Commemoration in Castlerea

 A successful commemoration for I.R.B. leader John Lavin was held in St. Joseph's cemetery, Castlerea Co. Roscommon on Saturday the 26th March 2011. John Lavin was the leader of the I.R.B. in Roscommon and a member of the Fenian Supreme Council at the time of his premature death in March 1899. He was also a member of the Young Ireland Society,a nationalist literary and debating society established in Dublin and whose president was veteran Fenian, John O’Leary. Shortly after Lavins death efforts got under way to erect a fitting memorial at his grave in St. Josephs cemetery. The monument, a large Celtic cross was unveiled on the 8th of September 1901 by Miss Maud Gonne. A special train was run from Dublin for the occasion and several prominent Nationalists were in attendance including John O’Leary and John Daly, Mayor of Limerick. In recent years the Celtic cross was damaged in a storm, the National Graves Association took on the responsibility of having this great memorial repaired. We would like to thank everyone who helped out with this project and all those who made contributions to the cost of the repairs.

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