Óglach Dermot Crowley and Paula Murphy - Inspiring Young Republicans

Barry McColgan
Dermot Crowley/Paula Murphy Ogra
West Tyrone

Dermot Crowley and Paula Murphy are two young republicans whose names will be forever linked as West Tyrone Ógra name their cumann in their honour.

Paula and Dermot were young Irish people, proud and committed republicans, who were deeply passionate and resolved to see their country free, and determined to build a republic that, would guarantee the rights and equality proclaimed in Easter 1916.

They were young people that grew up in two rebel counties, Dermot from Cork and Paula from Tyrone, they grew up in different era's, Dermot witnessing the emerging war of liberation in 1969, Paula living through the emergence of the Peace Process, but they were both united in their drive and determination as young Irish republican's absolutely resolute in changing Ireland for the better.

Their destinies seem almost intertwined, both young republicans, both very popular confident young people, both tragically lost their lives at the young age of 18 and died not far from each other on the Gortin Road in Omagh.

Both Dermot and Paula are not gone, they are with us, they inspire us each and every day providing us with unlimited motivation in driving forward our vision for a free and new Ireland.

Their faces will always shine down on us, and we will always count ourselves fortunate to be following on their brave legacy and achieving what they strived for in their short yet full lives.

There is a great sense of family in the republican movement, and a collective sense of grief every time one of our own is taken from us, there is a collective outpouring of grief and solidarity, it is that what sets us apart from everyone else.

We hope that by honouring Paula and Dermot, we can keep their memory alive and do justice to their proud legacy, and we can only hope that our small gesture and efforts in remembering these two outstanding young republicans, can bring some hope and pride to their families, knowing that their loved ones, are forever remembered and will never be forgotten.