Saturday night at a music session in The Chieftain in Monaghan town. The Wexford people were hosted by families in Monaghan and on Sunday travelled to Edentubber for the annual commemoration.