Hunger Strike Memorial unveiled in South Armagh.
A crowd estimated at well over a thousand people paraded to the crossroads of Fords Cross and Silverbridge in South Armagh last weekend to witness the unveiling of a new memorial stone commemorating the sacrifice of the ten republican prisoners who died on hunger strike in 1981. Sinn Féin Councillor Elena Martin chaired the proceedings and introduced the first speakers Davy Hyland, recently elected Chairperson of Newry and Mourne District Council and Cllr B. Lewis, a member of the 1981 Hunger Strike Committee.
Former hunger strikers Laurence McKeown and Paddy Quinn performed the unveiling ceremony.
Speaking at the unveiling, Sinn Féin's West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said: ``For republicans and I'm sure many other people the 1981 hunger strikes marked a watershed. The 20th anniversary and how we respond to it is deeply important.
``The actions of those on hunger strike showed that there is more than one way to fight a system of tyranny. It was the opening up of a new front, a pragmatic front, in the battle to assert the rights of Ireland to be free. It destroyed the myth that the prisoners were criminals. The cynicism, hypocrisy and lack of humanity of the British government was laid bare before the world. The Irish hunger strikers became a symbol across the world, not only against oppression but also a symbol of humanity and of the desire of people to be free.
``I firmly believe that there has never been a time when the need was greater for ordinary people to take politics back from the professional politicians - something which happened here with such success in the council elections and with Conor Murphy's huge vote in the Westminster elections. One very real and important legacy was the deepening of our commitment that this generation of Irish republicans will bring about Irish reunification.''
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