Over 20,000 people attended a major march and rally in Belfast on Sunday, 13 August to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike, in which 10 republican prisoners died. The event also honoured Mayo republicans Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg who died on hunger strike in England in 1974 and 1976 respectively. Free article

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams delivered the main address at the rally in Belfast's Casement Park to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike. Free article

Wednesday 9 August saw Sinn Féin hold protests across the 26 Counties to oppose the gifting of public land to property developers seeking to build private hospitals. Free article

Sinn Féin International Affairs and Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to publicly reject US President George Bush's analysis of the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking on Tuesday, Ó Snodaigh went on to say that 26 County Defence Forces have a positive role to play in the peace keeping mission in Lebanon. Free article

Figures from research conducted by Friends First Building Society indicates that 85% of private sector workers in the 26 Counties are solely reliant on state benefits in the event they become unable to work due to illness. This is in stark contrast to the situation in the Six Counties and led to Sinn Féin Workers' Rights spokesperson Arthur Morgan calling for harmonisation of sick pay entitlements across the island. Free article