25th Anniversary of Northern Ireland hunger strike

rally to mark 25th anniversary of hunger strikes

unauthorized memorial to hunger strikers in County Down

the ten who died, and the length of their strikes:

Bobby Sands, IRA, Belfast (Rathcoole), 5 May, 66 days
Francis Hughes, IRA, Bellaghy, 12 May, 59 days
Patsy O’Hara, INLA, Derry, 21 May, 61 days
Raymond McCreesh, IRA, Camlough, 21 May, 61 days
Joe McDonnell, IRA, Belfast (Lenadoon), 8 July, 61 days
Martin Hurson, IRA, Cappagh, 13 July, 46 days
Kevin Lynch, INLA, Dungiven, 1 Aug, 71 days
Kieran Doherty, IRA, Belfast (Andersonstown), 2 Aug, 73 days
Thomas McElwee, IRA, Bellaghy, 8 Aug, 62 days
Michael Devine, INLA, Derry, 20 Aug, 60 days

12th of July (Lament For The Children)
by John Frazier and Sean Tyrrell

(It is even more powerful as a song. Follow the link to find an excellent recording of it.)

Come pledge again your heart and your hand
One grasp that never will sever
Our password be our native land
Our motto, love forever
And let the orange lily be
Your badge, my patriot brother
It's the everlasting green for me
And we for one another

Behold how green the gallant stem
On which the flower is blooming
How in one heavenly breeze and beam
Both flower and stem are glowing
The same good soil sustaining both
Makes both united flourish
But cannot give the orange growth
And cease the green to nourish

The more the hand that plucks that flower
Will vainly strive to cherish
In that hour the stem blooms on
The flower, it begins to perish
Regard them then of equal worth
While last their genial weather
The time's at hand when deep in earth
They will both sink together

And though it be in our country's cause
Our party feelings blended
'Til lasting peace from equal laws
On both will have descended
'Til then the orange lily be
Your badge, my patriot brother
It's the everlasting green for me
And we for one another
And we for one another

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