Political activist, author, politician and tireless campaigner, Eamonn McCann’s life has also been wrapped up in the red and white stripes of Derry City.
Declan Bogue “YOU DON’T GET songs like that anymore!” shouts Eamonn McCann as he rocks back and juts forward, arms in the air, glasses askew, conducting his own singing from the sofa.‘We only know, that there’s gonna be a showMcCann’s recalling the first Derry City team of heroes he had, the 1954 team that won their second-ever Irish Cup, beating Glentoran 1-0 in the second replay.
With nowhere to turn, he pushed the ball through the towering Milburn’s legs, and followed it through the gap. “What a nutmeg!” McCann exclaims, as if he just watched it on the television. Fifty-three years on, Derry are back in the FAI Cup final, against Drogheda on Sunday. A cup final; the same, but oh so different.And nobody has lived the Derry experience quite like McCann.Eamonn McCann speaking at a meeting in 1984. Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall IrelandEamonn McCann has been many things. Tree pruner. Political activist. Author. Journalist. Member of the Legislative Assembly of Stormont. Councillor. Patron of the arts .
Living two minutes away from his childhood home but now not great on his feet, the former Derry City goalkeeper Eddie Mahon comes to collect him and links his arm for the short walk to their seat in the Mark Farren Stand.The earliest chairman he can recall was a Protestant, Bobby Ferris, and one of the directors was the chief warden in Derry Gaol.
“It’s not the place for flags or sectarianism. And that’s true to this day and it’s announced before every match.”Away from the low-slung Bogside area, Derry was a merchant city that grew rich on the backs of the wealthy. Shirt-making was introduced to the city in 1829 by William Scott. A century on in 1926, there were 44 factories producing shirts, employing over 8,000 directly.
Advertisement When McCann was a teenager, he and his buddies would go along to the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall to see acts such as The Dave Glover Showband. While that would be unthinkable now, Derry still retains a healthy relationship with the Apprentice Boys who, while part of the loyal orders, is independent of the Orange Order.
The widespread discrimination got into their bones. Eventually, the young people organised themselves. With 30,000 Catholics in the one area, there was both the injustice, but also a confidence that McCann can explain. “Now again, from where we sit now, three miles north, east and west and you are in Donegal. We were very used to being in Donegal. Pubs were open later, so there used to be a big scramble late at night to get over there for the extra pints. All drunk too, heading over to ‘The State’.
So he did. Sure enough, the Royal Ulster Constabulary came along and arrested everyone. His court appearance would be in a fortnight.He was sorry to leave London, and Olivia, behind. On Friday nights, he would march down the Old Kent Road with his pals, stopping at famous pubs such as the Thomas à Becket, with the gym above where Henry Cooper trained. Down below, the entire pub would be rocking with East Enders singing traditional Cockney songs, Rolling Out The Barrel, having a right old knees-up, not a care in the world.
“I felt these people were decent, working-class people. And I had a nephew joined the British Army years later. All that used to leave me in the slightly awkward position in the Bogside when people would say, ‘Fuck them, kill them all!’ And I would say, ‘Hold on, you’ve got that wrong…’”“It’s not an accident that the IRA war ended in Derry before anywhere. For 18 months before anywhere else, nothing was happening in Derry,” he says.
The GAA had a very low-level influence on the city. The only Gaelic footballer McCann knew when he was growing up was the county midfielder Tom McGuinness, a brother of Martin.“I think it was sort of how the Civil Rights Movement started here. They slunk into Junior football for 13 years and kept applying to rejoin the Irish League. Eventually the solution came: join the League of Ireland instead.Their wish was granted in time for the 1985/86 season and they filled supporters buses to travel all over Ireland, taking Derry people to corners they thought they would never see.
There’s not many 81-year-olds who want to spend their weekends at marches and protests, but that’s where he found himself the previous weekend in Belfast, fighting the good fight.
Derry City Eamonn Mccann FAI Cup Final Interview Soccer
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meet the former Manchester City prodigy who has fallen in love with Derry CityJacob Davenport came through the ranks at Manchester City before excelling in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers
Read more »
Dundalk relegated to First Division after Derry City defeatThe latest sports news from The42.ie in 60 seconds
Read more »
Derry City ace Patrick McEleney eyes silver lining to frustrating seasonDerry City and Drogheda United clash in Sunday's FAI Cup final at Aviva Stadium
Read more »
'Sport is horrible at times, then it's brilliant' - Derry City boss HigginsDerry City host Drogheda United in Sunday's FAI Cup final at Aviva Stadium
Read more »
Derry City hit with triple injury blow ahead of season-defining gamesThe Candystripes will be missing four key players when they travel to Richmond Park to take on St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division on Friday.
Read more »
Derry City pass up on chance to put real pressure on title rivals with Bohs drawDraw at home leaves Derry City’s task even steeper with a trip away to in-form St Pat’s coming up.
Read more »