“The hardest place to be an Irish Republican at that time was in Britain” - Republicans in London and South Derry mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Derek Highsted. Free article

He spent 71 days on hunger strike from 23 May 1981. He died on 1 August 1981. Free article

Film documentary review by Mícheál Mac Donncha – ‘The Day innocence Died - Bloody Sunday and the Fight for Justice’. Directed by Hannan Majid & Richard York. Produced by Hannan Majid, Richard York & Adrian Kerr. Free article

Local Liverpool trade unionist and political activist groups marched through the heart of the city centre last weekend to mark the contribution of local International Brigade volunteers in the Spanish Civil War. Free article

“The prospect of Irish unity is no longer a distant dream. It is an achievable objective. That did not happen by accident. It was built by generations of republicans who refused to surrender hope.” So said Martina Anderson, speaking at the 50th anniversary commemoration of Volunteer Patrick Cannon in Balgriffin Cemetery, Dublin, on 18 July. Free article

Ninety years ago today on 17 July 1936, Spanish generals led by Francisco Franco began a coup against the democratically elected government of the Spanish Republic. Free article

THE death of IRA Volunteer Martin Hurson on 13 July 1981, after 46 days on the Hunger Strike, was unexpected. The suddenness of his death, coming only five days after that of Joe McDonnell, came as a shock since two other Hunger Strikers – Kieran Doherty and Kevin Lynch – had been almost a week on hunger strike ahead of Martin. Free article

JOE McDONNELL was the fifth Hunger Striker to die due to the intransigence of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her government. Free article

I have just returned from Washington, where Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald met with congressional members and Irish American and Trade Union leaders. In Congress, we met a cross-section of representatives from all shades of the Republican and Democratic parties. Free article

The grave of Theobald Wolfe Tone at Bodenstown was for long the site of the largest annual national gathering of republicans. Other events may since have overtaken it in numbers, but it remains the spiritual home of Irish Republicanism and a renewed emphasis on Tone’s commemoration this year saw a larger attendance in 2026 than for many years. Free article