July 2022 A Month of Commemorations Usually, we would gather on the first Sunday in July to honour our namesake, Comdt. Michael James Marren. This July has been slightly different with two centennial commemorations taking place in Sligo at the beginning of the month. On Sunday, 3 July, we met in Easkey to commemorate the Centenary of Vol. Martin Flannelly, who was killed in action against Free State troops in Gurteen on 4 July 1922. Chris MacManus gave the main oration. He called the Free State executions of Republicans a betrayal of the Proclamation and of our national goals for sovereignty, social equality and economic justice in a 32-county socialist republic. He said that our generation must rectify that betrayal. The following Sunday, 10 July, we joined our comrades in the neighbouring Kevin Coen Cumann to honour Capt. Thomas Sheerin, who died on 11 July 1922 after being wounded in a Free State ambush at Taylor’s Cross, Sooey, Co Sligo. This commemoration also gave us the first chance to see the new commemorative markers that were commissioned by the Sligo Sinn Féin Commemorations Committee to mark the many centenaries between 2020 and 2023. The stone features the words “I Measc Laochra na nGael”, which acknowledges the place of these fallen patriots amongst the heroes of the Gaels. Commemorating Comdt. Michael J. Marren at last Comdt. Michael J. Marren was not killed in action. In spite of having been wounded twice, he lived through the War of Independence. On the day after the ceasefire, 12 July 1921, Michael Marren went swimming with friends at Strandhill where he was caught in a rip and drowned. In the two days between his body being returned from the sea and coming to its final resting place in Mount Irwin Cemetery, on 26 July 1921, there was an outpouring of grief and respect for the man that he was. A lorry of British troops were ordered to disembark and stand to attention with arms reversed as his remains passed by and, after his funeral, some 2,000 IRA volunteers accompanied his coffin to Mount Irwin Cemetery. Please join is at noon on Sunday 24 July, in Mount Irwin Cemetery, where we will gather to pay our respects. The monthly bulletin of the Bohan-Marren Cumann, Sinn Féin Memorial to Vol. Martin Flannelly, Roslea Cemetery, Easkey. Seán MacManus giving the main oration at the commemoration for Thomas Sheerin.