Allen, Larkin and O'Brien Remembered
Mass is now been celebrated each year in the chapel at St Joseph's Cemetery, Moston to remember the Manchester Martyrs. William Allen, Michael Larkin and Michael O'Brien were hanged on Saturday 23rd November 1867 at Salford Jail.
This is a most welcome revival of a Manchester Irish tradition.The hanging of the Manchester Martyrs was not something that happpened and faded from memory. On the contrary, a generation after the hangings the Manchester Martyrs Memorial Committee was given permission to raise a monument to the three at St Joseph's Cemetery. Each year a commemoration was held on the Sunday closest to November 23rd.
The tradition was that at 10.00am a parade would leave Bexley Square in Salford - the site of the New Bailey prison where they were hanged.It proceeded to St Patrick's Church in Livesey Street, where an anniversary Mass would be celebrated at 11.30am.
Afterwards the parade, led by an Irish pipe band and the standard of the Republic, would make its way to the cemetery where the standard would be dipped at the Martyrs monument, the Last Post sounded and the Rosary recited in Irish.
Down the years, that commemoration was a most dignified and fitting event in the calendar of the Manchester Irish. Many still remember the great occasion in 1949, when Eamon de Valera, then in opposition, attended the commemoration. He also addressed a special rally that evening in the King's Hall, Belle Vue.
Below a ballad has been posted in support of a new campaign to bring the remains of the Manchester Martyrs back to Ireland. For more information go to the National Graves Association at http://www.nga.ie/manchester_martyrs1.htm
This is a most welcome revival of a Manchester Irish tradition.The hanging of the Manchester Martyrs was not something that happpened and faded from memory. On the contrary, a generation after the hangings the Manchester Martyrs Memorial Committee was given permission to raise a monument to the three at St Joseph's Cemetery. Each year a commemoration was held on the Sunday closest to November 23rd.
The tradition was that at 10.00am a parade would leave Bexley Square in Salford - the site of the New Bailey prison where they were hanged.It proceeded to St Patrick's Church in Livesey Street, where an anniversary Mass would be celebrated at 11.30am.
Afterwards the parade, led by an Irish pipe band and the standard of the Republic, would make its way to the cemetery where the standard would be dipped at the Martyrs monument, the Last Post sounded and the Rosary recited in Irish.
Down the years, that commemoration was a most dignified and fitting event in the calendar of the Manchester Irish. Many still remember the great occasion in 1949, when Eamon de Valera, then in opposition, attended the commemoration. He also addressed a special rally that evening in the King's Hall, Belle Vue.
Below a ballad has been posted in support of a new campaign to bring the remains of the Manchester Martyrs back to Ireland. For more information go to the National Graves Association at http://www.nga.ie/manchester_martyrs1.htm
