Ballinamore to honour Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly with memorial ceremony

On Monday, December 16, 2024, a ceremony will be held in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, to honour the memory of Recruit Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly. The event will feature the unveiling of a Monument of Remembrance dedicated to both men, who made the ultimate sacrifice in 1983 while serving the State.

On December 16, 1983, Garda Sheehan and Private Kelly were part of a joint Garda and Irish Defence Forces search party looking for kidnapped businessman Don Tidey. They were tragically confronted by a Provisional IRA gang at Drumcornan Wood in Ballinamore and were shot dead.

The remembrance ceremony will begin with a Mass at 11:30 am at St. Patrick’s Church on Main Street in Ballinamore. After the Mass, the Monument of Remembrance will be unveiled outside Ballinamore Garda Station as a lasting tribute to their bravery. The public is invited to attend, and refreshments will be served afterward at The Junction Hub in Ballinamore.

Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken of the Sligo/Leitrim Division of An Garda Síochána stated, “This is a deeply significant event held to honour the memory of two men who gave their lives in service to their country. Alongside the memorial Mass, a Monument of Remembrance will be unveiled outside Ballinamore Garda Station as a lasting tribute to their lives and memory. At this time, we particularly remember the families of Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly.”

The memorial, designed by sculptor Jackie McKenna from Dromahair with support from the Office of Public Works, draws inspiration from the stones of the Irish landscape, symbolizing healing and endurance.

To ensure smooth proceedings, parking restrictions and traffic diversions will be in place around the event. From 4 pm on Sunday, December 15, to 4 pm on Monday, December 16, parking will be prohibited between St. Patrick’s Church and Ballinamore Garda Station on the R202, as well as in The Town Square car park. Other on-street parking will remain unaffected. From 10 am to around 1:30 pm on the day of the event, traffic will be diverted away from the town centre via the Ballinamore Bypass to the R199. Additionally, a stop/go system will be in place on the R202 outside Ballinamore Garda Station from 8:30 am until 2:30 pm, with a complete road closure occurring from 12:15 pm to 2:30 pm. Heavy goods vehicles will also be rerouted via Ballyconnell to Enniskillen.

Gardaí will be on hand to assist with traffic management and ensure the town remains accessible throughout the event. This memorial serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifice made by Garda Sheehan and Private Kelly, ensuring that their memory will never be forgotten.