County Down Republican Martyrs

18/06/2025

This Rally is on this weekend in Newcastle.

Stand Up for Gaza ✌️🇪🇭

STAND UP FOR GAZA! ✊🇪🇭

OPPOSE GENOCIDE & THE WESTS COMPLICITY IN IT

MARCH - NEWCASTLE MAIN STREET, SATURDAY 21st JUNE.

STAND FOR HUMANITY, STAND FOR JUSTICE, STAND FOR PEACE!

26/02/2025

Oppose the RUC, oppose British occupation 🇮🇪

🟢⚫ Republicans Stand Against RUC Terrorists!

Recent weeks have seen a very welcome and renewed Republican campaign against the presence of Britain's Colonial Militia in Communities.

The current campaign got underway with anti-RUC/PSNI posters and stickers from a number of groups which raised the anger of the Brits and their Colonial Administration in Ireland.

This was followed by a protest organised by Saoradh at the Levin Road community centre in Kilwilkie, Lurgan, Armagh, against the unwanted presence of the RUC.

In the aftermath of the posters and the initial successful protest, it was highlighted by several Republicans, including by AIA, that an anti-RUC/PSNI campaign is an area that could see important Republican coordination and cooperation and that a mass boycott of Britain's Colonial Militia should be developed in Republican Communities across the Occupied 6 Counties.

Since then, the campaign has begun to develop momentum. Monday, February 24th, saw Republican activists from a number of groups confront and disrupt the presence of the RUC/PSNI at St. Comgall's School in West Belfast.

The meeting, which was facilitated by Sinn Féin in their role as Britain's Colonial Administrators, was attended not by the community but by Sinn Féin representatives, RUC terrorists and paid so-called community workers, many also linked to Sinn Féin. The Republican activists defiantly made their position clear that the RUC/PSNI were not welcome in Republican Communities and their protest successfully led to the meeting being abandoned.

On Tuesday, February 25th, Republican activists from several groups again turned out to protest the presence of the RUC/PSNI in the Girdwood Community Hub in North Belfast. Britain's terrorists were again facilitated by Sinn Féin.

With young Republicans taking a prominent role, the reasons for the protest were outlined, the RUC/PSNI were told clearly that they were not welcome in Republican Communities, and the meeting was abandoned.

Speaking after the event, a spokesperson for Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland said, "The current anti-RUC/PSNI actions being carried out by Republicans, particularly in Belfast, are genuinely inspiring. The protests have shown that when Republicans get organised and cooperate in the community, Republican actions can be both successful and effective and give a bloody nose to the Brit Occupation, the RUC, and to their Colonial Administrators, Sinn Féin.

Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland commends the organisers and all the Republicans who have taken part in the recent direct actions. The protests in Belfast should be repeated in Republican Communities anytime the RUC attempt to hold meetings, visit schools, sporting or community organisations in their ongoing attempts to normalise the British Occupation of Ireland.

Sinn Féin should hang their heads in shame for facilitating meetings for the RUC in our communities and for the shameful role they are playing in the British Occupation of Ireland."

The Spokesperson continued, "The British Occupation and Partition of Ireland will never be normal and will continue to be resisted by Republicans. More has been done by the recent protests against the RUC to highlight the ongoing British Occupation and normalisation in Ireland and to strengthen the Republican Resistance than we have seen for a long time. This week has shown that direct action is a key and effective way to confront and resist the British Occupation.

The effectiveness of these protests must be spread and continued. Republicans from all groups and none should come together across the Occupied 6 Counties and cooperate to keep Britain's Colonial Militia out of our communities. The campaign can be expanded to ensure the RUC aren't served in shops or restaurants, aren't welcome in sporting or community groups, and through Republican cooperation, develop a mass boycott of the British Crown Forces."

The Spokesperson concluded, "Such a campaign based on the tactics and cooperation we have witnessed between Republicans in recent days would greatly strengthen the Resistance Movement.

At a time when the Brits and Free State are once again attempting to present the Republican Movement as defeated, a mass campaign against the RUC/PSNI that develops cooperation and coordination between Republicans can give them their answer, that our struggle will continue until victory and can only get stronger. As Pádraig Pearse correctly said 110 years ago, 'Ireland, unfree, shall never be at peace!'"

12/01/2025

Yesterday, Republicans from across Ireland gathered in Belfast to honour I.R.A Volunteer Kevin Hannaway.

21/07/2023

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of Volunteers Pauline Kane & Alphonsus Cunningham, South Down Comand, Óglaigh na hÉireann, who died on active service on the Causeway Road area of Newcastle, Co. Down.

Óglach Pauline Kane
Pauline was born into a large family in the Burrenbridge area just outside Castlewellan. At the time of her death she lived at 6 Burrenreagh Park and indeed her family were close neighbours of the Rice family who would themselves lose a son on active service.
As a young girl Pauline attended school in the locality and is remembered as being a girl with a full zest of life. Like many young people of her generation she was deeply affected by the campaign for civil rights and the brutal response by the British Army to that campaign with the massacre of Bloody Sunday. Like so many young women of her generation Pauline decided that the best way to combat the injustices in our country was in the ranks of Cumann na mBan.
Despite being only 21 years of age at the time of her death, Pauline was already highly regarded by her comrades in the locality. She tragically lost her life on active service in Newcastle through an accidental explosion when the car in which she and two comrades were travelling was blown up. Her comrade and boyfriend Alphonsus Cunningham was killed alongside her that day while another comrade Mick Doran suffered severe injuries. She was the seventh and thus far last Republican from the South Down locality to have lost their life as a result of an accidental explosion.

Óglach Alphonsus Cunningham
Alphonsus Cunningham was born on 30th November 1951 and lived all his short life at the family home at 4 Dunmore Cottages, Glasdrumman, where he attended the local primary school before moving to St.Columbans Secondary School in Kilkeel. On leaving school he went into the plumbing business and became an excellent tradesman.
His two main passions in life, outside of his love for his country and its people, were cars and his local GAA club, where he was a popular member. A gifted footballer he took part in the semi-final of the Longstone tournament the week before he died. The final, which Glasdrumman went on to win, was postponed as a mark of respect to Alphonsus.
He was a young lad of 22 who was full of life and like other lads of his generation he enjoyed socializing, whether driving around in his old renault 10 or in his local club with his mates.
An active member of the Republican Movement in the Mournes, he brought his footballing passion and tradesman's skills to his work with the local IRA unit.
He lost his life as a result of an accidental explosion alongside his comrade Pauline Kane during an IRA operation in Newcastle on the 21st July 1973.

Fuair siad bás ar son saoirse na hÉireann.

06/05/2023

Downpatrick Royal Sinn Fein office.

Take it down from the mast....

27/04/2023

And James Connolly had it right too all those years ago.

‘We confess to having more respect and honour for the raggedest child of the poorest labourer in Ireland today than for any, even the most virtuous, descendant of the long array of murderers, adulterers and madmen who have sat upon the throne of England.”

James Connolly

07/04/2023

Wear your lily with pride 🇮🇪

05/04/2023

“When I saw him, on the day before his ex*****on, I found him in exactly the same state of mind. He was so unselfish he never thought of himself. He was not frightened, not at all, not the slightest. I am sure he must have been worn out after the week’s experiences, but he did not show any signs of it – not in the least. He was quite calm....."

Grace Gifford.

05/04/2023

I love you with my every breath,
I make you songs like thunder birds,
Give you my life—you give me death
And stab me with your dreadful words.

You laid my head against your heart
Last night, my lips upon your breast
And now you say that we must part
For fear your heart should be oppressed:

You cannot go against the world
For my sake only—thus your phrase,
But I—God’s beauty is unfurled
In your gold hair, and in your gaze

The wisdom of God’s bride—each soul
That shares his love, and yours and mine,
Two lovers share your aureole
And one is mortal, one divine:

One came on earth that you might know
His love for you—that you deny,
Now you give me this equal blow:
One died for you, and one will die

Written by Joseph Plunkett,, Irish Revolutionary

Born : November 21, 1887, Dublin, Ireland
Executed by firing squad : May 4th 1916, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin.

05/04/2023

"The fierce pulsation of resurgent pride that disclaims servitude may one day cease to throb in the heart of Ireland - but the heart of Ireland will that day be dead. While Ireland lives, the brain and the brawn of her manhood will strive to destroy the last vestige of British rule in her territory...."

Thomas Mac Donagh, Irish Revolutionary.
Born : 1 February 1878. Cloughjordan, County Tipperary
Executed by firing squad : 3rd May 1916, Kilmainham, Dublin

05/04/2023

At the time of the 1901 Census, Edward (Ned) was living in Limerick. The head of the household was his uncle John Daly (55). Edward was also living with his grandmother Margaret (90), his mother Catherine (44), his aunt Ellen Daly (57), and eight siblings, including his sister Kathleen whose husband Thomas Clarke was later executed. In the 1901 Census Daly was aged just 10 and according to the census he was able to read and write and spoke both English and Irish. There is no Census return for Daly in 1911 and he may have been in Glasgow working for a bakery at this time.
Edward (or Ned) Daly was born in Limerick, the only son out of ten children born to Edward Daly and Catherine O'Mara. Daly’s father, who died at the age of 41, was a Fenian, as was his uncle John Daly.

John Daly was very involved with the Irish Republication Brotherhood. Daly went to Glasgow to serve as an apprentice at a bakery but moved back to Limerick. He was in Limerick only a short while as there was very limited employment opportunities. He moved to Dublin to stay with his sister Kathleen and her husband Thomas Clarke. Clarke spent time in prison in England with Ned’s uncle John Daly and was also a member of the IRB.

With such a political family history, it is not surprising that Daly joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913. He was attained the rank of Captain and was involved in the landing of arms for the Irish Volunteers from Erskine Childers yacht, the Asgard. In 1915 he was promoted to the rank of Commandant of the 1st Battalion.

During the Rising, Daly was in command of a large area of strategic importance.

“The original intention was to hold a line running from the Four Courts to Cabra and to link up with the 5th Battn. under Comdt. Tom Ashe in North County Dublin”. His main duty during Easter week was touring his command area, which was under heavy fire, and inspecting each position held by the rebels.

One of his greatest achievements was the taking of the Linen Hall Barracks which overlooked the Volunteer outposts. As only a fraction of the Volunteers turned out due to MacNeill’s notice cancelling the Volunteer manoeuvers, Daly did not have enough men to defend the building and so it was set alight.

On the Monday morning , “Comdt. Daly got a barrel of sand placed in the centre of the crossing at King St. and Church St., fixed a pole in it and placed a tricolour flag about 6 ft. by 3 ft. in it”. There were a number of exchanges between the rebels and the British forces.

” That day also we took a postman prisoner, seized the mails he had collected and sent them to the G.P.O., Cormt. Daly remarking that it was the first delivery of mails under the Irish Republic”.

On the Tuesday, “During the day we captured a "G" man who was going round our posts dressed in woman's clothes, spying out our position and getting information as to the strength and actual positions of our forces. We sent him under es**rt to the Birdwell where he was detained2”.

The Thursday and Friday saw heavy attacks by the British forces. The position held by Daly and his men was close to the G.P.O but was a warren of small little streets which housed a lot of tenements. The British forces were finding it very difficult to proceed and on the Friday 28th April one of the worst atrocities of the Rebellion took place. Starting on the Thursday morning, the British tried to avoid direct fire by tunnelling through the walls of the slum houses. Major Sheppard then ordered a frontal attack which saw the British forces sustain heavy losses. “The British forces were now well up in North King Street, had to bore through seven or eight houses to get to North Brunswick Street”. The rebels were moving from house to house with the British forces unable to ascertain where the shooting was coming from and they became increasingly frustrated and infuriated. The troops shot or bayonetted 13 civilians at North King Street and one civilian at the adjoining Little Britain Street while 3 others were killed at Coleraine Street. Two of the civilians killed, William Hickey and his son Tommy, are recalled in the Witness Statement of Michael O’Donoghue, who states that their killing and those of other civilians changed the attitudes of his family and others towards the rebellion.” The stark tragedy of the massacre of the two Hickeys in their own Dublin home, the mother alone surviving to mourn her awful loss. This brutal atrocity filled me with a sort of personal loss and aroused in me a fierce hate for English soldiery.

On the Saturday, Elizabeth O’Farrell brought news of Pearse’s surrender. Daly was court-martialled at Richmond Barracks. Daly pleaded not guilty as he had not had any dealings with the Germans, nor had he any knowledge of the Rising until it began. He was found guilty due to his rank as Commandant and was sentenced to death. He was brought to Kilmainham Gaol to visit Thomas Clarke who wished to see him before he was executed, but when he got there Clarke was already dead.

Ned Daly was executed at Kilmainham Gaol on 4th May 1916. He was 25 and was single.

Edward was the youngest of those who were executed being four days younger than Seán Houston.

Edward 'Ned' Daly, Irish Revolutionary
Born : February 25, 1891, Limerick
Executed by firing squad : 4th May 1916, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin.