Remembering Bobby Sands✊🇮🇪

Remembering Bobby Sands: An Irish Revolutionary 🇮🇪✊ On May 5th 1981, Bobby Sands, an iconic figure in the Irish Republican movement, died on hunger strike in Long Kesh Prison. This video commemorates his life, legacy, and the events that led him to become a symbol of resistance and struggle for Irish freedom. Early Life and Background Robert Gerard Sands was born on March 4, 1954, in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, outside North Belfast. He was the eldest of four children. His family faced significant harassment and intimidation from their neighbors, leading them to move multiple times before settling in the Rathcoole development. Despite these challenges, Sands attended Stella Maris school and played for the local football team. By 1966, sectarian tensions had risen, and Sands, once friends with Protestant and Unionist classmates, found himself increasingly isolated. Turning Point Sands left school in 1969 at age 15 and began an apprenticeship as a coachbuilder at Alexander's Coach Works in 1970. Facing constant harassment from Protestant coworkers, Sands was eventually threatened at gunpoint by loyalist gang members in January 1971. This pivotal event led him to conclude that militancy was the only solution to the oppression he and his community faced. Joining the IRA In June 1972, after another attack on his family's home, Sands and his family moved to the West Belfast Catholic area of Twinbrook. That same month, Sands attended his first Provisional IRA meeting and joined the organization at 18. By 1973, the majority of Catholic families had been driven out of Rathcoole due to violence and intimidation. Imprisonment and Protests Sands was arrested in October 1972 and charged with possession of firearms. Convicted in April 1973, he was sentenced to five years in prison but released in April 1976. Upon his release, Sands resumed his role in the Provisional IRA. He was involved in the October 1976 bombing of the Balmoral Furniture Company and subsequently arrested and sentenced to 14 years for possession of a revolver. In prison, Sands became a leading figure in the protests for political status, including the "blanket protest" and the "dirty protest." In late 1980, he was chosen as Officer Commanding the Provisional IRA prisoners in Long Kesh, succeeding Brendan Hughes. The 1981 Hunger Strike Following the failed 1980 hunger strike, Sands and other prisoners initiated a second strike in 1981, centered on five demands: The right not to wear a prison uniform. The right not to do prison work. The right of free association with other prisoners and to organize educational and recreational activities. The right to one visit, one letter, and one parcel per week. Full restoration of remission lost through the protest. Sands began his hunger strike on March 1, 1981. Shortly after, he was elected as an MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, highlighting the political nature of the protest. Despite international attention and widespread protests, the British government did not meet the prisoners' demands. Legacy Bobby Sands died on May 5, 1981, after 66 days on hunger strike, sparking protests across Ireland and worldwide. Over 100,000 people attended his funeral, and he was buried in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast. Sands' writings, including poems and articles, continue to inspire. His works, such as "Skylark Sing Your Lonely Song" and "One Day in My Life," reflect his enduring spirit and commitment to the Irish cause. Songs like "Back Home in Derry" and "McIlhatton," recorded by Christy Moore, also keep his memory alive. "Our revenge will be the laughter of our children." - Bobby Sands Fuair sé bás ar son Saoirse na hÉireann