Republican News · Thursday 29 May 2003

Liam (an Turk) Ó Reágáin

Rugadh Liam Ó Reágáin i nGaeltácht Rinn ó gCuanach i nDeise na Mumhan sa bhliain 1939 le teanga agus cultúir ár dtír a thug ár dtiarna dúinn.

Caith Liam geannsaí an chlub áitiúil ina laontaithe óige agus dhein baill de Cumann Lúthchleasa na Gael sa Rinn gárda ónóire ag geata an séipéil.

Caith sé breis is fiche blian ag obair i monarchan criostal Portláirge agus bhí úrlaisí criostal le fheiscint timpeall a theach is a gáirdín.

Bhí ana ghrá aige don fhairraige agus aon seans a fuair sé bhí sé imithe ag íascaireacht.

Bhí taithí aige ar an cócaireacht is dá bheith thá ina dteannta ag an bóird sa teach, ag obair nó sa báid nuair a bhí sé ag íascaireacht ní bhéadh ocras ort id dhiaidh, agus bhí sé ana bhróidúil dá mhac nuair a oscal sé bialann "an Carn" sa Rinn cúpla blian ó shin.

Bhí mhuintir uí Reágáin i gcónaí dílis dár dteannga is dár dtír, agus aon uair a bhuail tú le Liam i roth na bliana nó pé ócáid a fhreastal sé air, bhí sé i gcónaí á caitheamh Lile na Cáisc agus ní raibh aon imní air é a mhíníu d'éinne a ceistigh é gur sheas an Lile do gach Poblachtánaigh a fuair bás i ngach gluain ar san saoirse na h-Éireann.

Bhí Liam le feiscint ag gach comóradh a bhí á roth ag Poblachtánaigh sa ceanntair agus bhí sé i gcónaí chun tosaigh á bhailiú cúpla schilling is ag díol ticéidí.

Bhí sé ina cathaoirleach den Cumann áitiúil de Sinn Féin (Ó Réagáin/McElwee) le blianta annuas.Bhí an mhéid san mheas ar Liam gur tháinig Poblachtánaigh, comhairléoirí Sinn Féin agus iad san nách íad ó gach cúinne dár dtír chuig a h'adhlacadh, ach is é a shean chara ó deisceart Ard Mhacha (cuid dár dtír a thá fós faoi ionsaithe fórsaithe na sasanaigh agus níos measa ná ríamh) Jim McAllister a léigh óráid na huaighe.

D'inis Jim dúinn faoin carachtar mór, láidir, greannmhar a bhí i Liam, fear stuama a bhí dílis do ghluaiseacht na Poblachta suas chuig an lá a fuair sé bás agus go mór mhór in amanta nuair nách raibh sé coitianta a bheith id Poblachtánaigh sa tír seo agus maraon le aon Poblachtánaigh sa tír thá scéalta nách innséofar go dtí go mbéadh ár dtír saor agus áontaithe.

Thógadh coirp Liam chuig séipéil na Rinne le brat náisíunta a thír dhúchais leagatha amach ar a cónra ar an 18ú lá de mhí Bealtaine agus cuireadh an lá ina dhiaidh sa reilig nua i Rinn Ó gCuanach.

Rinne baill de Sinn Féin sa ceanntair gárda ónóra le píobaire áonnaigh chun tosaigh.

Comhbhrón le Nóirín (bean chéile), Deuglán, Sinéid, Bríd, Seán agus Maighréad, (deartháir Séan agus deirfíuir Neansaí) agus gaollta uilig.

A chara, tá tú tar éis spás folamh a thágaint id cheanntair dhúchais, is ní bheidh a leithéid de "Turk" arís inár measc. I measc gaoil na hÉireann go gcastar ort.

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Billy McCulloch

The death has occurred in West Belfast of 91-year-old Billy McCulloch, socialist, internationalist and father of Rita O'Hare. Billy, who was born a Protestant in East Belfast to an English father and Welsh mother, grew up in working-class Rosebery Road in a heady mix of industrial labour, Protestant fundamentalism and socialist agitation, all revolving around the nearby shipyard, where his father worked as a moulder. Billy had a brother in the British Army, who was wounded in the First World War.

Billy was self-taught and put down his literary interests and left-wing views to the influence of his close neighbours, the Boyces (at whose home the poet John Hewitt was a regular visitor), and to Joe Walker, 'an ingrained socialist' from Newtownards.

He was apprenticed as a weaver and went on to work in linen mills in Ireland and in France and Germany. His favourite pastime was hostelling and walking the mountains of Ireland and Scotland and it was whilst hostelling that he met his future wife, Maureen Maginn from the nationalist Ballymacarett (Short Strand) area in East Belfast. They married and moved to Andersonstown in West Belfast, where they had three children, Rita being the second born.

Billy worked hard his entire life and even after retirement was a handyman - an electrician, a plumber, a carpenter. Over the past 30 years he suffered several blows, beginning in 1971 when Rita, a mother of three whose husband was then interned, was shot and seriously wounded by the British Army. Rita was hospitalised but was later accused and charged with taking part in an IRA ambush. She was bailed, then went South with her children. Later, she was arrested again, charged and sentenced for allegedly smuggling explosives into Portlaoise Prison. Billy and Maureen were to be seen regularly with Rita, particularly around Easter, when Rita would be addressing one of the commemorations.

Billy lost his wife Maureen in 1996, followed by another blow a year later when his son Bill died suddenly in London. Billy was agile up until just a few months ago, when his condition deteriorated and he needed full-time nursing care. He died in a nursing home at the foot of Slieve Donard in the Mournes, an area he loved.

His remains were brought back to his house in West Belfast and he was waked surrounded by his neighbours and friends and large family circle, with the exception of Rita. The British government refused to waive the 32-year-old extradition warrant against her should she come North. So much for reconciliation.

Rita stayed away from the funeral not out of personal concern but out of concern for the effect a malicious arrest of her could have on the peace process and the republican mood at such a difficult time.

People travelled from the USA, England and throughout Ireland, including many former prisoners, to pay their respects. Protestant friends and relatives of Billy joined with the rest for a mixed 'service' for Billy, who was a socialist and atheist. Fr Des Wilson - who knew Maureen - gave a secular homily and spoke about death from two points of view: from that of those who believe in the afterlife and from that of those who don't, and why we should respect both. Mary McCulloch, wife of Billy's surviving son Alan, recited 'Farewell' by Walter de la Mare. Billy's next-door neighbour, Gerry Adams, and Bill's widow, Linda, sang 'The Red Flag' and Gerry then added a few words about Billy and Rita. Danny Morrison recited Clough's 'Say Not The Struggle Naught Availeth' and gave the eulogy.

He said that friendship is a wonderful and surprising thing and of how Billy came late into the life of he and his wife and added magic to their lives over the past five years. He then read a message from Billy's oldest friend, Gibby Allen, from Cumbria.

"Yes, I remember our first meeting outside a youth hostel last century, at Crianlarich, and joining two of his pals at Ft. William and then going on to the Cairngorms and through the Larig Ghru. I hope I've spelt that right. And we've kept that friendship all those years...

"But we must remember he had a very rich life. I was always astonished and admiring of his interest in literature, especially poetry, and his ability to quote from his favourites left me in wonderment. The loss of his son and his difficulty in getting to meet Rita was also painful. But he kept battling on."

Just as the service was finishing, an old man stepped forward - the son of Billy's late sister Molly. He said he wanted people to remember that Billy was a craftsman, a great weaver, and this aspect of his life, how important it was to Billy, should not go without comment. It was a moving contribution and was applauded by everyone in the room.

Later, in Ardglass, County Down, a piper led the cortege as Billy was carried to Maureen's grave. He played 'The Red Flag', some Scottish tunes, but also 'Wrap The Green Flag Round Me', which acknowledged Billy's Irishness. When asked several years ago what was his nationality, Billy replied, "Left-wing or sans frontieres".

Billy was the centre of his family. He was regularly visited up until his death by his son and daughter-in-law, his nieces and cousins, beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren. And he lived to see his great great granddaughter.