Remembering the Miami: Taoiseach unveils Dublin memorial to showbandTaoiseach Bertie Ahern led tributes and Dana Rosemary Scallon sang Love Is, at the unveiling of a memorial to murdered members of the Miami Showband, in Parnell Square, Dublin, yesterday.
Fran O'Toole (28), Brian McCoy (32) and Tony Geraghty (24) were shot dead by suspected Ulster Volunteer Force paramilitaries as the band returned from a show at the Castle Ballroom in Banbridge, Co Down, on July 31st, 1975.
Yesterday, 32 years later, two survivors of the atrocity Des McAlea, (known as Des Lee) and Stephen Travers joined 200 members of the entertainment industry, family and friends for the unveiling of the memorial outside the former National Ballroom.
The memorial by Donegal artist Redmond Herrity incorporates three swaying figures in limestone and granite with a bronze plaque.
Among those who paid tributes to the slain musicians was Rose O'Toole, widow of Fran and Kevin McCoy, son of Brian.
Ms O'Toole thanked the Justice for the Forgotten group, which had campaigned for yesterday's memorial. Mr McCoy asked that the men be remembered "for the sense of happiness they would have shared" and as "three very fondly missed entertainers".
Mr McAlea, who had flown in from South Africa for the event, said it was hard to believe it was more then 30 years since the atrocity, but added the names of the slain would now be "etched in stone, never to be forgotten".
Mr Travers, who was seriously injured in the attack, said the memorial would be a constant "antidote to the poison of the bigots".
Mr Ahern said the murders were "an atrocity which had such a profound impact on everyone on the island. It is remembered with sadness to this day."
Referring to the presence in the crowd of others whose family members had been murdered in the Troubles, Mr Ahern said the suffering of the families "is sharpened by the clear evidence of collusion by the security forces in many of these murders, as has been made clear by several reports over the years". He said there would be another debate ain the Dáil in February about collusion on the part of the North's security services, but added "that is for another day. Today is about remembering the Miami Showband in words and music."
After the memorial was unveiled, Dana, accompanied by her brother Gerry Browne, sang Love Is, a song co-written by Fran O'Toole and released posthumously.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Paddy Burke said it was "fitting that one of this country's greatest showbands should be commemorated in this way".
