Hunger strikes of 1981

E18011

The Hunger Strikes of 1981 were a pivotal protest by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland, during which several died while refusing food to demand political status and which dramatically intensified international attention on the conflict.

All labels observed (4)

Label Occurrences
1981 Irish hunger strike 12
1981 Maze Prison hunger strike 1
H-Blocks protest 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (70)

Predicate Object
instanceOf event in The Troubles
hunger strike
political protest
protest
alsoKnownAs 1981 Irish hunger strike
1981 hunger strike
cause criminalisation policy of the British government
withdrawal of political status for paramilitary prisoners
commemoratedBy annual commemorations by Irish republicans
conflictContext Northern Ireland conflict
linked to: The Troubles

The Troubles
country United Kingdom
demand political status for paramilitary prisoners
restoration of Special Category Status
right not to do prison work
right not to wear prison uniforms
right of free association with other prisoners
right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week
right to organize their own educational and recreational activities
electoralImpact election of Bobby Sands as MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
election of Owen Carron as MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
endDate 1981-10-03
legacy catalyst for Sinn Féin’s electoral rise in the 1980s
subject of numerous books, films and songs
symbol of Irish republican resistance
location Northern Ireland
mainLocation HM Prison Maze
Long Kesh
Maze Prison
linked to: HM Prison Maze
mediaCoverage extensive international media attention
notableDeath Bobby Sands
Francis Hughes
Joe McDonnell
Kevin Lynch
Kieran Doherty
Martin Hurson
Michael Devine
Patsy O’Hara
Raymond McCreesh
Thomas McElwee
notableParticipant Bobby Sands
Brendan McFarlane
Laurence McKeown
Richard O’Rawe
numberOfDeaths 10
opposedBy British government
linked to: UK government

UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
linked to: Margaret Thatcher
opposedPolicy British policy of criminalisation of paramilitary prisoners
organizedBy Irish National Liberation Army prisoners
Provisional Irish Republican Army prisoners
participant INLA prisoners
Irish republican prisoners
Provisional IRA prisoners
partOf history of the Irish National Liberation Army
history of the Provisional Irish Republican Army
politicalImpact boosted electoral strategy of Irish republican movement
increased support for Sinn Féin
intensified international attention on Northern Ireland conflict
radicalized segments of nationalist community in Northern Ireland
precededBy 1976 removal of Special Category Status
1980 hunger strike
blanket protest
dirty protest
relatedTo Anglo-Irish relations
Northern Ireland peace process
result no formal recognition of political status
partial concessions on prison conditions
startDate 1981-03-01
timePeriod 20th century
Cold War era

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (15)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

The Troubles significantEvent Hunger strikes of 1981
Hunger strikes of 1981 alsoKnownAs 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Kevin Lynch participantIn 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Laurence McKeown participatedIn 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Patsy O’Hara partOf 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Michael Devine participatedIn 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Michael Devine diedDuringEvent 1981 Maze Prison hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Martin Hurson associatedWith H-Blocks protest
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Brendan McFarlane participatedIn 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Joe McDonnell participatedIn 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Francis Hughes partOf 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Thomas McElwee participantIn 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Hunger (2008 film) depicts 1981 Irish hunger strike
subject linked to: Hunger
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Hunger (film) mainSubject 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981
Hunger (film) basedOn 1981 Irish hunger strike
linked to: Hunger strikes of 1981