Joe McDonnell

Infobox 1981 Hungerstriker
irish= Seosamh Mac Dónaill
name= Joe McDonnell
paramilitaryorganisation= Provisional IRA
dateofbirth= 14 September, 1951
placeofbirth= Falls Road, Belfast
hungerstrikestarted= 9 May, 1981
died= 8 July, 1981, aged 29
daysonstrike= 61|

Joe McDonnell (Irish name: Seosamh Mac Dónaill; [cite web | title = Ag bunadh Gaeltachta | url = http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/18951 | publisher = "An Phoblacht" | date = 3 May 2007 | accessdate = 2007-10-29] 14 September 1951 - 8 July 1981) was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) , who died in the 1981 Irish hunger strike.

Early life

McDonnell was born on Slate Street in Lower Falls Road of Belfast, and was one of 10 children. He went to a Catholic school which was nearby. In 1970 he married Goretti, and moved into her sister's house in Lenadoon. There were only two Catholic houses in this predominantly Protestant housing estate, and the house was attacked on numerous occasions.

IRA activities

McDonnell was arrested in Operation Demetrius and interned on the prison ship HMS "Maidstone" along with Gerry Adams and others. He was later moved to HMP Maze for several months. Upon release he joined the Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade. McDonnell met Bobby Sands in the run up to an IRA firebomb attack on the Balmoral Furnishing Company. During the ensuing shootout between the IRA and the British authorities (the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army) both men along with Séamas Finucane and Seán Lavery were arrested. McDonnell and the other men were sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession of a firearm. None of the men accepted the jurisdiction of the court.

Hunger strike

McDonnell agreed with the goals of the 1981 Irish hunger strike, namely: the right not to wear a prison uniform; the right not to do prison work; the right of free association with other prisoners; the right to organize their own educational and recreational facilities and the right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week. However, he doubted the need to go on hunger strike, believing that a campaign of disobedience would achieve the objective.

Although McDonnell was not involved in the first (1980) hunger strike, he joined Bobby Sands and the others in the second (1981) hunger strike. During the strike he fought the General Election in the Republic of Ireland, and only narrowly missed election to the Sligo-Leitrim constituency. [ [http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1981&cons=204 General Election: 11 June 1981 Sligo/Leitrim] ] .

He went 61 days without food before dying on 8 July, 1981.

He had two children. His wife Goretti took an active part in the campaign in support of the hunger strikers. She married again fairly soon after, although she remained proud of her role in the campaign. [David Beresford "Ten Men Dead"]

In popular culture

One of the most popular Irish rebel songs is the song which bears his name, written by Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones.

And you dare to call me a terrorist , while you look down your gun

Allegations

In March 2006, former prisoner Richard O'Rawe has alleged that three days before McDonnell's death the British Government made a firm offer to the prison leadership substantive enough to end the protest. O'Rawe alleges that while the leadership inside the prison were prepared to go for the deal and end the protest to save the lives of McDonnell and the others who died after him, the leadership outside told them to continue. [ [http://lark.phoblacht.net/AMROR1605068g.html The Blanket Meets the Blanketmen Anthony McIntyre speaks with Richard O'Rawe] by Anthony McIntyre, The Blanket, 16 May 2006]

The IRA commander inside Long Kesh at the time, Brendan McFarlane (known as "Bik") has publicly disputed this version of events. As well as this, not one other prisoner on the prison wing O'Rawe and McFarlane were on has backed up O'Rawe's version of events in relation to the 1981 Hunger Strike. [cite web | title = Former comrades' war of words over hunger strike | author = Steven McCaffrey | url = http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2005/mar11_hunger_strike_war_of_words.php | publisher = "The Irish News" | date = 12 March 2005 | accessdate = 2007-05-26]

References

External links

* [http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1981&cons=204 General Election: 11 June 1981 Sligo/Leitrim]
* [http://irelandsown.net/mcdonnell.html Ireland's OWN: The Hungerstrikes - Joe McDonnell]
* [http://www.triskelle.eu/lyrics/joemcdonnell.php?index=080.010.040.040 Lyrics to Joe McDonnell, the song]