Co Derry & Co Antrim Republican History

Enda O'Kane, Swatragh centre of back row

South Derry republicans picture in H Blocks, 1992. From top left clockwise: Peadar Lagan, Maghera Martin Molloy, Maghera Rory Craig, Bellaghy, Lawrence O'Neill, Bellaghy Harry McCann, Randalstown

@mlaverty2014 Indeed he was!

@DerryCounty Lawrence was a gentleman

Cage 23, Long Kesh internees ...1970s Back: L-R Micky O'Neill, Kilrea, Eugene McErlean, Ballymaguigan, Sean O'Neill, Kilrea, Front: Lawrence Mulholland, Bellaghy, Tommy Donaghy, Kilrea

@Irelandherown 👍👍

@DerryCounty From your description of his parents they appeared to be from Belfast, that's what put me in mind of Liam Mulholland. Thanks

@Irelandherown No. If it's the same Liam Mulholland, he was a Belfast man.

@DerryCounty Was he a son of Liam Mulholland?

Tommy Donaghy shot dead by UDA after his release from a subsequent term of imprisonment in the H Blocks.

@Sinabhfuil Sorry, I wouldn't know as much about Derry City. O'Doherty would be a fairly common name in those parts.

Tommy Donaghy, Kilrea assasinated August, 1991, by loyalists/Crown Forces. Interned, Long Kesh until 1975. Captured on active service, 1977, served 11 further years in H Blocks including Blanket protest. Released 1988. Shot dead at his workplace, Portna fishery, River Bann.

Francie Wilson, The Loup, the first South Derry blanket man to be released from the H Blocks of Long Kesh.

@DanielCollins85 Thanks, Daniel. Great story! I've saw this photo before. Are you related to a well-known political commentator? 🙂

@DerryCounty Some IRA volunteers and suspects from west Tyrone who ended up interned on HMS Argenta. My great-uncle Eddie Kelly (of Meenakeeran, Aghyaran) was Captain of Meenakeeran Company, 1st Northern Division, 4th Brigade (South Donegal), 1st Battalion (Castlederg).twitter.com/DanielCollins8…

Tom Larkin, Ballinderry, pictured Ballykinlar, 1921. Tom helped reorganise the IRB in S Derry prior to 1916. In C'island, 1916! Interned Argenta until 1924 enduring hunger strike. Brother Sean executed in Civil War. Health suffered from ordeals and died relatively young.

@DrNightdub Yes.

@DerryCounty Seán Larkin, as in Drumboe Martyrs?

@marty_galls We have enough border issues in this country without you starting another, Marty! 😉

@DerryCounty Bderry or bellagherty 😉

@Stephenmccrack4 @charles12577567 Limavady men notoriously hard to get money off! 😉😉

@charles12577567 @DerryCounty The evidence and sources simply say he was betrayed in Limavady town when he was looking money owed to him.

Watty Graham, United Irishman... assembled 5000 South Derry men in Maghera, 7th June, 1798 for the rising. After the rising failed, tried to make his way to the USA, spending his last night in Slaughtneil, in the McKenna home, Tirkane. Hanged & beheaded after capture.

@CarolineH123 It was in the grounds of the Rectory opposite the current St Lurach's church. It fell during a storm in the early decades of the last century.

@DerryCounty Where is this?

In the late 19th century an old women related to a local historian how, as a young child she saw the head of Watty Graham placed upon a spike in Maghera. She recalled his long blonde hair blowing in the wind.

The tree upon which Watty was hanged.