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A record of over 2,000 people attend John Joe McGirl parade in Ballinamore

Aug 19, 2024 16:59 By Eoghan Murphy
A record of over 2,000 people attend John Joe McGirl parade in Ballinamore
The event was held in Ballinamore on Saturday night
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The Aughnasheelin native was a councillor, TD and vice-president of Sinn Fein, as well as chief of staff of the IRA in 1958.

A record of over 2,000 people attended the controversial parade in commemoration of legendary Leitrim republican John Joe McGirl in Ballinamore.

The Aughnasheelin native was a councillor, TD and vice-president of Sinn Fein, as well as chief of staff of the IRA in 1958.

The parade is normally attended by a only couple of hundred people, but the crowd was much bigger on Saturday evening.

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Local Sinn Fein councillor Brendan Barry was pleased with the turnout.

There was controversy leading up to this year's event.

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Family members of Private Patrick Kelly, who was killed during the Don Tidey kidnapping, objected to the walk.

Kelly and Garda Gary Sheehan were killed during the rescue mission of the supermarket executive near Ballinamore in 1983.

It's alleged McGirl was involved with the Provisional IRA, who carried out the kidnapping.

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Councillor Barry says the controversy added to the attendance this year.

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