Tyrone Republican Youth Play Leading Role in County Commemoration

Ógra Shinn Féin activists from throughout Tyrone played a leading role in this year's main County Commemoration in Carrickmore.

Aswell as being busy in preparing Carrickmore with Murals and Easter Lily symbols dotted throughout the Republican Heartland in advance, dozens of Ógra activists were active on Easter Sunday variously through street theatre, colour parties, republican flute bands, and delivering speeches.


The youthful and vibrant feel to the day was set from the beginning when Ogra activists accompanied by Gerry Cunningham of 'More Power to Your Elbow' fame, re enacted the Easter Rising with the Patrician Hall and its pillars representing an appropriate setting as the GPO.

The re enactment was very poignant and emotional particularly the execution scenes and received a rapturous round of applause from the hundreds who turned out to watch.

The Ógra members dressed in authentic dress from that era then fell in behind the main republican colour party, to form a 1916 contingent.

At the Garden of Remembrance, Ógra activist Kerry McColgan read aloud the Irish Proclamation, Siobhan McElholm laid the wreath on behalf of Ógra and Padraig Quinn read the Ógra Easter statement.

Speaking on a hugely successful Easter Commemoration in Carrickmore, Ógra activist Barry McColgan said,

"The street theatre and historical re enactment of the Easter 1916 Rising added a vibrancy, and lively educational element to this year's County Commemoration. The reaction of the crowd said it all, It brought to life the bravery and huge sacrifice by the leaders, men and women of Easter week and will provide a good springboard to more innovative ideas, as we make ambitious preparations for the 100th Anniversary of the 1916 Rising in 2016."

"Young republicans played a key role in this year's local and County Commemoration, and the large number of young people in the crowd in Carrickmore bodes well for Republicanism in Tyrone. Everything we do and work to achieve is inspired by our patriot dead, Easter more than any other time of the year reminds us of their huge sacrifices. We will never forget them, and with immense pride we will carry forward the struggle to win the freedom of our country."