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Hundreds of people attended a candlelit procession on Saturday night to mark the 40th anniversary of the murder of Sinn Féin Vice President Maire Drumm.

Maire, who was born and raised in Killean, South Armagh, was murdered by loyalists as she lay in her hospital bed recovering from an operation in the Mater.  A collusion investigation was recently opened into her murder.

Current Sinn Féin Vice President Mary Lou McDonald was among the hundreds who assembled at Killean before walking past Maire's childhood home to the monument in her honour on Kelly's Road.

The procession was lead by a lone piper and an all female colour party who wore uniforms emblazoned with one of Maire's more famous quotes.  "We must take no steps backwards."

South Armagh MLA Megan Fearon addressed the crowd and spoke of how she has always looked up to Maire as an influence and inspiration describing her, in the same manner as the women of 1916 were described, as "the most unmanageable of revolutionaries."

Following the procession the crowd went to Ti Chulainn for a unique evening of remembrance.  Family, friends and comrades of Maire's spoke with Councillor Roisin Mulgrew about their memories of her in a very candid, warm and informal manner.

Mary Lou McDonald then addressed the crowd before an evening of live music began.