Republican News · Thursday 14 November 2002

McFaddens and Tírghrá committee honoured in Derry

The 13th Annual Derry Brigade Volunteers Commemoration Dinner Dance was held in the City Hotel Derry on Saturday 9 November. Attended by some 350 family members and friends, it was, for various reasons, the first time it was held in Derry City. As anyone who has ever attended this event will testify, it is one of the premier occasions in the republican calendar on this island.

Honoured guests included Martin McGuinness, Bairbre de Brún, Michelle Gildernew, Mitchel Mc Laughlin and a regular fixture at, I believe, all 13 of these events, Honorary Vice President of Sinn Féin, Joe Cahill. But the special guests on the night and the recipients of presentations were the family of Volunteer Barney McFadden, who died at Christmas last year, and representatives of the national Tírghrá Commemoration Committee.

Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness, friend and comrade of Barney McFadden, made the presentation to Barney's son Ciaran. Martin recalled many of the contributions that Barney made to the struggle throughout his long life of dedication to the struggle for Irish freedom. He reminisced about the many memorable times in the cottage in Stanley's Walk - the door of which was always open to anyone who needed a bed, something to eat or just some advice. It was always there.

Kathleen Hutton, daughter of Volunteer Tommy Carlin; Mickey English, father of Volunteer Charles English; and Philomena McLaughlin, sister of Volunteer Ethel Lynch; on behalf of all of the Volunteers families presented a slate carving of Cúchulainn to Deirdre Whelan and Olive Sloan, representing the Tírghrá Committee.

Before the presentation, Kathleen, Mickey and Philomena spoke of what the night of 13 April last meant to them. Each in their own way recalled the emotion of that night in City West Hotel in Dublin, about how it felt to be in the company of so many families from every corner of Ireland, most of whom didn't know one and other but who shared the grief and sorrow of having lost a loved one to the 'Troubles'. Through the words of Mickey, Philomena and Kathleen, the emotion of the occasion was relived by those family members who were present in City West and experienced by those of us that were not.

Deirdre Whelan, speaking on behalf of the Tírghrá Committee, thanked the families for what she described as this ''very special honour - especially special since it is coming from comrades and friends.

After describing the tremendous effort that went into organising the Tírghrá event and acknowledging all of those from throughout the 32 counties who contributed to the effort, Deirdre said:

"The one thing that was common to all was that immense sense of pride each of them had for those who lost their lives. A sense of pride that is borne from a recognition of the rightfulness of their cause. And a sense of pride that their loved ones had not been forgotten by their comrades. I believe and I think everybody will agree that Tírghrá was a fitting and lasting tribute from our Movement to all our comrades and friends who paid the ultimate price in the struggle for a 32 County United Ireland."

That same immense sense of pride was visible in the City Hotel in Derry last Saturday night.