Sir, - Our members, both from Dublin and elsewhere will be pleased to learn (April 1st) that the National Graves' Association has resolved on a suitable memorial at the Croppies' Hole near Collins Barracks. There is another 98 hero who appears to have been largely forgotten.
Few English Catholics are aware that the last Catholic priest to be executed in England was an Irishman, Fr James Coigley. He was arrested with several companions at Margate on the way to revolutionary France. Probably he has been largely forgotten because his execution outside Maidstone, on June 7th, 1798, virtually coincided with the outbreak of the insurrection in Ireland.
One of the last entries in Tone's diary (June 20th, 1798) mentions that he has read about the execution and expresses the intention of having a memorial erected to him on his own (victorious) return to Ireland. Born in South Armagh, Fr Coigley spent a number of years as a priest in Dundalk. If is to be hoped that the National Graves' Association will put Tone's resolve into effect in time for the approaching bicentenary. Yours, etc.,
Press officer,
Conradh na Gaeilge,
Pulleyns Avenue,
East Ham,
London.