Bobby Sands was a member of the paramilitary Irish Republican Army who was arrested for the possession of firearms in 1977 and died on hunger strike four years later because Margaret Thatcher refused to force-feed him. As his death in Maze Prison caused massive reactions all over the world, Sands was regarded as one of the most significant members of the IRA. A very popular citation that can be found everywhere on the Internet when you look for Bobby Sands is:
“They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn’t want to be broken! “
Although there is no clear evidence that this sentence was said by the IRA-Member Bobby Sands or if this quote is just a legend attached to the famous hunger striker after his death, it sums up his attitude towards Great Britain and Margaret Thatcher in a short and provocative way.
History has shown that the answer to the question who is a heroic fighter for freedom and who is a terrorist depends on the point of view of the person judging the actions of another person – the Taliban were heroes for the USA when they fought the Soviet Union and even Saddam Hussein was seen as the hero of the Iran-Iraq War. The same thing can be said about the Irish Republican Army and their members because many Irish see or saw them as heroes fighting for the freedom of their home country whereas the English saw them as terrorists attacking the integrity of the United Kingdom.
On the following pages I will try to outline who Bobby Sands was, what ideas he fought and died for and if he can be seen as an “Irish Martyr“ today. I will start with the historical background to show where the English-Irish conflict has its roots and what role the IRA and especially Bobby Sands played in that tragedy. To do that I will examine the life of Bobby Sands to see what made a young Irishman join the IRA, what he was arrested for and how he died under the administration of Margaret Thatcher.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical and political background
3. The Irish Republican Army
3.1 Foundation and role until 1967
3.2 Regain of power and second split after 1967
4. Bobby Sands
4.1 Family, early life and way to the IRA
4.2 Sands’ actions for the IRA, his arrest and trial
4.3 The hunger strike in Maze Prison 1981
4.4 Reactions and impact in different countries
5. Bobby Sands – An Irish Martyr?
Objectives and Topics
This work aims to examine the life of Bobby Sands, analyzing the factors that led him to join the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the circumstances of his imprisonment, and his eventual death by hunger strike. Furthermore, it explores the broader historical context of the English-Irish conflict and investigates whether Sands can be considered an "Irish Martyr" in the contemporary political landscape.
- Historical roots of the English-Irish conflict
- Development and internal evolution of the Irish Republican Army
- Biographical trajectory of Bobby Sands
- Analysis of the 1981 hunger strike and its international impact
- Evaluation of Sands' legacy in the context of the Northern Ireland peace process
Excerpt from the book
4.1 Family, early life and way to the IRA
As Bobby’s parents, John and Rosaleen Sands, were a shy couple hardly anybody knew that the family was Catholic. Sands grew up with his two younger sisters Marcella and Bernadette and his younger brother John. In 1961 the family was threatened by a neighbour until Bobby’s parents decided to move to Doonberg Drive in Rathcoole, which was another mainly Protestant area.
Sands later wrote that his life began to change after 1968 because he saw what was going on in Northern Ireland. In 1969 he watched the news on television and saw civil rights marches being attacked by Loyalists, and police forces doing nothing. He saw how the Republican marchers were trapped by hundreds of Loyalists at Burntollet Bridge and later Sands said about the scenes he had seen on TV:
“That imprinted itself on my mind like a scar, and for the first time I took a real interest in what was going on… I became angry.”
After the Royal Ulster Constabulary had crushed a banned civil rights march in Derry rioting began and three people died – all of them Catholics and all were killed by the security forces. Catholics like Bobby Sands blamed the British administration for the eruption of violence and thought that they believed in the right thing.
Summary of the Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the life and death of Bobby Sands as a significant member of the IRA and introduces the central question of whether he should be classified as a heroic fighter for freedom or a terrorist.
2. Historical and political background: Provides an overview of the English-Irish conflict, tracing it from the Norman invasion to the start of "The Troubles" and the civil rights movement in the late 1960s.
3. The Irish Republican Army: Describes the foundation and evolution of the IRA, including its splits, internal struggles, and its shift toward violence during the 20th century.
4. Bobby Sands: Details the personal life, early radicalization, and political activities of Bobby Sands, culminating in his leadership of the 1981 hunger strike and the global reaction to his death.
5. Bobby Sands – An Irish Martyr?: Discusses the subjective nature of labeling figures like Sands and assesses his complex role and legacy in the eventual Northern Ireland peace process.
Keywords
Bobby Sands, Irish Republican Army, IRA, Northern Ireland, The Troubles, Hunger Strike, Maze Prison, Margaret Thatcher, Sinn Féin, Irish Nationalism, Civil Rights, Martyrdom, Peace Process, Protestant-Catholic conflict, Political prisoner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
This paper examines the life and political evolution of Bobby Sands, placing his actions within the historical context of the conflict in Northern Ireland and the evolution of the IRA.
Which historical events serve as the backdrop for this study?
The study covers key events including the Norman invasion, the Plantation of Ulster, the Easter Rising, the formation of the Irish Free State, and the escalation of "The Troubles" starting in the late 1960s.
What is the primary research question?
The work investigates the identity of Bobby Sands, specifically questioning whether he should be viewed as a criminal and terrorist or as a martyr for his cause.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses historical analysis and biographical review, drawing on secondary sources, news articles, and contemporary reports to evaluate the legacy of Bobby Sands.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body details the historical foundations of the Irish-English conflict, the development of the IRA, the biographical details leading to Sands' radicalization, and the impact of the 1981 hunger strike.
Which terms are most important to understand this work?
Essential terms include IRA, Provisional IRA, Sinn Féin, Maze Prison, hunger strike, special category status, and civil rights.
How did Margaret Thatcher's policies affect the outcome of the hunger strike?
Thatcher's hardline refusal to grant political status to hunger strikers exacerbated the tension, solidified the ideological stance of both sides, and ultimately contributed to the martyrdom narrative surrounding Sands.
What role did Sands' prison time play in his radicalization?
His experience in the H-Blocks, where he was exposed to revolutionary literature and the harsh conditions of imprisonment, was instrumental in shaping his radical political beliefs and his leadership during the hunger strikes.
Does the author conclude that Bobby Sands was a martyr?
The author concludes that while the term is subjective, Sands can be viewed from a modern perspective as an involuntary "martyr for peace" who contributed to the eventual shift from armed conflict to political negotiation.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Philip Hanke (Autor:in), 2009, Bobby Sands - An Irish martyr?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/156495
