National award for Mayo broadcaster and journalist

A MAYO broadcaster and journalist has won a Gold distinction for a radio documentary on Frank Stagg.

Liamy MacNally, Westport, was honoured at last night's IMRO Radio Awards in Kilkenny in the Documentary/Feature category for his production – Frank Stagg’s Three Funerals – aired on RTE Radio One.

Frank Stagg was a Provisional IRA hunger striker from Hollymount who died in February 1976 after 62 days on hunger strike while in prison.

His burial caused considerable controversy and the story of his three funerals culminated in November 1977 when a group of republicans tunnelled under the concrete of his original grave at Leigue Cemetery in Ballina to recover the coffin under cover of darkness and reburied it in the republican plot.