Event honours 1916 leader in his Leitrim hometown on 109th anniversary of his execution

Fermanagh/South Tyrone MLA Jemma Dolan has been announced as the keynote speaker at this year’s Seán Mac Diarmada Commemoration, taking place on Sunday, May 11th at 2.45pm in Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim.

The annual ceremony honours Mac Diarmada’s legacy in his hometown and typically draws large crowds from across Leitrim, Fermanagh, Cavan, Sligo, Roscommon and further afield. This year’s event will feature music by the Strabane Memorial Flute Band and a historical re-enactment by the First Battalion Cavan Volunteers.

Seán Mac Diarmada, born in Kiltyclogher in 1883, was one of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation and a key architect of the Rising. He was executed on May 12th, 1916 at just 33 years old.

One of the commemoration organisers Seamus Shanley said this year’s theme focuses on Irish reunification—a topic that Mac Diarmada himself fought and died for.

“I said that our speech would be on Irish reunification. I think it’s time for the nation to have a conversation about where we’re going. The preparation should be made now—not later—so we’re not in the same position again, looking over at our compatriots voting for Brexit without knowing what it really meant,” Shanley said.

“The conversation must be had to draw plans for what a united Ireland could look like,” he added. “There are different interpretations out there, but unless we start planning, we’ll be left behind.”

Visitors will also have the opportunity to tour the Seán Mac Diarmada Cottage, the revolutionary’s restored family home, which will be open all day with guides on site.

“That was where he lived. It’ll be open all day, and there’ll be tour guides there. It’s a powerful place to visit,” Shanley said.

The commemoration is always marked by a high-profile guest speaker, and this year’s event continues that tradition.

“It’s always a powerful day here in Kiltyclogher,” Shanley said. “Seán’s memory still inspires people—young and old—to reflect on what it means to live in a republic, and what it took to get here.”

The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend.

READ MORE Leitrim’s Leonie Cornelius to lead wellness talks at Bord Bia Bloom 2025