West Tyrone Ógra Shinn Féin Out In Strength

West Tyrone Ógra Shinn Féin were out in strength at the Tyrone County commemoration of the Easter rising in Carrickmore on Easter Sunday. Before and during the march hundreds of the new Ógra Shinn Fein newsletter, Glor Na nÓg were handed out. Ógra members also were evident in various colour parties and bands throughout the parade.

On the route of the parade, two members of Ógra Shinn Féin from West Tyrone, Stephen McGahan and Sean Person, both from Omagh preformed a historical enactment of the last speech from the dock of Robert Emmet. Both were kitted out in attire of that time and provided a complementary addition to the parade. Bands fell silent as they filed past the (somewhat younger) equivalent of today’s Robert Emmet.

After the conclusion of the parade the crowd of several thousand assembled at Carrickmores Garden Of remembrance for the speeches. Brian Crawley of the Tyrone National Graves association chaired the proceedings. Chairperson of West Tyrone Ógra Shinn Féin, Barry McNally stepped forward and read aloud the ÓSF Easter Statement. Another Ógra activist from the area, Siobhan McElholm also laid a wreath on behalf of west Tyrone Ógra at the Tyrone Garden of Remembrance.

Tyrone had no fewer than 30 wreath laying ceremonies throughout the Easter weekend and Ógra members were variously involved in these also.