National Graves Association, Belfast
Encyclopedia
The National Graves Association, Belfast is a private Irish republican
organisation which undertakes to care for and maintain the graves of some Irish Republican Army
volunteer
s who are buried in Belfast cemeteries. It is a separate organisation from the National Graves Association
based in Dame Street
, Dublin.
National Graves Association, Belfast has as its primary objectives “to restore and maintain fittingly, the graves of all those who died for Irish Freedom, to compile a record of those graves and to foster respect for the national dead.” The association has, from its inception, maintained the graves of republicans buried in Belfast. Monuments have been erected, restored and graves have been marked and maintained. In addition to this, it has successfully campaigned for the re-interment of the remains of Tom Williams.
In recent times the committee has overseen the complete rebuilding of what has become known as the New Republican Plot, which contains the remains of 77 republicans who have died while part of an active service unit
or during imprisonment. The association is also responsible for the maintenance of the County Antrim Plot which contains the remains of 34 IRA volunteers; the Harbinson plot in which five IRA volunteers are interred, and a number of other republican graves some from as early as the 1920s. These graves have been traditionally marked with the Red Hand of Ulster
. Many Belfast republicans are buried in their family graves and as such do not fall under the association's care. However, in addition to maintaining particular plots and monuments the association has endeavored to direct local commemoration committees to maintain some family graves which, for some reason may have fallen into disrepair.
The association, presently, has a committee of twelve members. Its membership is made up of republicans from across the city, including the Chairperson Liam Shannon, Annie Cahill, Bridget Hannon, Paul Di Lucia, Dessie Kennedy, Niall Ó'Donnaighle, Stephen McGuigan and Anne Murray.
. These graves, under the direct care of the association, include the three main republican plots and the graves of IRA volunteers who were killed during the 1920’s and the Northern Campaign in the 1940’s. The graves are marked with the Red Hand. Below is the full list of graves which are presently under the care of the association.
, died in 1846, while interned in Belfast Prison and was buried at Portmore, Ballinderry. In 1912 a Celtic cross
was erected in Milltown to his memory and that of other republicans who were imprisoned in County Antrim
jails. This plot contains the remains of 5 IRA volunteers, Joe McKelvey
, Sean McCartney, Terence Perry, Sean Gaffney and Seamus Burns.
to commemorate Antrim's republican dead. 34 IRA volunteers who died while on active service during the late 1960s and early 1970s are buried here.
. Among those buried in the plot are: James McDade
, Bobby Sands
, Joe McDonnell, Kieran Doherty
, Sean McIlvenna
, Mairéad Farrell
, Dan McCann, Sean Savage
, Pearse Jordan
, Thomas Begley
and Pat McGeown
.
and Winifred Carney
.
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
organisation which undertakes to care for and maintain the graves of some Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
volunteer
Volunteer (Irish republican)
Volunteer, often abbreviated Vol., is a term used by a number of Irish republican paramilitary organisations to describe their members. Among these have been the various forms of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army...
s who are buried in Belfast cemeteries. It is a separate organisation from the National Graves Association
National Graves Association
The National Graves Association is an Irish non-governmental organisation which seeks to maintain the graves of Irish republicans who died in the pursuit of a united Ireland...
based in Dame Street
Dame Street
Dame Street is a large thoroughfare in Dublin, Ireland. The street is the location of many banks such as AIB, Ulster Bank and the Central Bank of Ireland. It is close to Ireland's oldest university, Trinity College, Dublin, founded in 1592, the entrance to which is a popular meeting spot.During...
, Dublin.
Objectives and structure
The first Belfast branch of the National Graves Association was founded in the mid 1930s. Internment and imprisonment of republicans down through the years has led to the Belfast branch, at times, becoming, temporarily inactive.National Graves Association, Belfast has as its primary objectives “to restore and maintain fittingly, the graves of all those who died for Irish Freedom, to compile a record of those graves and to foster respect for the national dead.” The association has, from its inception, maintained the graves of republicans buried in Belfast. Monuments have been erected, restored and graves have been marked and maintained. In addition to this, it has successfully campaigned for the re-interment of the remains of Tom Williams.
In recent times the committee has overseen the complete rebuilding of what has become known as the New Republican Plot, which contains the remains of 77 republicans who have died while part of an active service unit
Active Service Unit
An active service unit was a Provisional Irish Republican Army cell of five to eight members, tasked with carrying out armed attacks. In 2002 the IRA had about 1,000 active members of which about 300 were in active service units....
or during imprisonment. The association is also responsible for the maintenance of the County Antrim Plot which contains the remains of 34 IRA volunteers; the Harbinson plot in which five IRA volunteers are interred, and a number of other republican graves some from as early as the 1920s. These graves have been traditionally marked with the Red Hand of Ulster
Red Hand of Ulster
The Red Hand of Ulster is a symbol used in heraldry to denote the Irish province of Ulster. It is less commonly known as the Red Hand of O'Neill. Its origins are said to be attributed to the mythical Irish figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg , and appear in other mythical tales passed down from generation...
. Many Belfast republicans are buried in their family graves and as such do not fall under the association's care. However, in addition to maintaining particular plots and monuments the association has endeavored to direct local commemoration committees to maintain some family graves which, for some reason may have fallen into disrepair.
The association, presently, has a committee of twelve members. Its membership is made up of republicans from across the city, including the Chairperson Liam Shannon, Annie Cahill, Bridget Hannon, Paul Di Lucia, Dessie Kennedy, Niall Ó'Donnaighle, Stephen McGuigan and Anne Murray.
Graves
The vast majority of work done by the National Graves Association, Belfast, is carried out in Milltown CemeteryMilltown Cemetery
Milltown Cemetery is a large cemetery in west Belfast, Northern Ireland.It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and the M1 motorway. Milltown Cemetery opened in 1869 and there are now approximately 200,000 of Belfast's citizens buried there. Most of those buried there are...
. These graves, under the direct care of the association, include the three main republican plots and the graves of IRA volunteers who were killed during the 1920’s and the Northern Campaign in the 1940’s. The graves are marked with the Red Hand. Below is the full list of graves which are presently under the care of the association.
Harbinson Plot
William Harbinson, a fenianFenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
, died in 1846, while interned in Belfast Prison and was buried at Portmore, Ballinderry. In 1912 a Celtic cross
Celtic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
was erected in Milltown to his memory and that of other republicans who were imprisoned in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
jails. This plot contains the remains of 5 IRA volunteers, Joe McKelvey
Joe McKelvey
Joe McKelvey was an Irish Republican Army officer who was executed during the Irish Civil War. He participated in the anti-Treaty IRA's repudiation of the authority of the Dáil in March 1922 and was elected to the IRA Army Executive...
, Sean McCartney, Terence Perry, Sean Gaffney and Seamus Burns.
County Antrim Memorial Plot
The County Antrim Memorial was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of the Easter RisingEaster Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
to commemorate Antrim's republican dead. 34 IRA volunteers who died while on active service during the late 1960s and early 1970s are buried here.
New Republican Plot
In 1972 the NationalGraves Association Belfast, purchased the ground which would become known as the new Republican Plot. The first burials here took place in July of that year. This plot contains the remains of 77 republicans, including some who died on hunger strikeHunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
. Among those buried in the plot are: James McDade
James McDade
James Patrick McDade was a volunteer and a lieutenant in the Birmingham Battalion of the Provisional Irish Republican Army who was killed in a premature explosion while planting a bomb at the Coventry telephone exchange in 1974.- Early life :Born in Oakfield Street in the Ardoyne area of north...
, Bobby Sands
Bobby Sands
Robert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze....
, Joe McDonnell, Kieran Doherty
Kieran Doherty
Kieran Doherty TD was an Irish republican hunger striker, Teachta Dála and a volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army ....
, Sean McIlvenna
Sean McIlvenna
Sean "Maxie" McIlvenná was a volunteer in the 2nd Battalion, North Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.-Background:...
, Mairéad Farrell
Mairéad Farrell
Mairéad Farrell was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army . She was killed by SAS soldiers during Operation Flavius, a British Army operation to prevent a bombing in Gibraltar.-Early life:...
, Dan McCann, Sean Savage
Seán Savage
Seán Savage was a volunteer of the Provisional IRA who was shot and killed by British Army Special Air Service soldiers in Operation Flavius.-Early life:...
, Pearse Jordan
Pearse Jordan
Pearse Jordan was a Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer killed whilst unarmed, by a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer...
, Thomas Begley
Thomas Begley
Thomas Begley , was a volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army...
and Pat McGeown
Pat McGeown
Pat "Beag" McGeown was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army who took part in the 1981 Irish hunger strike.-Background and IRA activity:...
.
Other graves
A number of other graves are maintained by the National Graves Association,Belfast. These include the graves of Seán McCaugheySeán McCaughey
Seán McCaughey was an Irish Republican Army leader in the 1930s and 1940s, and hunger striker....
and Winifred Carney
Winifred Carney
Maria Winifred Carney, known as Winnie Carney, was a suffragist, trade unionist and Irish independence activist. Born in Bangor, County Down, her family moved to the Falls Road in Belfast when she was a child...
.