Republican News · Thursday 7 August 2003

1981 Hunger Strike exhibition and talk

On the 22nd anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike and the subsequent election of Kieran Doherty POW as TD for Monaghan-Cavan, Sinn Féin in Ballybay, County Monaghan, is hosting a major exhibition and talk on the historic events of that summer. The event will be chaired by Ballybay Town Councillor Gene Duffy.

Local political activists are delighted that anti H-Block activist, and current Sinn Féin Monaghan Town Councillor, Pádraigín Uí Mhurchadha will be joined by former hunger striker Laurence McKeown in officially opening the exhibition at 2pm. Pádraigín was a staunch supporter of the campaign in support of the prisoners' five demands when Laurence and his comrades in Long Kesh and Armagh faced down British government attempts to criminalise IRA resistance to British rule in Ireland. A brief question and answer session will follow their contributions.

The exhibition itself, which will run until 7pm that evening, documents in detail the historical progression of the no wash protests and hunger strikes of 1980 and '81, culminating in an attempt to present the significant historical legacy of the period. The organisers of the event are also delighted to advise that a number of local photographs of relevance to the 1976-'81 period have been unearthed which are sure to prove of great interest to the Monaghan republican community.

Finally, at 6pm Assembly member Alex Maskey will address the broader political legacy of the hunger strike, further cementing the strong political links existing between West Belfast and the Cavan-Monaghan area as a consequence of Kieran Doherty's successful election as TD in July 1981. Again, a brief question and answer session will follow Alex's talk. The organisers are anticipating a strong turn out and further details can be obtained on (087) 7744590.

Event: Hunger Strike Exhibition and Talk
Venue: Birch Court, Main Street, Ballybay
Date and Time: Saturday 9 August, 2pm-7pm
Speakers: 2pm - Pádraigín Uí Mhurchadha and Laurence McKeown
6pm - Alex Maskey