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

50th Anniversary of the Battle of St Matthews and the Falls Curfew

3 July 2020

Addressing a mass rally in west Belfast in 1975, then Sinn Féin Vice-President Máire Drumm spoke of the emergence of what she called “The risen people.” There had been resistance before, even armed resistance, but now “we have a risen people” and, as Máire told the crowd, “No one can beat a risen people.” Free article

Sinn Féin unveil new Dáil frontbench team

2 July 2020

Party President Mary Lou McDonald revealed her team and outlined Sinn Féin’s objectives as the lead Opposition party in the Dáil at a press conference earlier today. Free article

Music can help create permanent meaningful change

30 June 2020

Andy McGibbon writes that within every crisis lies great opportunity. The musical response to the Black Lives Matter movement has a role in creating the momentum for equality of opportunity and justice for all. Free article

Mary Lou vs Micheál; the battle for the new Republic continues

28 June 2020

Oisín McCann gives his analysis on yesterday's election of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach, and the opportunity that lies ahead as Sinn Féin take position as lead Opposition in the Dáil. Free article

The Weekly Digest from Sinn Féin

27 June 2020

Welcome to The Weekly Digest from Sinn Féin where we bring you a flavour of the work and campaigns that we have been engaged in over the past week. Free article

The Battle of St Matthews

27 June 2020

Jim Gibney remembers a turning point in the struggle Free article

Reflections on ‘The Battle of St. Matthews’

26 June 2020

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile reflects on the meaning of the Battle of St Matthew’s to republicans today and how the events of 50 years ago has left an indelible imprint on his politics and understanding of the conflict and the republican struggle. Free article