"Who could have known that the actions of 10 men in a prison in the north of Ireland could have changed so much, both Nationally and Internationally, 25 years after their sacrifice we are still feeling the loss that was felt in 1981".That was how Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald summed up the 1981 Hunger Strike. She was speaking as a convoy of Ógra Shinn Féin members arrived in Dublin on Sunday.
They were continuing their National tour of Ireland. Ógra Shinn Féin activists along with senior Republican activists gathered at the Corduff Centre in Blanchardstown for the launch of the Ógra Shinn Féin Hungerstrike publication Awaiting The Lark.
Local Ógra Shinn Féin activist Ian Breslin welcomed those present for the event who were then given a background to the book. Following this Ógra Shinn Féin activists, Colm ONeill, Grace Vaughey and Barry McColgan read extracts from the book. Mary Lou McDonald who is current MEP for Dublin then addressed the Republicans gathered. She spoke of her memories as a nine year old of watching TV pictures of a H-Block cell with men wrapped in Blankets. She said she knew there was something utterly different about Ireland with people living in these conditions.Proceedings were brought to a close by the Chairperson, Ian Breslin, who ironically wasn’t born at the time of the 1981 Hunger Strike. He summed up by stating that he was inspired by the sacrifice of the 10 men in 1981 and also all Irish Republicans who played their part in the National liberation struggle.
“What happened in Long Kesh in 1981 was nothing short of Inspirational, what a selfless commitment to a noble cause. What the 1981 Hunger Strikers did was sustain the desire for freedom in Ireland and by their actions sky rocketed the Irish Freedom Struggle. 25 years on I urge all republicans to continue on their fight. Achieving the Socialist Republic will be the ultimate tribute to the martyrs of 81.”
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