On Sunday, October 24, the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England was honored to commemorate the 40-year anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike in Northern Ireland, which brought attention to the British treatment of Northern Irish Citizens.
The ceremony, held in the Forest Park Garden of Remembrance, featured Hunger Strike survivor Patrick Sheehan, now a member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast West, Northern Ireland, who shared his experiences from that time.
Key sponsors of the event were U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, and the Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management Pat Sullivan.
After the ceremony and lunch, participants gathered at the ICCWNE. Guests toured the facility, heard about our future plans, and learned about our dedication to Irish culture and heritage here in western New England.
The 1981 Hunger Strike ended a five-year protest by Irish Republic prisoners in Northern Ireland. It resulted in changes to the House of Parliament in Northern Ireland with Irish representation in elections, and the historic Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Left to right: Sean Cahillane, ICC President; Martin Galvin; Richie Lawlor; Patrick Sheehan, longest H-Block Hunger Striker and member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast West, Northern Ireland; Jimmy Mann; Hugh Mullan.Left to right: Jeanne Ahern, ICC Board member; Rose Baker, ICC Vice President ; Bev Browne, ICC Board member; Laura Hurley, ICC Chief Advancement Officer; Ed Sullivan, former Mayor of West Springfield; Patrick Sheehan, longest H-Block Hunger Striker and member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast West, Northern Ireland; Mick Corduff, ICC Board member; Stephanie Joyce, ICC Treasurer; Mary Jane McMahon, ICC Board member; Sean Cahillane, ICC President; Ellen Gallivan, ICC Administrative Director; Will Carey, ICC Board member.Left to right: Sean Cahillane, ICC President; William Reichelt, Mayor of West Springfield; Patrick Sheehan, longest H-Block Hunger Striker and member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast West, Northern Ireland; Ed Sullivan, former Mayor of West Springfield.Left to right: Ellen Gallivan, ICC Administrative Director; Rose Baker, ICC Vice President; Laura Hurley, ICC Chief Advancement Officer; Bev Browne, ICC Board member; Ed Sullivan, former Mayor of West Springfield; Mick Corduff, ICC Board member; Stephanie Joyce, ICC Treasurer; Mary Jane McMahon, ICC Board member; John O’Donoghue.Left to right: Sean Cahillane, ICC President; Brian Ahern; Jeanne Ahern, ICC Board member; Laura Hurley, ICC Chief Advancement Officer; Ed Sullivan, former Mayor of West Springfield; Patrick Sheehan, longest H-Block Hunger Striker and member of the Legislative Assembly for Belfast West, Northern Ireland.Reception at the Irish Cultural CenterICC Patrons with Réaltín McElhinney, Irish Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (center).“One Shot Patty” Gary Gormally.Reception at the Irish Cultural CenterGuests looking out from the 4th floor of the Irish Cultural Center, where work is continuing to install new windows and construct new corners for the building.
