Joe McDonnell (hunger striker)

Joe McDonnell

Joe McDonnell (14 September 1951 – 8 July 1981) was a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) who died during the 1981 Irish hunger strike in the Maze Prison.

Early Life

Joe McDonnell was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up in the Lenadoon area. He was one of ten children in a Catholic family. McDonnell attended St. Aidan's Christian Brothers School and later worked as an upholsterer.

Involvement in the IRA

McDonnell joined the Provisional IRA in the early 1970s, motivated by the political and social unrest in Northern Ireland. He was involved in various IRA activities, including operations against the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Imprisonment

In 1976, McDonnell was arrested along with fellow IRA member Bobby Sands during a British Army operation. He was convicted of possession of firearms and explosives and sentenced to 14 years in the Maze Prison.

Hunger Strike

McDonnell participated in the 1981 Irish hunger strike, which was part of a protest by IRA and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) prisoners. The hunger strikers demanded the restoration of Special Category Status, which would grant them the same privileges as prisoners of war.

McDonnell joined the hunger strike on 9 May 1981, after the death of Francis Hughes. He refused food for 61 days before dying on 8 July 1981. His death, along with those of nine other hunger strikers, drew international attention to the situation in Northern Ireland and increased support for the IRA.

Legacy

Joe McDonnell is remembered as a martyr by many in the Irish republican community. His funeral was attended by thousands, and he is commemorated annually. His life and death have been the subject of various songs, poems, and other cultural works.

See Also

• 1981 Irish hunger strike
• Provisional Irish Republican Army
• Maze Prison
• Bobby Sands
• Francis Hughes