Pádraic Mac Coitir ✒ writing on the 30th anniversary of a military exchange between IRA volunteers and the British Army in Co Tyrone.


I remember this night 30 years ago when listening to the radio whilst imprisoned in the H-Blocks and reports were coming in of people being killed in Tyrone. 

I was on the wing with lads from that county and we were talking out the doors as to what we thought had happened. At that time I only knew the county from going through parts of it at night. Of course we knew the history of the county going back to the O'Neill clann and how they fought to the end against the English.
 
For centuries many brave women and men kept up that fight and during this recent phase of conflict they were amongst the most active. Unfortunately they lost many volunteers to death and imprisonment. but like other parts of the country not all of them lay down when faced by a foe that was heavily armed and were assisted by local unionists.

On 16th February local IRA volunteers opened fire on Coalisland RUC barracks and they made the short run back in a lorry to Clonoe Catholic Church. Unknown to them the British were lying in wait and as the crossed the cattle grid a heavily armed force of SAS opened fire on them. Over 500 rounds were fired and four Volunteers were killed. They had no chance to surrender but this wasn't the first time the British army and the RUC had fired on Irish Republicans without warning.
 
The four volunteers killed on the fateful night were Peter Clancy, Patrick Vincent, Kevin Barry O'Donnell and Seán O'Farrell.
 
Next morning when we got out of our cells there was a sombre mood on the wing and as more details of what happened came in we were all devastated, especially the Tyrone lads who knew some of the volunteers. The screws knew not to mess us about when news came in of volunteers being killed so we just walked around the yard or sat in cells talking of how their families and fellow volunteers were coping.

Earlier today four of us from Béal Feirste drove to Clonoe graveyard to join hundreds of locals paying homage to the 4 volunteers. 


Proceedings started at 6pm and although very cold we all stood in silence as tributes were paid, laments played and a plaque was unveiled. Shortly after we walked over to the grave of Peter Clancy where tributes were paid and a beautiful rebel song was sung.

We met people who we had been in gaol with and others we hadn't seen in a long time and we spoke of how fitting the whole night was.
 
A convoy of cars then made the short journey to Coalisland graveyard. The sisters of Seán O'Farrell and Barry O'Donnell gave very moving tributes in memory of their brothers. Songs were also sung and as the moon shone down on a dark graveyard it made the occasion even more sombre.


Because a mass was being held at the church in Edendork we went and paid our respects at the grave of the 4th volunteer, Patrick Vincent. 


As we walked around the graveyard we were struck at how many other graves held Irish Republicans who were killed in previous struggles as well as this so far unfinished one.
 
I would like to thank the local 1916 Societies and Tyrone National Graves Association for being so welcoming to us. It goes without saying that the volunteers who fell on that night 30 years ago will never be forgotten.

Fuair siad bás ar son saoirse na hÉireann.

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

Remembering Volunteers From Clonoe Ambush

Pádraic Mac Coitir ✒ writing on the 30th anniversary of a military exchange between IRA volunteers and the British Army in Co Tyrone.


I remember this night 30 years ago when listening to the radio whilst imprisoned in the H-Blocks and reports were coming in of people being killed in Tyrone. 

I was on the wing with lads from that county and we were talking out the doors as to what we thought had happened. At that time I only knew the county from going through parts of it at night. Of course we knew the history of the county going back to the O'Neill clann and how they fought to the end against the English.
 
For centuries many brave women and men kept up that fight and during this recent phase of conflict they were amongst the most active. Unfortunately they lost many volunteers to death and imprisonment. but like other parts of the country not all of them lay down when faced by a foe that was heavily armed and were assisted by local unionists.

On 16th February local IRA volunteers opened fire on Coalisland RUC barracks and they made the short run back in a lorry to Clonoe Catholic Church. Unknown to them the British were lying in wait and as the crossed the cattle grid a heavily armed force of SAS opened fire on them. Over 500 rounds were fired and four Volunteers were killed. They had no chance to surrender but this wasn't the first time the British army and the RUC had fired on Irish Republicans without warning.
 
The four volunteers killed on the fateful night were Peter Clancy, Patrick Vincent, Kevin Barry O'Donnell and Seán O'Farrell.
 
Next morning when we got out of our cells there was a sombre mood on the wing and as more details of what happened came in we were all devastated, especially the Tyrone lads who knew some of the volunteers. The screws knew not to mess us about when news came in of volunteers being killed so we just walked around the yard or sat in cells talking of how their families and fellow volunteers were coping.

Earlier today four of us from Béal Feirste drove to Clonoe graveyard to join hundreds of locals paying homage to the 4 volunteers. 


Proceedings started at 6pm and although very cold we all stood in silence as tributes were paid, laments played and a plaque was unveiled. Shortly after we walked over to the grave of Peter Clancy where tributes were paid and a beautiful rebel song was sung.

We met people who we had been in gaol with and others we hadn't seen in a long time and we spoke of how fitting the whole night was.
 
A convoy of cars then made the short journey to Coalisland graveyard. The sisters of Seán O'Farrell and Barry O'Donnell gave very moving tributes in memory of their brothers. Songs were also sung and as the moon shone down on a dark graveyard it made the occasion even more sombre.


Because a mass was being held at the church in Edendork we went and paid our respects at the grave of the 4th volunteer, Patrick Vincent. 


As we walked around the graveyard we were struck at how many other graves held Irish Republicans who were killed in previous struggles as well as this so far unfinished one.
 
I would like to thank the local 1916 Societies and Tyrone National Graves Association for being so welcoming to us. It goes without saying that the volunteers who fell on that night 30 years ago will never be forgotten.

Fuair siad bás ar son saoirse na hÉireann.

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

2 comments:

  1. They were armed with a bleeding DHSK 12.5mm anti aircraft gun and AKM rifles, do you seriously expect the Brits to go " Hands up old bean, there's a good sport"?

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  2. "They had no chance to surrender but this wasn't the first time the British army and the RUC had fired on Irish Republicans without warning."

    As opposed to all those warnings issued by the IRA?

    Given the ages of those involved this whole episode was a terrible waste of young lives. No matter how much Republicans may try and romanticize their actions a teenager with a few hours arms training in a cow shed in Tyrone was never gone to be a match for British state forces. It was only going to end one way.

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