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{{Short description|Irish hunger striker and IRA volunteer}}
{{Infobox 1981 Hungerstriker
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
|image=Joe_McDonnell.jpeg
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
|irish= Seosamh Mac Domhnaill
{{Infobox person
|name= Joe McDonnell | name = Joe McDonnell
|paramilitaryorganisation= Provisional IRA
| native_name =
|dateofbirth= 14 September, 1951
| native_name_lang = ga
|placeofbirth= ], ]
| image = File:Joe McDonnell.jpg
|hungerstrikestarted= 9 May, 1981
| image_size =
|died= 8 July, 1981
| alt =
|daysonstrike= 61
| organization = ]
⚫ |}}
| birth_name = Joseph McDonnell

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1951|09|14|df=y}}
{{otheruses}}
| birth_place = ], ]

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1981|07|08|1951|09|14|df=y}}
⚫ '''Joe McDonnell''' (]: '''Seosamh Mac Domhnaill'''; ] ] - ] ]) was a ] (IRA) member (]), who died in the ].
| death_place = ], Northern Ireland
| burial_place = ]
| known_for = ] of 61 days, from 9 May 1981
| spouse = Goretti (1970–1981; his death)
| children = 2
⚫ }}
⚫ '''Joseph McDonnell''' (14 September 1951 – 8 July 1981) was a ] in the ] (IRA) who died during the ].


==Early life== ==Early life==
McDonnell was born on Slate Street in Lower ] of ], and was one of 10 children. He went to a ] school which was nearby. In 1970 he married Gorretti, and moved into her sister's house in Lenadoon. There were only two Catholic houses in this predominantly Protestant ], and the house was attacked on numerous occasions. Joe McDonnell was born on Slate Street in the lower ] of ] as fifth of eight children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CAIN: Victims: Memorials: Joe McDonnell Plaque (McDonnell Street) |url=https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/victims/memorials/static/photos/929.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |publisher=Ulster University}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Joe McDonnell {{!}} Bobby Sands Trust |url=https://www.bobbysandstrust.com/hungerstrikers/joe-mcdonnell/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended a nearby ] school. He married Goretti in 1970, and moved into her sister's house at Horn Drive in the ] area.<ref name=":0" /> Their house, being one of only two catholic households on an otherwise loyalist street, was attacked on numerous occasions before they were forced to move into Goretti's mother's house.<ref name=":0" />


==IRA activities== ==IRA activity==
{{See also|1976 Balmoral Furniture Company bombing, Dunmurry}}
McDonnell was arrested in ] and interned on the ] ] along with ] and others. He was later moved to ] for several months. Upon release he joined the ]. McDonnell met ] in the run up to an IRA ] attack on the Balmoral Furnishing Company. During the ensuing shootout between the IRA and the British authorities (the ] (RUC) and ]) both men along with Séamas Finucane and Seán Lavery were arrested. McDonnell and the other men were sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession of a firearm. None of the men accepted the ] of the court. McDonnell was arrested in ], and along with ] and others was interned on the ] ]. He was later moved to ] for several months. Upon release, he joined the ]. He met ] during the preparation for a ] attack on the Balmoral Furnishing Company's premises in ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wharton |first=Ken |title=Northern Ireland: An Agony Continued: The British Army and the Troubles 1980–83 |publisher=Helion and Company |year=2015 |isbn=9781911096801 |pages=184}}</ref> During the ensuing shoot-out between the IRA and the ] (RUC) and ], both men, along with Séamus Finucane and Seán Lavery, were arrested. McDonnell and the others were sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession of a firearm. None of the men recognized nor accepted the ] of the court.<ref name=":0" /> Following sentencing, he was returned to HMP Maze and imprisoned in the H5 Block.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gerry Adams speech on Joe McDonnell: A Heroic Leader – July 1981 |url=http://www.longkesh.info/2010/07/08/gerry-adams-speech-on-joe-mcdonnell-a-heroic-leader/ |access-date=2024-06-27}}</ref>


==Hunger strike== ==Hunger strike==
McDonnell agreed with the goals of the 1981 Irish hunger strike, namely: the right not to wear a prison uniform; the right not to do prison work; the right of free association with other prisoners; the right to organize their own educational and recreational facilities and the right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week. However, he doubted the need to go on hunger strike, believing that a campaign of disobedience would achieve the objective. McDonnell agreed with the goals of the ], namely: the right not to wear a prison uniform; the right not to do prison work; the right of free association with other prisoners; the right to organise their own educational and recreational facilities and the right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week.


Although McDonnell was not involved in the first (1980) hunger strike, he joined Bobby Sands and the others in the second (1981) hunger strike. During the strike he fought the General Election in the ], and only narrowly missed election to the ] constituency.<ref></ref>. Although McDonnell was not involved in the first (1980) hunger strike, he joined Bobby Sands and the others in the second (1981) hunger strike.<ref name=":0" /> During the strike he stood as an ] candidate in the ] in the ] for the ] constituency, receiving 5,639 votes and just missing out on a seat by 315 votes.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=ElectionsIreland.org: 22nd Dail – Sligo Leitrim First Preference Votes|url=https://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1981&cons=204|access-date=2021-10-03|website=electionsireland.org}}</ref> His hunger strike lasted for 61 days before dying on 8 July 1981.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Scull |first=Maggie |date=2016-03-01 |title=Timeline of 1981 hunger strike |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/timeline-of-1981-hunger-strike-1.2555682 |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Irish Times}}</ref> He had two children. His wife Goretti took an active part in the campaign in support of the hunger strikers.<ref name=":0" />


McDonnell was buried in the grave next to Bobby Sands at ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hunger striker buried in &#039;martyr&#039;s&#039; grave – UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/10/Hunger-striker-buried-in-martyrs-grave/4298363585600/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> ], McDonnell's ] in Sligo–Leitrim, gave the oration at his funeral.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-07 |title=Joe McDonnell – Died on July 8th 1981 on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh |url=https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/28104 |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=An Phoblacht |quote=After the blessing, conducted by Father Matthew Wallace, John Joe McGirl, Chairperson of Leitrim County Council and election agent for Joe McDonnell in the 26-County general election, gave the oration.}}</ref> Quoting ], he stated: "He may seem the fool who has given his all, by the wise men of the world; but it was the apparent fools who changed the course of Irish history".<ref>''Ten Men Dead'' by David Beresford ({{ISBN|0-87113-702-X}}), page 238</ref>
He went 61 days without food before dying on 8 July 1981.


==Allegations==
He had two children. His wife Gorretti took an active part in the campaign in support of the hunger strikers. She married again fairly soon after, although she remained proud of her role in the campaign.
⚫ In March 2006, former prisoner ] alleged that three days before McDonnell's death the British government made a firm offer to the prison leadership substantive enough to end the protest. O'Rawe alleges that while the leadership inside the prison were prepared to go for the deal and end the protest to save the lives of McDonnell and the others who died after him, the leadership outside told them to continue.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719060105/http://lark.phoblacht.net/AMROR1605068g.html |date=19 July 2006 }} by Anthony McIntyre, The Blanket, 16 May 2006</ref><ref>See also O'Rawe speaking in ] documentary "Hunger Strike" </ref>


The IRA commander inside Long Kesh at the time, ], has publicly disputed this version of events. Only one other prisoner on the prison wing O'Rawe and McFarlane were on, ], has backed up O'Rawe's version of events in relation to the 1981 hunger strike.<ref>{{cite news | title = Former comrades' war of words over hunger strike | author = Steven McCaffrey | url = http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2005/mar11_hunger_strike_war_of_words.php | newspaper = ] | date = 12 March 2005 | access-date = 26 May 2007 | archive-date = 22 March 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180322002854/http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2005/mar11_hunger_strike_war_of_words.php | url-status = dead }}</ref>
== In popular culture==
One of the most popular ] is the song which bears his name, written by ] of the ].


==Allegations== ==Commemoration==
]]]
⚫ In March 2006, former prisoner Richard O'Rawe has alleged that three days before McDonnell's death the ] made a firm offer to the prison leadership substantive enough to end the protest. O'Rawe alleges that while the leadership inside the prison were prepared to go for the deal and end the protest to save the lives of McDonnell and the others who died after him, the leadership outside told them to continue.<ref> by Anthony McIntyre, The Blanket, 16 May 2006</ref>
McDonnell was one of 22 Irish republicans (in the 20th century) who died on hunger-strike.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://republicansinnfein.org/hunger-strike-roll-of-honour|title = Roll of Honor/Hunger 6 May 2021| date=6 May 2014}} at republicansinnfein.org</ref>


Joe McDonnell is also commemorated in the ] song, "Joe McDonnell".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-27 |title=The Wolfe Tones and Celtic Symphony: Why is the song contentious? |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/09/27/news/wolfe_tones_celtic_symphony-3650757/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Irish News |quote=In 2014 then Football Association of Ireland chief John Delaney was criticised after he was filmed singing a Wolfe Tone’s song, The Ballad of Joe McDonnell, about the death of an IRA hunger striker in 1981.}}</ref> His family is also recognized in the Irish Brigade's "A Father's Blessing",<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Father's Blessing Chords And Lyrics |url=https://www.irish-folk-songs.com/a-fathers-blessing-chords-and-lyrics.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Irish folk songs |language=en |quote=This song is a tribute to Joe McDonnell (1951–1981) who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh Prison.}}</ref> and is one of the 10 hunger strikers mentioned in "]".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-02-15 |title=Unionists call for UK chart ban for hunger strike song Roll of Honour |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/unionists-call-for-uk-chart-ban-for-hunger-strike-song-roll-of-honour/30012122.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
The IRA commander inside Long Kesh at the time, ] (known as "Bik") has publicly disputed this version of events.<ref> by Stephen McCaffrey, Irish News, ] ], as reproduced on Ireland's Own Website</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}}
<references/>


==External references== ==External links==
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* *
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109124758/https://stailc.com/joe-mcdonnell/ |date=9 January 2022 }}
*
⚫ {{1981 Hunger Strike}}
{{PIRA}}


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Latest revision as of 20:01, 16 December 2024

Irish hunger striker and IRA volunteer

Joe McDonnell
BornJoseph McDonnell
(1951-09-14)14 September 1951
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died8 July 1981(1981-07-08) (aged 29)
HMP Maze, Northern Ireland
Burial placeMilltown Cemetery
OrganizationProvisional IRA
Known forHunger strike of 61 days, from 9 May 1981
SpouseGoretti (1970–1981; his death)
Children2

Joseph McDonnell (14 September 1951 – 8 July 1981) was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) who died during the 1981 Irish hunger strike.

Early life

Joe McDonnell was born on Slate Street in the lower Falls Road of Belfast as fifth of eight children. He attended a nearby Roman Catholic school. He married Goretti in 1970, and moved into her sister's house at Horn Drive in the Lenadoon area. Their house, being one of only two catholic households on an otherwise loyalist street, was attacked on numerous occasions before they were forced to move into Goretti's mother's house.

IRA activity

See also: 1976 Balmoral Furniture Company bombing, Dunmurry

McDonnell was arrested in Operation Demetrius, and along with Gerry Adams and others was interned on the prison ship HMS Maidstone. He was later moved to HM Prison Maze for several months. Upon release, he joined the Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade. He met Bobby Sands during the preparation for a firebomb attack on the Balmoral Furnishing Company's premises in Dunmurry. During the ensuing shoot-out between the IRA and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and army, both men, along with Séamus Finucane and Seán Lavery, were arrested. McDonnell and the others were sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession of a firearm. None of the men recognized nor accepted the jurisdiction of the court. Following sentencing, he was returned to HMP Maze and imprisoned in the H5 Block.

Hunger strike

McDonnell agreed with the goals of the Irish hunger strike, namely: the right not to wear a prison uniform; the right not to do prison work; the right of free association with other prisoners; the right to organise their own educational and recreational facilities and the right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week.

Although McDonnell was not involved in the first (1980) hunger strike, he joined Bobby Sands and the others in the second (1981) hunger strike. During the strike he stood as an Anti-H Block candidate in the 1981 general election in the Republic of Ireland for the Sligo–Leitrim constituency, receiving 5,639 votes and just missing out on a seat by 315 votes. His hunger strike lasted for 61 days before dying on 8 July 1981. He had two children. His wife Goretti took an active part in the campaign in support of the hunger strikers.

McDonnell was buried in the grave next to Bobby Sands at Milltown Cemetery. John Joe McGirl, McDonnell's election agent in Sligo–Leitrim, gave the oration at his funeral. Quoting Patrick Pearse, he stated: "He may seem the fool who has given his all, by the wise men of the world; but it was the apparent fools who changed the course of Irish history".

Allegations

In March 2006, former prisoner Richard O'Rawe alleged that three days before McDonnell's death the British government made a firm offer to the prison leadership substantive enough to end the protest. O'Rawe alleges that while the leadership inside the prison were prepared to go for the deal and end the protest to save the lives of McDonnell and the others who died after him, the leadership outside told them to continue.

The IRA commander inside Long Kesh at the time, Brendan McFarlane, has publicly disputed this version of events. Only one other prisoner on the prison wing O'Rawe and McFarlane were on, Anthony McIntyre, has backed up O'Rawe's version of events in relation to the 1981 hunger strike.

Commemoration

Memorial to 22 Irish Hunger Strikers Deaths. Glasnevin Cemetery

McDonnell was one of 22 Irish republicans (in the 20th century) who died on hunger-strike.

Joe McDonnell is also commemorated in the Wolfe Tones song, "Joe McDonnell". His family is also recognized in the Irish Brigade's "A Father's Blessing", and is one of the 10 hunger strikers mentioned in "Roll of Honour".

References

  1. "CAIN: Victims: Memorials: Joe McDonnell Plaque (McDonnell Street)". Ulster University. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Joe McDonnell | Bobby Sands Trust". Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  3. Wharton, Ken (2015). Northern Ireland: An Agony Continued: The British Army and the Troubles 1980–83. Helion and Company. p. 184. ISBN 9781911096801.
  4. "Gerry Adams speech on Joe McDonnell: A Heroic Leader – July 1981". Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  5. "ElectionsIreland.org: 22nd Dail – Sligo Leitrim First Preference Votes". electionsireland.org. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  6. Scull, Maggie (1 March 2016). "Timeline of 1981 hunger strike". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  7. "Hunger striker buried in 'martyr's' grave – UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  8. "Joe McDonnell – Died on July 8th 1981 on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh". An Phoblacht. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2024. After the blessing, conducted by Father Matthew Wallace, John Joe McGirl, Chairperson of Leitrim County Council and election agent for Joe McDonnell in the 26-County general election, gave the oration.
  9. Ten Men Dead by David Beresford (ISBN 0-87113-702-X), page 238
  10. The Blanket Meets the Blanketmen Anthony McIntyre speaks with Richard O'Rawe Archived 19 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine by Anthony McIntyre, The Blanket, 16 May 2006
  11. See also O'Rawe speaking in RTÉ documentary "Hunger Strike" at 0:56
  12. Steven McCaffrey (12 March 2005). "Former comrades' war of words over hunger strike". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2007.
  13. "Roll of Honor/Hunger 6 May 2021". 6 May 2014. at republicansinnfein.org
  14. "The Wolfe Tones and Celtic Symphony: Why is the song contentious?". The Irish News. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2024. In 2014 then Football Association of Ireland chief John Delaney was criticised after he was filmed singing a Wolfe Tone's song, The Ballad of Joe McDonnell, about the death of an IRA hunger striker in 1981.
  15. "A Father's Blessing Chords And Lyrics". Irish folk songs. Retrieved 27 June 2024. This song is a tribute to Joe McDonnell (1951–1981) who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh Prison.
  16. "Unionists call for UK chart ban for hunger strike song Roll of Honour". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 15 February 2014. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 June 2024.

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