Wreath laying ceremony at monument, Meenaleck, Crolly in memory of Vol. Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh
16 March, 2008
Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh 1957 - 1988
Doire na Mainsear agus Béal Feirste
Cuimhneachán / Commemoration
Leagfar bláthfhleasc ag an Leacht / Wreath laying ceremony at monument
De Domhnaigh / Sunday 3.00 a chlog
Mín na Leice, Croithlí / Meenaleck Crolly
Documentary on Gibraltar 3 and the deaths at Milltown Cemetery will be shown in Tessie's immediately after ceremony. There will be a disco later on Sunday night in Paidí Óg's.
Leagfar bláthanna ag leacht chuimhneachán an Óglaigh Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh De Domhnaigh an 16ú Márta ar an 3.00 a chlog mar comoradh 20 bliain ar a bhás. Marbhadh Caoimhín i gcuideachta beirt naisiúnaithe eile i Reilig Bhaile an Mhuilinn i mBeal Feirste nuair a tháinig dílseoir isteach i measc lucht torraimh an Gibraltar 3 agus scaoil sé urchair gunna ar fud na reilige. Bhásaigh Caoimhín ag cosaint na ndaoine a bhí i láthair agus ba fhianaise an gníomh laochúil deireanach sin ar an cineál duine a bhí ann.
A wreath laying ceremony will take place at Meenaleck on Sunday at 3.00 o clock to mark the 20th Anniversary of Vol. Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh who was killed along with two other nationalists by a loyalist attacker at Milltown Cemetery on the 16th March 1988. This atrocious attack happened while family and mourners attended the funeral of the Gibaraltar 3 when a loyalist gunman shot indiscriminately into the crowd. Caoimhín lost his life while trying to prevent the attacker from injuring or killing people in the cemetery.
Caoimhín died trying to protect the mourners and that, his last selfless act, was indicative of the kind of person that he was. Caoimhín was the youngest of a family of seven. His mother was from Doire na Mainsear in the Donegal Gaeltacht and was known locally as Biddy Mhadgie Frainc, his father Liam was from Belfast and they brought their children up there. The Irish language was central to the family life, their mother made sure they were brought up with a good command and understanding of Gaeilge.
Caoimhín was well known locally in the Rosses and Gaoth Dobhair. The family would spend their summer holidays in Doire na Mainsear, as children they played with local children and later as adults they became part of the community. Caoimhín lived in Doire na Mainsear in the late 70's early 80's and at the time of the Hunger strikes he attended and helped organise many marches throughout the county. He had numerous friends with whom he socialised and worked, he attended a FAS course in Gaoth Dobhair and he would be in the usual night spots of Gaoth Dobhair and the Rosses. It was during this time that the local community really got to know the lovely nature of Caoimhín, he was a gentle, kind, considerate and caring person. He was always looking out for his friends ensuring that they had safe lifts and that no one was left behind. Both the old and the young in the local area took to Caoimhín's warm personality and good nature and it was a huge blow and a grievous loss to all when the news of his untimely death came. It was no surprise to anyone who knew Caoimhín that he died as he lived: - caring for other people. ENDS
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