Write a commentMLA Conor Murphy has paid tribute to Brian Campbell at a recent event in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.
The event was organised by the Newry 1916 Easter Commemoration Association.
Speaking about Brian the MLA said “Brian was a truly exceptional person. Although he was to become an acclaimed poet, playwright and script writer, his political awakening began, like so many young men of his age, with the Hunger strikes of 1981,” he said.
“Originally from Coleraine, his family moved to Newry in 1968 and it became his home.
“The hungerstrikes occurred while Brian was getting his engineering degree in Liverpool University. A smart and capable young man, he could have avoided the conflict altogether and led a much easier life but Brian was not the type of person to abandon his countrymen and women. He returned to Newry and joined the IRA.
“He was captured in 1986 and spent the next 8 years in jail where he used the time to gain a social studies degree and start the prisoners’ magazine An Glor Gafa.
“After his release he joined Sinn Féin in Newry where we worked closely together. His talents as a speech writer and publicity organiser were well known but his greatest strength was his dedication to the people of the area and the cause of Irish freedom."
From 2000 to 2004 Brian wrote and showcased as series of acclaimed plays including 'Des' about West Belfast Priest, Fr Des Wilson' and together with Laurence McKeown wrote 'The Laughter of our Children', as well as 'Cold House' and 'H3', a feature film about the Hunger Strikes. He died suddenly from a heart attack in October 2005.
Conor Murphy added “Brian was a hugely talented individual who made an enormous contribution to the development of republican politics and writing, not just in Newry and Armagh, but across Ireland.
“He was active in so many fields - political, cultural, community and sporting and yet was first and foremost a devoted husband and father.
“Tonight we remember and honour not only Brian, but Grainne, Niall and Mairead and the rest of the Campbell family.
"The event this evening was a fitting tribute to one of Ireland's greatest sons and a welcome opportunity to get reacquainted with an old friend."
The evening was a mixture of film, song, illustrations, photos, and personal contributions.
Commenting on the night on his blog former hungerstriker Laurence McKeown said "The range and diversity of speakers, both those present and those who contributed via a recorded filmed piece, reflected the huge regard in which Brian was held: Fr Des Wilson; the producers of H3, Juanita Wilson (now an Oscar-nominated film director) and her partner James Flynn (producer of such TV series as ‘Love/Hate’, the ‘Vikings’, and the ‘Tudors’); professional actors Vincent Higgins and Jimmy Doran; Professor Bill Rolston (Beyond the Pale Publications); Dr Jenny Meegan, tutor with the Open University who met Brian while she was teaching in Long Kesh; Cormac Sweeney of the Newry Mitchells GAC; Seán Mag Uidhir (former deputy editor of Daily Ireland); Sonia Nic Giolla Easpuig (film director and producer whose most recent series, ‘Bhí mé ann’, is currently being broadcast by RTÉ); Mícheál Mac Donncha, former editor of ‘An Phoblacht’; Caoibhe Sloan, who took part in one of Brian’s short film productions shot locally, ‘Pies and Lies’; and Conor Murphy MLA, who spoke of Brian’s political work locally with Sinn Féin, in particular his work with Conor as press secretary, and also his personal friendship with Brian."
Michelle Beyers and Caoilfhionn Nic Eoin Manus also read from Brian’s poetry on the night.
