Bobby Sands

Sands biography for younger readers

Earlier this year Denis O'Hearn launched his biography of Bobby Sands, Nothing but an Unfinished Song, published by Nation Books (New York) and Pluto Press (London). Even before the book was published, however, Denis and former Hunger Striker and writer Laurence McKeown were working on an adaptation of the biography for younger readers. The result was I Arose this Morning, published last month by Beyond the Pale Publications. The Irish language version, D'éirigh Mé ar Maidin, translated from the original by Rath na Gaeilge and edited by Seán Mac Aindreasa, is published this week by Coiscéim. The book also contains illustrations by Thomas 'Dixie' Elliot, a former blanketman from Derry who shared a cell with Bobby Sands for a time.

This coming Saturday, 16 September, a simultaneous launch of both the English and Irish language versions will take place in An Culturlann, Falls Road, at one o'clock, hosted by An Ceathrú Póilí. Jake Jackson, former prisoner, blanketman and friend of Bobby Sands, will officially launch the book.

Laurence McKeown described the book as another important contribution to this year's 25th anniversary events commemorating the Hunger Strike. "The Hunger Strike period is now being discussed in schools as part of the curriculum so Denis and I thought it would be good to have a book specially written for younger readers and in particular to have it in Irish, given that events in the H-Blocks contributed significantly to the revival of the language. Many former prisoners are today Irish language teachers and, indeed, principals of Irish language schools, which is testament to the role they have played upon release."

Denis O'Hearn is equally delighted that his biography of Bobby Sands will now reach a wider audience. "The original biography asked how people like Bobby Sands become activists and then strengthen their beliefs to the degree that they willingly make tremendous sacrifices and do extraordinary things. Writing for young people adds a new dimension to this question because we directly addressed the ethical dilemmas that Bobby and others faced in joining the IRA and then doing things that were quite controversial. Young people face hard choices nearly every day and we hope this book will encourage them to think about the consequences of the choices they make, even if they are less dramatic than those that Bobby Sands faced."

Copies of the book will be available on the day to be signed by the authors and other former prisoners. Everyone is welcome.

Titanic struggle seen through the eyes of heroes

Poor Tom Humphries had double reason to be disappointed when Mayo scuppered the 'dream ticket' final of Dublin and Kerry. Firstly as a Dublin supporter, and secondly as the author of a book that would have shot to the top of the best-seller list had such an event come to pass.

Unfortunately it did not but the book is still worthwhile. For many of us for whom the late '70s and early '80s were our childhood and adolescence, Dublin and Kerry was a huge part of our lives. For me it was an obsession, so it is good to know that those directly involved were similarly possessed! But of course we knew that anyway.

Lots of people played football and hurling in Dublin before Heffernan's team but All Irelands were for other counties. No one had any interest in the Dublin county teams. The city had had no symbol, no totem, and no heroes since the demise of the great team of the late '50s and early '60s.

Then in 1974 was born the modern phenomenon that seems impervious to failure. The longer Dublin go without winning an All Ireland the more interest there appears to be and the bigger the crowds. And without doubt much of that has to do with the yearning for a return of the heroic age. Of Dublin and Kerry. For those who were there and for those for whom it is a foundation myth.

From a Kerry perspective it is interesting to note how fragile their self-esteem can be at times. Down and Galway in the '60s, and Cork in 1973 and 1974, had inflicted a huge belt to the collective ego. Even after the 1975 win with a young and untested side, the knives were out for O'Dwyer after their defeats in 1976 and 1977 at the hands of the Dubs - chaps described by Páidí Ó Sé as "Psychopaths, in the best possible sense"!

This book is the story of the titanic struggle of the two teams between 1975 and 1979. Of course it is a tale that was far older and continued afterwards, but the '70s encapsulated it in one magical period when they could bring 40,000 to a league match in Croke Park on a freezing cold November afternoon. When young fellas like myself developed insomnia and oul fellas experienced a gamut of emotions that would have astonished their wives.

It is seen here through the eyes of the heroes: men like Jimmy Keaveney, who allowed Pat O'Neill 'fix' his broken nose so he could go drinking after a match. Men like John O'Keeffe, who O'Dwyer made play on despite having been concussed and the doctor insisting that he couldn't remember a thing. "Sure can't he see it tonight on the television" was Micko's reply.

Mighty men. But men for whom it was not all good. There was a lot of drink taken and some of those who drank did so to excess. It is the perennial tale of the young hero who does not die but fades away or, worse still, attempts to glimpse again past glories through the bottom of a glass. Not all of course but a salutary lesson nonetheless.

I closed the book feeling a bit sad and I will be sadder still when I watch Kerry and Mayo parading on Sunday. The sorrow and self-pity of the jilted lover.

How could they possibly do it with someone else!!

BY MATT TREACY