WEST Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff said ordinary people can help to "erase partition" by insisting on the right to enter their nationality as Irish and their place of residence as Ireland on official and company forms.

A good place to start would be with UCAS forms filled in by applicants for university and college places, he suggested.

Mr McElduff was speaking at a republican rally in Galbally on Sunday after a parade to mark the 27th anniversary of Martin Hurson who died on hunger strike on July 13, 1981.

More than 2,000 people followed the colour party and two bands – the Martin Hurson Memorial Flute Band from Gortin and the South Derry Martyrs Flute Band. Banners represented Pomeroy, Galbally, Aughnacloy and Ógra Shinn Féin.

The parade followed a football match played at Galbally GAA grounds in which teams from the county competed for the Martin Hurson Cup.

From the Galbally Community Centre , the parade went to the republican monument in the village of Cappagh for a ceremony at which wreaths were lain on behalf of the IRA, Sinn Féin and the National Graves Association. A special mention was given to a wreath laid by Cllr Brendan Farrel on behalf of the McManus-Hurson Cumann in Longford.

After the lowering of the flag, West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff paid tribute to the organisers of the event and spoke about the important role of the IRA in Tyrone.

"Tyrone has a very distinguished list of (IRA) Volunteers," said Cllr McElduff. "That is something we are very proud of."

He added that "Martin Hurson's death on hunger strike swelled the ranks of the IRA in Tyrone". The MLA also remarked how the British forces tried to cover up incidents in Tyrone and, in particular, in the village of Cappagh.

"The IRA assassinated two SAS men in an ambush just outside this village and the Brits tried to say it never happened: but we all know it happened."

Cllr McElduff also said that there are many ways to "erase partition" referring to SatNavs and UCAS forms.

"We should not have to enter our nationality as British and we should lobby and tell these companies that, when referring to the fictional state of Northern Ireland, the occupants are Irish.

"Tactics like these alone won't end the occupation here, but succsessfully building campaigns on these types of issue will dissolve the border," he said.

Police presence for the republican event was minimal and more republican events are listed for August in Loughmacrory, Clonoe and Derry City.