History of Ireland – All Things Good

Some Mother’s Son: The 1981 Belfast Prison Hunger Strike

Jennifer Rose Realms Of Gold March 13, 2015April 11, 20171981 Irish Hunger Strike, Belfast Maze Prison, Bobby Sands, Britain and Ireland, Britain Northern Island Conflict, History of Ireland, HM Prison Maze, IRA, Irish nationalism, Irish Republican Army, Northern Ireland conflict, Northern Ireland Hunger Strike, Some Mothers Son Movie Review, The Troubles, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 0 Comment

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day 2015, ATG is exploring “All Things Irish” for the next couple weeks. Below we review the Irish movie “Some Mother’s Son.” Stay tuned for more!

It was with a faint memory of the 1981 hunger strikes in Northern Ireland that I recently watched Some Mother’s Son* (1996) – a movie based on the true story of the young IRA (Irish Republican Army) martyrs who began a hunger strike while being held in a British prison in Belfast for their involvement in IRA terrorist activities.

Refusing to be treated as criminals by wearing their assigned prisoner uniforms, the IRA members began their hunger strike in an attempt to be recognized by the British government as “political prisoners of war.” Ten of the twenty-one men jailed ended up dying as martyrs for their cause, including Bobby Sands, their leader who was elected to parliament while in prison and whose funeral was attended by over 100,000 people. Read more

The Irish: Fightin’ For Respect

Katharine Rose Armour of Light March 11, 2015April 11, 2017Fighting Irish, fighting irish stereotype, Gaelic, Gaelic Revival, Great Potato Famine, History of Ireland, Irish America, Irish americans, Irish emigration, Irish history, Irish Language Movement, Irish proverbs, Irish stereotypes 0 Comment

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day 2015, ATG is exploring “All Things Irish” for the next couple weeks. Below we debunk the “Fighting Irish” stereotype. Stay tuned for more!

For all of their well-known and esteemed attributes, such as hospitality, loyalty, friendliness and humor, the Irish have never been able to escape the “fighting Irish” stigma – the stereotype of being drunkard, hotheaded and “barbaric” people.

Indeed, famous Irish proverbs read: “An Irishman is never at peace except when he’s fighting”, “Better be quarreling than lonesome” and “The Irish don’t know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it.”

A look back at the history of the Irish – particularly Irish immigrants in America – however, sheds some light on why, in many ways, the Irish just can’t help their “fighting” instincts. Read more