The 100th anniversary of the execution of the four Republican soldiers at Drumboe Woods in Stranorlar will be marked on March 14th next.
Charlie Daly aged 26 from Firies, Kerry, Daniel Enright aged 23, from Listowel, Kerry, Timothy O Sullivan aged 23, from Listowel Kerry, Sean Larkin aged 26 from Magherafelt, South Derry.
To commemorate the execution of the Drumboe men, there will be a number of events taking place next year. It is also intended to hold a cultural event in west Donegal to remember where the men were arrested in Dunlewey.
There will also be a commemorative badge issued early in the New Year. The Drumboe committee will also be publishing a pictorial history of the Drumboe Commemorations from 1924 to 2022.
The Easter Sunday commemoration will be a bigger event this year, according to organisers.
A Dinner Dance has also been organised to be held in Jacksons Hotel on the 28th of April 2023.
On the weekend before the anniversary on Saturday 11th March 2023, The Drumboe 100th Anniversary Group plan to hold a Spring School in Ballybofey to remember and commemorate those four men and the Civil War, entitled; The Woods of Drumboe, The Past, the Present, and What is to Come.
The theme will be based on the Legacy of the Drumboe Martyrs and the civil war that followed and 100 years on what effect it had on Ireland, culturally, politically, and societal. The spring school will also discuss the consequences and possibilities of that turbulent time in Ireland of today. Noted academics and historians will be in attendance on the day with Dr Breándan Mac Suibhne from University College Galway outlining the story of the Drumboe Martyrs, the keynote speaker will be Professor Brendan O’ Leary from the University of Pennsylvania, who has just published the book Making Sense of A United Ireland.
The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, has also been invited to officially open the Spring School, as have Kerry County Council and Mid Ulster County Council Cathaoirleach’s representing the two municipal districts that the four young men were from.
Other events will also be organised to commemorate the 100th Anniversary and further information will follow to detail this in 2023. The people of Donegal have never forgotten the sacrifice that was made by these young men, if any member of the public has memorabilia that would be of interested to the committee please get in touch with the chairperson over the coming period, enclosed contact details.
