Ógra Shinn Féin, Peter Corrigan Tribute

Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin led the tributes to Peter Corrigan on the 25th anniversary of his death. Peter Corrigan was murdered by a group calling its self the Protestant Action Force, the group was largely made up by member’s of the UDR, the one person charged in connection with his murder was a full time member of the UDR.



Peter Corrigan a father of eleven was born and raised in lower English street in the city. He was educated in the Christian Brothers School , upon leavening school he excelled in his chosen career and was widely known around the country for his craftsmanship in brick and stonework.

After a time in England, were he met his wife Jean {also originally from Armagh}, they returned to Armagh and settled in Banbrook Hill, moving eventually to the then new housing estate of Drumbreada.

Peter joined Oglaigh na hÉireann in 1969 and became very active, he and two brothers were arrested and interned on the 9th august 1971. Released in may {72} he continued to work within the Republican Movement until his re-arrest in 1973 he was to remain incarcerated until the end of internment in 1975.

Peter worked in Sinn Féin as it entered the political arena in the early eighties and was continually threatened and harassed by the crown forces, right up until his death on the 25th oct 1982, while returning home he was gunned down on the Loughgall road, Armagh, by those soldiers out of uniform.

The Ógra Shinn Féin tribute started with the erection of 20 plus black flags along the Loughgall road, and a single tri-colour on the post which marked the spot where he was killed, and a large Ógra Shinn Féin banner was then raised to commemorate the anniversary before family and friends and comrades attended a vigil to mark his death.

The vigil was first addressd by Damian White of Ógra Shinn Féin followed by the laying of the wreaths, a decade of the rosary was said and a minutes silence. The main address was given by Councillor Noel Sheridan before Liam Lappin of Ógra Shinn Féin gave a moving rendition of the Peter Corrigan song, the vigil ended with an address from the family.

Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson, Damian white said,

“Many people in Ógra Shinn Féin were not alive 25 years ago if they were certainly had no knowledge of why Peter Corrigan was murdered. The need to educate our youth is great, on the hardships of the past as to prepare us to be at the fore in bringing about the end of British interference in Ireland. This will be our lasting tribute to the memory of Peter Corrigan and all our fallen comrades.”