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26 July 2001 Edition

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Cavan/Monaghan remembers Kieran Doherty TD

Thursday 2 August marks the 20th anniversary of Kieran Doherty, who was one of the ten men who gave their lives on Hunger Strike in 1981. Before his death, Kieran Doherty was elected TD for Cavan/Monaghan. Unfortunately, his election victory was not enough to save his life.

Throughout the country, thousands of ordinary men and women supported the Hunger Strikers in whatever way they could, while Britain sentenced them to death and the Dublin government failed to intervene in any meaningful way.

To mark Kieran Doherty's anniversary, commemorative events will take place throughout counties Cavan and Monaghan as well as in Kieran's home at Andersonstown, Belfast. The culmination of these events will be a weekend-long series of events in Ballyconnell, County Cavan from 3 to 5 August (See box ad).

Vigils will be held in Monaghan town and in Clones, with times still tyo be confirmed, and two vigils will also take place in South Monaghan on the anniversary date - Thursday 2 August, at 8pm on Main Street, Carrickmacross, and at 9.30pm in Inniskeen Village. These events are organised by the County Monaghan 1981 Committee and everybody is welcome to attend.

For further information on any of the above events please contact Matt at (042) 9663579 or (087) 625 9587.

 

Hunger Strike function well supported in Westport



Hundreds of supporters attended a 20th anniversary function organised by the Westport 1981 Hunger Strike Committee on Friday night, 20 July, in the Atlantic Coast Hotel.

The function, which proved to be an overwhelming success, is part of a series of events planned and organised by the committee to mark the 20th anniversary of the ten young republicans who died on hunger strike in 1981. Those who attended were treated to electrifying renditions of all the old favourite republican and freedom songs, performed by experienced Louth-based band `Shan Nós'.

Westport 81 Committee member, Seoseamh Ó Maolchroin addressed the crowd and briefly outlined the legacy of the hunger strikes: ``It's important today, 20 years on, that we never forget the selfless sacrifice of the ten hunger strikers and their basic demands of political status and human rights. It's also important that we acknowledge and express our gratitude to all those people from in and around Westport and across the entire political spectrum who supported the hunger strikers back in 1981.''

As a special treat, local poet Paddy Guthrie gave a `debut' reading of his recently commissioned poem `Ten' in honour of the ten dead hunger strikers.

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