Reigniting the Beacon of Freedom

“T’was on a dreary new years eve
As the shades of light came down
A lorry loads of volunteers approached the border town"

Barry McNally

Through poem, story and song the exploits of Sean Sabhat and Fergal O’Hanlon continues to be told some 50 years after that fateful night in Co, Fermanagh at the dawning of 1957.

One of the most renowned Irish Ballads Sean South Of Garryowen recounts the events of that dreary New Years Eve in Brookeborough, whilst Patriot Game tells the story of Co. Monaghan native Fergal O’Hanlon.

Both young men, Sean aged 28 and Fergal 20, died in their struggle for freedom and independence in Ireland. Spurred on by the efforts of Pearse and Connolly some 41 years previously, the men, alongside 12 other Volunteers of the ‘Pearse Column’ brought their vision of freedom to Brookeborough on the fateful night. When the ill-fated operation had concluded both Sabhat and O’Hanlon were fatally wounded.

While the rest of the IRA unit made their way across the countryside towards the border both O’Hanlon and Sabhat were left in a out house before being discovered at day break the following day.

The thousands that turned out to the funerals in Co. Limerick and Co. Monghan was a testament to the respect both men had within their communities and indeed within the Republican movement.

What their deaths did was re-ignite the flame for Irish freedom amongst the Irish people. And one again a number of years later this flame came to fruition when the IRA once again stood defiantly against the British claim in Ireland.

Both men were of the age of Ógra Shinn Féin, today in Ógra we are spurred on by their sacrifice in the name of the Irish Republic.

The only fitting monument to these Soldiers of Ireland is the establishment of the 32 county democratic socialist republic for which the men gave their lives.

On their fiftieth anniversary we must once again re-dedicate ourselves to the cause for which they, and so many others have died to see their vision a reality!