Seamus Donnelly pt2 - Loughgall 20th Anniversary

Óglach Seamus Donnelly Age 19

11th January 1968 -- 8th May 1987

Seamus Donnelly was 19 when he was killed at Loughgall. The forth eldest of eight children, he had joined the I.R.A. at 16. Growing up in Aughnaskea, Galbally, he loved and lived life as any teenager. Galbally is a tight knit community and the Donnellys a close knit loving family. Family, community and country were devastated by the deaths at Loughgall and the loss of Seamus.

As was customary in rural areas, where one went all went. At the weekends when Declan Arthurs' car couldn't hold any more, a convoy would head for Cookstown, Omagh or Monaghan for the night out. This was as a result of the great comradeship, but it also serves as a good security precaution. In the February before he died, the U.D.R. stopped Seamus at a checkpoint. They put a gun to his head and pulled the hammer back, Seamus remained totally calm. He had no fear of them. Only for a witness Seamus might never have left Killnaslieve that night. His only fear was for the safety of his family. In Gough Barracks the R.U.C. showed him a detailed map of the family home and indicated his bed. Typically Seamus was more concerned for his younger brother, with whom he shared the room than for himself.

Volunteer Seamus Donnelly died at Loughgall on the 8th of May 1987 in an ambush by British undercover forces. With him, seven comrades from the East Tyrone Brigade, four were from the Galbally area. They are all greatly missed.

Seamus was a caring and thoughtful son, and a loving brother, who it was good to be around. He tried to make a better life for his family. At the graveside of Seamus and his comrade Declan Arthurs, who were buried together in St. John's Galbally, Martin McGuinness spoke,

"Those young men who were there, with guns in their hands had every right and justification to be there. They were there for us. And those people who laid in wait, the people who murdered them, they are the terrorists."

Biographical notes courtesy "Tírghrá - Ireland's Patriot Dead -- I nDíl Chuimhne"©2002


Seamus Donnelly pt1 - Loughgall 20th Anniversary
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=KMIbxle2HKY

Seamus Donnelly pt3 - Loughgall 20th Anniversary
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h1c23RNyo

Seamus Donnelly pt4 - Loughgall 20th Anniversary
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=7C-rg4l17wg

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• IRA
• East
• Tyrone
• Monaghan
• Brigade
• Loughgall
• Martyrs
• jim
• lynagh
• kelly
• donnelly
• arthurs
• gormley
• mckearney
• o'callaghan

[coalislandtom08]

god bless, may your death not be in vain

[ledman1969]

God bless you Seamus, the whole Donnelly family remembers you.

[comfy1000]

God bless you seamus.....never forgotten.....

[Apaganplace]

never forgotten ......belfast

[cullybog87]

may the whores of the empire lay awake in their bed and sweet as they count out their sins in their head, especially Maggie T.

[rebeltimes]

RIP brave soldier.

[bgraybhoy]

god bless you vol seamus donnelly rip