Patricia Black

Patricia Black, also known as smiler or Patricia Black-Donnelly (28 November 1972 – 15 November 1991) was a Volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).

For the actress, see Patricia Black (actress).

Patricia Black
Born28 November 1972
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died15 November 1991 (aged 18)
St Albans, England
AllegianceProvisional Irish Republican Army
Years of service1990 - 1991
RankVolunteer
UnitBelfast Brigade

Background

Black grew up in the Lenadoon area of Belfast and was educated at St. Oliver Plunkett Primary School and St. Genevieve's Girls Secondary School in Belfast.[1][2]

Active service

Patricia joined the IRA at the age of 17. Her comrades considered her a determined and dedicated young woman and she was tasked with the role of intelligence gathering. Later Black informed her parent that she was moving to Dublin but secretly moved to London.[1][3]

She died, along with fellow Volunteer, Frank Ryan, on 15 November 1991, when an improvised explosive device she was carrying detonated prematurely in St Albans, near London. A British Army military band had been playing in theatre on St Peter's Street which the pair had planned to attack, when the device unexpectedly exploded killing her and Ryan.[4]

At the funeral of Frank Ryan a Sinn Féin leader, Jim Gibney, stated "Frankie and Patricia are not alone. They are representatives of a generation of Ireland's youth who have acquired the skills to remain hidden, who come forward when required to do so. How will the British defeat this invisible force?"[4]

Black is buried in Milltown Cemetery Belfast.[1]

The Volunteers Patricia Black and Frankie Ryan Memorial Flute Band from the Garngad area of Glasgow is jointly named after her, they are politically aligned to éirígí. [5]

A political mural depicting a uniformed armed female republican in uniform in the Lenadoon area of Belfast is jointly dedicated to Black as well as Laura Crawford, Bridie Quinn and Mairéad Farrell.[6]

A memorial to Black and Ryan was erected in their honour at the Sally Gardens Centre in Belfast. At its unveiling in 2007, West Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann stated "They are our heroes and our inspiration. They are no longer with us but let us take their vision forward."[7]

A memorial ceremony on the 25th anniversary of Patricia Black's death faced criticism when images of children wearing "paramilitary regalia" were circulated in the media.[8]

References
  1. Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.361
  2. Liam Ferrir - Northern News, The Irish Emigrant Newspaper, Issue No.251 - 25 November 1991
  3. Liam Clarke (17 July 2005). "Ulster's lessons on how to dim the fires of extremism". London: The Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  4. David McKittrick (26 September 1996). "The Irish bombers: What sort of people are they?". London: The Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  5. belfastmedia.com. "Band Named After Volunteer". Belfastmedia.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  6. Dr Jonathan McCormick. "Mural Directory - Photograph No.800". CAIN. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  7. "IRA Vols Patricia Black and Frankie Ryan remembered". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  8. Williamson, Claire (14 November 2016). "Concern after children pictured taking part in Belfast Republican parade in paramilitary regalia". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
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