PRESIDENT TO ATTEND CITY WREATH LAYING
Date Published: 15-Dec-2012
The President of Ireland will take part in a wreath laying ceremony in the city today to commemorate the death of a man unjustly executed 130 years ago. (15/12)
Michael D.Higgins will attend mass at the Cathedral this lunchtime for Myles Joyce, who was hanged in Galway for his alleged part in the Maamtrasna murders.
People from the Maamtrasna area will read at the mass and afterwards wreaths will be laid by seven different people including the Mayors of Galway city and County.
On the 17th of August 1882, a family was slaughtered in their mountainside cottage - John Joyce, his wife Bridget his daughter Peigí and his mother Margaret.
His son Michael died some time later as a result of injuries sustained that day.
Eight were convicted of the muders and three were hanged - their bodies are buried in the grounds of the prison, now the Cathedral carpark.
However-it is generally accepted that of the three - native Irish speaker, Myles Joyce was innocent.