Terence Teddy O'Neill

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Written by Eimhear Ní Ghlacáin

Eimhear Ní Ghlacaín

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This song was written For my brother Teddy; on behalf of the O'Neill family, we again thank Eimhear for this tribute she has done for him.
Teddy wouldn't have gone without a fight; he loved his family and country; they were the closest to his heart. Like many families in Belfast, we suffered at the hands of loyalism before the troubles of 69 and after. He was just 14 when he joined, and I can tell you that he wasn't a boy but a man. He was the first volunteer to be buried in this plot at Milltown; we could never have envisaged it to be filled and extended with so many brave men and women.
Last month I received a copy of his inquest papers;; There were many discrepancies in the documents, lies, and not one witness was called to give their evidence. They fired 36 bullets at him and used a Lugar 45 pistol, a submachine gun, and a carbine. I learned he was shot in the back; we always thought it was through his blessed heart. They took his body away, and we searched for him until the early hours of the following day. His young daughter is now 45, and Teddy has a grandson and great-granddaughter. he lives on in them. Three days later, we led him to rest after his final salute from his comrades.
Eimhear, thank you for keeping his memory alive.!!

Dear, brother.
I read your inquest papers today
the truth of how you died
for me, no consultation
It just made me sadder that I cried.

I envisaged your last moments
of how you died alone
that shot-to-kill policy
a crime Briton condoned.

I wish I had been there
if only to hold you near
tell you how proud I am
and how much you are loved so, dear.

In that lonely entry
where the bullets echoed loud
you bravely returned fire
my fearless soldier, you made me proud.

36 shots they fired from
a carbine, revolver, submachine gun
armoured cars loaded with enemy
to take down our Eire's son.

These papers also informed me
that they shot you in the back
this angered and sorely hurt me
their cold-blooded cowardly attack.

But you left behind a legacy
that I will endure to follow through
although it has been a long road to walk
I strive to continue It for you.

We are on the cusp of unity, Teddy
on your shoulders, we will stand
and take all those who will join us
into a new and better free Ireland.

For you, freedom wasn't free
when you sacrificed your young life
you left behind a heartache
for us, your family, child and wife.

Intuition told you that
it would end this way
this, you often said
we accepted this because it was
to Mother Erin, you were wed.

doloresoneill