22 Irish hunger strikers to be remembered in Dublin commemoration .

by Sharon. - Individual . Mon May 07, 2007 20:54

Hi All !

The RSF-organised Memorial Rally for the 22 Irish hunger-strikers , held on Saturday 5th May 2007 at the GPO in Dublin , went as planned : we had a static presence of about fifty people with approximately the same number again helping-out at one stage or another over the two-hour period .
Thousands of leaflets were handed-out to members of the public , hundreds of extra copies of the 'Saoirse' newspaper were sold and dozens of new contact's were made . Plus , Séan the Piper is now the most photographed piper on this island !

The organisers were pleased with the results of the day , and wish to thank all those who put the effort in to make it the success it was . They have now began the preparation for Bodenstown Sunday , June 10th , 2007 .

'Remember the Hunger-Strikers' .

Cumann na mBan member .

Sinn Fein Poblachtach banner , May 5th , 2007.

Some of the black flags used on the day .

....not forgetting the political prisoners of today.

by Patrick Henry Tue May 01, 2007 13:42

We should never forget the invaluable part played by women during the struggle. In many instances they suffered intolerable tortures by their captives. One such woman who became a Heroine of mine was Anne Devlin, whom I first heard mention of when imprisoned in the Kesh.
They truly deserve a monument of their own.

by Sharon . - Individual Mon Apr 30, 2007 22:26

Hi Jacqueline !

Good post - thank you for taking the time to reply .

For the benefit of readers , I do not know Jacqueline personally but have more than likely 'bumped' into the good lady at commemorations and pickets etc . And hope to do so again - perhaps , together , we can 'bump' into those 'minders' you wrote about !
;-)

Sharon.

by Jacqueline Fallon - Independent Individual Mon Apr 30, 2007 20:35

In response to the comment from ‘Women’:

Sinn Féin Poblachtach are always commemorating the women/men who fought for Ireland and who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Irish freedom. It really shows your ignorance of them to accuse them of overlooking women, when in fact they are continuously and ceaselessly holding commemorations for Irish women/men in every county in the country who fought for Irish freedom.

If you want someone to blame for not commemorating the women, then blame those in Leinster House, who until recently didn’t think it fitting to even commemorate 1916, it was as if Fianna Fáil (‘The Not So Republican Anymore Party’) and Fine Gael were embarrassed of their military past!

This commemoration is for the men who died from 1917 to 1981as it clearly states - no women died on hunger strike, if they did, they would, of course, be listed and included. There are women in Republican Sinn Féin that I’m sure would see to this. Anyway, instead of nit-picking, why don’t women come out and show their support and commemorate those men who suffered such agonising deaths for the cause of Irish freedom.

On an entirely different note, it would be great if for once, I could attend this commemoration without being harassed and followed and surveilled by members of the SDU of An Garda Síochána. Every citizen of Ireland should have the right to attend any commemoration of their choice in peace, and have the right not to be subjected to threatening, sinister behaviour and bullying tactics. Of course, there will be people reading this who will say, you must have done something or else why would the Garda Síochána be doing this, well, you would be wrong!!! The only thing I’m guilty of, is standing peacefully on a footpath holding a placard! Unfortunately, the reality is that, citizens attending commemorations such as this one, are denied fundamental human rights - rights that exist theoretically in the F. State’s blue book of fairytale rights entitled ‘Bunreacht na hÉireann’ but, alas, the rights do not apply in practice to every citizen, the magical rights available in this little blue book only appear to those Irish citizens who pass the Leinster House test of approval. I have apparently miserably failed that test, so for me those rights are diluted and become so small they vanish and, instead, I get harassed and bullied by the ‘special’ people employed by Leinster House.

There is no real democracy in practice in Ireland today, no true right to freedom of assembly, no real equality, no right to freedom of expression for all Irish citizens; and then people wonder why some people are angry and are literally ‘up in arms’ - I know why.

See you all on the 5th May.

Slán anois.

Jackie

by Sharon . - Individual . Mon Apr 30, 2007 13:15

Hi 'Lickspittle' !

On this occasion , your 'spittle' has missed the target :
http://homepage.eircom.net/~sosul/page4.html
http://www.4qd.org/torrens/origins.html

Hi 'Woman' !

"There were women hunger strikers too"
There were indeed - we have mentioned that fact in different articles on our blog (see 'Related Link' , below) .
However , the May 5th , 2007 Memorial Rally is being held to commemorate those Irish republicans that died on hunger-strike between the years 1917 and 1981 . All were male . ( As stated - 'Republicans to remember and commemorate the sacrifice made by the 22 Irish men who died on hunger strike between the years 1917 and 1981.')

"Will it always be male issues?"
Not on our blog , no : articles covered regarding republican women include pieces/articles/full posts on the following - Dorothy Macardle , Molly O' Reilly , 'Women Behind The Wire' , Female Prisoners In Armagh Jail , 'We Are All Part Of The Same Struggle' by Mary Ward , 'Women Volunteers In The IRA' and coverage of an interview with Lily Moffatt .

"Many , many women suffered. some died. some lost homes and income
in the years 1916----- "
....and before 1916 , as we all know .

" Some were subjected to grievous abuse, inclludeing what happened to grace Gifford
In Portlaoise. And yet we continue to write them out of our history."
No we do not . See our contribution , as mentioned above.

"No wonder the women i know cross their arms and laugh at this politicising
of our past- its a hollow drum."
I would suggest that those women would be better employed to 'un-cross their arms' and attempt to correct the situation . Or should we simply wait , "arms folded" , and hope it will be done for us ?

Sharon .

by Women Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:24

Most of them were incarcerated in hollloway away from their homes and kids.
Connie did not join cos she was already bird-size.

Will it always be male issues?

Many , many women suffered. some died. some lost homes and income
in the years 1916-----

Some were subjected to grievous abuse, inclludeing what happened to grace Gifford
In Portlaoise. And yet we continue to write them out of our history.

No wonder the women i know cross their arms and laugh at this politicising
of our past- its a hollow drum.

by Lickspittle Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:35

That wouldn't be Terence McSwiney by any chance? If you can't even spell the man's name, get over it.

by Sharon. - Individual . Tue Apr 17, 2007 07:51

Thomas Ashe, Kerry, 5 days, 25 September 1917 (force fed by tube , died as a result).
Terrence McSweeny, Cork, 74 days, 25 October 1920.
Michael Fitzgerald, Cork, 67 days, 17 October 1920.
Joseph Murphy, Cork, 76 days , 25 October 1920 .
Joe Witty, Wexford , 2 September 1923.
Dennis Barry, Cork, 34 days, 20 November 1923.
Andy O Sullivan , Cork, 40 days, 22 November 1923.
Tony Darcy, Galway, 52 days, 16 April 1940.
Jack 'Sean' McNeela, Mayo, 55 days, 19 April 1940.
Sean McCaughey, Tyrone ,22 days, 11 May 1946 (hunger and thirst Strike).
Michael Gaughan, Mayo , 64 days, 3 June 1974.
Frank Stagg, Mayo , 62 days, 12 February 1976.
Bobby Sands, Belfast , 66 days, 5 May 1981.
Frank Hughes , Bellaghy (Derry) , 59 days, 12 May 1981.
Raymond McCreesh , South Armagh , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Patsy O Hara , Derry , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Joe McDonnell , Belfast , 61 days, 8 July 1981.
Martin Hurson , Tyrone , 46 days, 13 July 1981.
Kevin Lynch, Dungiven (Derry) ,71 days, 1 August 1981.
Kieran Doherty , Belfast , 73 days, 2 August 1981.
Tom McIlwee , Bellaghy (Derry) , 62 days, 8 August 1981.
Micky Devine , Derry , 60 days, 20 August 1981.
A two-hour picket and rally will be held on the traffic isle facing the GPO in Dublin's O'Connell Street , beginning at 1(one) P.M , on Saturday May 5th 2007 .
All Welcome.

Remembering all 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers.....

by Big Mac Fri Apr 13, 2007 17:16

It appears the Shinners have made another behind the scenes deal with the DUP to allow the Orangemen down the Garvaghy Road. I
hope that it blows up in their faces and the residents refuse to cooperate. What then, will the Shinners be forced to back the PSNI in forcing it through? It wouldn't surprise me in the least as they seem to have lost all self respect since they took over from the SDLP as the main Nationalist Party.
To think that so many died on the streets and in the prisons to bring these hypocrites to this juncture.

by Sharon . - Individual . Fri Apr 13, 2007 17:06

Hi Daithí!

" Best of luck with it comrades.
Whilst I disagree with the exclusiveness of Sinn Féin Poblachtach, nonetheless on an individual basis I've found their members principled and dignified, just like our comrades who paid the ultimate price."
I can understand that other republicans may not wish to be seen to be 'supporting' a republican organisation which they do not politically agree with by taking part in a rally organised by that particular organisation , but could I suggest that those republicans hold their own event on the same day at , perhaps , the Parnell Monument or on the traffic isle at O'Connell Bridge ? It would boost republican numbers were they to do so .
Likewise , could I suggest to those opposed to this remembrance rally - and , no doubt , they will soon make themselves 'known' on this thread in the near future- that
they be strong enough in their convictions to organise a counter picket on the day rather than simply just attempt , on this Board , to belittle those of us who are in favour of the rally ?

"Let's be united and forget about the provos' lies. Let's remember our fenian dead with dignity. Let us not forget the INLA hungerstrikers who stood side by side with Oglaigh Na hEireann volunteers."
Agreed , Daithí - all 22 men will be remembered and commemorated together , as it should be .

Slán go fóill anois ,

Sharon .

by Daithí - Non aligned Republican Fri Apr 13, 2007 16:06

Best of luck with it comrades.

Whilst I disagree with the exclusiveness of Sinn Féin Poblachtach, nonetheless on an individual basis I've found their members principled and dignified, just like our comrades who paid the ultimate price.

Let's be united and forget about the provos' lies. Let's remember our fenian dead with dignity. Let us not forget the INLA hungerstrikers who stood side by side with Oglaigh Na hEireann volunteers.

Beidh ár lá linn.

Daithí.

by Sharon . - Individual . Fri Apr 13, 2007 09:19

Hi Sean and Jacqueline !

In relation to the Magaberry situation , more information can be found here -
http://www.freewebs.com/powstatusnow/

Hoping for a good turn out on May 5th next....

Sharon .

"That England might make Ireland's fight 800 years of crime..."

by Jacqueline Fallon Fri Apr 13, 2007 03:00

I hope to God, Ireland never sees another hunger strike, and that no Irish person has to endure such a torturous end. It saddens me today that Republican prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol are denied political status and similar rights that were gained as a result of the 1981 hunger strike, and it highlights to me what an appalling waste of life that was.

With regard to the six hunger strikers that were 'allowed' to die. The hunger strikers chose themselves to hunger strike, nobody can force a person to stay on hunger strike, they volunteer to do so themselves, it was their decision. The sole blame for the deaths of those ten Republican hunger strikers in 1981 remains as it does with all the others, at the hands of the British Government. The British Government had control of the prisons, they were solely responsible, nobody else had the power to improve the Volunteers' living conditions. It would be ludicrous to suggest that Gerry Adams wanted any of the hunger strikers to die, they were his friends and comrades after all, and I'm sure he did negotiate as best he could on behalf of the volunteers, but given that Margaret Thatcher was in power, there wasn't much hope of success. Now, I would like to stress that I'm no fan of the political road Mr. Adams & Co. has ventured down today, but I don't doubt he did his very best for those hunger strikers that were his comrades back then.

I hope none of the 22 Irish hunger strikers will ever be forgotten. I believe they all paid too high a price for very little return, but through their suffering, we can by commemorating them reflect on the hardship they all suffered and the ultimate sacrifice they made by laying down their lives for a United Ireland, independent and free from British rule. Beannacht Dé orthu.

by Sean Oglach Thu Apr 12, 2007 15:59

22 Irishmen died on hunger strike during the war for Irish freedom, but the question remains unanswered, were 6 of these men allowed to die to ensure the election of Owen Carron as was alleged by Richard O' Rawe in his book? This question should be raised again especially as we now see the lengths that the leadership of Sinn Fein are and were prepared to go in pursuit of power and redirecting the course of the struggle.
Don't forget that Adams was negotiating with the Brits behind the backs of the IRA leadership at a time when they were considering stepping up the war.

by Sharon. - Individual . Thu Apr 12, 2007 07:50

Hi Dissident !

" Er, I don't think so - control continues with the consent of the majority of people living there, and largely through the indifference of the rest....."

Where does the 'authority' to establish the Stormont institutions come from ?
And the finance for same ?
'Er' , I think you know the answer.....

Sharon.

by Dissident Thu Apr 12, 2007 00:10

'That same fight continues today , as six Irish counties remain under the jurisdictional control of Westminster , which enforces that control with military occupation'
Er, I don't think so - control continues with the consent of the majority of people living there, and largely through the indifference of the rest.....

by Sharon . - Individual . Wed Apr 11, 2007 19:48

Hi Conor !

The May 5th Commemoration (above) has been organised by Republican Sinn Fein : my mistake for not providing a direct link , although the indirect link at the bottom of the post would have yielded a clue !

Slán go fóill anois ,

Sharon .

The Organisers of the up-coming May 5th 2007 Hunger-Strikers event in Dublin !

by Conor Wed Apr 11, 2007 17:05

Would it not make sense to state who is organising the commemoration? The term republican movement as used in the notice above is ambiguous at best and divisive at worst. Also as the republican movement (or a republican movement) is not any one specific organisation or group of individuals, and can be used to refer to a range of both. It would be fairer to give those whom you are inviting to the commemoration enough information to decide whether they want to be associated with whoever is organising this particular commemoration.
Clarification would be appreciated by this reader at least.
GRMA