Padraic Mac Coitir ➨ The older I'm getting the more I want to see places throughout the country where I've either passed through or went to as a kid and didn't appreciate them. 

I also want to see places of historical importance and this is what I done with with a friend inné. He's into photography and would suggest places he's been to and if the weather is ok I'm away.

He had been to Loughinisland Churches a number of times and said I would enjoy it. So off we headed on a 40 minute car journey. Loughinisland is a small village and it's known to many of us for the unionist attack on a local pub( of which I'll write about below).


Loughinisland is known as Loch Oileáin (meaning lake of the island) and when we reached the graveyard I was very impressed. There are three ancient churches, the first of which was built in the 14th century and people worshiped in the most recent one until the early 17th century. No doubt the planters put a stop to Catholics using it but like other parts of the country they used mass rocks or hedgerows.

One of the most common names in that part of the county is McCartan and as walked around the graveyard more names stood out such as Rice and Trainor. 


When Robert Emmett planned the Rising of 1803 one of those who supported him was Thomas Russell - 'The Man From God Knows Where' - and he went to the graveyard to meet men who had survived the earlier Rising of 1798. He called upon them to take up arms against the English but as history has shown us that Rising failed and within months both Emmett and Russell were betrayed (an unfortunate occurrence that blights Republicanism even today) and were executed - the former in BÁC, the latter Dun Phádraig. 

We spent an hour or so walking around the graveyard and then drove up the road to the Heights Bar. It was in that very bar where six men were shot dead by the the UVF whist watching a World Cup match between Ireland and Italy in June 1994. I was in gaol and watching it with most of the wing (I was cheering on Italy - a long story) when one of the lads who wasn't into sport came in and told us there was a shooting in a pub and it's believed a number of people were killed. Later that night we got the terrible news six died and 5 injured. 


Yesterday was the first time I'd been at the pub and met one of the lads who I'd met at a talk we arranged on the shooting a couple of years ago. I asked if he would mind showing us exactly where it all happened. We have all seen footage of the bar in the immediate aftermath but standing in such a small room where the gang opened fire on the 14 customers and one bar staff it's a wonder anyone survived. 

We all know there was collusion between the gang and the RUC and as we stood talking we remembered many other incidents throughout the country when the RUC and British army either gave information or gave a clear run to the gangs.

When things settle down and we can all go to pubs for a pint I'll be back.

My friend then asked if I'd been to St John's Point lighthouse and when I sad I hadn't we drove down the coast road stopping outside the Minerstown Inn, Rossglas church and graveyard and although it was a dull day we could clearly see the Mountains of Mourne across Dundrum Bay. The lighthouse is very impressive and reading the sign close by I didn't realise it was so late when it was turned into electric use - 1980. 


So that's another part of the country I've been to but if I want to get to other parts I haven't been to I may hurry but there again when I get my bus pass I'll be in my element!

Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

Loughinisland

Padraic Mac Coitir ➨ The older I'm getting the more I want to see places throughout the country where I've either passed through or went to as a kid and didn't appreciate them. 

I also want to see places of historical importance and this is what I done with with a friend inné. He's into photography and would suggest places he's been to and if the weather is ok I'm away.

He had been to Loughinisland Churches a number of times and said I would enjoy it. So off we headed on a 40 minute car journey. Loughinisland is a small village and it's known to many of us for the unionist attack on a local pub( of which I'll write about below).


Loughinisland is known as Loch Oileáin (meaning lake of the island) and when we reached the graveyard I was very impressed. There are three ancient churches, the first of which was built in the 14th century and people worshiped in the most recent one until the early 17th century. No doubt the planters put a stop to Catholics using it but like other parts of the country they used mass rocks or hedgerows.

One of the most common names in that part of the county is McCartan and as walked around the graveyard more names stood out such as Rice and Trainor. 


When Robert Emmett planned the Rising of 1803 one of those who supported him was Thomas Russell - 'The Man From God Knows Where' - and he went to the graveyard to meet men who had survived the earlier Rising of 1798. He called upon them to take up arms against the English but as history has shown us that Rising failed and within months both Emmett and Russell were betrayed (an unfortunate occurrence that blights Republicanism even today) and were executed - the former in BÁC, the latter Dun Phádraig. 

We spent an hour or so walking around the graveyard and then drove up the road to the Heights Bar. It was in that very bar where six men were shot dead by the the UVF whist watching a World Cup match between Ireland and Italy in June 1994. I was in gaol and watching it with most of the wing (I was cheering on Italy - a long story) when one of the lads who wasn't into sport came in and told us there was a shooting in a pub and it's believed a number of people were killed. Later that night we got the terrible news six died and 5 injured. 


Yesterday was the first time I'd been at the pub and met one of the lads who I'd met at a talk we arranged on the shooting a couple of years ago. I asked if he would mind showing us exactly where it all happened. We have all seen footage of the bar in the immediate aftermath but standing in such a small room where the gang opened fire on the 14 customers and one bar staff it's a wonder anyone survived. 

We all know there was collusion between the gang and the RUC and as we stood talking we remembered many other incidents throughout the country when the RUC and British army either gave information or gave a clear run to the gangs.

When things settle down and we can all go to pubs for a pint I'll be back.

My friend then asked if I'd been to St John's Point lighthouse and when I sad I hadn't we drove down the coast road stopping outside the Minerstown Inn, Rossglas church and graveyard and although it was a dull day we could clearly see the Mountains of Mourne across Dundrum Bay. The lighthouse is very impressive and reading the sign close by I didn't realise it was so late when it was turned into electric use - 1980. 


So that's another part of the country I've been to but if I want to get to other parts I haven't been to I may hurry but there again when I get my bus pass I'll be in my element!

Padraic Mac Coitir is a former republican
prisoner and current political activist.

1 comment:

  1. Always get a lot out of these pieces. There remain so many parts of the country we will never get to.

    ReplyDelete