Singer More Power To Your Elbow. Chair of Clonmore GAA Author of “Blood upon the Rose” The Martin Hurson story”Heart of the Country”. director of Clonmore choir
How can you in loyalist culture ask me to respect your tradition when you take the flag of my county, the poster of my MLA , the flag of my religion, and a KAT message, put them on a bonfire lit with £1000s worth of gov sponsored pallets and tell me that I am the problem.
Michaela McAreavey(Harte) was a wonderful young lady cruelly murdered. I was lucky enough to call her and her family, my good friends. The video tonight showing people in an orange hall singing gleefully about her death is beyond sickening. I really really despair.
I said this last year and I’ll say it again
How can you in loyalist culture ask me to respect your tradition when you take the flag of my county, my religion,posters of my MLA and a KAT message,put them on a bonfire lit with funding from the gov and tell me that I am the problem
21st Feb 1988 Aidan McAnespie was shot dead on his way to play a game of Gaelic football. I was honoured to write the song “The Ballad of Aidan McAnespie” the words I wrote are as relevant today as then.
“Oh why did you do it, have you not the guts to say”
33 years ago at a checkpoint in Aughnacloy, Aidan McAnespie was shot dead by Crown forces on his way to play Gaelic football.I wrote a song for the family entitled “The shooting of Aidan McAnespie. To this day I ask the same question
“Oh why did you do it”
I think tonight of Sean Brown from Bellaghy, taken and shot dead as he closed the gates of his beloved club back in May1997. As a chairperson myself,I do the same many nights. Maybe those investigating the football on Sunday could give the family a wee call.They deserve answers.
Sad to note that on,one of the biggest weekends in Irish sport neither Nolan nor talkback make no mention the football final or camogie finals The fever in Tyrone and anticipation felt by all gaels re the game is a million miles away from these folk. We live in a different world.
Ok enough is enough, someone is up in court with the possession of Noah Donohoe’s laptop and his mother doesn’t even know about it. The silence from police media etc is deafening . For Gods sake has this poor woman not suffered enough. This cannot go on . Answers needed NOW.
Dear Kate,
My dad was hired at a hiring fair in Newtownhamilton. He worked every hour god sent to make sure we had what he hadn’t, an education.The fact I became a teacher was down my parents wish for us to be educated. I hope we did them proud. No silver spoons here Kate my dear
Tune in to episode 300 + of the the Bobby Storey funeral saga on The Nolan show starring Jim Alister, Ben Lowry with special guest Jamie Bryson . Meanwhile tune in to episode zero of the Noah Donohoe mystery. Come on BBC we deserve better. Help his mother find the truth.
Sean farmer was my cousin . I spoke to him as he left Croke Pk . 6hrs later he ,along with Colm McCartney was taken out of their car and shot dead by the Glennane gang . Some 45 years no one has ever been charged with their deaths . They rest in “Unquiet Graves”
On this day 30 years ago my friend and neighbour Thomas Molloy Tullyroan Co Armagh was shot dead in front of his wife and young family. An innocent Catholic. A sectarian crime whereby no one has ever been brought to justice .My prayers are with all the Molloy family today.
Today is the 10th anniversary of the murder of Michaela McAreavey(Harte). The Mauritian Gov despite pressure continue to hide their murderers. The Harte family and John McAreavey deserve justice. We pray for John and the Harte family. Ar dhéis de go raibh a h-anam
August 24 1975. Catholics, my cousin ,Sean Farmer and Colm McCartney are shot dead at a bogus checkpoint after returning from Croke park. It was Dublin v Derry .The killers included a serving RUC officer and a UDR member. Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a anam
Very disappointing and hurtful to the camogs of Armagh to be labelled sectarian after their great win on Sat. These girls are salt of the earth . A few may have sung an inappropriate lyric but listen to the video and u will clearly hear ooh ahh up Armagh . Take note
@BBCNewsNI
Watty Graham , a presbyterian church elder and United Irishman, fought and died with the men of ‘98. He was hung at the Cof I in Maghera 19 th June 1798 How befitting the men from Glen will grace Croke Pk in his and the Parish honour. Aodh mór Watty’s , do him and Ulster proud.
28 years ago today Thomas Molloy had put down his child when four LVF gunmen shot him dead through the window. No one has ever been arrested for this sectarian murder. An innocent catholic,Thomas was my neighbour, my friend and our club umpire. Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a anam
Someday, maybe just someday we as a nation will remember Aidan McAnespie Sean Farmer Colm McCartney , Sean Browne and many many more of our gaels who were murdered by the same forces on the same island. Well done Michael Foley an emotional and powerful tribute.
#B100dySunday
The McAnespie family presented me with this beautiful momento in appreciation of my penning of the song “ The Ballad of Aidan McAnespie”. It sits proudly in my living room. Tomorrow 21st February is Aidans 36th anniversary.
Ar dheis dé go raibh a-anam
Whether I agree with her politics or not,I wish Michelle O’Neil all the best today. She is a very pleasant,genuine and likeable person whose family I’ve known for years. She’ll be no push over. That’s the O’Rahilly in her😉😉
Yesterday 29 years ago Thomas Molloy was brutally murdered in a sectarian shooting at his home in Tullyroan Co Armagh. No one has ever been charged or arrested for the murder. Maybe the special branch might know something about it. 29 years is a long time to wait on answers
This day 20th Dec 1972 50 years ago 19 year old Alphonsus McGeown from Clonmore Co Armagh was shot and fatally wounded in a sectarian attack carried out by the UVF. He was on his way home from work with his friend Malachy Hamill who survived. We remember him tonight. RIP.
Five years ago on the 17th March , Connor Currie, Morgan Barnard and Lauren Bullock lost their lives at a disco in Cookstown. As we celebrate St Patrick’s day let’s keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers 🙏🙏.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.
Damian you created the dreams for others to follow. My thoughts and prayers are with the Casey family tonight. A true legend of the GAA . No words of mine will ever do you true justice.
Ar dhéis de go raibh a anam
Thoughts and prayers with the McAnespie family on this the 35th anniversary of their son and brother Aidan, shot and fatally wounded on his way to play a game of Gaelic football.
From day 1 Fiona Donohoe smelt a rat at the death of her son Noah.
Many of those in media and positions of power and influence ignored her.
Withholding the files using P11,the rats Fiona smelt are now being protected by the PSNI.
Fiona was right then and even more so now.
As a Gaa chairperson I share the sadness and anger of the Brown family. It’s a sad day for peace and justice here when those who we were told to trust were complicit in his murder and are untouchable. Thinking of you all today .
Rest in Peace
“The man who closed the gate”
Some in the PSNI,the army ,the state agencies ,the very people that we were asked to support, join and accept knew that on Monday 12th May 1997 an innocent Catholic/GAA man was about to be murdered . Why ? What threat was Sean Brown. If that’s the case we are all a threat then.
The alleged cost of Casement has given cover to sectarian bigots out there who don’t want a stadium.The same ones who built a motorway to nowhere (M1) no to the Maze put the uni in Coleraine ,hard Brexit.Not to build could be the final straw for many who want this place to work
This is what it means to many, many people who will be listening, watching or in the crowd at the game tomorrow. I visited my mother in law’s grave to place a small flag knowing that she will be cheering from the highest seat in the stand. Come on Bridie we can do it.
Today,after 9 years,I retired from doing a voluntary bus run in the mornings for Clintyclay PS It was a pleasure to take children of ethnic diversity,many here as refugees,to get educated in the heart of rural Armagh. Good bye Mahmoud,Hussam,Ngat Saule etc.May your god bless you
50 years ago I watched on our tv, the scenes unfolding in Derry. Unbelievable after 50 years, despite all the platitudes and apologies, not a member of that regiment has served a day in gaol nor have they even said sorry. “Justice for the victims of Bloody Sunday”
Very disappointing to see Armagh back a Cavan motion to move the game from Corrigan Pk. The safety statements on CP is passed for 3.5k.Taking it elsewhere won’t make the UC anymore money. £1m spent on improving the facilities for what? Common sense needed. Keep it at Corrigan
Disappointing from the Independent newspaper in relation to the all-Ireland club final debacle in referring to Glen Watty Grahams as an Northern Ireland team. The Gaa is a 32 county body. Watty Grahams (Presbyterian) spirit as a United Irishman seems lost here
Whose bright idea was it to open the pubs outdoor on a bank holiday weekend and then send in the council to place restrictions previously unheard making them either illegal or unviable. Preparations,hiring staff, stock, all in vain. Feel sorry for those trying to make a living
Today I stand and admire the resilience, reserve and dignity of the McAnespie family. No one wanted pounds of flesh,just the truth. As I said in the song “God will have his final say when your judgement day will come”,
and that day will surely come.
I was in Omagh today and as an Armagh man,congrats Doire ,slightly the better team. 5k there but no parade before the game no band etc . It felt more like a league game . Our young lads deserve better than this. They can handle the pressure . As I said bring it to Croke Pk.
So proud to have been awarded an Armagh GAA all star award as “Volunteer of the year”. I dedicate my trophy to the many many men and women out there who dedicate their lives as volunteers for the games that we all love . This is for all of you.
On the 17th March 2019. Connor Currie, Morgan Barnard and Lauren Bullock died in a horrific incident at a hotel in Cookstown.Connors parents Eamonn and Ciara asked me to put together some words in a song in his memory.I was proud and honoured to be asked.
Gutted to hear attacks on the GAA after the grt work many clubs did for ALL in this crisis. 1000s of clubs including my own adhered strictly to the rules, gave out food parcels tended to the needy .Yes a few were wrong but the vile abuse being handed out is unfair and uncalled
Strange that some mysterious minister comes up with a figure of 270m just before the announcement being made by Leo Varadkar. There are a number out there who don’t want Casement in any shape or form including a number in the media. Get it built.
Is football now living in the shadows of hurling
U20 F final -4k
U20 H Sold out 29k
Has football become boring ,predictable, or are we being unfair .do we need to change rules of football or the structures and if so what and how . Let’s debate honestly without rancour.
Sad at this desperate time that people think it worth their while to put a sign up like this only a 100 yd’s from a chapel. Signs like this cost Sean Farmer, Colm McCartney , Sean Brown and countless other good GAA men their lives. Take it down.
Sad to hear of the passing of John McAnespie.A great friend who fought to the bitter end to get justice for his murdered son Aidan.He now sits at the highest table with his good wife,Lizzie,daughter Eilish and son Aidan. My sympathy to the entire family circle. Rest in Peace John
Great win yesterday for Armagh. Hard luck Donegal. What an occasion in Clones spoiled only by the needless booing of the free kick taking and in particular Michael Murphy’s. Not part of our game. Please stop it. Respect must be given.
As Chair of Clonmore GFC Armagh,my prayers are for the Brown family and Bellaghy Wolfe Tones on this the 25th anniversary of the murder of their chairman Sean
“Please God you will find Justice though now it’s somewhat late why was Sean Brown murdered as he went to lock the gate?
28 years ago I was playing in the band in London when my wife Breda rang me to say this man had suddenly past away. It was a shock then and still miss him to this day. A great clubman, GAA man and former chairperson of the Clonmore Robert Emmets GFC . He was my father Phil .
Great to see at Armagh GAA convention tonight support the family of Sean Brown,Bellaghy murdered as he went to close the gate at his beloved GAA club. This family need a verdict before May 1st as the gov legacy bill will discontinue any further inquests. Answers now!!
My better half did the Dublin Marathon yesterday. So proud of her. Well done Dublin,super event and so well organised. Great for the family to be able to run the last mile with her. Memories are made of this.
@foodlover_debs
Debbie. I live close to the CAH and I am more than willing to go whenever to help. I have no medical skills but I would work at carrying clothes etc for patients to the ward etc and free up some staff. I have come through covid and want to help someway. I know it’s not much
Not everything the GAA do or say I agree with but I believe in good honest healthy debate and boy Jarlath Burns An Uachtarán Cumann Lúthcleas Gael did you nail it today on “talkback”.A huge comhghairdeas . You spoke for a lot of us.
We had a rump of loyalists, DUP and TUV who would have choked on their flutes had Casement held the Euros. We have a Gov in Westminster whose honesty would make a used car salesman look like mother Teresa. We had genuine people concerned to the cost. We had people of vision 1/2
After 30 years the music lives on. I might not get another thirty but who cares I have lived my dream . More Power To Your Elbow keeping my dream alive.
“Blood Upon The Rose” , the musical based on the love story between Grace Gifford and Joseph Plunkett set against the rising in Dublin 1916 takes place in the Waterfront Hall Belfast Nov 25th and Nov26th. I’d appreciate a retweet, Tickets now on sale
Is Ben Lowry a deputy editor/journalist or a spokesperson for the DUP or TUV. His rant on “the view” last night against SF was startling to say the least. Would Allison Morris ,Amanda Ferguson or any other journalist be so biased in their views in the media . I doubt it. Unreal.
As an Armagh fan gutted we were beat today in a fabulous game that shows all is not lost in Gaelic football. Tbh i was distraught but in the bigger picture my heart goes to Brendan Og Duffy and the Monaghan GAA fraternity. Great leaders,soldiers and captains are hard to replace
Been a difficult time for all but listening to Christy Moore at Barrowlands on TG4 has certainly lifted a bit of my depression.More Power to your Elbow were due at the Glenavon tonight miss it dearly but”Viva la Quinta Brigada”what a song. Rem Charlie Donnelly Dungannon/edendork
Just in from Newry Páirc Esler. Well done Glen.Huge crowd, almost 10k. Apart from not being able to see half the play, why did Croke park decide to send only 400 match programmes . Club football in Ulster is huge and Glen v all Ireland champs kilmacud was a big draw.Disappointing
Ten years ago today I lost my nephew Gary. A young lad with the world at his feet,got lost in the mire of drugs and substance abuse. To many other families suffering similar lose, my heart goes out to you. Defeat the enemy before it defeats you. God bless you Gary.
Hi Croke Pk if we do manage to win next week can you please play”Boys from the County Armagh”.After the semi final win you played “freed from desire”by Gala instead. I don’t mind it but I’m not sure what part of Armagh she is from 😉 oh I f***ing wondered where my flag went 😂😂
Whatever we think of Jamie Bryson, he has become the conduit between loyalist paramilitaries and unionism. It’s a very dangerous liaison as the DUP will soon find out. With the 7 tests they backed themselves into a corner of which there is no escape. The tail is wagging the dog.
Thanks to everyone who came to see our show “Blood Upon The Rose”in the Marketplace theatre Armagh. What a brilliant week we had. Next up Glasgow in August followed by Derry and Belfast. “The rising returns”
I put up a post about my good friends the McAnespie family and the memory of their son ,brother and uncle Aidan. I get this as a reply. What is it that makes someone so filled with hatred that they could actually sit down and type this. Then again they hide under a pseudonym.🤷♂️
Today is the third anniversary of that terrible tragedy at a hotel in Cookstown. My thoughts and prayers are with the Currie, Bullock and Barnard families on this the toughest of all losses, the loss of a child. God bless, thinking of you all
You would to take a long hard look at yourself Paul. No words of mine can ever express the sense of outrage at what you have just said in that tweet. I may not agree with her politics but that is sick beyond belief. At least you have got a proper tag “ madbastard”
Well done St Ciaran’s Ballygawley for the moving way you highlighted the tragic deaths on the A5 since 2007. I taught there for over 30 years and have attended many funerals of our pupils killed on this road.Alongside the two most recent my prayers are with them all this night.
Good luck to my oldest daughter Riona who is part of the Armagh team in the All-Ireland junior Camogie final against Cavan this weekend. Having won and lost finals she knows the pain and joy. Today is her 19th birthday. Good luck and happy birthday Riona ..Ard Mhacha abu
The 2022 tour of Blood Upon the Rose finished with three super shows at the Waterfront. My thanks to a wonderful cast,crew and also the venues for all the help and support. Thanks also to the many many thousands of you who came to see the show. Hopefully the rising will return.
Can I wish all those who follow me a very happy 2021. May your health be good your club prosper and thank god that I’ve come through a tough covid positive and look forward to a GAA that brought us great relief and help both physically and mentally. Thank you so much. God bless
Is “Blood upon the Rose”telling the story of the Easter Rising not eligible for funding or indeed “The Martin Hurson story”.Or do we have to sing God Save the Queen at the end to get it. Asking for a friend.
For many years my place of work took me on a dangerous road, the A4 to be exact.Before the motorway was extended from Dungannon to Ballygawley many lives were lost on the same stretch.Deaths have hugely reduced by the extension. An A5 upgrade to motorway is a must .
Palestine is a tragedy of endless suffering caused by a Zionist relentless pursuit of destruction of a the Palestinian people . Thank god for men like our own John Hurson from Dungannon who for years has stood literally side by side with our Palestinian friends. God bless them
📍ANNOUNCEMENT📍
🇵🇸”GIG FOR GAZA”🇵🇸
🎻 More Power To Your Elbow with The Whistlin' Donkeys and a host of fabulous artists will be staging a massive concert in Galbally Hall Sat 17th Feb in aid of M.A.P (Medical Aid for Palestine).🇵🇸 Details of tickets will be released shortly.
Best wishes to my good friend Micky Harte. As an Armagh man you broke my heart many times.From St Joe’s to St Ciarans we had the craic.Your faith and love of the game no doubt helped you through the darkest hours.Good luck Micky. You showed me what it is to have real passion.
My deepest sympathy to the family of Kate Moran who died tragically playing no doubt the game she loved.I have two daughters who play camogie and can’t even begin to comprehend the pain that the Moran family are strong we are all with you in this dark hour
If bombing hospitals, refugee camps, convoys of people fleeing for their lives are not considered genocidal and huge war crimes then we really are heading towards the end. Do we live in a world where we become immune to this murder? Starmer. Biden Sunak et al,how can you sleep?
This person decided to give the public outside Downing st the middle finger. Next day she was made minister of education. Andrea Jenkyns, this more than anything sums up your gov attitude to the people.The quicker you are outta there and we’re outta here the better
My thoughts with the family of John Pat Cunningham, a vulnerable individual who was shot dead by the British Army in 1974. The soldier accused of his murder,Dennis Hutchings had a memorial erected to him today in Palace barracks Hollywood. He didn’t die in battle. Why????
USA. A country that gave us supposedly freedom democracy and values has just lost me . How can any sane person not call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Palestinian people are being slaughtered and the hardest thing to take is we have to sit back and watch it. Ceasefire now.
Put up a green and yellow(club colours) flag on our fence to show support for my girls in the championship final. Stolen .My mother would say “they’ve little to be at”. Not to worry I’m sure it’ll appear next year along with other neighbours flags on the good old “boni”
SoS,CHH threat of court action to thwart any chance of the truth outing for the McKearney and Fox family is disturbing ,no matter your allegiances. Surely this is not right. The state were complicit in their murder and you can’t do anything about it. Try and we law you.
To come and tell the bars at the 11th hour they can’t open not viable to do so is an absolute disgrace.What are the real reasons? Why build us up after no New year no st pats day no Easter and then to tell us ur opening but not really.?Come on councillors etc. Give us the answers
On this day 1976 , Andrew Small, Joseph Kelly, James McCaughey and Patrick Barnard were killed in an explosion outside the Hillcrest Bar in Dungannon. The Glennane gang ,under the cover of the Mid-Ulster UVF planted the car bomb. Let’s us remember the victims in our prayers today
All week my mother- in- law was looking forward to it.”What’s time it on at. 3.45pm TG4 Bridie. Great”she said.I called up this evening. She ran out to the door and shouted “Up Armagh” She’s 94. Her wee smile of happiness in these dangerous times said it all. Small pleasures
Hard to take the loss yesterday but no matter well done Derry,no questions there. Losing on penalties is particularly sickening. That boy McCrum has a lot to answer for inventing it . I wonder where he was from. Oh no , he couldn’t be !!!!
Maybe I’m biased as an Armagh man but the ladies football was most entertaining (both teams). They throw caution to the wind and go for it. Well done girls and in particular our own club player Sarah Quigley. Now for the big one. 🙏🙏
The massacre in the Gaza city of Rafah is beyond words. I genuinely despair. Oct 7th was wrong but this is on a different planet.Kier Starmer, Joe Biden hang your heads in shame . CEASEFIRE NOW .My voice may carry little weight but together we must shout out. STOP THE SLAUGHTER
What sort of person or persons never mind those supposed to be in charge of law and order would takes photos of a deceased’s genitalia and write taig on it. I’ve heard some bad ones but this must rank up there among the worst. God help the poor family.