National Graves Association, Belfast facts for kids
The National Graves Association, Belfast (also known as Cumann Uaigheann na Laocradh Gaedheal, Béal Feirste in Irish) is a special group in Belfast. It is a private organisation that looks after and maintains the graves of some Irish republican volunteers. These volunteers are buried in cemeteries around Belfast. This group is different from the National Graves Association located in Dublin.
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Caring for History: What They Do
The first group of the National Graves Association in Belfast started in the mid-1930s. Sometimes, because people were held in prison, the Belfast group became inactive for a while.
The main goals of the National Graves Association, Belfast, are:
- To fix and keep in good condition the graves of all those who died for Irish freedom.
- To make a list of these graves.
- To help people respect those who died for their country.
Since it began, the association has looked after the graves of republicans buried in Belfast. They have put up new monuments, fixed old ones, and made sure graves are marked and cared for. They also successfully worked to have the remains of Tom Williams reburied in a new place.
In recent years, the committee has overseen the complete rebuilding of a special area called the New Republican Plot. This plot holds the remains of 77 republicans who died while serving or during imprisonment. The association also takes care of the County Antrim Plot, which has the remains of 34 IRA volunteers. Another area they maintain is the Harbinson plot, where five IRA volunteers are buried. They also look after other republican graves, some from as early as the 1920s. These graves are often marked with the Red Hand of Ulster symbol.
Many Belfast republicans are buried in their family graves. These graves are not usually looked after by the association. However, the association also helps local groups to maintain some family graves that might need repair.
The association has a committee of eleven members. These members are republicans from different parts of the city.
Important Burial Sites
Most of the work done by the National Graves Association, Belfast, happens in Milltown Cemetery. The graves they directly care for include three main republican plots. They also look after graves of IRA volunteers who died in the 1920s and during the Northern Campaign in the 1940s. The graves are marked with the Red Hand symbol. Below is a list of the graves currently cared for by the association.
The Harbinson Plot
William Harbinson was a fenian who died in 1846 while held in Belfast Prison. He was buried in Portmore, Ballinderry. In 1912, a Celtic cross was put up in Milltown Cemetery to remember him. It also remembers other republicans who were imprisoned in County Antrim jails. This plot contains the remains of 5 IRA volunteers: Joe McKelvey, Sean McCartney, Terence Perry, Sean Gaffney, and Seamus Burns.
The County Antrim Memorial Plot
The County Antrim Memorial was revealed on the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising. It was put in place to remember Antrim's republican dead. 34 IRA volunteers who died while serving in the late 1960s and early 1970s are buried here.
The New Republican Plot
In 1972, the National Graves Association Belfast bought the land that became known as the New Republican Plot. The first burials here happened in July of that year. This plot holds the remains of 77 republicans. Some of these individuals died on hunger strike. Among those buried in this plot are: James McDade, Bobby Sands, Joe McDonnell, Kieran Doherty, Sean McIlvenna, Mairéad Farrell, Dan McCann, Sean Savage, Pearse Jordan, Thomas Begley, and Pat McGeown.
Other Special Graves
The National Graves Association, Belfast, also maintains 33 other graves. These include the graves of Seán McCaughey and Winifred Carney.
Image gallery
- Graves under the care of the National Graves Association, Belfast
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Harbinson Plot
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County Antrim Memorial Plot
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Grave of Winifred Carney, socialist and combatant in GPO, Dublin 1916
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Grave of Ned Trodden
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Grave of Sean Martin
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Grave of Sean Gaynor
