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

Turf Lodge commemoration takes place

Published: 1 September, 2008

''The troubles really took off in '69, the IRA was organised in 3 battalions in this city. Turf Lodge was sort of in between two of them. It was a sort of second hand IRA here, or so people thought, so people would have you believe.

''They used to call the 1st Batt 'silent valley'. There was always a rivalry between the IRA units, its funny looking back on it, but it wasn't funny at the time. What people didn't know was that an awful lot of volunteers in this district, who came from this district, worked in other parts of the town, people never knew about them.

''I'll tell you something, you aren't 2nd class to nobody, you want to be proud and proud of yourselves and proud of this district, it is one of the best in West Belfast, I can tell you that.''

Those were the words of volunteer Brian Keenan RIP during the rededication of the greater Turf Lodge martyrs garden.

Sunday, 10th August 2008 witnessed the commemoration of the sacrifice of the volunteers from the greater Turf Lodge area who gave their lives for the cause of Irish Freedom.

A large crowd assembled at the memorial garden in Turf Lodge where councillor Janice Austin called on everyone to stand for the playing of Amhrán na bhFiann.

Afterwards, the local councillor led a short wreath laying ceremony.

A colour party followed by the Éire Nua and Seán McIlvenna (Scotland) Republican Flute Band's led the procession though the streets of Turf Lodge, through Norfolk and down Divis Drive, passing the memorial plaque remembering Fian John Dempsey and onwards to Milltown cemetery, the final resting place of our volunteer dead.

Councillor Austin welcomed and thanked everyone in attendance to commemorate the rolls of honour and remembrance.

Eddie Fay from the commemoration committee recited a decade of the rosary in Irish.

Wreathes on behalf of the republican movement, Sinn Féin, the commemoration committee and the families were laid at the gravesides.

Samantha Carson recited the greater Turf Lodge roll of honour and roll of remembrance after which a lament was played in memory of the dead.

A moment's silence fell on the gathering; the colour party paid their respects.

Councillor Austin thanked everyone for their attendance and welcomed them back to the Felons Club where Sinn Fein MLA Barry Mc Ilduff delivered the main oration.