NEWS FROM SAOIRSE (freedom). The Voice of the Irish Republican Movement. Republican Sinn Féin http://rsf.ie 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 229 Falls Road, Belfast

THE recent death of life-long Republican Johnny O'Brien was an occasion of sorrow in Limerick and Clare. His funeral was attended by a large number of people and his coffin was covered by the Tricolour, black gloves and beret.

He attended commemorations and demonstrations organised by the Republican Movement during the 1920s and '30s. He attempted to join the IRA for active in England in the late 1930s but was unsuccessful. He was forced to emigrate in 1939 because of lack of work in Ireland at that time and he spent the next six years in England where he married in 1943.

He joined the IRA in the early 1950s and was trained for active service by Seán Sabhat. Despite having seven children at the time, he volunteered for active service during the 1957-62 Campaign. However, he contracted TB in the late 1950s and spent time in a sanatorium in Limerick and 18 months convalescing at home. It was a great regret to Johnny that he never got a chance to go on active service.

Johnny was always aware of the plight of Volunteers and their families who were on active service, on the run or in jail and he played a full part in ensuring that their needs would be looked after. He was always to the fore when the Republican position was threatened by those who wished to lead the Movement into Partitionist assemblies and away from the revolutionary path which will ultimately lead to the Irish Republic. He was steadfast in 1969 and was equally as steadfast in 1986 and was one of those who helped to organise during those very troubled periods.

A man of strong determination he gave up smoking at 65 and took up marathon running. He ran his first marathon at the age of 67. He was to run many marathons and super marathons (50 miles) and during the H-Block campaign he ran a number of sponsored marathons to help finance that fund.

He was also a well-known and successful dog-breeder. Several of his Irish terriers have been Irish, American, Australian and British champions. He was the only Irish breeder to have bred a winner at the World Champion of Champions competition, which took place in Paris in the 1980s.

Johnny was a keen follower of the GAA and traditional music and was a regular attender at local and national Fleadhanna Ceoil.

He was the Munster honoree at the CABHAIR Testimonial Dinner in 1999.  He will sadly missed by his large family, comrades and friends.

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SAOIRSE -- Irish Freedom, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
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Web layout by SAOIRSE -- Irish Freedom December 7, 2002  Send links, events notifications, articles, comments etc, to the editor at: saoirse@iol.ie.