Annual commemoration on the 25th anniversary
of the 1981 hunger strike held in Bundoran

NIFC Editorial Staff

This year’s annual commemoration marked the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike in Long Kesh Prison and has been held annually in Bundoran since 1984. The organizers must be congratulated for the smooth manner in which the march and memorial was conducted.

Joe O Neill, veteran Irish republican chaired the event and was ably assisted by a dedicated and experienced committee

People from all over Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England were in attendance for this special occasion. A number of Cumann Na Saoirse Náisiúnta (CnaS) activists were also in attendance.

Bob Loughman who is a member of the Emerald Society of the New York Police Dept. has attended the Bundoran hunger strike commemoration since it started in 1984. Bob accompanied their band at the inauguration of this event. The fact that many members of the New York Police Pipe Band were still serving in the NY police at the time brought tremendous pressure on them not to perform at the first hunger strike commemoration.

Despite that pressure, all the members that were scheduled to march did so and demonstrated to the world that the hunger strikes were held in the highest esteem.

The people of Bundoran gave a very warm welcome to the returning six members who are now retired and who marched in a place of honor on this special occasion. It must also pointed out that they had already performed in April of this year at the New York 25th Anniversary commemoration of the 1981 hunger strike.

Prior to making a brief speech on the platform, Bob along with Ruairí Ó Brádaigh placed a wreath at the Republican Garden Of Remembrance on the parade route. Later from the platform, Bob paid tribute to the families of the hunger strikers and told them how much they have been loved and respected for their dignity. He spoke of the dedication of all of the hunger strikers and said that regardless of whether they were INLA or IRA they were young Irishmen who refused to be criminalized and died for a united Ireland and not for seats in Stormont or London.

A video of the entire event has been produced and is presented in four parts for easier viewing.

(Will be posted shortly)

First Video;

Chairman Joe O Neill welcoming the crowd and starting the parade

Includes the march through Bundoran along with the four bands

Laying of the Wreath by Ruairi O Bradaigh and Bob Loughman

Second Video;

The memorial service speeches by

Anthony Mc Intyre (The Blanket)

Mary Ward, whose husband Pat Ward died in the 26 counties as a result of a of hunger strike while refusing to be criminalized

Mrs. A. Connors, the mother of a political prisoner in Maghaberry

Third Video;

Presentation to the Hunger strike families

Speech by Gerry Mc Geough

Fourth Video;

Niamh White RPAG rep, speaks of atrocious conditions imposed upon Irish political prisoners the in Maghaberry Prison

Their campaign to secure political status

The reaction of the British establishment to their demands

An appeal for help for the RPAG in their ongoing campaign

CnS members also visited Dan Keating in Co. Kerry. Dan is patron of Sinn Féin Phoblachta and the oldest living volunteer that fought in the Black and Tan War (Irish war of independence) . The visit was arranged by Donal and Terence Varian and John Magan. Veteran Irish Republican activist Sean Ó Murchú joined John Magan who coordinated the meeting with Dan Keating and they represented almost a century of real live history of opposition to British rule in Ireland.

However, it was local activists John Sheehy and Stephen Brosnan from Kerry and Pat Williams from the U.S, all representing the younger generation that had all the questions for Dan. In the process they displayed a considerable knowledge of Irish history as it truly was before the age of revisionism.

Throughout the interview, Dan’s answers appeared to lead to the next relevant question.

Dan recently took a bus to Cork city to see Ken Loach’s movie ‘The Wind That Shakes The Barley’. According to Dan the movie presented a very close reenactment of an important period in Dan’s and Ireland’s ongoing fight for freedom.

Dan will be 105 years of age in January 2007. There will be a birthday party in Tralee no doubt!

Other places of interest were visited by CnaS, including the threatened ecological paradise of north- west Co. Mayo that is the scene of the Shell To Sea Campaign. This is the Gaeltacht area of Mayo and Miceal O Coisdealbha took some videos and interviews as Gaeilge here and in the Galway Gaeltacht of Conamara. Some of these will be incorporated into the Spoken Irish lessons that will be featured on www.irishfreedom. net in the very near future.

Portlaoise Prison, which holds a number of Irish political prisoners and political activist was also visited. A video was made with Niamh White, a spokesperson for the Republican Prisoners Action Group (RPAG) and Mrs. Connors, a mother of a current prisoner. Both spoke eloquently about the plight of Republican prisoners in their struggle to re-gain political status. Tony McPhillips and Richard Walsh of the RPAG arranged the interview. The video may be seen in Part 4 from the Bundoran or as stand alone in the IRPAS campaign.

Many people all over Ireland went to great length to insist that we see The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Having seen the film, one can only say that it is worth a trip to Ireland just to see it, especially if a meeting with Dan Keating could be arranged. Hopefully, the movie will arrive in the US shortly!