Commemoration for Ballina man who died on hunger strike
Michael Gaughan, Healy Terrace, Ballina, 1949-1974
A commemoration event will take place in Ballina on the June Bank Holiday weekend to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of IRA hunger striker Michael Gaughan.
Gaughan, who was a native of Healy Terrace in Ballina, died in Parkhurst Prison in England on Monday, June 3, 1974, after 68 days on hunger strike. He was aged just 24.
Gaughan and fellow Mayo man Frank Stagg joined other Republican prisoners, including the Price sisters and Gerry Kelly, on hunger strike as part of a campaign to seek political status – recognition as a prisoner of war – and also to be transferred to a prison in Ireland.
From April 22 to June 2, Michael Gaughan was force-fed 17 times before his death. Huge controversy surrounded his death and it resulted in prison doctors refusing to participate in force-feeding. The practice was never again used on Republican hunger strikers.
Gaughan’s funeral was a huge event with 10,000 people gathering in Ballina for the occasion. He was buried in Leigue Cemetery.
In 2020, a mural was erected to his memory at Healy Terrace.
The 50th anniversary commemoration will take place on Sunday, June 2, at 1pm and has been organised by Independent Republicans. Participants will gather at the Humbert Monument in Ballina and march to the Republican Plot at Leigue Cemetery.
The main oration on the day will be given by John Crawley, prominent republican ex-prisoner and author of the best-selling memoir .
Also in attendance will be Dublin Cllr Christy Burke, who was in the guard of honour in 1974.
Several republican marching bands have also confirmed attendance for the event.
