Dé Máirt, Samhain 04, 2008

Cuimhníonn Dún na nGall ar na Stailceoirí Ocrais
04/11/08
(English version follows.)
Bhailigh poblachtóirí ó Dhún na nGall agus níos faide amach sa Chlochán Liath Dé Sathairn, 25 Deireadh Fómhair, le freastal ar phlé beoga ar stailc ocrais 1981, a tionchar agus na ceachtanna le foghlaim.
Labhair triúr fear a bhí ar thús cadhnaíochta sna himeachtaí le linn na streachailte ar son stádas polaitiúil leis an lucht éisteachta.
Bhí an tEoghanach Tommy McKearney páirteach i stailc ocrais 1980 agus dhiúltaigh sé bia do 53 lá. Is eagraí é anois le Ceardchumann Neamhspleách na nOibrithe.

Chaith Laurence McKeown ó Bhaile Raghnaill 70 lá ar stailc ocrais in 1981. Óna scaoileadh saor ó phríosún, tá Laurence ina údar ar cúpla leabhar agus dráma, ina measc an scannán H3, a rinne na léirmheastóirí ollghairdeas dó.

Bhí Richard O’Rawe ó Bhéal Feirste ina OCP sna H-Bloic le linn stailc ocrais 1981 agus is údar é leis an leabhar Blanketmen.

Bhí lámh ag gníomhaíoch éirígí Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig in eagrú imeacht an Sathairn agus bhí sé ina chathaoirleach ar an chruinniú a raibh freastal maith air.
Arsa é: “27 bliain ar aghaidh ón stailc ocrais, tá suim fós ag neart daoine i gcuimhneamh agus i bhfoghlaim faoi mhairtírigh na H-Bloc agus faoin streachailt príosúin eipiciúil a thug siadsan agus a gcomrádaithe faoi. Bhí an tinreamh ag an chruinniú Dé Sathairn mar fhianaise de sin.
“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le Laurence, Richard agus Tommy as ucht a rannpháirtíochta agus leis an lucht éisteachta as bheith airdeallach agus forránach.
“Is ríthábhachtach an obair muid féin a theagasc faoi streachailt na saoirse. Ní mór dúinn foghlaim ónar stair dhéanach agus í a úsáid le dul i bhfeidhm ar an todhchaí. Chuidigh anocht go mór leis an iarracht sin. Ba chóir do mhuintir Dhún na nGall bheith ag súil lena thuilleadh san am atá romhainn.”

Donegal Remembers the Hunger Strikers
Republicans from across Donegal and further afield gathered in Dungloe on Saturday, October 25, to attend a lively discussion on the 1981 hunger strike, its impact and the lessons to be learned.
Three men who were at the coalface of events during the struggle for political status addressed the assembled audience.
Tyrone man Tommy McKearney participated in the 1980 hunger strike and refused food for 53 days. He is now an organiser for the Independent Workers’ Union.
Laurence McKeown from Randalstown in County Antrim spent 70 days on hunger strike in 1981. Since his release from prison, Laurence has authored a number of books and plays, including the critically acclaimed film, H3.
Richard O’Rawe from Belfast was a PRO in the H Blocks at the time of the 1981 hunger strike and is also the author of Blanketmen.
Donegal éirígí activist Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig helped organise and chaired Saturday’s event which was very well attended.
He said: “27 years on from the hunger strike, many people are still interested in remembering and learning about the H Block martyrs and the epic prison struggle they and their comrades undertook. The attendance in Dungloe on Saturday night was proof of that.
“I would like to thank Laurence, Richard and Tommy for their contributions and the audience for being both attentive and engaging.
“The task of educating ourselves about the freedom struggle is an essential one. We must learn from our very recent past and use it to best impact upon the future. Tonight has very much assisted in that endeavor. The people of Donegal should look forward to more of the same in the time ahead.”