Bobby Sands Roibeard Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh
Paramilitary organisation	Provisional IRA
Date of birth	March 9, 1954(1954-03-09)
Place of birth	Abbots Cross, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland
Hunger strike started	March 1, 1981
Died	May 5, 1981 (aged 27)
Days on strike	66

Robert Gerard Sands (Irish: Roibeard Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh^[1][2]), commonly known as Bobby Sands, (9 March 1954 – 5 May 1981), was a Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike whilst in HM Prison Maze (also known as Long Kesh) for the possession of firearms. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Óglaigh na hÉireann ( IRA; also referred to as the PIRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) See also Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Óglaigh na hÉireann ( IRA; also referred to as the PIRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the Volunteer, often abbreviated Vol, is a term used by a number of Irish republican Paramilitary organisations to describe their members The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories A hunger strike is a method of Non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political Protest, or to provoke feelings of Her Majesty's Prison Maze (known colloquially as The H Blocks, Long Kesh, or The Maze) was a Prison used to house Paramilitary prisoners

He was the leader of the 1981 Hunger Strike, in which Irish Republican prisoners were seeking to regain status as political prisoners, and had been elected as a member of the United Kingdom Parliament as an Anti H-Block/Armagh Political Prisoner^[3][4] candidate during his fast. The 1981 Irish hunger strike was the culmination of a five-year protest during The Troubles by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. A political prisoner is someone held in Prison or otherwise detained perhaps under House arrest, for his or her involvement in political activity Anti H-Block was the political label used by candidates standing in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in support of the 1981 hunger strike. His death resulted in a new surge of IRA recruitment and activity. The international media coverage sparked a wave of support and sympathy around the world for Sands, the other hunger strikers, and the republican movement in general, although it also attracted criticism. ^[5]

Contents 1 Family and early life 2 IRA activity 3 Prisoner 4 Political status protests 4.1 Hunger strike 4.2 Election 5 Death 5.1 Political impact 6 Reactions 6.1 United Kingdom 6.2 Europe 6.3 USA 6.4 Cuba 6.5 Asia 6.6 Family 6.7 Music 6.8 Film 7 Published works 8 See also 9 External links 10 References

Family and early life

Sands was born into a Catholic family^[6][7] in Abbots Cross, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and lived there until 1960^[8] and then moved to Rathcoole, Newtownabbey. See also Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency. County Antrim ( Contae Aontroma or simply Aontroim in Irish) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, and one of nine counties Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Rathcoole ( Ráth Cúil in Irish, meaning back of the tomb) is a housing estate north of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in Newtownabbey His first sister, Marcella, was born in April 1955 and second sister, Bernadette, in November 1958. His parents, John and Rosaleen, had another son, John, in 1962. Sands' family had moved due to intimidation by loyalists. Ulster loyalism is a militant unionist ideology held mostly by Protestants in Northern Ireland. On leaving school, he became an apprentice coach-builder until he was forced out at gunpoint by loyalists. ^[9] In June 1972, at the age of 18, his family moved to the Twinbrook housing estate.

IRA activity

In 1972, the year of the Troubles with the highest death toll, he joined the IRA. ^[10][11] In October of that year, Sands was arrested and charged with possession of four handguns which were found in the house in which he was staying. In April 1973 he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. ^[11][12]

On his release in 1976, he returned to his family in Twinbrook in west Belfast, and resumed his active role in the IRA's campaign. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. He was charged with involvement in the October 1976 bombing of the Balmoral Furniture Company in Dunmurry, although he was never convicted of this bombing, and at the trial the judge said there was no evidence to support the assertion that he had taken part in it. Dunmurry ( is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland situated between the cities of Belfast and Lisburn. After the bombing, Sands and at least five others in the bomb team were allegedly involved in a gun battle with the police, although he was also never convicted of this for lack of evidence. Abandoning two of their wounded friends, Seamus Martin and Gabriel Corbett, Sands with Joe McDonnell, Seamus Finucane and Sean Lavery tried to escape in a car, but were caught. Joe McDonnell ( Irish name: Seosamh Mac Dónaill; 14 September 1951 - 8 July 1981) was a volunteer One of the revolvers used in the attack was found in the car in which Sands was travelling. ^[13]

His trial in September 1977 saw him convicted of possession of firearms (the revolver from which bullets had been fired at the police after the bombing), and Sands was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment. ^[14]

Prisoner

He served his prison term at HM Prison Maze, also known as Long Kesh. Her Majesty's Prison Maze (known colloquially as The H Blocks, Long Kesh, or The Maze) was a Prison used to house Paramilitary prisoners Her Majesty's Prison Maze (known colloquially as The H Blocks, Long Kesh, or The Maze) was a Prison used to house Paramilitary prisoners After internment a series of buildings known from their floor plans as 'H-Blocks' were built to make the prison suitable for the large number of inmates belonging to paramilitary organisations; each block contained members of the same organisation. Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people commonly in large groups without trial Her Majesty's Prison Maze (known colloquially as The H Blocks, Long Kesh, or The Maze) was a Prison used to house Paramilitary prisoners

In prison, Sands became a writer both of journalism and poetry which was published in the Irish republican newspaper An Phoblacht. Journalism is the profession of writing or communicating formally employed by publications and broadcasters for the benefit of a particular Community of people An Phoblacht ( Irish for "The Republic" is the official Newspaper of Sinn Féin In late 1980 Sands was chosen as Officer Commanding of the IRA prisoners in Long Kesh, succeeding Brendan Hughes who was participating in the first hunger strike. The Officer Commanding ( OC) is the commander of a sub-unit or minor unit (smaller than Battalion size in widespread military usage Brendan Hughes (1948 – 16 February 2008) also known as "The Dark", who was mainly known as the leader of the 1980 Irish hunger strike The 1981 Irish hunger strike was the culmination of a five-year protest during The Troubles by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland.

Political status protests

Republican prisoners had organised a series of protests seeking to regain their previous Special Category Status and not be subject to ordinary prison regulations. In July 1972 William Whitelaw, the British government 's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, granted Special Category Status to all prisoners convicted This started with the "blanket protest" in 1976, when the prisoners refused to wear uniform and wore blankets instead. The blanket protest (Agóid na mBlancéid was part of a five year protest during The Troubles by Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA and Irish National Liberation Attempts to break the protest by brutalisation of prisoners saw the escalation to the "dirty protest" of 1978 when repeated beatings during "slop-out" led to prisoners living in squalor by smearing excrement on the walls. The dirty protest (also called the no wash protest) was part of a five year protest during The Troubles by Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA and ^[15] There had been an earlier hunger strike in Autumn 1980, which had ended when the British Government appeared to concede the prisoners' demands. A hunger strike is a method of Non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political Protest, or to provoke feelings of Her Majesty's Government, or when the monarch is male His Majesty's Government, is the title used by the Government of the United Kingdom, based at When that strike was over, the Government reverted to its previous stance.

Hunger strike

The 1981 Irish hunger strike started with Sands refusing food on 1 March, 1981. The 1981 Irish hunger strike was the culmination of a five-year protest during The Troubles by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Sands decided that other prisoners should join the strike at staggered intervals in order to maximise publicity with prisoners steadily deteriorating successively over several months.

The hunger strike centred around "Five Demands":

1. The right not to wear a prison uniform;
2. The right not to do prison work;
3. The right of free association with other prisoners, and to organise educational and recreational pursuits;
4. The right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week;
5. Full restoration of remission lost through the protest. ^[16]

The significance of the hunger strike was the prisoners' aim of being declared as political prisoners (or prisoners of war) and not to be classed as criminals. However, the primary purpose of the exercise was often regarded as an attempt to gain international publicity rather than political prisoner status. ^[17]

Election

Shortly after the beginning of the strike, Frank Maguire, the Independent Republican MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency) died of a heart attack suddenly and precipitated a by-election. Meredith Francis (Frank Maguire (September 1929 &ndash 5 March 1981) was an Independent Republican Member of Parliament in Northern Ireland Independent Republican was a political title frequently used by Irish republicans when contesting elections in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons. The by-election held in Fermanagh and South Tyrone on April 9 1981 is considered by many to be the most significant By-election held in Northern Ireland

The sudden vacancy in a seat with a small Roman Catholic majority was a valuable opportunity for Sands' supporters to unite the nationalist community behind their campaign. Pressure not to split the vote led other nationalist parties, notably the Social Democratic and Labour Party, to withdraw and Sands was nominated on the label "Anti H-Block / Armagh Political Prisoner". The Social Democratic and Labour Party ( SDLP; Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre is one of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland After a highly polarised campaign, Sands narrowly won the seat on 9 April, 1981, with 30,493 votes to 29,046 for the Ulster Unionist Party candidate Harry West, incidentally also becoming the youngest MP at the time. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party Henry William West ( March 27 1917 &ndash February 5 2004) was a politician in Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Ulster Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a Lower house or Upper house. ^[18]

Following Sands' success the Government introduced to Parliament the Representation of the People Act 1981 which prevents convicted prisoners serving jail terms of more than one year in either the UK or the Republic of Ireland, or unlawfully at large when they should be serving such a sentence, from being nominated as candidates in U. The Representation of the People Act 1981 provides (a for the disqualification of any person who is detained anywhere in the British Islands or the Republic of Ireland (or who is K. elections. ^[19][20] This law was quickly introduced so as to prevent the other hunger strikers from being nominated to his vacant seat after his death. ^[21]

Death

Three weeks later, Sands died in the prison hospital after 66 days of hunger-striking, aged 27. The announcement of his death prompted several days of riots in nationalist areas of Northern Ireland. Irish nationalism (Náisiúnachas Éireannach refers to political and sociological movements and sentiment that embodies a love for Irish ancestry, culture and language and Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of A milkman and his son, Eric and Desmond Guiney, died as a result of injuries sustained when their milk float crashed after being stoned by rioters in a predominantly nationalist area of north Belfast. A milk float is a small Battery electric vehicle (BEV specifically designed for the delivery of fresh Milk. ^[22][23] Over 100,000 people lined the route of Sands' funeral. ^[24] Sands was a Member of the Westminster Parliament for twenty-five days, though he never took his seat or oath.

In response to a question in the House of Commons on 5 May 1981, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, "Mr. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 Sands was a convicted criminal. He chose to take his own life. It was a choice that his organisation did not allow to many of its victims". ^[25]

He was survived by his parents, siblings, and a young son (Gerard) from his marriage to Geraldine Noade.

Political impact

Nine other IRA and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) members who were involved in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike also died after Sands. The Irish National Liberation Army ( INLA; Arm Saoirse Náisiúnta na hÉireann in Irish is an Irish Republican, Left-wing paramilitary organisation Many people regard Sands and the other nine men as martyrs who stood firm against the intransigence of the British Government, and many Irish nationalists who abhorred the IRA were outraged at the British government's stance. On the other hand, there was concern that there could be a backlash from the Unionist majority in Northern Ireland. On the day of Sands' funeral, Unionist leader Ian Paisley held a memorial service outside of Belfast city hall to commemorate the victims of the IRA. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley (born 6 April 1926 styled The Rt Hon ^[26]

The media coverage that surrounded the death of Sands resulted in a new surge of IRA activity and an immediate escalation in the Troubles, with the group obtaining many more members and increasing its fund-raising capability. Both nationalists and unionists began to harden their attitudes and move towards political extremes. ^[27] Sands' Westminster seat was taken by his election agent, Owen Carron standing as 'Anti H-Block Proxy Political Prisoner' with an increased majority. Owen Gerard Carron (born February 1953 is an Irish republican activist and the former Member of Parliament (MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Anti H-Block was the political label used by candidates standing in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in support of the 1981 hunger strike. ^[28]

Reactions

United Kingdom

At Old Firm football matches in Glasgow, Scotland, some Rangers F.C. fans have been known to sing songs mocking Bobby Sands to taunt fans of Celtic F.C, such as "Will Ye Go A Chicken Supper, Bobby Sands?". The term Old Firm refers to the rivalry between the Scottish football teams Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the east end of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Rangers fans are traditionally more likely to be sympathetic to the Unionist community; Celtic fans are traditionally more likely to support the Republican community. ^[29] These taunts have since been adopted by the travelling support of other UK clubs, particularly those with Protestant ties, as a form of anti-Irish sentiment. ^[30] The 1981 British Home Championship football tournament was cancelled following the refusal of teams from England and Wales to travel to Northern Ireland in the aftermath of his death due to security concerns. The 1981 British Home Championship was the only British Home Nations international football championship outside of the years of the First World War

Europe

• In Milan, 5,000 students burned the Union Flag and shouted "Freedom for Ulster" during a march. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster ^[5]
• In Ghent, students invaded the British Consulate. Ghent (ˈɡɛnt Gent ʝɛnt in Dutch, Gand in French, and formerly Gaunt in English) is a City and a The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located ^[5]
• In Paris, thousands marched behind huge portraits of Sands, to chants of 'The IRA will conquer'. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Óglaigh na hÉireann ( IRA; also referred to as the PIRA, the Provos, or by some of its supporters as the ^[5]
• In Oslo, demonstrators threw a balloon filled with tomato sauce at Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom. (called Christiania from 1624 to 1878 and Kristiania from 1878 to 1924 is the Capital and largest city of Norway. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II List of current queens regnant A queen regnant (plural "queens regnant" is qualifying reference to a female Monarch possessing and exercising all of the monarchal The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located ^[5]
• In the Soviet Union, Pravda described it as 'another tragic page in the grim chronicle of oppression, discrimination, terror and violence' in Ireland. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Pravda (Правда "The Truth" was a leading Newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the ^[5]
• In France, many towns and cities have streets named after Sands. Examples include Nantes, St Etienne, Le Mans Vierzon and St Denis. Nantes (Naoned Gallo: Naunnt) is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast Saint-Étienne ( Sant-Etiève in Arpitan) is a city in the central eastern part of France, 60 km (40 miles southwest of Lyon. Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Vierzon is a commune in the Cher department in central France. Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. ^[31]
• In the Republic of Ireland, IRA members unsuccessfully attempted to coerce shopkeepers into closing for a national day of mourning. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. ^[26] On 14 May the Dáil debated some local riots and bus burnings in Dublin that followed his death, with no expression of support. ga '''Dáil Éireann''' ( English House of Representatives of Ireland) is the principal chamber of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. ^[32]
• Some publications such as the Soviet Pravda took a positive view of Sands, whilst others, such as the West German newspaper Die Welt, took a negative view. Die Welt ( English: The World) is a German national daily newspaper published by the Axel Springer AG company ^[5]

USA

The US media expressed a range of opinions on Sands' death. The Boston Globe commented that "[t]he slow suicide attempt of Bobby Sands has cast his land and his cause into another downward spiral of death and despair. The Boston Globe (and Boston Sunday Globe) is the most widely circulated daily Newspaper in Boston and in New England, There are no heroes in the saga of Bobby Sands. "^[33] The Chicago Tribune wrote that "Mahatma Gandhi used the hunger strike to move his countrymen to abstain from fratricide. The Chicago Tribune is a major daily Newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and owned by the Tribune Company Bobby Sands' deliberate slow suicide is intended to precipitate civil war. The former deserved veneration and influence. The latter would be viewed, in a reasonable world, not as a charismatic martyr but as a fanatical suicide, whose regrettable death provides no sufficient occasion for killing others. "^[34]

The New York Times wrote that "Britain's prime minister Thatcher is right in refusing to yield political status to Bobby Sands, the Irish Republican Army hunger striker," but that by appearing "unfeeling and unresponsive" the British Government was giving Sands "the crown of martyrdom. "^[35] The San Francisco Chronicle argued that political belief should not exempt activists from criminal law: "Terrorism goes far beyond the expression of political belief. The San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H And dealing with it does not allow for compromise as many countries of Western Europe and United States have learned. The bombing of bars, hotels, restaurants, robbing of banks, abductions and killings of prominent figures are all criminal acts and must be dealt with by criminal law. "^[36]

Some American critics and journalists suggested that American press coverage was a "melodrama"^[37] which had "given nearly exclusive coverage to pro-I. R. A. spokesmen. "^[38] One journalist in particular criticised the large pro-IRA Irish-American contingent which "swallow IRA propaganda as if it were taffy," and concluded that IRA "terrorist propaganda triumphs. "^[39]

Some political, religious, union and fund-raising institutions chose to honour Sands. The International Longshoremen's Association in New York announced a twenty-four-hour boycott of British ships. Template talkInfobox Union for usage -->The International Longshoremen's Association is a labor union representing New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous ^[40][26] Over 1,000 people gathered in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral to hear Cardinal Terence Cooke offer a Mass of reconciliation for Northern Ireland. The City of New York St Patrick's Cathedral is a decorated Neo-Gothic -style Catholic Cathedral in North America Terence James Cardinal Cooke, ( March 1, 1921 - October 6, 1983) was an American cardinal the tenth bishop (seventh archbishop of the Roman Irish bars in the city were closed for two hours in mourning. ^[5] In Hartford, Connecticut a memorial was dedicated to Bobby Sands and the other hunger strikers in 1997, the only one of its kind in the United States. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Set up by the Irish Northern Aid Committee and local Irish-Americans, it stands in a traffic circle known as "Bobby Sands Circle," at the bottom of Maple Avenue near Goodwin Park. Noraid or the Irish Northern Aid Committee is an Irish American fund raising organization founded after the start of The Troubles in Northern Ireland Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. ^[41]

The New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, voted 34-29 for a resolution honouring his "courage and commitment. The New Jersey General Assembly is the Lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. A lower house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Upper house. The New Jersey Legislature is the US state of New Jersey 's legislative branch seated in the New Jersey State House at the state's capital Trenton "^[5]

Cuba

In 2001, a memorial to Sands and the other hunger strikers was unveiled in Havana, Cuba. Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la ^[42]

Asia

• In Tehran, Iran revolutionaries sympathising with Sands renamed the street on which the British embassy was located from Winston Churchill Street to Bobby Sands Street. Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 ^[43] There have recently been claims that the British foreign secretary has pressured Iranian authorities to change the name, but this is denied. ^[44][45][46]
• The Hindustan Times said Margaret Thatcher had allowed a fellow Member of Parliament to die of starvation, an incident which had never before occurred "in a civilised country. Hindustan Times ( HT) is a leading newspaper in India, published since 1924 with roots in the independence movement "^[5]
• In the Indian Parliament, opposition members in the upper house Rajya Sabha stood for a minute's silence in tribute. The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is the federal and supreme Legislative body of India. An upper house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Lower house. The Rajya Sabha (meaning the "Council of States" is the Upper house of the Parliament of India. The ruling Congress Party refused to join in. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. ^[5]
• The Hong Kong Standard said it was 'sad that successive British governments have failed to end the last of Europe's religious wars. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders '^[5]

Family

Sands' sister Bernadette Sands McKevitt is also a prominent Irish Republican. Bernadette Sands McKevitt (b Abbotts Cross Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, November 1958 is an Irish republican, and a former leading member of the Irish republicanism (Poblachtánachas is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a single independent Republic Along with her husband Michael McKevitt she helped to form the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Real Irish Republican Army. Michael McKevitt (b 4 September, 1949) is an Irish republican who was convicted of directing Terrorism as the leader of the Paramilitary History The organisation was founded on 7 December 1997 at a meeting in Fingal in Dublin by republican activists who were opposed to the direction The Real Irish Republican Army, otherwise known as the Real IRA (RIRA or True IRA and styling itself as Óglaigh na hÉireann (Volunteers ^[47] Sands McKevitt is opposed to the Belfast Agreement, stating that "Bobby did not die for cross-border bodies with executive powers. The Agreement, most often referred to as the Belfast Agreement (Comhaontú Bhéal Feirste Belfast Greeance or the Good Friday Agreement (Comhaontú Aoine an He did not die for nationalists to be equal British citizens within the Northern Ireland state. "^[48]

Music

Main article: Artistic reactions to the 1981 Irish hunger strike

The Grateful Dead played the Nassau Coliseum on the night Sands died and guitarist Bob Weir dedicated the song "He's Gone" to Sands. The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. } The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, commonly known as Nassau Coliseum (or simply The Coliseum) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale New York Bob Weir (born Robert Hall Weir, October 16 1947 is an American singer songwriter and guitarist most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead ^[49] The concert was later released as Dick's Picks Volume 13, part of the Grateful Dead's programme of live concert releases. Dick's Picks Volume 13 is the thirteenth Live album in the Dick's Picks series of releases by the Grateful Dead.

Songs written in response to the hunger strikes and Sands' death include examples by: Black 47, Nicky Wire, The Undertones^[50], Bik McFarlane and Eric Bogle. Based in New York City Black 47 is a Celtic rock band made up of Irish expatriates formed in The Bronx by Larry Kirwan and Chris Nicholas Allen Jones, known as Nicky Wire, is the Lyricist, bassist and occasional Vocalist with the Welsh rock band The Undertones are a Northern Irish Punk rock / Power pop band formed in Derry in 1975 Brendan McFarlane (nicknamed " Bik " is an Irish Republican activist Eric Bogle (born 23 September, 1944 in Peebles, Scotland) is a folk Singer-songwriter. Christy Moore's song, "The People's Own MP", has been described as an example of a rebel song of the "hero-martyr" genre in which Sands' "intellectual, artistic and moral qualities" are eulogised. Christopher Andrew 'Christy' Moore (born 7 May 1945 in Newbridge County Kildare, Ireland is a popular Irish Folk singer, songwriter and Guitarist. The People's Own MP is an Irish rebel song about Bobby Sands, one of the Irish hunger strikers The song was written by Bruce Scott for Irish rebel music is a sub genre of Irish folk music, with much the same instrumentation but with lyrics predominantly concerned with Irish nationalism, and A eulogy is a speech or writing in Praise of a person or thing ^[51] American rock band Rage Against the Machine have listed Sands as an inspiration in the sleeve notes of their self titled debut album^{[52] [53]} and as a "political hero" in media interviews ^[54]. Rage Against the Machine (sometimes shortened to RATM or Rage) is

Film

• Bobby Sands was played by John Lynch in the 1996 film Some Mother's Son. John Lynch (born December 26, 1961) is a Northern Irish Actor. Some Mother's Son is a 1996 film written and directed by Irish filmmaker Terry George, co-written by Jim Sheridan and based on the true ^[55]
• Bobby Sands was played by Mark O'Halloran in the 2001 film H3. Mark O'Halloran is an Irish actor and scriptwriter He is a native of Ennis, County Clare. H3 was a film released in 2001 about the 1981 Irish hunger strike, events leading up to it and subsequent developments in the prisoners' struggle for Prisoner ^[56]
• A film about the last six weeks of Bobby Sands' life called Hunger, by artist Steve McQueen, starring Michael Fassbender, premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival^[57], winning the prestigious Caméra d'Or award for first-time filmmakers. Hunger is a 2008 film about the 1981 Irish hunger strike. It is written by Enda Walsh and Steve McQueen, who also directed Steve McQueen (born 1969 is an English Artist. He is best known for his Films but has worked in other forms also Michael Fassbender (born April 2, 1977) is an actor born in Heidelberg, Germany, brought up in Killarney, County Kerry The Cannes Film Festival (le Festival de Cannes founded in 1946 is one of the world's oldest most influential and prestigious Film festivals alongside Venice, The Caméra d'Or (" Golden Camera " is an award of the Cannes Film Festival for the best first feature film presented in one of the Cannes' selections ^[58] It will be broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK in 2008. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began ^[59]

Published works

While in prison Sands had several letters and articles published in the Republican paper An Phoblact/Republican News under the pseudonym "Marcella".

Other writings attributed to him include:

• Skylark Sing Your Lonely Song, 1989, Mercier Press, ISBN 0-85342-726-7
• One Day in My Life, 2001, Mercier Press, ISBN 1-85635-349-4

Sands also wrote the words of the songs "Back Home in Derry" and "McIllhatton" which were both later recorded by Christy Moore. One Day in My Life is an Autobiographical novel written by Bobby Sands while serving a fourteen year sentence at Long Kesh, for possession Back Home in Derry is an Irish rebel song written by Bobby Sands. He also wrote "Sad Song For Susan" which was later recorded.

See also

• Terence MacSwiney - Lord Mayor of Cork in 1920 who died in Brixton Prison after a hunger strike lasting 74 days. Terence Joseph MacSwiney (məkˈswiːni Tordhealbhach Mac Suibhne (20 March 1879 – 25 October 1920 was born in Cork City, County Cork Ireland. Cork (Corcaigh is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland 's third most populous city after Dublin and Belfast

External links

• Biography from Irish Republican website
• Bobby Sands Trust: established to publish and promote Sands' poetry and writing
• Bobby Sands diary entries & biographies of the ten hunger strikers

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Frank Maguire	MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1981	Succeeded by Owen Carron
Preceded by Stephen Dorrell	Baby of the House 1981	Succeeded by Stephen Dorrell

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories Meredith Francis (Frank Maguire (September 1929 &ndash 5 March 1981) was an Independent Republican Member of Parliament in Northern Ireland A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons. Owen Gerard Carron (born February 1953 is an Irish republican activist and the former Member of Parliament (MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Stephen James Dorrell MP (born 25 March 1952) is a British Politician. Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a Lower house or Upper house. Stephen James Dorrell MP (born 25 March 1952) is a British Politician.

---

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic