Ballina hosts 45th National Hunger Strike Commemoration

The 45th National Hunger Strike Commemoration was held in Ballina, County Mayo, to honor the Irish republicans who died during the 1981 hunger strikes. The event marked nearly five decades since the deaths of ten men in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh.

During the commemoration, Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill addressed attendees, stating that the hunger strikers helped awaken a national confidence. She emphasized that the greatest tribute to those honored is to continue working toward the goal of a united Ireland.

The commemorations also paid tribute to specific individuals from the Mayo area, including Michael Gaughan, Frank Stagg, and Jack McNeela, while remembering the broader impact of the hunger strikes on the struggle for Irish unity.