Oglach Brian Keenan

Barry McColgan
National Organiser
Ógra Shinn Féin

A short film has been produced on the passing of Oglach Brian Keenan. Thousands of republicans gathered in Belfast on Saturday 24 May to honour and mourn the passing of this legendary Republican leader and activist.



Earlier that week thousands more paid their respects in his adopted home of Cullyhanna in South Armagh as they lined the roads as his remains made their way to his close friend Michael McVerry’s Monument.

The huge number of people who turned out to honour this great man demonstrated the high regard in which he was held.

On his journey from Cullyhanna to New Barnsley in West Belfast, Brian’s remains where carried by close friends and comrades.

Pictures of our generations ‘James Connolly’ adorned the streets around New Barnsley as his coffin made its way to the Ballymurphy Republican Monument.

Having had a moving oration in Cullyhanna by South Armagh Republican Sean Hughes, Brian’s close friend’s Martina Anderson and Gerry Adams stepped forward in the Ballymurphy Garden of Remembrance to speak passionately about his life and lasting legacy.

As Brian’s coffin made its final journey out of West Belfast, the thousands of mourners knew they would never see his likes again, his irreplaceable passion and talents a great loss to our country, yet his optimism reminded us to keep going, to never give up and to fulfil the freedom which he devoted his life to achieve, as he put it himself,

‘Keep the faith and spread it!’