Latest news with #WolfeTones
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dublin great Brian Fenton set to make gaelic football return in America
Dublin great Brian Fenton is set to play his summer football in Chicago. The seven-time All-Ireland winner has signed for John McBride's GAA Club in The Windy City, according to Mayo News. And the 32-year-old is expected to line out this weekend in a clash with the Wolfe Tones in the Chicago GAA Championship at Gaelic Park. Fenton retired from inter-county football last year after a trophy-laden career with the Dubs. Widely recognised as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he was an integral part of a Dublin team that won a historic six All-Irelands in succession between 2015 and 2020. The Raheny man won six All-Star awards and was named Footballer of the Year on two occasions, in 2018 and 2020. There will be many Dublin fans hoping that a summer in Chicago may reignite Fenton's appetite for another stint in blue.
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Louth village plunged into sadness following death of 28-year-old electrician
Hundreds turned out in bright colours for his funeral last Saturday at the request of his heartbroken family The young electrician took ill earlier in the week and was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where he passed away despite numerous attempts to save him. It is the second sudden death of a young person from the county within weeks after Marie Claire Rogers, 23, from nearby Togher took ill and died while on holiday in Australia. Philip, who grew up in the middle of the village, was a former pupil of St Joseph's CBS and a keen golfer. He was also a popular member of St Fechins GAA club to which his family has lifelong connection and who he played for in his childhood and teenage years. Philip is a son of Raymond and Ann Devlin and is also survived by his partner Georgia, and siblings Olivia, Jamie, Ben and Rachel. Numerous tributes were paid to Philip on the RIP website who was described as "a polite young man " and "a total gentleman". One of his former teachers Ann Marie Ford wrote: "Philip was a lovely boy, very sweet and very quiet with a lovely smile. I was his teacher when he made his First Communion and that is how I remember him. Heartbroken with the news of his untimely passing. "I am sure he is with his Grandad Joe now in heaven." Richie and Carrie McDonnell said|: "Our deepest sympathy to Georgina and all the Devlin family on the sad and untimely loss of Philip, may his kind and gentle soul rest in peace." The St Fechins GAA club extended its heartfelt sympathy to the Devlin family on Philip's death. It said: "Philip and all his family have been involved as players with the club and Raymond gave of his time generously as a coach. We pledge the support of all the club at this hugely sad time." The Wolfe Tones club in a message of condolence said: "Please accept our deepest sympathy on the sad passing of your lovely son Philip. To Georgia, Raymond, Ann, and all Philip's family and friends, you are in our thoughts and prayers." The Newtown Blues wrote: "Our sincere condolences to the Devlin family on the sudden death of Philip. In his short life he made many friends. May the eternal Lord give him eternal peace." Lester Winters and the greenkeeping team at Seapoint Golf Club said: "Our heartfelt condolences to Ann, Raymond, and the extended family as well as Georgina and her family on the very sad passing of Philip. "He was a true gentleman and we are thinking of you all during this difficult time." Another message said: 'May you find comfort in knowing how much Philip was loved and respected by all who knew him." Requiem mass was held in Termonfeckin Church and Philip was buried afterwards in the old cemetery just across the road from his family home in the village. A special Go Fund Me page was set up by Philip's best friend John Stephenson to help the family with funeral costs and has so far raised over €11,000.
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘A total gentleman' – Louth village plunged into sadness following death of 28-year-old electrician
Hundreds turned out in bright colours for his funeral last Saturday at the request of his heartbroken family The young electrician took ill earlier in the week and was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where he passed away despite numerous attempts to save him. It is the second sudden death of a young person from the county within weeks after Marie Claire Rogers, 23, from nearby Togher took ill and died while on holiday in Australia. Philip, who grew up in the middle of the village, was a former pupil of St Joseph's CBS and a keen golfer. He was also a popular member of St Fechins GAA club to which his family has lifelong connection and who he played for in his childhood and teenage years. Philip is a son of Raymond and Ann Devlin and is also survived by his partner Georgia, and siblings Olivia, Jamie, Ben and Rachel. Numerous tributes were paid to Philip on the RIP website who was described as "a polite young man " and "a total gentleman". One of his former teachers Ann Marie Ford wrote: "Philip was a lovely boy, very sweet and very quiet with a lovely smile. I was his teacher when he made his First Communion and that is how I remember him. Heartbroken with the news of his untimely passing. "I am sure he is with his Grandad Joe now in heaven." Richie and Carrie McDonnell said|: "Our deepest sympathy to Georgina and all the Devlin family on the sad and untimely loss of Philip, may his kind and gentle soul rest in peace." ADVERTISEMENT The St Fechins GAA club extended its heartfelt sympathy to the Devlin family on Philip's death. It said: "Philip and all his family have been involved as players with the club and Raymond gave of his time generously as a coach. We pledge the support of all the club at this hugely sad time." The Wolfe Tones club in a message of condolence said: "Please accept our deepest sympathy on the sad passing of your lovely son Philip. To Georgia, Raymond, Ann, and all Philip's family and friends, you are in our thoughts and prayers." The Newtown Blues wrote: "Our sincere condolences to the Devlin family on the sudden death of Philip. In his short life he made many friends. May the eternal Lord give him eternal peace." Lester Winters and the greenkeeping team at Seapoint Golf Club said: "Our heartfelt condolences to Ann, Raymond, and the extended family as well as Georgina and her family on the very sad passing of Philip. "He was a true gentleman and we are thinking of you all during this difficult time." Another message said: 'May you find comfort in knowing how much Philip was loved and respected by all who knew him." Requiem mass was held in Termonfeckin Church and Philip was buried afterwards in the old cemetery just across the road from his family home in the village. A special Go Fund Me page was set up by Philip's best friend John Stephenson to help the family with funeral costs and has so far raised over €11,000.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Legacy body ‘lacks powers of a public inquiry to examine Sean Brown murder'
The head of a legacy body has conceded it does not have the same array of powers that a public inquiry would to examine the murder of GAA official Sean Brown. The Irish Government is among those who have backed Mr Brown's family's long campaign for a public inquiry. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal in Belfast affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his killing. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has applied for a Supreme Court appeal on the judicial rulings. Mr Brown, 61, the then chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. It was also alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning. In an interview earlier, Mr Brown's elderly widow Bridie, 87, said she does not know why her husband was killed, and reiterated her call for a public inquiry into his death to answer the questions her family has. 'I don't know why they chose Sean, I just do not know because he was the same with everybody,' she said during an interview on BBC's The GAA Social podcast. 'He treated everybody alike, he walked with both sides of the community.' She also paid tribute to the turnout of thousands in Bellaghy last Friday evening to support her family's campaign for a public inquiry. 'It was emotional,' she said. 'Never in my wildest dreams had I thought about so big a turnout.' Last month, Mr Benn said he is taking steps to ensure that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is capable of carrying out an independent and rigorous investigation into Mr Brown's murder. During an appearance at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, ICRIR chief commissioner Sir Declan Morgan was pressed by SDLP leader Claire Hanna on the Brown case. Sir Declan said if the case came to the ICRIR, his investigators would carry out a cold case review, a scoping exercise and would treat the case as a criminal investigation and gather all the evidence. 'But I agree that we could not do the next step which is subsequent to that, once the terms of reference have been set, and up to that point, we're definitely Article 2 compliant,' he told MPs at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. 'But the next bit is having identified what the issues are to then organise a hearing with proper representation by lawyers in relation to that, and also understanding that the sensitive information arrangements, in my view, need to be reviewed and the commission needs to be able to exercise proper challenge in relation to those.' Speaking outside the meeting, Ms Hanna said the ICRIR in its current form 'cannot fully meet the needs of the family of Sean Brown'. 'Today's comments from Sir Declan Morgan are welcome and shine a light on where the ICRIR falls short,' she said. 'Any further delay to the resuming and restarting of inquests alongside the continued denial of a public inquiry to the Brown family is the British Government delaying truth and justice. 'The SDLP is committed to the delivery of legacy structures that families can buy into. Sir Declan's comments underline our key concerns about deficiencies relating to participation by families in proceedings and the continued existence of a veto on information by the Secretary of State.'
BreakingNews.ie
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Public inquiry only current way to deliver truth to Sean Brown's family
A public inquiry is currently the only way to deliver a human rights-compliant investigation into the murder of GAA official Sean Brown, the Tánaiste has insisted. Simon Harris reiterated his support for the Brown family on a visit to Belfast on Monday. Advertisement Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has applied for a Supreme Court appeal on judicial rulings in Belfast that compel him to establish a public inquiry into the 1997 murder by loyalist paramilitaries. People in the town of Bellaghy, Co Derry, which came to a standstill on Friday night as they took part in a march in support of the family of Sean Brown (Rebecca Black/PA) Mr Brown, 61, the then chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Derry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. Advertisement It had also been alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning. This year Appeal Court judges in Belfast affirmed an earlier NI High Court ruling compelling the Government to hold a public inquiry. However, Mr Benn is attempting to take the case onward for further appeal at the Supreme Court, insisting the case involves a key constitutional principle of who should order public inquiries, the Government or the judiciary. Mr Harris met with members of the Brown family, including Mr Brown's 87-year-old widow Bridie, in Dublin last week. Advertisement After meeting with political leaders at Stormont to discuss legacy issues, the Tánaiste made clear he supported the family's call for a public inquiry. 'That's been the long-established position of the Irish government, and it remains the position of the Irish government,' he said. 'I want the Brown family to have a mechanism that has never been provided to them, which has to be Article Two (of the European Convention on Human Rights) compliant in terms of human rights and international law. 'I met the Brown family last week, and I was really, really taken by the huge level of pain and suffering, and the lack of answers that they are going on, that is continuing to this very day. Advertisement 'A public inquiry is currently the only mechanism for it that is Article Two compliant.' Asked about the potential Supreme Court appeal, Mr Harris added: 'My view in relation to the killing of Sean Brown is very clear. People in the town of Bellaghy, Co Derry, during a march in support of the family of Sean Brown (Rebecca Black/PA) 'I want the family to have truth and justice that has been denied to them to date, and I want them to have it in a way that is Article Two compliant. 'I supported their calls for an inquiry. Advertisement 'I don't want to comment on any ongoing legal processes out of respect to the different roles that I and the British Government have, but I very much support the Brown family.' Bellaghy came to a standstill on Friday evening as thousands of people showed their support for the Brown family's call for a public inquiry. People travelled from across the island of Ireland, including as far away as Co Kerry, to take part in a Walk For Truth event from St Mary's Church through the town to the home of Bellaghy Wolfe Tones club. Those in attendance included First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, SDLP MLAs Patsy McGlone and Justin McNulty and GAA president Jarlath Burns. Many wore GAA shirts from their home clubs or counties as they showed solidarity with the Brown family. There was a spontaneous round of applause for Mr Brown's family who led the procession as it reached the town centre.
