In 1920 several hunger strikes (Mountjoy and Cork) were conducted by Irish Republicans demanding political status, resulting in two deaths from starvation. In the 1923 Irish hunger strikes thousands of Irish prisoners went on hunger strikes resulting in several deaths. It has been said before that Ireland has too many martyrs. Countless lives have been lost trying to break the chains of imperialism and capitalism, which continue to cause so much pain and anguish. Ireland can have a future free from poverty, exploitation, oppression and sectarianism. But this is only to be found along the path of revolutionary class struggle. There were Republican hunger strikes in British prisons and internment camps throughout the War of Independence and after, when control was passed over to the Free State. The youngest hunger striker ever, May Zambra, joined a 1923 hunger strike at 17 years old. Due to the Civil War, some anti-Treaty prisoners were not released until 1932, and many found themselves interned again during the Second World War. Mr O'Rawe will join more than two dozen community activists, academics, business people and politicians in exploring the priorities for potential constitutional change. The ten hunger strikers got their medals presented first. Nine families were there, Bobby Sands’ family asked Colm Scullion to accept the medal for Bobby and he will pass it on as Colm had shared a cell with Bobby.

However, the Army Council of the IRA rejected the offer and six more men died, the last one on August 20. The strike ended, partly due to the strikers’ families intervening, on October 30 and, soon after, most of the rights demanded were granted. Sinn Féin has since turned much of the history of the 1981 hunger strike into a legend, placing itself at the middle of the struggle and airbrushing out the involvement of the IRSP, socialists like Bernadette McAliskey, trade unionists, and others.Once Sinn Féin had seized control of the movement, they limited its scope to supporting the basic Republican demands, and marginalised the trade unions and socialists. What could have been a genuine solidarity movement against British imperialist oppression was channelled into support for the Provisional IRA. Stakeknife's Dirty War: The Inside Story of Scappaticci, the IRA's Nutting Squad and the British Spooks Who Ran the War. Merrion Press. The protest led to a war within the prisons. The Blanketmen were beaten by the guards whenever they left their cells to use the bathrooms. Republican women in Armagh prison were allowed to keep their own clothes, but still suffered mistreatment. To protect themselves, the prisoners then refused to leave their cells, and protested assaults from prison guards by smashing furniture. Blanketman" redirects here. For the homeless man known as "Blanketman" or "Blanket man", see Ben Hana.

Imagine if Quebec wanted to break away from Canada..oh wait, they do, but anyway, I’m not a fan of blowing legs off women and kids if that’s what they wanted to do. You agree with all this terrorist movements?, what about ETA?, Spain went around destroying most of south America, but don’t think it’s fair to use that as an excuse for blowing people up today. Sinn Féin and the PIRA leadership declared victory when the hunger strike was called off in October 1981. The families of the prisoners had asked for it to end, and the British government had secretly offered to partially fulfil their demands. Thatcher had called the hunger strike the Republican movement’s “last card” to play. But what she and the British ruling class really feared was the rising mass movement. Although the prisoners felt that they were “being buried alive in a sewer” they refused to comply with regulations. sorry to confuse you with all the talk of Britain, UK, republic, you can look it up on the internet)

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Richard O'Rawe was born in 1956 and spent the first fourteen years of his life in the Lower Falls district of Belfast. His home was at the corner of Peel Street and Mary Street. Nearby lived Gerry Conlon. In 1970, his home in Peel Street was demolished as part of the redevelopment of the area and he and his family moved to Ballymurphy, a new housing estate. At this time, The Troubles was developing. In 1971, the Ballymurphy massacre occurred in which eleven civilians were killed by the British Army. The following year, there was the Battle at Springmartin nearby. As a result of the heightened conflict in the area, O'Rawe got involved in Irish republican politics. [1] He was later arrested and imprisoned in Crumlin Road gaol and then in Long Kesh prison. [2] Role in the hunger strikes [ edit ] The book saw its author ostracised by mainstream republicans, including many of Mr O'Rawe's former friends and comrades. The symptoms of starvation include hallucinations and delirium, diminished sight and speech, and unbearable headaches and stomach pains. Contrary to the militarists’ policy, however, were leaders in Sinn Féin who wanted the end of the policy of abstention (refusing to take seats in British or partitionist legislatures) and give the party more focus on winning elections.