Francis Hughes remembered in Gorey

Heavy rain failed to break the spirits of those who gathered in Gorey this afternoon to honour the memory of republican martyr Francis Hughes.  A large crowd braved the elements to take part in a black flag memorial at the 1798 monument in the town, part of a number of commemorative events being organised by the local branch of Sinn Féin this Summer to mark the 32nd anniversary of the 1981 republican hunger strike.

Francis Hughes was a republican volunteer who was for a period the most wanted man in Ireland.  He took part in the first H-blocks hunger strike in 1980 and was the second man to die in the 1981 strike.  His cousin Thomas McElwee would later become the ninth man to die that terrible summer.

Among those to speak at today's event in Gorey were Wexford Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Kelly and local spokesperson and anti austerity campaigner Fionntán O' Súilleabháin.  Both men stressed the need for families and communities that are on their knees due to austerity to take a stand against the pro austerity troika of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail by joining Sinn Féin. 

Further events will be held across the county to remember the other eight hunger strikers in or around their respective anniversaries.  All are welcome to take part in these events.