Kevin Lynch (hunger striker)

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Kevin Lynch (25 May 1956 – 1 August 1981) was a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) who died during the 1981 Irish hunger strike. He was born in Dungiven, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Early Life

Kevin Lynch was born into a large family in the small town of Dungiven. He was an avid sportsman and played Gaelic football and hurling for local clubs. Lynch was known for his dedication and leadership qualities from a young age.

Political Involvement

Lynch became politically active in the early 1970s, joining the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) and later the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). The INLA was a paramilitary group that sought to establish a socialist republic in Ireland and was involved in the Troubles, a conflict in Northern Ireland that spanned from the late 1960s to 1998.

Imprisonment

In 1976, Lynch was arrested and charged with possession of firearms and explosives. He was sentenced to ten years in the Maze Prison, also known as Long Kesh. During his imprisonment, Lynch became involved in the blanket protest and the dirty protest, which were initiated by Irish republican prisoners to demand political status.

Hunger Strike

In 1981, Lynch joined the 1981 Irish hunger strike, which was led by Bobby Sands. The hunger strike was a protest against the British government's refusal to grant political status to republican prisoners. Lynch began his hunger strike on 23 May 1981, and after 71 days without food, he died on 1 August 1981. He was the seventh of ten hunger strikers to die.

Legacy

Kevin Lynch is remembered as a martyr in the Irish republican movement. His death, along with the deaths of the other hunger strikers, had a significant impact on the Northern Ireland peace process and increased international awareness of the Troubles.

See Also

• 1981 Irish hunger strike
• Irish National Liberation Army
• Maze Prison
• Troubles
• Bobby Sands