Republican News · Thursday 30 November 2001

Ballylongford remembers Eddie Carmody

Ar oíche Dé hAoine, 23 Samhain, i mBaile Átha an Loingfort, Ciarraí Thuaidh, tháinig slua mór le chéile chun ómós a thabhairt don Óglach áitiúil, Éamonn Ó Cearmaide, a fuair bás 81 bliain ó shin.

Over 150 republicans gathered in the North Kerry village of Ballylongford to pay tribute to local Volunteer Eddie Carmody, who was murdered by Black and Tan forces on 20 November 1920. The parade assembled at Eddie Carmody Memorial Hall and, in a torchlit procession led by colour party, flag bearers and The Ballyseedy Martyrs Band, marched to the Eddie Carmody Memorial. As is customary, the march paused at the plaque erected to another local hero, The O'Rahilly, who fell in Dublin during the 1916 Rising. Cathaoirleach Moss Moriarty then introduced the main speaker, Cllr Martin Ferris, who spoke of his immense pride at the size of the crowd that had travelled to pay tribute to Eddie Carmody. He compared the struggle of Carmody to that of volunteers such as Bobby Sands and, more recently, Diarmuid O'Neill - Irish republicans engaged in the same struggle though in different eras. Ferris reminded everyone that there is still a long road to travel before we achieve our goals of Irish unity, democracy and justice coupled with real social and political change.

The Commemoration ended with the singing of The Ballad of Eddie Carmody by John O'Sullivan and the playing of The National Anthem by the Ballyseedy Martyrs Band.