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Commemorating the 1980/1981 Hunger strikers
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In the 1980's their were two hunger strikes. The first began in October 1980 and ended in December 1980,
without loss of life. There were 10 prisoners on Hunger Strike, seven in the H-Blocks (The Maze prison,
or Long Kesh as it was known to Republicans), and three women in Armagh jail. The second hunger strike
began in March 1981, five years after the British government withdrew political status from the prisoners.
The second Hunger Strike claimed the lives of ten Republican prisoners.
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The names of the following men will live forever in Republican folklore.
Bobby Sands MP.
Francis
Hughes.
Raymond Mc Creesh.
Patsy O Hara.
Joe Mc Donnell.
Martin Hurson.
Tom Mc Elwee.
Kevin Lynch.
Keiran Doherty.
Michael Devine.
AR DHEIS DE, GO RAIBH AR AINM.
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An ariel view of the eight H-Blocks which make up the Maze prison. The prison is still more commonly
referred to by Republicans by its former name, Long Kesh. They were built in the Seventies in the North
and were proclaimed by the British government as the most secure prison in Europe. They claimed that
the Maze was inescapable. This was a foolhardy claim though as in 1983, 38 Republicans prisoners regained
their liberty after a most daring escape. While some of the prisoners were captured the majority remained
on the run for years afterwards. It had its most infamous time though in 1981, when Republican prisoners
went on a hunger strike with 5 demands, the most potent being that they refused to be treated as criminals.
After the hunger strike was finished 10 brave Irishmen had made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their
lives for what they believed in. That they had the right to be free Irishmen.
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Bobby Sands MP - died on 5th May 1981 after 66 days on hunger strike.
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Martin Hurson - died on 13th June 1981 after 44 days on hunger strike.
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Francis Hughes - died on 12th May 1981 after 59 days on hunger strike.
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Raymond Mc Creesh - died on 21st May 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike.
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Patsy O Hara - died on 21st May 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike.
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Kevin Lynch - died on 1st August 1981 after 71 days on hunger strike.
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Thomas Mc Elwee - died on 8th August 1981 after 62 days on hunger strike.
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Kieran Doherty - died on 2th August 1981 after days on hunger strike.
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"And you dare to call them terrorists,
While you look down your gun,
When I think of all the
deeds that you have done,
You have plundered many nations,
Divided many lands,
You have terrorised
theirs peoples,
You ruled with a iron hand,
And you brought this reign of terror to my land"
Lines from The Ballad of Joe Mc Donnell, Hunger Striker and Hero.
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Joe Mc Donnell - died on 8th June 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike.
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Michael Devine - died on 20th August 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike.
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Ten men dead - Never forgotton
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" If they weren't able to destroy the desire for freedom,
They won't break you,
They won't
be able to break me,
Because the desire for freedom, and the freedom of the Irish people,
Is in my heart,
The day will dawn,
When all the people of Ireland,
Will have the desire
for freedom to show,
It is then we will see the Rising of the Moon"
The last lines
of the diary of Bobby Sands.
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For more information about the 1981 Hunger Strikers, including full biographies of the men that died
please visit :
The Hunger Strikers commemorative site at : http://larkspirit.com/hungerstrikes/
Click on the link to go straight to the site (remember to get back to this site use the back button
on your browser).
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