"We will make you rue the blood spilled at Loughgall!"

This year, 2007, marks the 20th Anniversary of the brutal and bloody SAS ambush of eight IRA volunteers and 2 civilians in the Co Armagh village of Loughgall.

In order to help commemorate the anniversary and to promote commemorative events, a website has been set up at http://www.loughgall20.com/. The website contains a background to the Loughgall ambush and a short biography of the eight brave volunteers who died on active service.

It also has information on events which will be held to remember the sacrifice of the Loughgall Marytrs. Of particular note, the National Loughall Commemorative March which will take place on Sunday 6th May in Galbally, Co Tyrone, with the main oration being delivered by Brian Keenan.

It is hoped that the website will allow young people who don't remember the 8th May 1987, will appreciate the heroism and single mindedness of these men, and many more men and women like them, who made the ultimate sacrifice and who gave up many years of their lives in jails around the world, in the fight for Ireland's freedom.

On the evening of the 8th May 1987 eight volunteers of the East Tyrone Brigade, Óglaigh na hÉireann, approached the RUC barracks in Loughgall.

The SAS brought in a squad of heavily armed, specially trained men the day before the attack to reinforce the RUC Special Task Force. Although the Active Service Unit was under constant surveillance the SAS allowed them to enter the village unhindered, watched them drive past the barracks a number of times, then waited for them to detonate the bomb before launching a devastating fusillade of heavy fire.

The ambush ended with the SAS having fired thousands of rounds. All eight IRA volunteers lay dead. Vol. Declan Arthurs, Vol. Eugene Kelly, Vol Paddy Kelly, Vol. Jim Lynagh, Vol. Padraig McKearney, Vol. Seamus Donnelly, Vol. Tony Gormley and Vol. Geread O'Callaghan.

Also dead was Anthony Hughes, a civilian murdered by the SAS fire who drove into the ambush area with his brother Oliver. Oliver who was also seriously wounded with massive head injuries, miraculously survived despite being denied medical attention for a significant period of time after the ambush.

The Loughgall Martyrs, 20 years following their huge sacrifice for Irish Freedom, continue to be an endless source of inspitaion to Ógra Shinn Féin and Irish Republican Youth.

We remember them with pride!

Ógra Shinn Féin

N.B. Please note the Loughgall Commemoration Committee can be contacted via eamil on info@loughgall20.com.