On the 18th October 2014 we will commemorate the life of a young, courageous IRA volunteer from Newry who gave his life for the freedom of his country. Óglach Michael Hughes who lived and died in Derrybeg was shot dead at the entrance to Derrybeg while on active service. Michael was just 16 years of age at the time of his death. At age 14 young Michael had to come to terms with the tragic death of his father who was also an IRA volunteer and who also died on active service in Newry. 

1974 seen a major increase in the number of deaths as a result of the conflict across the north and protests for better conditions in the cages of Long Kesh were ongoing. IRA units were applying pressure on the outside and it was part of this operation that young Michael was taking part in when he was cut down by a British soldier. Michael and his comrades had hijacked an Ulsterbus at the entrance of the estate when unknown to them an undercover British army unit who were lying in bushes across from the entrance opened fire. Michael fell close to the spot where Republicans have erected a monument to remember this brave lad. 

Original Commemorative Stone

At the time the local Sinn Féin cumann (Hughes Grant Watters) began a project to erect this monument and with the help of the local community this plan quickly became a reality. The monument has stood proud for nearly 10 years and wreaths were laid by republicans from the estate at the time of his anniversary and Christmas. In 2013 the local cumann decided to re-brand itself in terms of remembering all the IRA volunteers from the Derrybeg area and it was renamed the Derrybeg Martyrs. An event took place in the estate and a new cumann banner was unveiled.

The Derrybeg Martyrs cumann decided as a major project to refurbish the monument and commemorate the life of Michael on this the 40th year of his anniversary. Work has been going on now for several weeks and is at an advanced stage. 

On Sunday 19th October we are unveiling the new refurbished monument which will prove to be a lasting and fitting tribute to our hero Michael. On this day we will also relive Michael's life growing up in Derrybeg at this time. We hope that the people of the area will come out and share this experience with us and show the Hughes family that the sacrifice that their father and brother made will not be forgotten.