Photo Gallery - Annual Black Flag Vigil For The 1981 Hunger Strikers
On Sunday the 5th of May, Éirígí For A New Republic held a successful Black Flag Vigil to mark the 43rd anniversary of the death of Volunteer Bobby Sands during the 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike.
The vigil, which was held on O’Connell Bridge in Dublin City Centre, was attended by dozens of Éirígí activists and supporters, as well as some of our comrades from the 1916 Societies.
Éirígí activists holding posters of Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Patsy O’Hara, and Raymond McCreesh.
The vigil was also an opportunity to highlight the abduction, imprisonment and torture of thousands of political prisoners currently held in jails and internment camps set up to imprison any man, woman or child which Apartheid Israel deems a threat to it’s ‘security’.
We in Ireland have long experience of mass imprisonment and internment without trial. Those tactics didn't work in Ireland and they won't work in Palestine!
Éirígí activists calling for the release of ALL Palestinian political prisoners as part of this years Black Flag Vigil.
Bobby Sands was a young man of just twenty-seven-years when he became the first to embark on Hunger Strike in March 1981. Happily married and with a young son, Sands’ was popular amongst those who knew him, and possessed a lively and intelligent mind - he had every reason to live.
Heroically, Sands would sacrifice all to lead his comrades into a struggle that soon became one of the most important events in our recent history. What was at stake for Bobby and his comrades was the very essence of what it meant to be an Irish Republican.
Members of the 1916 Societies attend the Black Flag Vigil.
Ultimately, ten young men would die resisting the efforts of the British government to criminalise the fight for a free and independent Irish Republic.
After first refusing food on the 1st of March, Bobby remained on hunger strike for 66 days before passing on the 5th of May. On the 9th of April 1981, Bobby was elected as MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, winning the seat with a staggering 30,493 votes.
Young activists turn out to remember the 1981 hunger strikers.
On every 5th of May since 2009, Éirígí have a commemorated Bobby Sands and his comrades with a black flag vigil on O’Connell Bridge in Dublin City Centre. The same location was used for protests and vigils throughout the 1981 hunger strike.
With the exception of 2020 (due to the Covid-19 pandemic), Éirígí have gathered each year to remember with pride the sacrifice of The Ten: Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Patsy O Hara, Raymond McCreesh, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Thomas McElwee and Mickey Devine.
Photo gallery continued below -
Activists pose with a poster of Kevin Lynch and a poster calling for the release of ALL Palestinian political prisoners.
A young activist from the 1916 Societies holds a poster of Raymond McCreesh.
Activists hold posters of Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, and Thomas McElwee.
Éirígí activists hold posters of Patsy O’Hara and Raymond McCreesh who died within hours of each other.
A wider view of the Black Flag Vigil.