During 1981, there were two hunger strikes – the culmination of a five-year protest during The Troubles by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland.
Ten men died.
28 years ago today, 3rd October, the strikes were called to an official end.
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October 3, 2009 in Institutional | Tags: 1981, Bobby Sands, Hunger, Hunger Strike, IRA, Margaret Thatcher, Northern Ireland, the troubles, UK | by petebrook
During 1981, there were two hunger strikes – the culmination of a five-year protest during The Troubles by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland.
Ten men died.
28 years ago today, 3rd October, the strikes were called to an official end.
8 comments
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October 30, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Hunger « Prison in Cinema
[…] Jump to Comments Pete Brook at Prison Photography recently posted this photo of the 10 men who died during the 1981 Irish Hunger […]
November 18, 2009 at 3:42 am
bobby sands
Bobby Sands died for nothing. The IRA is a cover now for robbery, drugs and crime. What a waste of life we have all caused.
November 19, 2009 at 11:48 am
petebrook
“Bobby”. I can’t know who you are or how close your ties are to Ireland, the UK, the IRA, Republicanism, Belfast or any other town or city in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland BUT your statement reflects a truism that the politics of the 1970s and 80s are long gone. The political moment now is very different. I share your stance that sectarianism now is used as a cover for common crime and does not cannot relate to an ideological struggle in the same way. The political landscape has shifted (largely through consensus) to negate the resistance of past decades.
November 24, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Holly Willis
I think that what thes men did was a very brave thing I mean they gave thier life up for Ireland and I think if we really see the reason for going on the srtike then I think that we would all have a better understanding of why they did it they was treated very bad we all know that and no man or woman should have to be treated like scum I don’t care what they did we are human and should be treated as such God Bless Bobby and the other strikers who put thier life on the line for Ireland.
From Holly.
January 28, 2010 at 12:50 am
Otto
Having grown up a Catholic kid in a Protestant REDNECK Texas town in 1981, these guys were like Heroes to me! I had a “Republican” teacher that Fled Belfast in the late 70’s, and when this was happening, he turned me on to what was happening, and I always thought of them as the IDEAL Upstanding Freedom Fighters, and Dreamed of the day that the Revolution would come here
January 28, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Eoghan
Every one of them was a Hero. They caused reverberations around the world that made people stand up and take notice of the injustices the British were responsible for in Ireland.
March 4, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Kris Aaron
I am an American of Irish descent on mom’s side. I cannot speak to the events here but I was driven to research this more (I am still learning about it) but if you would like to feel you are witnessing this strike as one of the men taking part it in I would recommend watching a flick called HUNGER by Steven McQueen (no, not that one) that will rip your guts out. Amazing/sickening.
March 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm
billy
the stupid person who made the statment that Bobby Sands and his nine other brave comrades did not die for nothing. dont tarnish the 10 Brave Men or the I.R.A with the deeds that the loylists and dissidents do in the north of Ireland. All the Hunger Strikers who died, died for their rights as Irish republicans and the Freedom of Ireland and to show the world how the british rule is used against the Irish people