It is with great sadness we announce the death of our comrade and friend Colette Healy (née Mervyn), Belfast and Galway, on June 19, 2025.

Colette came from a Republican family and joined Cumann na mBan in Belfast as a young girl. She was very active during the war to rid the Occupied Six Counties of the British presence.

Following the split in the Republican Movement in 1986 she took the Republican side, rejecting the compromises which led to participation in partition assemblies.

In later life she moved to Galway where she joined Sinn Féin Poblachtach while she continued to be an active member of Cumann na mBan. She was Ard-Rúnaí (General Secretary) of Sinn Féin Poblachtach at her death.
Colette attended Republican commemorations all over the country. She spoke at commemorations; the Ruairí Ó Brádaigh Autumn School; carried the Tricolour at Easter; attended Bodenstown and Bundoran among many other events. On one occasion on her way home from a chemotherapy session she took part in a picket in support of the Palestinians.

Colette never shirked in her duty as a Republican and, whether physically or verbally, she took the fight for the All-Ireland Republic to everyone she met.

When it came to freedom and justice, be it for Ireland or Palestine, she was always to the fore and all who knew her or who met her received an education on Irish history and Republicanism.

Her comrades in Cumann na mBan and Sinn Féin Poblachtach will sorely miss her and we extend deepest sympathy to her son Danny and family, and her family circle in Belfast and Galway.

Is measc Laochra na Fíníní go raibh sí.

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