Date: Tuesday 18 June @ 7.30 p.m
Venue: Sligo Central Library
The 1981 Hunger Strike was a pivotal event of the Troubles, galvanising Republican support and attracting worldwide media attention. The strike was a powerful symbol of the Republican struggle & the event and reaction by the British Government resulted in increased tension between the two main communities. By early April 1981, Bobby Sands was elected MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone. By the end of August, ten men had died on hunger strike.
Over 30 years later, it remains hugely significant, poignant and symbolic for the Republican community, and simultaneously uncomfortable, contentious and difficult for many within the Unionist community.
Laurence McKeown will be speaking of his personal experience of the Hunger Strike. He will look at how it is commemorated and how that has changed over the years.
Laurence will also talk about the arts works he has produced in relation to the hunger strike; the play ‘Laughter of Our Children’, the feature film ‘H3’, and short biography of Bobby Sands ‘I arose this morning’.
Our previous guest speaker talks have so far looked at the origins of parading on St Patrick's Day, commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising, and the Apprentice Boys of Derry.
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