1920 Cork hunger strike
       Seven of the nine surviving hunger strikers: J Crowley, P Crowley, J Kenny, M Burke, S Hennessy, M O'Reilly, C Upton |
The 1920 Cork hunger strike began on 11 August 1920, when 65 men interned without trial in Cork County Gaol went on hunger strike, demanding release from prison, and reinstatement of their status as political prisoners. The following day, they were joined by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney.[1] A week into the hunger strike, all but 11 of the hunger strikers were released or deported to prison in England, with MacSwiney being among the latter. Michael Fitzgerald died after 68 days,[2] while Joe Murphy died after 79 days.[3] The nine surviving hunger strikers - Michael Burke, John Crowley, Peter Crowley, Seán Hennessy, Joseph Kenny, Thomas O'Donovan, Michael O'Reilly, John Power, and Christopher Upton - continued on for 94 days, ending their fast on 12 August 1920, following orders from Arthur Griffith.[4]
The nine survivors of the 1920 Cork hunger strike hold the Guinness World Record for the longest hunger strike in history, in which no food was consumed, whether as a result of force-feeding or otherwise.[5]
In October 1923 mass hunger strikes were undertaken by Irish republican prisoners protesting the continuation of their internment without trial (see 1923 Irish Hunger Strikes).
References[]
- ^ Dwyer, Ryle (2019-08-13). "Death of MacSwiney had enormous significance as prisoners hunger strike drew global coverage". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
- ^ "Hunger Striker Dies in Cork Jail After 68-Day Fast" (PDF). New York Times. 18 October 1920. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Joseph Murphy Dies of 76 Days' Hunger Strike, the Second Prisoner to Succumb in Cork Jail" (PDF). New York Times. 26 October 1920. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Important Message from Mr. Griffith". Irish Examiner. 13 November 1920.
- ^ Young, Mark C. (1994). The Guinness Book of Records 1995. Facts on File. ISBN 0816026467.
- 1920 in Ireland
- Hunger strikes
- Cork (city)