Irish Hunger Strikes

Irish Hunger Strikes and the Cult of Self-Sacrifice

Authorship and Publication

  • Author: George Sweeney

  • Source: Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1993), pp. 421-437

  • Published by: Sage Publications, Ltd.

  • Stable URL: Link

  • Accessed on: 15-12-2025

  • Description: JSTOR is a nonprofit service facilitating scholarly research across various content forms.

Introduction to Hunger Strikes in Ireland

  • Definition and Historical Context:

    • Hunger strikes as a means of social, economic, or political protest have a specific history in Ireland.

    • Noteworthiness: While not unique to Ireland, it witnessed one of the largest hunger strike protests in the 20th century.

Significant Historical Events

  • October 1923 Hunger Strike:

    • Over 8000 political prisoners opposed to the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty engaged in a hunger strike.

    • Two prisoners died before the protest ended.

  • Global Trend in Hunger Strikes:

    • Amnesty International recorded approximately 200 hunger strikes in 52 countries from 1970 to 1984, most being political in nature.

Theoretical Framework

  • Cultural Significance:

    • For Irish, especially northern Catholic republicans, hunger striking connects to a sense of martyrdom in the context of their history.

  • Historical Evolution:

    • Hunger striking dates back to pre-Christian Ireland and the enforcement of rights through Brehon laws.

Pre-Christian and Early Christian Use of Hunger Strikes

  • Brehon Laws:

    • Derived from the Gaelic word 'brithem' (judge).

    • Self-help was the main method to enforce rights.

  • Methods of Protest:

    • Aggrieved parties would 'fast against' offenders to draw attention to grievances.

    • Often used by the less powerful against the more powerful.

  • Implications of Death in Fasting:

    • Death from starvation could lead to moral and magical consequences for the offender.

  • Christianity's Influence:

    • Under Christianity, fasting became ritualized, starting at sunset and ending at sunrise, transforming it from practical to symbolic gestures.

Transformation in Irish Society

  • Impact of the Famine:

    • The Irish famine significantly affected population and psyche, with a reduction from approximately 7 million to about 5 million.

    • Solidified the devotional revolution post-famine, emphasizing increased Catholicism versus Protestantism.

Martyrdom and the Literary Revival

  • Cultural Resurgence:

    • Late 19th to early 20th century saw a revival of Gaelic culture tied to nationalism and religious devotion, nurturing a cult of self-sacrifice.

  • Heroic Myths:

    • Characters like Cuchulain became symbols of self-sacrifice.

    • Sacrificial themes permeated the works of poets such as W.B. Yeats, influencing national identity and longing for liberation.

Hunger Strikes as Political Tools

  • Re-emergence in 20th Century:

    • Between 1913-1923, around 50 hunger strikes involving various prisoners occurred, often for political recognition or prison conditions.

  • Notable Figures:

    • James Connolly participated in a hunger strike post-arrest in 1913. His strike highlighted early instances of political hunger striking.

The 1916 Easter Rising

  • Significance: The uprising was pivotal, intertwining nationalistic and martyrological themes.

  • Consequences of Leadership Executions:

    • Leaders executed post-Rising ascended to a status akin to mythic saints within Irish Catholic culture, intertwining their sacrifices with deeper religious and national identity.

  • Hunger Strike as a Protest Weapon:

    • The hunger strike symbolically used alongside significant political action.

  • Thomas Ashe's Death:

    • His hunger strike and subsequent death in 1917 became another martyrdom catalyst, intertwining with religious discourse.

Continuing Impact and Public Debate

  • Discussions Among Clergy:

  • Canon John Waters debated the moral implications of hunger strikes, viewing them as potent political tools.

  • Public Perception:

    • Hunger strikes drew public sympathy and sparked significant reactions from the Irish Free State government, especially post Asher's death.

Hunger Strikes during the Civil War

  • Political Fallout:

    • Denial of traditional burials and reactions from clergy highlighted complex attitudes toward martyrdom and the use of hunger strikes.

  • Terence Mac Swiney's Strike:

    • His 74-day hunger strike elicited significant public sympathy and criticism of British government inaction.

The Evolution of the Hunger Strike as Protest

  • Cyclic Patterns:

    • Recurrences in hunger strikes from 1922 to 1923 with varying levels of public and government engagement, leading to the mass strikes against the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

  • Legacy of Sacrifice:

    • Hunger strikes within the context of the developing national identity underscored a tradition where each death resonated culturally as sacrificial martyrdom.

Socio-Political Analysis of Self-Sacrifice

  • Theoretical Constructs:

    • O'Neill outlined five societal needs that encourage self-sacrifice.

  • Legitimacy through Sacrifice:

    • Acts of self-sacrifice symbolize and solidify the legitimacy of political movements, embedding in public consciousness.

Conclusion

  • Historical Import:

    • The hunger strike phenomenon represents a deep cultural legacy in Ireland, reinforcing identities, ideologies, and the nature of protest within a politically charged narrative.

  • Contemporary Relevance:

    • Modern implications are reflected in the 1981 hunger strikes, continuing the impact of sacrifice as a potent symbol in Irish resistance.

Notes

  1. Sources and scholarly references underpinning historical events and discussions.

  2. Exploration of various Irish hunger strikes and their impacts on social and political landscapes.

  3. Conjunction of religious, cultural, and nationalistic themes leading to a repetitive cycle of hunger strikes as a form of protest.