West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Fra McCann oration at graveside of leading Republican Madge McConville

Published: 7 May, 2009

Leading Falls Road Republican Madge McConville passed away on Monday, May 4th, aged 86.

Madge's friend and comrade, Sinn Fein MLA Fra McCann, delivered the oration at her graveside.

Mr McCann said:

''I knew Madge McConville for most of my life as a deeply committed and proud republican who was always ready to do all that was asked of her.

''She had a great love for her family and for her husband Tommy, who passed away some years ago. I grew up in Albert Street in the 50s and 60s and knew the McConville family who lived in Cullingtree Road at that time.

''I always remember people speaking in hushed voices about the troubles. Names were rarely mentioned but occasionally you would hear stories of the bravery and courage of republicans who came up through the dark days just after partition, and you would hear of certain families and individuals who were republicans. The names of Madge and Tommy McConville were among them.

''Madge was born Margaret Burns on the 12th of June 1922.

''She lived in Cyprus Street and from there moved to Albert Street before her family settled in Cupar Street.

''At the age of 9 she joined Cumann na gCailini, following in the footsteps of her brothers who were in the Fianna at the time.

''Her daughter, Mary, some time ago wrote a profile of Madge during which she explained that Madge joined Cumann na mBan when she was 16 and was involved in getting safe houses for the IRA, transporting weapons and raising money for the prisoners, something she was to do for decades.

''In Easter 1942 she was arrested with her friend Greta Nolan for their involvement in an IRA operation which resulted in the death of an RUC man and the wounding of IRA Volunteer Tom Williams.

''Some time later Madge had the charges dropped. However, she was rearrested in the court, interned without trial and held in Armagh Prison.

''Her comrade Tom Williams was later executed by the British.

''Madge was at that time held for 2 years. During this period she embarked on a hunger strike but had to be taken off it by her comrades due to illness.

''Madge was in prison in February 1944 when she learned of the shooting of her brother Seamus 'Rocky' Burns by the RUC during a gun battle in the Queen Street area of Belfast. Rocky, an IRA Volunteer, later died of his wounds and Madge was refused parole to attend his funeral.

''Around this time she met her future husband Tommy who had also been interned by the British for 4 years. They married in 1946 and had 7 children, one of whom was a son named Seamus who died after just ten days.

''In the early 70s Madge became the local OC of Cumann Na Mban, later rising to Battalion OC, and worked closely with the Belfast Brigade and could be seen in many parts of the city on business.

''During this period a number of woman from the Falls area were arrested and Interned. Madge was one of them and 33 years after first being arrested, charged and then interned, she found herself, at the age of 53 and a grandmother, back in Armagh prison.

''A few short years later she was to visit two of her own children in prison - Mary in Armagh and Gerard in the H-Blocks.

''Every time we lose a Madge McConville we lose a part of ourselves.

''She represented what republicanism was about and was the embodiment of our history.

''I again say on your behalf to Anne, Thomas, Mary, Gerard, Bobby and Frankie, today we lay to rest your mother Madge. You have lost a mother and we have all lost a friend.''