Hunger Strike | 30th anniversary events

Tyrone hikers salute the courage of the Hunger Strikers

Frankie Pearson, John Coyle and Noel Allen on the Sperrins mountain climb.

ONE HUNDRED hikers braved the elements on Saturday 19th March to climb the Sperrin Mountains in a ‘Walk of Freedom’ to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike.
The hike was organised by West Tyrone Sinn Féin in conjunction with the National Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee and was timed to coincide with the Hunger Strike exhibition which was on display in the county during the week.
The route, which straddled the Tyrone/Derry border, crossed 10 snow-capped mountains, including Sawel and Mullaghclogha which are the highest points in Counties Derry and Tyrone.
From early morning, enthusiastic walkers descended upon the small rural hamlet of Aughabrack for refreshments and transport to the starting point at the village of Sperrin, located deep in the mountain range.
One of those who took part in the event was the Sinn Féin chairperson of Strabane District Council, Michaela Boyle. Michaela said:
“This was an amazing challenge and although exhausted, wet and cold, everyone who took part had a glowing sense of satisfaction. The walkers consisted of young, old, experienced and inexperienced but everyone did it at their own pace and everyone was united in a strong sense of camaraderie and friendship.
“Although we were physically challenged, when we saw the portrait of each Hunger Striker at the summit, it put our own discomfort into perspective and inspired us to march on.”
Another participant was Councillor Seán Clarke:
During the hike, we straddled in and out of counties Tyrone and Derry. This was fitting given that 6 out of the 10 Hunger Strikers were from these counties.
“For example, the seventh hunger striker, Kevin Lynch, hailed from the village of Park, which is located right at the foot of the mountains we were on, while the homesteads of Thomas McElwee and Francis Hughes in Tamlaghduff are also at the foothill of the Sperrins.
“Given that the weather was fine, combined with a high altitude, we could see as far as Derry City where Patsy O’Hara and Mickey Devine came from. We could also clearly see East Tyrone and South Armagh, where Martin Hurson and Raymond McCreesh grew up, while across Lough Neagh, the city of Belfast, home to Hunger Strikers Bobby Sands, Kieran Doherty and Joe McDonnell was visible.
Seán Clarke concluded:
“From reading about the lives and likes of the men who died in 1981, all of them were self-disciplined and had a deep appreciation of our beautiful country and its people.
“As such, this was a very fitting way to combine a health and fitness challenge with an event to commemorate the sacrifice of the Hunger Strikers as we mark the 30th anniversary of their deaths.”

HERE are the events that the National Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee knows of to mark the 30th anniversary of the heroic 1980/1981 Hunger Strikes.
Updates can be got from Maureen or Deirdre at the National Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee at 028 9034 7350 or [email protected] or local Sinn Féin contacts in your area.
The An Phoblacht website will also list events.
Organisers of other events not listed here are asked to forward details to the National Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee.
Anyone who would like to book the Hunger Strike Exhibition or request a speaker should do likewise.

» APRIL

11th to 15th
BELFAST: Exhibition in West Belfast Taxi Association Building King Street.
9am until 9pm

17th
ARMAGH: Exhibition in Ballymacnab Hall. 11am until6pm

22nd to 24th
COALISLAND: Exhibition inCorn Mill Heritage Center
25th to 28th
BELFAST: Exhibition in St Aidan’s CBS, Whiterock Road. 10am until 4pm

30th
CARNLOUGH, COUNTY ANTRIM: Exhibition in Carnlough Commnity Centre.10am until 6pm

» MAY

1st
BELFAST: Mural unveiling, Clowney Street. Speaker Fra McCann. 2pm
DERRY:  Assemble Michael Devine’s house, Rathkeele Way, walking to Rossiville Street Hunger Strike Memorial. Speakers Raymond McCartney and Martina Anderson.
WATERFORD: Rally and evening event. Speaker Eoghan Mac Cormac.

5th

Anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands
DERRY: Vigil at Rossville Street, 1pm.
DUBLIN: Vigil at the GPO, O’Connell Street, 6pm

7th
BELFAST: Bobby Sands Mountain Walk; Bobby Sands Memorial Lecture, Felons’ Club; Milltown Cemetery event.
DERRY: Quiz Night, Culturlann, Great James’s Street, 9.30pm.
DUBLIN: 2.30pm Assemble Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, parade to Glasnevin Cemetery Hunger Strike Memorial. Speakers Gerry Adams TD, Mary Lou McDonald TD and Dessie Ellis TD.

12th Anniversary of the death of Francis hughes
DERRY: Vigil at Rossville Street, 1pm.
DUBLIN: Vigil at Ark Roundabout, Liffey Valley, 7pm.

14th
BELFAST: ExhibitionEuropa
7pm until late

15th
MID-ULSTER: Francis Hughes Commemoration.

17th to 18th
BELFAST: Exhibition in St Mary’s Grammar School. Speakers Brendan McFarlane, Pat Sheehan, Mary Doyle.

19th
BELFAST: Exhibition in St Colm’s School, Twinbrook. Speakers Paddy Quinn, Jennifer McCann.

21st

Anniversary of the deaths of Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara
DUBLIN: Vigil at Walkinstown Roundabout, 12pm.

22nd
LETTERKENNY: Exhibition Church Hill 10 miles west on the road to Gweedore

27th to 28th
CORK: Exhibition and discussion.

31st May to June 1st
LETTERKENNY: Greenan Theatre. Discussion on events inside and outside the prisons by activists and former prisoners from the period.

OUTSIDE IRELAND

» JUNE

11th
GLASGOW: March and rally. Assemble Garngad 12 noon, march to Queen’s Park. [email protected]. www.h1981.net

18th
LONDON: Conference, London Irish Centre, 1pm to 5:30pm (see Facebook page). email london1981conference @yahoo.co.uk

There are other events  in the USA, Canada, Italy, Birmingham, London and Glasgow. More details will be available from the National Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee at 028 9034 7350 or [email protected] or check locally or the An Phoblacht website.