The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966–1995 and the Search for Peace

by Tim Pat Coogan

In all, ten hunger-strikers died between May and August 1981, seven Provisionals and three from INLA. The long-drawn-out agony of the ‘Ten Men Dead’, as they became generally known, had something of the same effect on Six County nationalism as did the long-drawn-out executions of the 1916 leaders on the twenty-six counties. The Ten Men Dead were: Bobby Sands, 27, after sixty-six days, on 5 May; Francis Hughes, 25, after fifty-nine days, on 12 May; Raymond McCreesh, 24, after sixty-one days, on 21 May; Patsy O’Hara, 23, the leader of the INLA men, after sixty-one days, also on 21 May; Joe McDonnell, 30, after forty-six days, on 8 July; Martin Hurson, 27, after forty-six days, on 13 July; Kevin Lynch, 25, INLA, after seventy-one days, on 1 August; Kieran Doherty, 25, after seventy-three days, on 2 August; Thomas McElwee, 23, after sixty-five days, on 8 August; Michael Devine, 23, INLA, after sixty-six days, on 30 August.