Mayo hunger strikers at centre of new book on Ireland’s hunger strike history
Ireland’s Hunger Strike Martyrs profiles 22 republican prisoners who died on hunger strike, with a particular focus on the controversial history surrounding Frank Stagg
A new book examining the lives and deaths of 22 republican prisoners who died on hunger strike has placed the story of Mayo hunger striker Frank Stagg at its centre.
Ireland’s Hunger Strike Martyrs, authored by Constantine B Darcy, with insights from Gerry Ginty, provides profiles of those who died during hunger strikes spanning different periods of Irish history, while also examining the circumstances surrounding their deaths and burials.
Among those profiled are three men with strong Mayo connections — Jack McNeela of Ballycroy, Michael Gaughan of Ballina and Frank Stagg of Hollymount.
Jack McNeela, aged 32, died in Dublin in April 1940 after 55 days on hunger strike. Ballina man Michael Gaughan, aged 24, died in Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight in June 1974 after 64 days on hunger strike.
Frank Stagg, from Hollymount, died in Wakefield Prison in England on February 12, 1976, aged 27, following 62 days on hunger strike.
A significant section of the book is devoted to what the author describes as “The Frank Stagg Factual Story”, including Stagg’s final journey and the controversy surrounding his burial.
Gerry Ginty recounts his involvement in the events surrounding Stagg’s remains from the Government funeral in 1976 through to November 5, 1977, when Stagg’s remains were removed from the Government grave and reinterred in the Republican Plot at Leigue Cemetery in Ballina.
The book also takes a critical view of the stage production ‘We Have Him Back’, with the author arguing that the play presents what she considers to be a distorted version of the historical events surrounding Stagg.
The publication contains 22 individual profiles, ranging from Thomas Ashe and Terence MacSwiney to Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Thomas McElwee and Mickey Devine.
Its contents also cover wider topics including the 1916 Proclamation, the Free State, the Irish Republic, the Troubles, the 1923 hunger strikes and the history of hunger strikes in Ireland.
The book is presented by the author as an attempt to document the stories of those who died on hunger strike while also examining aspects of the historical record surrounding Frank Stagg that she believes have been overlooked or contested.
Ireland’s Hunger Strike Martyrs is available through bookshops and from D. Toti Publications.