Volunteers Colman Rowntree and Martin McAlinden (The Men From the County Down)

Official IRA Volunteers Colman Rowntree and Martin McAlinden of Newry, County Down, were killed by soldiers of the Brtish Paratroop Regiment on 15 May 1974 near Ballyholland, Co. Down. The longtime Volunteers had been captured by an undercover patrol of Paras at at arms dump in the countryside. Following thier capture they were shot dead while standing to attention. A local farmer who witnessed the event testified to this, and to the fact that he, also, had been fired on by the Paratroops narrowly escaping death.. His testimony was disregarded and no charges were ever filed against the Paratroops. Rowntree and McAlinden were veteran Republican Socialists who had been active in the Newry disturbances in 1969 which were mounted in an attempt to take pressure off of the beleagured people in Derry and Belfast. Rowntree was seriously wounded at this time, nearly dying. Both men had to go "on the run" following the introduction of Internment. Thier actions, both military and political, were a thorn in the side of the local British Occupation Forces, and it is believed that they were specifically marked out for death.
Ten minutes following their funerals the Official IRA attacked a British Army patrol in Newry killing two soliders.
This song, to the tune of the well known "Star of the County Down" was written by Seoirse MacDomhnaill.
It is performed here by Kevin Donleavy on vocals and Rich Lange on guitar and chorus vocals. The sound engineer was Bill Tetzeli.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Irish
• Rebel
• songs
• Official
• IRA
• Colman
• Rowntree
• Martin
• McAlinden
• Newry
• County
• Down

[eyeries1]

xxshughes- I remember well when Oliver Rowntree was killed. All brave soldiers of Ireland.  May they rest in peace.

[eyeries1]

Brave men, Miceal, committed to all aspects of the People's struggle. Thats why the Brits shot them down in cold blood after they were captured. Happened to many another, Stick, Provo and INLA. The Brits, especially the bloody Paras, hated and feared the true Revolutionary. As in the case of Che Guevarra, they were considered too dangerous to be left alive.

[eyeries1]

Well, RoyalArch, I am in the same boat as you lads. Though a "Stick" for many years, and I lived through the bad old days of the feuds (see my note below), I have the utmost respect for the courage and sacrifice of the Provo Volunteers. I think we can agree to disagree on many points, but never the courage and committment of those who gave their lives or their freedom, whether we may agree or not with the particular political orientation of the group to which they belonged.

[yingyangsang1]

RIP, brave men. Comeing from a 100% Provo supporter, but these men gave the ultimate sacrifice. Not matter what your republican support, Tiocfaidh ar la

[eyeries1]

@yingyangsang1 The bad old days are long behind us when we played the fools and did England's dirty work for her. Those of us who are left still who are striving for the Republic need to come together now in these challenging times. New strategies and new alliances need to be forged. With the return of Thatcherism now is the time.

[1969203]

i was a provo supporter and a member of sinn fein years ago but i would have been a very left sinn feiner i first supported the officals because they were radical but when they went on ceasefire i went over to the provos i think the greatest tragedy of republicanism is the various splits it is time to join together and unite against the bankers and right wing parties

[XxshughesxX]

My 2nd cousin was colman his brother ciaran had a heart attack last year - My da's cousins... Anyway i live behind the field where they were excuted by the brits in 1974 his brother was a provo and was also killed at the customs checkpoint in a bomb he never planted the bomb the alarm went off and he just threw it and it exploded his brother died in 1972... 

[micealX]

I never heard of these volunteers before, GRMA for posting this!

[humanity1798]

The unity of the workers continues, despite the segregationists!!

No burdens can bow us down on ward to Victory....

[RoyalArch1798]

I am in the same boat as YINGYANGSANG1 I am a member of Sinn Fein and I am a supporter of the party and of the Provisional Movement, bust the sacrifice that these men gave is the ultimate one and should be respected by everyone regardless of Republican connections or support, well done comrades much appreciated.

[kdogg342]

R.I.P

[1916Republic]

@eyeries1

+1 eyeries