Monument left astray
Urgent restoration rejected
by Ciarán Barnes
06/07/2006
A damaged memorial to three republicans executed in England 150 years ago is to be repaired by concerned residents after the local council refused to fund the restoration.
The monument to the Manchester Martyrs in Mount St Lawrence cemetery, Limerick, was attacked by vandals last month.
Despite numerous appeals Limerick city council has refused to pay for the repairs, despite having a committee dedicated to the preservation of national monuments.
This has forced the Limerick Republican Graves Association to step in and ask its members to pay for the restoration out of their own pockets.
The group’s treasurer, Sean O’Neill, described the situation as a “national scandal”.
“Limerick Republican Graves feel that this preservation work should be carried out by the council as the men honoured by the memorial also gave their lives in the cause of Irish national self-determination,” said Mr O’Neill.
“We are hoping that the work will be completed in time for the annual commemoration at the end of November.
“We are now appealing to the nationally and republican-minded people of Limerick to assist in the restoration work and contribute towards the cost of the work.”
A spokesperson for Limerick city council yesterday said that it was not aware of any damage to the monument or any appeals to the council for the memorial to be restored.
The Manchester Martyrs – William O’Mera Allen, Michael Larking and William Goold (who was also known as O’Brien), were publicly hanged in the northern English city in 1867.
They were sentenced to death after attempting to rescue Fenian leaders Colonel Thomas J Kelly and Captain Timothy Deasy.
Two other men arrested with the martyrs, Thomas Maguire and Edward Stone, managed to escape the noose despite also being sentenced to death.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands