Honouring Máire Drumm | The Story of Kevin Barry Memorial Hall | Reclaim Moore Street – Buy the Terrace! | Dónal Lunny

**Honouring Máire Drumm** Last Sunday a series of events took place in South Armagh and in Belfast to remember Leas Uachtarán Shinn Fein Máire Drumm. Máire was shot to death by unionist gunmen in the Mater Hospital in Belfast fifty years ago. One of the Belfast events last weekend was at her grave in Milltown Cemetery. The other was in the grounds of the Roddy McCorley Heritage Centre. Órlaithí Flynn MLA chaired the ceremony and Carál Ní Chuilín MLA gave the main address. Seamus Drumm, Máire’s son, and I planted a tree in her memory. We were joined by George Stagg, brother of Frank Stagg who died on hunger strike in 1976. George was in Belfast for the play about his brother that was performed at the weekend in Ionad Eileen Howell/St. Comgalls. Máire was born Máire McAteer on Kelly’s Road, Killean, on 22 October 1919. It was the year before the British Government of Ireland Act partitioned Ireland.  **The Story of Kevin Barry Memorial Hall** I have been in and out of 44 Parnell Square, (Kevin Barry Memorial Hall) in Dublin for more years than I care to remember. It is Sinn Féin’s Head Office and for a time it was where the An Phoblacht and then An Phoblacht/Republican News was produced. It started life around 1760 as a residence but the house has had a long association with Republican activism and been witness to significant political developments in the struggle for Irish freedom. Micheál MacDonncha, Sinn Féin Dublin Councillor, former editor of An Phoblacht/Republican News, and an insightful writer and historian, will be publishing a book telling the story of 44 Parnell Square on 1 November https://sinnfeinbookshop.com/products/kevin-barry-memorial-hall-the-story-of-44-parnell-square  **Save Moore Street – Buy the Terrace!** On 7 November at 1pm The Moore St. Preservation Trust will be holding a rally in Moore St. in support the Campaign to save and protect one of the most important historic sites in Ireland’s long struggle for freedom. 16 Moore Street was the last meeting place of five of the seven signatories of the Proclamation - the leaders who planned and led the 1916 Easter Rising. 14-17 Moore St. were bought by the government 19 years ago for a national monument. The rest of the 1916 Battlefield site is in the hands of a London based developer – Hammerson - that plans to knock it down. In the two decades since, 14-17 remain derelict. No work has commenced on building the national monument and interpretative centre that was promised. The rally on 7 November is part of a long running campaign to Save Moore St. and is demanding that the Irish Government take Moore Street and its laneways into public ownership to secure and protect them. There will be music and song by Frances Black and Evelyn Campbell, street theatre and much more as we stand together for Moore Street. So come along and join us – join the campaign to protect our history and secure Moore Street’s future. **Save the Date: 7 November Moore St.**    **Dónal Lunny** Dónal Lunny’s death has robbed us all of one of the great innovators of Irish music. Dónal was one of the giants of Ireland’s traditional music and a central figure in the revival and expansion of Irish music for over sixty plus years. From Emmet Spiceland to Planxty, The Bothy Band to Moving Hearts and many celebrated musical collaborations. Dónal brought his unique talents to numerous film scores and music documentaries. He fused ancient Irish traditional airs and tunes with modern influences and non-traditional instruments. He played with the greats of Irish ceol most famously with Christy Moore, his friend of over sixty years. Together they and others supported the women prisoners in Armagh and the Blanket Men in the H Blocks.