Four decades on, Ballinamore unveils monument to two lost in IRA standoff

A poignant ceremony took place in Ballinamore on December 16th, 2024, as the community gathered in quiet strength to remember two men who paid the ultimate price in the service of the State more than four decades ago.

On this crisp winter morning, St. Patrick’s Church was filled to capacity—families, old friends, and generations of servicemen and women standing side-by-side. Symbolically, the back rows were lined with young members of the Defence Forces, all immaculately turned out. One could not help but look at their youthful faces and think of Trainee Garda Gary Sheehan, only 23 when he followed orders and stepped into one of the darkest chapters in Irish history.

On December 16, 1983, Private Patrick Kelly—a devoted husband and father from Moate, Co Westmeath—and Trainee Garda Sheehan, a young recruit from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, were brutally shot dead by a Provisional IRA gang in Derrada Wood. Their deaths came during one of the largest manhunts in Irish history—an intense, 23-day operation to rescue kidnapped supermarket executive Don Tidey.

During the Memorial Mass, as the Christmas tree flickered and heads bowed, the priest gave thanks for the service and sacrifice. Many present had once been part of that very operation or were closely connected to it; their eyes told stories of the fateful day, each gaze heavy with memory.

After the Mass, the Garda Ceremonial Unit and the Garda Band led a solemn procession through the streets. The measured beat of the drums, the gleam of pressed uniforms, and the respectful hush of onlookers guided everyone to the newly unveiled Monument of Remembrance at Ballinamore Garda Station. 

A minute of silence followed—broken only by the song of birds. Uniformed personnel stood to attention, salutes unwavering and perfectly in time, reflecting on the loss and searching for meaning. Forty-one years later, they still asked if the price paid had yielded wisdom.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, addressing the gathering, captured the gravity of the moment. “Today we unveil a specially designed monument of remembrance to these fallen heroes,” he said. “Today we honour their service to their country. Today we pay tribute to their bravery and courage. Today their sacrifice is etched in stone, just as their loss is etched in our hearts and minds.”Reflecting on the eternal price they paid, Commissioner Harris continued: “They paid an eternal price, and so it is right and just that their memories are eternally recognised here in Ballinamore. Today is a day filled with complex emotion. The Sheehan and Kelly families have lost a son, brother, father, and it does not matter that 41 years have gone by, that loss is felt as deeply now as it was in 1983.”

He spoke of the importance of remembrance: “In memorialising Gary and Patrick here today, we hope it provides an opportunity to commemorate their life, mourn their loss, and acknowledge the huge sacrifice they made—a burden that you carry to this day. On days like today, we are afforded a chance to remember. To fill our hearts and minds with the joy these brave men brought to you and all those who knew them in life. It is therefore wonderful to see so many people gathered here today to honour them. Today’s memorial portrays both men aptly in the form of two pillars standing tall. It will serve as a permanent reminder of the sacrifice they made for the People of Ireland.”

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne TD, emphasized the breadth of the loss. “The loss of a Garda or a member of our Defence Forces is a tragic and lifelong loss for their family, but it is also felt painfully across both organisations and indeed by the community as a whole. While, thankfully, it is a relatively rare occurrence, I know how deeply this tragedy has been felt by all those who served with Gary and Patrick—all down the years—to this very day.”Brigadier

General Rossa Mulcahy of the Irish Defence Forces added his own reflection: “The ripples in the stone beside me continue to spread out and are very evocative of what we are here today to remember. The families have demonstrated remarkable resilience since 1983. In the tradition of remembrance, we continue to honour the memories of Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly.”

Sculptor Jackie McKenna from Dromohair, Co. Leitrim, said she hoped her artwork would bring healing to the family and community. The design of the memorial portrays two standing stones set beside each other. The stones represent the two pillars of society, i.e., the Gardaí and the Defence Forces. The circular hole in the centre of the monument represents the hollow void left in the families’ lives following the death of their loved ones. She said holed stones are believed to have the power to heal. 

With each word spoken, each wreath laid, and each silent nod of respect, Ballinamore refused to let that scar define them, honouring Kelly and Sheehan not only as victims of a dark past but as symbols of courage. Their story, now carved in stone, remains a testament to the human cost behind the uniforms and badges—a truth that, despite the passage of years, remains as clear and cold as a December morning.