News | An Phoblacht

Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara – Died on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh

19 May 2026

THURSDAY, 21 MAY 1981, witnessed the deaths of two more Hunger Strikers. Raymond McCreesh passed away at 2:30am. That evening, Patsy O’Hara died. The deaths of Raymond and Patsy – who had started the strike on the same day, died on the same day and were born within a fortnight of each other in February 1957 – marked a critical escalation in the prison struggle as well as the struggle outside the prisons walls. Free article

“This is the decade of opportunity” – Michelle O’Neill

11 October 2023

Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O’Neill spoke at a key fringe event at this year’s Labour Party conference. She was joined by Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Hilary Benn, Opposition Leader in the British House of Lords, Angela Smith, and North Belfast Sinn Féin MP John Finucane. Free article

Republicans need to better understand Protestants and Unionists

6 October 2023

Sinn Féin national chair Declan Kearney writes on the future and the need for republicans to better understand Protestants and Unionists. Free article

3 October 1981 – The H-Blocks Hunger Strike ends

3 October 2023

The epic and heroic chapter in Irish history that was the H-Block Hunger Strike came to an end after 217 tortuous days on 3 October 1981. Free article

The Great Escape from the H-Blocks

25 September 2023

TWO YEARS after the epic 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike in which ten young republicans died, there was another epic event at Long Kesh that dealt a huge blow to the Thatcher regime in Ireland. This was the escape of 38 IRA prisoners from H-Block 7 on Sunday 25 September 1983. Free article

The Catalans are not Spanish – They are Catalan

22 September 2023

Declan Kearney writes on Catalonia and reaffirms Sinn Féin's full commitment to assisting all efforts to achieve of a new, inclusive, progressive Catalan republic. Free article

Call for Irish unity heard at TUC conference

21 September 2023

Sinn Féin MP for Newry Armagh, Mickey Brady spoke on the case for Irish unity in September’s Trade Union Congress annual conference in Liverpool. Free article

Bernadette O’Hagan – 1927-2023

5 September 2023

The recent passing of Bernadette O’Hagan saw the end of a life well lived by a woman well loved by family and friends, a deeply committed Republican who gave decades of dedicated service to the cause of Irish freedom. Free article

Jeremy Corbyn returns to West Belfast for Féile35

16 August 2023

There was a warm welcome for former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn at the West Belfast Féile on 3 August when he addressed the main hall of St Mary’s College. Free article

A Republic For All

11 August 2023

Writing in his latest blog, Declan Kearney said a new progressive, inclusive, democratic Ireland is waiting to be created by us all. Free article

Harry McEntee centenary

9 August 2023

One hundred years ago this month many families in Ireland were in mourning in the aftermath of the tragic Civil War. But even after the war officially ended more people were plunged into grief and last weekend several generations of a wide family group gathered to recall one of the less well remembered fallen of that time - Harry McEntee of the IRA’s Dublin Brigade. Free article

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