A parade which was re-routed by the Parades Commission last week was described a "massive success" by the organisers. The commission originally said the parade could follow the route applied for by the organisers. However, it reviewed that decision after representation from the recently formed "Pomeroy Residents and Victims Group".
The protesters were supported by Cllr Ian McCrea and MEP Jim Allister. However, it is claimed that ordinary unionist residents in the village do not support the group. Some families are said to have contacted the organisers expressing concerns about the parade but disassociating themselves from the protesters.
The Saturday parade left the "top car park" of the GAA grounds in Pomeroy and made its way to the Republican Monument in Lucy Street . Four bands took part, including the Joseph Mary Plunkett Pomeroy Accordion Band. Other bands travelled from Gortin, Rasharkin and Dunloy.
Leading the parade was a new banner in honor of local IRA Volunteer Seamus Woods who was killed by his own bomb during an attack on the former local police station.
As the parade met the intersection of Main Street and the Fairgreen, lone protester Willie Frazer was standing with a video camera monitoring the procession. Mr Frazer claimed to be representing "victims in the Pomeroy area".
Main speaker for the event was Junior Stormont Minister Gerry Kelly.
He said, "Seamus (Woods) was a brave man who was in the IRA and proud of it. I was in the IRA and I am proud of that. That is something we all can be proud of."
Referring to the lone protester, the MLA for North Belfast said, "I know there is some eejit protesting up the street, but we won't worry about him because we have here a very dignified commemoration."
Two thousand people turned out for the parade and banners suggested they came from all over the North. The Sinn Féin leadership was well represented with Barry McElduff MLA, Cáthal Boylan MLA and Minister for Agriculture Michelle Gildernew. The police presence in the village was very low key with only six officers in the main street.
Cllr Oliver Molloy said that minimal disruption was the theme of the day and the organisers where successful in that. Pomeroy has a very proud Republican tradition, he said, and residents had the right to express their identity.
