Honouring Our Dead — A Question of Local History
We recently received a submission from Ken Boyle, a familiar contributor to Leitrim Books, that explores the complex and often painful history etched into the local landscape.
His article, “Honouring our Dead,” examines the physical legacy of three prominent South Leitrim memorials: the Selton Hill Monument, the McGirl Monument, and the recently unveiled Sheehan/Kelly Memorial. Through the lens of these three monuments, the author reflects on the region’s relationship with militant republicanism, the historical use of violence for political change, and how different eras of conflict are remembered today.
Before arriving at Leitrim Books, this piece was deemed unsuitable for Leitrim readers elsewhere. We believe our community is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of our shared past. We are publishing the piece in full, offering you the opportunity to read the article and make up your own mind.
To support open dialogue on this subject, we are also doing something new: for the very first time on Leitrim Books, we are opening a comments section at the bottom of the page. We welcome constructive remarks relevant to the article and invite you to share your perspective.