Victor Fagg

Taken from the 1988 April edition of SAOIRSE:  Irish Freedom.

MAIRFIDH SE GO DEO I MEASE GCROITHE NA NGAEL VICTOR FAGG 
REPUBLICAN SOLDIER AND ACTIVIST

A large crowd of local republicans, neighbours and friends turned out on March 8 last for the laying to rest in Cornamagh Cemetery, Athlone, Co Westmeath of Veteran Republican Victor Fagg.

He is survived by his wife Una sons Brian and Fergus daughters Patricia, Eileen and Anne at the removal to Coosan church and funeral to Cornamagh cemetery his comrades of the local Seán Costello/Martin Hurson Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin of which Victor was joint President, formed a guard of honour.  The coffin was draped in the National Flag.

At the graveside Ruairí Ó Brádaigh spoke: 
Victor Fagg was a quiet and unassuming Irishman who served his country and people unselfishly for more than 65 years although his family background was one of service in the British forces he was brought face to face with the realities of British rule in Ireland at the early age of 14 years.

THREATENED WITH DEATH
In March 1921 the British army Commander at Athlone Military Barracks, General Lambert was ambushed and killed by a local squad of the Athlone Brigade IRA.  The action occurred near Victor's home and although he witnessed the staff car speeding away with the dead officer's body he refused to answer the questions of British troops who later levelled their rifles at him and threatened him with death at his own front gate.

GUARD OF HONOUR
The young boy's interest in Ireland's freedom was sharply awakened and a few years later he became an active volunteer of the Irish Republican Army.  His first public parade was as a member of the Guard of Honour when the bodies of 20 republican soldiers executed by the Free State Army throughout its western command were handed over to relatives and comrades at the main gate of Athlone Barracks in October 1924 these events made an in delible impression on the mind of the young man which caused him to deepen his knowledge of and commitment to the cause of freedom and carry him through more than six decades of active work until the day of his death.

REJECTED COMPROMISE
He immediately rejected all compromises and departures from the All Ireland Republic down to and including the latest in 1986.
In 1938 he was elected a member of the Executive Council at the General Convention of that year and carried through that position of trust which involved planning and carrying out the sabotage campaign in England 1939-40 which once more put Ireland's claim to unity and independence before the world.

INTERNED
In 1940 he was interned without trial in the Curragh Concentration Camp for a number of years, herded together with upwards of 500 Republican Prisoners in atrocious conditions.  Victor saw his comrades shot dead and grieviously wounded in the camp; outside they were executed by Free State firing squads and the British hangman, shot down in the streets and died on hunger strike in the prisons.

EMERGED STRONGER
He emerged an even stronger republican and helped to motivate and organise another generation of Republicans in the 1950s and again in 1969 and the 1970s.
All this time he was active in local community projects as manager of the Athlone Agricultural co-operative, for many years a member of the Athlone Show Committee and of the local Glasson Farmers Hunt whose members also escorted his remains as a last tribute.

GENTLE BUT FORTHRIGHT
This man had unswerving loyalty to the Republic.  He was gentle but forthright and won respect on all sides as was evidenced at his funeral attendance.  An internationally famous actress who supported many worthy causes, including that of the Irish struggle, said recently, “that those who remain passionate even with advancing years, those who look forward to the future as well as backwards for inspiration, never really grow old.”

Such a man was the Republican soldier and activist Victor Fagg.  He was as completely at home with the youngest new member as with the most experienced veteran.  His memory will continue to inspire us.  Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.”

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