Draft:Henry McAlinden



Henry McAlinden (c.1920 – 2010) was an Irish republican, political activist and Irish language advocate based in Ballymena, County Antrim. He stood for the Irish Independence Party in the 1978 Ballymena council by-election, being the first Irish republican candidate to do so in the town.

His grandson, Bréanainn Lyness, who is an incumbent Sinn Féin councillor, would go on to be the first Irish republican elected in Ballymena town in 2023, and the first Irish republican Deputy Mayor in Mid & East Antrim Borough Council in 2024.

Community work
Throughout the early 1950s, McAlinden dedicated his time to working for Gael Linn as the full-time County Antrim sales manager for more than 40 years. He travelled the county on his bicycle year after year, raising funds to support the Irish language and becoming widely recognized by a large group of people. He was awarded for his services to Gael Linn as the "top area collector" in Ireland.

McAlinden played a role as a founding member of the All Saints GAA Club in Ballymena. He organized Scór events, and had a passion for traditional folk music and céilí dancing.

Political activism
McAlinden was a committed Irish republican in terms of his political ideology. He ran for election in Ballymena representing the Irish Independence Party and had a close relationship with John Turnley, who died in Carnlough on 4 June 1980. During this period, McAlinden faced death threats from Loyalist paramilitaries. Both McAlinden and Turnley were heavily involved in the National H-Block/Armagh campaign. Additionally, McAlinden served as a committee member for North Antrim Green Cross, a group that provided support to the families of Irish republican prisoners, as well as the National Graves Association.