Today, I was delighted and honoured to be given the Deputy Lord Mayor’s chain and headed off to Kilcrumper Cemetery in Fermoy to the annual Liam Lynch Commemoration. Liam Lynch was head of the first and second battalions respectively of the old IRA. It was this aspect of his life, the War of Independence side of his life that was being commemorated. Liam Lynch was also commanding general of the anti-treaty forces in the Irish civil war. From my own travels in the Lee Valley, the Civil War is still raw in the Irish pysche and rarely commemorated. I have met, interviewed and written about many people (in their 60’s & 70’s) in the valley whose fathers were involved in the turbulent times of the late 1910s and early 1920s.

Events commemorating martyrs and participants of the the War of Independence to me as a young person seem to be over political in terms of the marches and Republican flag. However, standing listening to the oration on the platform today, the attentive audience wanted Liam Lynch’s story re-told. His story represents an important part of Irish history, social memory and identity. The memory of Lynch recalls the efforts of many who fought for an Irish Free State. a history marred by success and much tragedy. Today in the oration the word hero was used to describe Liam Lynch. Much has been written about him, the good, bad and ugly side of his short life. He died at the age of 33. However, when the term hero was used, I couldn’t help but think that the Ireland of 2009 needs new heros and a new vision once again.