Martin Hurson's 40th Anniversary To Be Marked In Galway With Black Flag Vigil
To mark the 40th anniversary of Martin Hurson's death during the 1981 H-Block hunger strike, Éirígí For a New Republic is organising a black flag vigil in Galway City. It will take place in Eyre Square on July 13th from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
Speaking from Galway, Éirígí local area representative, Ian Ó Dálaigh said:
“This vigil is open to all who wish to commemorate the brave sacrifice of Martin Hurson and his nine comrades, who died so that the fight for an independent Irish Republic would not be labelled as criminal.
Martin was the sixth of ten hunger strikers who died during the epic battle. He joined the strike on May 29th, replacing Brendan McLoughlin, who was forced to come off the strike due to illness.
Martin Hurson carried by his IRA comrades to his final resting place in Galbally, Co Tyrone
He ran in the Twenty-Six County general election while on hunger strike, in the Longford/Westmeath constituency. Receiving almost 4,500 first preference votes, he was only eliminated at the end of the sixth count.
After 40 days on hunger strike, Martin lost the ability to hold down water. He died just six days later, at the age of just 24.
It is important to honour those who came before us in the struggle for a better, fairer Ireland. These men and women believed in an Irish Republic that would put the needs of ordinary people ahead of the needs of a greedy few - be they the British ruling class or the gombeen Irish capitalists.
I’m inviting people from Galway and further afield to join us. We will be gathering in Eyre Square at 6.30pm, on Tuesday 13th July. All are welcome, bígí linn.”
