40 years on from the killing of 18 year old IRA recruit Tobias Molloy at the hands of the British Army at the infamous ‘Camel’s Hump’ checkpoint on the Strabane/Lifford border, hundreds of local people attended commemoration events organised to mark this landmark anniversary of his untimely death.
In the first event on Sunday, organised by the by the Molloy/Devlin/Mc Cauley Sinn Féin Cumann, in conjunction with Strabane National Graves Association, hundreds of people fell in behind the Strabane Memorial Flute Band in a parade from Clady to a graveside commemoration ceremony at Donneyloop Cemetery where Tobias is buried.
Proceedings were chaired by Michaela Boyle MLA and following the laying of floral tributes and wreaths Anne Caldwell, a cousin of Tobias, read a moving poem about his killing-a poem which was penned by a local Lifford woman at the time of his death. Anne then recited prayers in Irish which was followed by the lowering of the national flag.
Michaela Boyle then introduced the Main Speaker, Christine Mc Gillian, who was a close friend of Tobias. In a deeply poignant address she outlined her personal recollections of Tobias since first meeting at the Ventures Youth Club at St Colman’s High School and how this ‘dapper dressed’ and extremely handsome youth became her first boyfriend. She went on to describe his hardworking but fun loving nature and how the tumultuous events taking place both in the north and internationally had politicised and radicalised Tobias, like so many of their generation, and how these events had shaped Tobias into a deeply committed socialist and republican activist. She recounted the conversations she had with Tobias at the time in which he outlined his dilemma on whether he should join the Young Socialists, the Provisional IRA or the Official IRA and stated how he went on to join the latter, before going on to join the Provisionals shortly before the time of his death as events in the north deteriorated.
Painful memories were relived as Christine related the fateful events of the day Tobias was killed and how he earlier been in the Inter Counties Hotel in Lifford and having just left his girlfriend home in the town was making his way back into Strabane when he was struck above the heart by a rubber bullet fired by the British Army from the Camel’s Hump Checkpoint and how local youths helped carry the injured Tobias to Lifford hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. She described the deep sorrow Tobias’ death evoked locally evidenced by the thousands who attended his funeral despite the cortege coming under attack by British soldiers.
“Following the sustained applause which greeted Christine’s wide-ranging and profound address an inscribed Oak Celtic Cross was presented to the Molloy family on behalf the Sinn Féin Tyrone Commemoration Committee before Terry Boyle brought the graveside proceedings to a close singing ‘My Youngest Son’ in tribute to Tobias followed by a rousing rendition of ‘We Shall Overcome.’
On Monday (16th July) a vigil organised by Sinn Féin Republican Youth was held at the plaque erected in memory of Tobias, close to the spot on the former Camel’s Hump, where he was killed 40 years ago to the day. Attended by a large crowd of local republicans, the events was Chaired by James Mc Mackin and was addressed by Fermanagh Republican and MLA Sean Lynch who paid tribute to the memory of Tobias and in speaking about his massive commitment despite his youth spoke of the importance of youth taking an increasing role in the struggle towards a United Ireland. Armagh singer Liam Lappin then sang ‘Flag of Na Fianna’ and closed proceedings with Amhrán na bhFiann.
