Mural to Hunger Strike TD Kieran Doherty unveiled in Dáil

A VERY SPECIAL EVENT took place in Leinster House this week with the unveiling of a new mural in the Sinn Féin Meeting Room to honour H-Blocks Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty TD.

On 11 June 1981, Kieran – while on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh for the restoration of political status – was elected as TD for the Cavan/Monaghan constituency in the Dáil general election, receiving over 9,000 first-preference votes.

He spent 73 days on hunger strike from 22 May. He died on 2 August 1981.

At Wednesday night’s poignant ceremony in the Dáil, members of Kieran’s family and the family of Frank Stagg, who died on hunger strike in England in 1976, joined Sinn Féin TDs, senators and staff to unveil a portrait of Kieran painted by internationally-renowned mural artist Danny Devenny from Belfast.

The event opened with music by Senator Fintan Warfield and Doireann Nic Dhomhmaill before Gerry Adams introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Director for Elections for Kieran in 1981.

“Thirty-five years ago,” he recalled, “on 11 June 1981, the electors of the constituency of Cavan/Monaghan returned Belfast IRA Volunteer, political prisoner and Long Kesh Hunger Striker Kieran Doherty as their TD

“With a constituency turn-out of 80%, Kieran secured the second-highest first-preference vote but had to wait until the seventh count to exceed the quota, taking the fourth of the five seats then on offer.

“Kieran’s election, and that of republican prisoner Paddy Agnew in the neighbouring constituency of Louth, came after the milestone election of Bobby Sands earlier that year on 9 April in Fermanagh & South Tyrone.

“In the period between the two parliamentary elections, Bobby Sands died on hunger strike on 5 May, followed by Francis Hughes on 12 May and both Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara on 21 May.

“Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson and Kevin Lynch would follow on 8 July, 13 July and 1 August respectively. And Kieran’s life expired on 2 August after 73 days on hunger strike.

“Thomas McElwee died on 8 August and Mickey Devine, the last of the ten to die, gave up his life on 20th August.”

The Hunger Strikers were fighting for recognition and restoration of their political status, as demonstrated by their five demands:-

•            The right to wear their own clothes.

•            The right to refrain from prison work.

•            The right to free association.

•            The right to organise their own educational and recreational facilities and to one letter, visit and parcel each week.

•            The right to full remission of sentences.

“They were political prisoners; they were republican prisoners,” Caoimhghín said. “Many of them had been active soldiers in the armed struggle prior to their capture or arrest.

“For Bobby Sands and his comrades who were committed to the realisation of Irish reunification and sovereignty, their allegiance was to the Irish Republic, the all-island Republic of Ireland, declared in Easter Week 1916 and confirmed by the assembled representatives of the Irish people in the First Dáil on 21 January 1919.

“In Bobby’s own words: ‘What is lost in here is lost for the Republic.’

“They would not contemplate defeat and nor has the struggle they so nobly served.

“That struggle now rests primarily in the hands of a new generation of Irish republican leaders and activists. That struggle is now being led by Sinn Féin.”

Kieran Doherty TD was “a friend we never met” in Cavan/Monaghan, Caoimhghín said, but a friendship was forged with Kieran’s family.

“Having had the honour to deliver the oration at Kieran’s graveside in Milltown Cemetery on 4 August 1981, I was doubly honoured by the Doherty family when they invited me to give the oration at the funeral of their father Alfie.

“To have known Alfie and Margaret, to have experienced their warmth, their sincerity and their total decency has been a hugely rewarding experience for me and for countless others. To be here this evening with Kieran’s brother Michael and his wife Betty is again a great joy. I extend on all our behalves our heartfelt thanks to all the Doherty family for their continuing solidarity and support.

“This mural, painted by my old An Phoblacht comrade Danny Devenny, is a fitting statement of not only from whence we have come but who we are.

“We are proud, and justly proud, of all who have gone before us and who have given their all in honourable service in the cause of Irish freedom and national sovereignty. Let no one doubt our absolute commitment to the achievement of our republican goals and let no one doubt our capacity to succeed.”

Kieran’s brother, Michael (pictured), said:

“Kieran was not a criminal. He was my wee brother. And he was a gentleman. I’ve always been ever so grateful that I got to spend some of my life with him.”

The following day, Gerry Adams summed up people’s feelings when he tweeted:

“Still a buzz on SF wing after last night’s Kieran Doc TD’s mural gig. We know who we are, where we came from and where we are going. Just saying.”