DULEEK HUNGER STRIKE MONUMENT

The hunger strike monument was erected in memory of twenty two hunger strikers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Irish freedom. This beautifully finished monument is situated in a memorial garden on Station road in Duleek county Meath which is on one of the main routes to the "Battle of the Boyne". The monument boasts a number of features which will not be found on any other monument through out Ireland.

1. On the back wall of the monument there is a large  granite plaque with a copy of the 1916 proclamation inscribed into it which was done by Bennett Monumentals in Kells, Co, Meath. The granite for the plaque was donated by Mick Nulty, Cooperhill in county Meath.

2. The monument has a vault encased in concrete  under the footpath at the rear of the back wall. Inside the vault there are twenty two time capsules containing stone from the graves of the hunger strikers. There are also three time capsules containing stone from the graves of Vol Joe Coombes, Vol Noel Gallagher and Vol Harry McCormick

3. The gates which were manufactored by Finn`s in county Meath carry the images of the                      " Spirit of Freedom" birds, which is a well known symbol of republican struggle. Finn`s can be contacted through our email:duleekmonument@live.ie

4. There are two fine headstones dedicated to the memory of the twenty two hunger strikers and the three Vol`s to whom the memorial garden is named after. These were again inscribed by Bennett Monumentals in Kells and generously donated by Ronan McGuane in Donore county Meath. 

   Above: DULEEK HUNGER STRIKE MONUMENT &                         MEMORIAL GARDEN 

                   HUNGER STRIKE MEMORIAL  

 The memorial garden in which the hunger strike monument is situated is in memory of three Volunteers who were "On The Run" at some stage of their lives in the republican movement and it is worth while noting that two of these Vols Noel Gallagher and Vol Harry McCormick were still "On The Run" from their native beloved county Tyrone at the time of their death.

Vol Joe Coombes                              Vol Joe Coombes lived in the townland of Bryanstown on the main Duleek to Drogheda road in Co, Meath. He was a farmer and a life long republican  until his untimaly death on 17th March 2005. Joe Coombes first love was for his country and his dream was that one day he would see a 32 county republic. Joe hated British occupation and at an early age joined the republican movement. In the early eighties on information supplied to the gardai  an arms dump was located under a cow shed on his farm. Joe was immediately forced to go "On The Run" and managed to evade capture for a number of months. However luck eventually ran out on Joe and he was captured and imprisoned in Portlaoise for five years. Joe made many friends while in prison and this was quite evident with the amount of callers who would visit him at his home when he was released. Vol Joe Coombes died suddenly at his home on St Patricks Day 2005. A large crowd attended his funeral where he was laid to rest along side his father and mother in Calvery cemetery in Drogheda. 

Vol Noel Gallagher                           Vol Noel Gallagher was born in the townland of Oxtown near the village of Loughmacrory, Co, Tyrone on 26th December 1956. He was an extremely gifted footballer. He played with Naomh Treasa and later Dean Maguire Ard Scoil in Carrickmore. He won juvenile schools and minor championship medals before joining the Tyrone minor team which went on to win the All Ireland in 1973. However the greatest love in Noels life was his country which persuaded him to join the republican movement, firstly joining SinnFein and then the ranks of Oglaigh na hEireann. In the aftermath of an IRA opperation against a member of the British army he was forced to go "On The Run" in 1973. He moved to Dublin and soon became involved in National activities. In 1977 he moved to America where he was a tireless organiser and fundraiser on behalf of the republican cause. Tragedy struck on the 16th March 1991 when he died in a traffic accident. His death was a grevious blow to his wife Geraldine and their daughters Colleen, Lisa and Vanessa. Noels body was brought back to his beloved Loughmacrory where he lies close to two of Irelands patriot dead Vols Gerard and Martin Harte.

Vol Harry McCormick                     Vol Harry McCormick was born a protestant on the 10th February 1929. Originally from Gortin, Co, Tyrone he met his wife Hellen and married on 25th October 1954. They had eight children. Prior to his marriage in 1954 he turned his religion to catholic. Tired of the injustices being handed out to the nationalist`s community in the six counties by the Unionists establishment in Stormont and the sectarian attacks by the B-Specials he became an IRA Volunteer in 1969 at the age of forty. After being involved in a number of successfull IRA opperations he was forced to go "On The Run" five years later in 1974. He crossed the border and settled in Duleek, Co,Meath. He lived outside the village in the townland of Prioryland. Harry died on the 24th February 1997 at the age of sixty eight and is interned in Holy Cross cemetery in Duleek.

WE THE DULEEK 1916-1981 INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE ARE PROUD TO NAME THE MEMORIAL GARDEN AFTER THREE BRAVE VOLUNTEERS OF                                 Oglaigh na hEireann 

                MEMORIAL GARDEN HEADSTONE

       Vol Joe Coombes           Vol Noel Gallagher

                          Vol Harry McCormick

 The Duleek 1916-1981 Monument Committee were officially formed in February 2006, originally known as the Duleek Commemoration Committee, we organised a commemoration in the village in June of that year to remember the 25th Anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes. The event was a huge success and a second commemoration was organised for Bettystown six weeks later. This event was again a huge success and we then decided that a monument to remember all twenty two Irish republican hunger strikers who died from 1917 to 1981 must be built in the county. It was immediately decided that Duleek would be the location because of strong republican ties to the area.

MONUMENT PROJECT                   An organisation plan was drawn up and a time table of events were put in motion to secure a site and planning permission. Local Councillors were lobbied and with the advice of five councillors and an architect a site and planning were secured, however this was only the beginning of a huge mountain we had to climb. Fund raising events were successfully organised however most importantly sponsors were needed if the project was to succeed. Within a short space of time a number of sponsors came forward and generously donated  materials and finance to the monument fund.

BUILDING OF MONUMENT          The turning of the sod on the monument site took place on Saturday 6th October 2007. Within a short space of time building work had begun and by Christmas  the proclamation plaque and back wall were in place. In Mid February 2008 progress was at a well advanced stage although weather conditions were appalling but the determination of the volunteer team didnt allow this to dampen their spirits. Even at this stage the committee were able to set a date for the official unveiling. Practically all work on the monument was complete in the middle of May and this was a great achievement for all involved given that work was nearly always carried out on Saturdays with the exception of about one weeks work being done during the week. The volunteer team numbered no more than ten at any time and this amount of work to be carried out in such a short space of time can be nothing short of  a credit to them. The final piece of the jigsaw was in place when the headstones were erected on Thursday 12th June 2008. 

The building stone for the monument project was sourced from a local quarry outside Slane and was donated most generously by Paddy Shiels of P.Sheils Plant Hire. Mr Shiels also donated all filling for the site along with diggers and lorries when ever needed.

TIME CAPSULES                           The twenty five time capsules which are in a vault at the rear of the monument were sponsored by republicans from as far away as Tyrone. Each capsule is unique in the sense that stone from each grave are in their own capsule. Sponsors then enclosed their own personal items in the capsules they sponsored before the capsules were sealed in the vault surrounded by concrete. Each sponsor then received a framed certificate to confirm sponsorship.

   TIME CAPSULE & VAULT BEING SEALED

             COMMITTEE MEMBERS & SUPPORTERS

   TURNING OF THE SOD SATURDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2007

  Tos Wilton, Tommy Gallagher, Kevin Rock,   Lar Murphy,Thomas Lynch,  Gerry O`Brien & Frank Murphy  

      TOP: WALL BEING BUILT                                              

      BOTTOM: WALL COMPLETED       

The official unveiling of the Duleek hunger strike monument and memorial garden took place on Sunday 15th June 2008. Events begun at 2p.m on the village green with traditional music being played by seven local musicians. This was followed with a parade to the monument site which was lead by a lone piper and color party. Members of the public carried photographs of all twenty two hunger strikers and the three republican vols that the memorial garden is in memory of. Ex-Portlaoise hunger striker Dessie Ellis from Finglas officially opened the memorial garden.           Ex-Curragh Camp P.O.W Paddy Sheils from Garballagh, Co, Meath unveiled the proclamation with veteran republican and ex-P.O.W Jimmy Lynch from Kentstown, Co, Meath unveiling the monument. The guest speaker 1980 ex-hunger striker Tommy McKearney from Co, Monaghan gave a good account of progress being made in the northern conflict but a lot more has to be done because the united Ireland that these twenty five republicans who we remember today dreamed of is not yet achieved. Duleek Monument Committee spokesperson Thomas Lynch welcomed everyone to the event. In his short speech he encouraged all republicans from various political groupings to visit the monument, for the sake of the memory of the fallen volunteers of Oglaigh na             h-Eireann. He pointed out that his committee were an independent republican commemoration committee and that all shades of republicans and members of the public were welcome. 

         Paddy Sheils Unveils 1916  Proclamation             

       Jimmy Lynch Unveils Hunger Strike Memorial 

We the Duleek 1916-1981 Monument Committee welcome all visitors to our monument. We would encourage schools or organisations to contact us to arrange history tours which we intend to begin in the near future. Further information can be obtained by email:duleekmonument@live.ie

 VISIT OTHER SITES OF INTEREST    

www.irishrepublican.net                       www.eirigi.org                        www.freewebs.com/concernedrepublican.