a publican, undertaker and bicycle-repairer in Ballinamore. He was elected a Sinn Féin councillor to Leitrim County Council in 1960, serving as chairperson of that body. He was still a member of the council at the time of his death. After his death, a monument was erected to McGirl in his native town of Ballinamore. It is located on the bridge crossing the Shannon–Erne Waterway. A nephew, Francis McGirl, was charged but acquitted of the murder of Lord Mountbatten, who was killed by the IRA when his boat was bombed off the Sligo coast in 1979. John Joe's son, Liam McGirl, was co-opted on to Leitrim County Council in 1988 after his father's death. References 1921 births 1988 deaths Irish Republican Army (1922–1969) members Irish republicans Members of the 16th Dáil Local councillors in County Leitrim Politicians from County Leitrim Provisional Irish Republican Army members Republicans imprisoned during the Northern Ireland conflict Sinn Féin TDs (post-1923)