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OVER TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE MARCHED THROUGH THE GREATER CLONARD AREA IN BELFAST LAST SUNDAY WHEN THE MEMORIAL GARDEN IN BOMBAY
STREET WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED.
THE MARCH STOPPED AT THE HOME OF LOCAL REPUBICAN AND GAA STALWART DESI REYNOLDS,WHO DIED
LAST FRIDAY,AND A MINUTE'S SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.
WHEN THE PARADE REACHED BOMBAY STREET DOE WELCOME THEPRESENCE OF
JOE CAHILL,MADGE McCONVILLE,JOHN OLIVER AND GRETA NOLAN,WHO UNVEILED THE PLAQUES AT THE GARDEN,REMEMBERING THOSE FROM THE
AREA WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE CONFLICT.
THE MAIN SPEAKER WAS "AL" CHAIR OF THE GREATER CLONARD
EX/PRISONERS ASSOCATION.HE SAID THAT THE GARDEN WOULD BE A FITTING MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES OVER THE LONG YEARS
OF THE STRUGGLE AND A WAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO HONOUR THEIR LOVED ONES.
"AL"ALSO PRAISED THE PEOPLE
OF THE CLONARD AREA FOR THEIR DETERMINATION TO WITHSTAND THE BRITISH FROM THE 1920s TO THE PRESENT DAY.
THE DAY WAS
ONE OF SADNESS BUT ALSO OF PRIDE FOR WHAT HAD BEEN ACHIVED,MANY THANKS MUST GO TO THE COMMITTEE, THE MEMBERS THE SPONSERS
AND MOST OF ALL TO THE PEOPLE OF THE GREATER CLONARD AREA.
LOYALIST THUGS ATTACK THE OPENING OF THE MEMORIAL GARDEN
DURING THE EVENT,HOWEVER,THE CROWD WAS REMINED OF HOW FAR GENUINE PEACE IS FROM BEING A REALITY.
LOYALIST THUGS THREW
STONES,BRICKS,BOTTLES AND OTHER MISSILES OVER THE PEACELINE.THERE WERE SEVERAL INJURIES,INCLUDING TO A ONE-YEAR OLD CHILD,WHO
WAS SLEEPING IN HER PRAM WHEN SHE WAS HIT ON THE HEAD WITH A STONE.
"EVEN ON A DAY LIKE THIS WE ARE STILL BEING
ATTACKED BY LOYALIST THUGS"SAID AL"WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS AREA HAVE LIVED THROUGH
THE BURNING OF OUR HOMES IN 1969 AND RECENT ATTACKS,AND THEY WILL NEVER LIE DOWN".
AT THIS POINT IT MUST
BE SAID THE SPEAKERS THE CROWD AND MOST OF ALL THE COLOUR PARTY STOOD FRIM AND KEPT THE PROCEDINGS GOING AND MADE IT A MEMORABLE
DAY.
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