MORT POUR LA PATRIE

Glóire
daoibhse a laochra umhla cróga
a d’fhulaing le fonn
ar mhéad bhur ngrá fial
ar
Saoirse na hÉireann

“We must take no steps backward, our steps must be onward, for if we don’t, the martyrs that died for you, for this country, will haunt us for eternity.”
Máire Drumm

'SÉ MO BHÁRÚIL

Crossmaglen, centre of the resistance during the hardest time of the Wars, still wears its colours with pride. Under dark Northern skies that constantly threatened rain, I stopped to take a look at one of the most feared places that the British Army had to deal with in its long War of Suppression.

I walked the grey streets on a day the rest of the world was directing its thoughts to the slaughter of the Somme. I couldn’t help thinking that in this place, Crossmaglen, is to be found the Gordian Knot, that when unraveled will reveal something deeper about ourselves and the sacrifices that have been made for peace in Europe.