Carnlough republicans want to reinstate '˜illegal' Easter Rising memorial

Republicans in Carnlough have submitted a request to council for an Easter Rising monument to be reinstated in the village.
The Easter Rising memorial that was removed by Mid and East Antrim CouncilThe Easter Rising memorial that was removed by Mid and East Antrim Council
The Easter Rising memorial that was removed by Mid and East Antrim Council

The controversial memorial - which had been erected on council-owned property without permission - was described as “illegal” and “provocative” by unionists.

There was huge upset in the village after the local authority employed a contractor to take the structure away in June, with Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan calling the move “shameful and disrespectful”.

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But Mid and East Antrim Council has confirmed that its Equality Working Group has received an application for a new memorial to be erected in Carnlough.

Sinn Fein councillor James McKeown told the Larne Times that the application was lodged by East Antrim Republican Research Group.

He added that people in Carnlough were still “hurt and angry” over the removal of the memorial.

“The anger in the village has not subsided and people have not forgotten,” he said.

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“People have been very patient over this issue. I am confident that at some stage the memorial will be reinstated, and the sooner that happens the better.

“There is an expectation that nationalists and republicans will be given the same opportunity as unionists to commemorate their heritage.”