PHOTOS: Gerry Adams Launches Book On Hunger Strikers At The Rose Hotel

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Gerry Adams arrives at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

PRESIDENT of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams TD, received a rapturous welcome in The Rose Hotel Tralee on Thursday night when he launched ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’, the story of Ireland’s 22  hunger strikers.

There was a packed house for the launch as people came from all over the county and indeed country for the event.

A tremendous amount of work went into collecting the information and photos for the book which is a must for anyone with an interest in Irish history.

Continued below…

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Early in 2017 a committee consisting of Martin Ferris TD, John Buckley, Pól O’Clúbháin, Seán O’Braoin, Éamonn deBairéad, Seán O’Luing, Tadhg O’Duinneacha came together as The Tomás Ághas Centenary Memorial Committee.

Tadhg Dennehy, Toireasa Ferris, Pól O Clúbhain, Martin Ferris, Sean O Briain, Eddie Barrett and John Buckley at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

Their intention was to honour Thomas Ashe, the centenary of whose death falls on September 25, but it was decided that a book would also remember all who died on hunger strike from the first hunger striker, Ashe, in 1917 to the last, Mickey Devine, in 1981.

The stories of Ashe, McSwiney and Sands are well known but others like Joseph Whitty of Wexford or Tony D’Arcy of Galway have almost been forgotten.

The book gives a snippet of each of the men’s lives and will be the first time that all 22 men have been remembered in the one book.

Gerry Kelly, who was force fed for over 200 days while on hunger strike, was also present for the launch and told of his own experience of force feeding.

There was also a hunger strike exhibition around the room telling the story of the men.  Many people queued for Martin Ferris, Gerry Adams and Gerry Kelly to sign copies of the book. Scroll down for photos…

Mary Anne Breen and Jacinta Bradley before the start of the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

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Noelle O’Brien and Cecelia Lynch at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

Dinno Dowling, Robert Beasley and Tommy Weadick at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

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Mary and Anna Dennehy at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

Maureen Buckley, Breda Horgan, Leah Horgan, John Buckley and Mary Buckley at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

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The large crowd at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

Gerry Kelly addressing the crowd at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean

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Sean Stack and Kevin Barry at the launch of ‘Ireland’s Hunger for Justice’ at The Rose Hotel on Thursday night. Photo by Dermot Crean