West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Republicans to mobilise for Hunger Strike Commemoration

Published: 11 August, 2010

Republicans from across Ireland and beyond will converge on the south Derry village of Bellaghy on Sunday for the annual Hunger Strike Commemoration. This years annual commemoration, organised by Sinn Féin, will follow on from the hugely successful weekend of events in memory of the 1981 Hunger Strikers in Tyrone last year.

Republicans throughout Tyrone are busy preparing for the commemoration and have this weekend unveiled the timetable for buses from the county going to the south Derry commemoration. In addition to the main commemoration parade on Sunday there will also be a number of other events throughout the weekend including talks and debates on the issue of the 1981 Hunger Strike. Anchored locally by the Tyrone Sinn Féin commemoration committee Sundays commemoration will be an occasion for the whole family with pageantry, floats and marching bands all taking parts in the main commemoration according to Sean Begley, chair of the Tyrone Sinn Féin commemoration committee.

Speaking ahead of the weekend's events Sean Begley said:

"I would urge local party members, supporters and the wider Republican community to turn out in huge numbers for this important commemoration. This is one of the most important commemorations in the republican calendar nationally and as such there is a huge interest in it. This will see thousands of republicans travelling from throughout Ireland to the events with large international delegations also present in south Derry at the weekend. Last years commemoration in Tyrone seen delegations, from amongst other countries, the Basque country, the Catalan countries and a delegation from the Gaza strip in Palestine . The demonstrates huge interest both nationally and internationally in the Commemoration.

"Mid Ulster MP and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will provide the main address for Sunday's commemoration.

"In addition to the parade on Sunday there will be a number of smaller events leading up to the main commemoration. This will include debates and panel discussions on the Hunger Strike in Bellaghy and also in the mid Ulster republican centre in Gulladuff. Gulladuff will also showpiece an impressive exhibition of archive footage and newspaper reports of the Hunger Strike in 1981.

Concluding Mr Begley said:

"I would urge local republicans to avail of the local bus service to the commemoration. The Buses will include pick ups in Dromore, Omagh, Loughmacrory, Creggan Crossroads as well as Greencastle. Anyone seeking further information on bus times are asked to contact the Sinn Féin office at 4 James Street on 02882253040.

"Although 29 years have passed since the Hunger Strike the memory and legacy of the Hunger Strikers of 1981 lives on. They continue to inspire republicans to continue the struggle, in which they contributed so much and ultimately for which they gave their lives.