Athlone Youth remember the Hunger-Strikers

‘The young men and women who undertook to go on Hunger Strike within both Armagh Jail and the H-Blocks in 1981 caused a series of events which ultimately became a watershed in the republican struggle. I firmly believe that this generation of young people is one that will bring about real change to society and culture across Ireland, but it is essential that young republicans are to the forefront in that process. Today’s young people are the next generation of Irish politicians and policy makers, therefore I urge you to ignite the debate among all young people about the kind of a republic you would like to see Ireland become’ said Sinn Féin MLA Seán Lynch as he addressed a large crowd of republicans, young and old, in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel last Wednesday for an event organised by Athlone Ógra Shinn Féin.

Seán Lynch MLA addressing the crowd

Significantly, the event, entitled ’30 Years On: Athlone Youth Remember the 1981 Hunger Strikers’, took place on the 30^th anniversary of the death of Hunger Striker and former general election candidate for Longford-Westmeath, Martin Hurson, in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. Activities on the night included a book launch of the recently re-published Bobby Sands’ Diary, a talk on the topic of ‘Youth in Struggle’ given by Seán Lynch MLA for Fermanagh South Tyrone and a DVD showing of Blanketmen – a documentary by Belfast filmmaker Barry Curran which focuses on the 1976-81 H-Block no-wash protests that eventually led to the hunger strikes and is told on screen by a number of former republican prisoners.

‘It really is heartening to see so many young people from around the town turning up for tonight’s event’ said local Ógra Shinn Féin member David Mc Weeney afterwards. ‘It goes to show how much the 1981 Hunger Strike still resonates with people up and down the country who were not even around during the 1980’s. However, as Seán mentioned this evening, we must take strength from the courage and conviction shown by individuals like Martin Hurson to strive for real political change across today’s Ireland. We have had dreadful government mismanagement for too long on this island and it is up to the young people of this country to start deciding what we want for Ireland’s future. After only just 4 months in Government, Fine Gael and the Labour Party have hiked third-level education fees, cut vital services to Roscommon County Hospital and laid out plans to slash wage protections for the lowest paid in our society among a plethora of cuts and u-turns on election promises. That is certainly not the Ireland those 10 men died fighting for in the cells of Long Kesh.

A group of young people from Athlone who attended Wednesdays event in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel along with Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Hogan and MLA for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Seán Lynch

‘I believe the best way to honour the memory of Martin Hurson, who received a first preference vote from over 10% of the Longford/Westmeath electorate, is for young people to get involved in campaigning positive change within their communities in whatever way possible. I would encourage all young people to join Ógra Shinn Fein and help us build the campaign for a united, egalitarian Ireland. Ar aghaidh linn d’Éire Aontaithe, Éire Shóisialach agus Éire níos fearr.’

I ndíl chuimhne orthu siúd ar fad a fuair bás ar son saoirse na hÉireann.