Sean "Maxie" McIlvenná (born Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

, 4 April 1951 – 17 December 1984 in County Armagh

County Armagh

-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...

, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

) was a volunteer

Volunteer (Irish republican)

Volunteer, often abbreviated Vol., is a term used by a number of Irish republican paramilitary organisations to describe their members. Among these have been the various forms of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army...

 in the 2nd Battalion, North Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army

Provisional Irish Republican Army

The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...

.

Background

McIlvenná was born in the Docks area of Belfast and grew up in Fortwilliam Park before settling on the Antrim Road. In 1970, he married his childhood sweetheart, Patricia "Pat" Burns, he met at a local youth club. The couple moved to the Dundalk area of County Louth

County Louth

County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...

 and together had seven children: Cathy, Sinead, Ciara, Sarah, Patricia, Fiona and Sean Óg.. He was a Gaelic football

Gaelic football

Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

 enthusiast.

Attack at Blackwaterstown

McIlvenna, (33) was an active PIRA member and was killed during a gun battle with members of the RUC

Royal Ulster Constabulary

The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...

 on 17 December 1984 near Blackwaterstown, County Armagh

County Armagh

-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...

. McIlvenna had undertaken a landmine attack on a UDR

UDR

UDR may refer to:*Ulster Defence Regiment*União Democrática Ruralista , a Brazilian right-wing association of farmers*Union des Démocrates pour la République, French political party*Union for Democracy and the Republic , Chadian political party...

patrol vehicle. As he and other members of his unit retreated from the scene across a field they were spotted by an RUC unit who opened fire on them killing McIlvenna.

Memorials

Vol. Sean Mcilvenná Republican Flute Band in Glasgow, Scotland has been named in honour of McIlvenna as was Sean McIlvenna Celtic Supporters Club in Dundalk.