Hunger Strikers remembered in New Ross

A vigil to commemorate republican hunger strikers Kevin Lynch and Kieran Doherty was held on the quay in New Ross town this evening. Around fifty republicans took part in the event which was organised by the local H-Blocks Martyrs and Cullen/Hayden Sinn Féin cumainn.

Kevin Lynch was the eight republican to join the 1981 H-Block hunger strike for political status on the 23rd of May, following the death of Patsy O’ Hara. From Dungiven in County Derry, Kevin was just twenty five years old when he died on the first of August.

Kieran Doherty from Belfast had joined the hunger strike as a replacement for Raymond McCreesh. It was the second time he had been forced to go on hunger strike, being briefly part of the original 1980 strike. The twenty five year old was elected to Leinster House for the Cavan/Monaghan constituency with 9,121 first preference votes while on the protest in June. He finished only 303 votes behind the then-sitting Minister of Education. He died on the second of August.

Among those who gathered in New Ross for this evenings vigil were Wexford Councillor Anthony Kelly and the Chairperson of County Wexford Sinn Féin, Oisin O’ Connell. Further vigils are planned to mark the anniversaries of Thomas McElwee and Mickey Devine later this month.