Memorial for Bothy Fire victims gathers pace

WITH the 90th anniversary of the tragic Bothy Fire in Kirkintiloch set to be marked in 2027, plans are well under way for a more extensive memorial to the site of the death of ten boys and young men from Achill Island—with the fundraising target already surpassed.

The traumatic event, where a group of seasonal workers from Mayo met with disaster in their accommodation in Kirkintilloch (above), saw 10 young lives lost and the futures of the female members of the party—close family relations of the males who perished—marked by the tragedy.

Previous efforts to place a memorial at the site of the fire saw a plaque erected in 2007, but events around its installation drew notable protests from more intolerant corners of Scottish society, and the humble plaque had to be shielded behind protective glass to prevent damage.

The incident reinforced the insidious hatred faced by the Irish community, but now—almost 20 years later—those seeking to commemorate the lives and tragic deaths of the victims have already received full support from the local council and have enjoyed fruitful engagement with local groups.

The driving force behind this latest effort to establish a fitting memorial is Colm Lenaghan—a native of Limerick, from Mayo stock, living in Kirkintilloch—who helped form the organising committee and launch the fundraising effort.

“I heard the story [of the fire] around ten years ago and could never find the plaque and was always something on my mind to have an eye out for,” he explained in a comment to the Mayo News. “I eventually found it, but I felt the boys deserved something better. I was over in Achill in 2019 and visited the monument and the grave of the ten boys and it stood out compared to what we have at home.

“I put the feelers out and asked people what they thought and the consensus is they deserved something better. The thing is people did not know where the current plaque was or the history around it and so the ball started rolling from there,”

Plans are now at an advanced stage, and having received local support Achill Red Sandstone has been sourced which is it hoped could form part of the memorial.

“The reaction locally has been very positive and East Dunbartonshire Council have been of great support and promised us a bit of land beside the original plaque,” Colm Lenaghan continued. “We want to get a good sized memorial which will last because you don't know what will happen with the current plaque. It is currently on a wall with an industrial estate behind it and it is not a great location for people to find it. We want something where people will have a place to come along and know where it is to pay their respects in years to come.

“We hope to be able to invite people from Achill and have a culture night for the unveiling and have musicians to play on the night as well as other events over the weekend. I have been in touch with some people in Achill about what is proposed and I am getting good feedback from families I have been in contact with. I want to finalise a date with the council to be able to send invitations so as many people from Achill can attend the unveiling. It is looking good for next year.”

More information can be found and donations made by visiting the website: www.kbfm2027.com