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This website is to honour the life of prominent Belfast Republican, Sean McCaughey who died on Hunger-Strike in Portlaoise Prison on May 11, 1946.

Sean was a highly respected and popular Gaelic Teacher, who taught in the Ard Scoil in Divis Street. As well as a dedicated member of the G.A.A. and Gaelic League. In private however, Sean was also an influential I.R.A. Volunteer, who served as Northern Command O/C, Adjudant-General and for a short time as, Chief-of Staff.

During World War II, the Irish Government used the harshest methods to thwart an I.R.A. Campaign including, Internment, Special Courts and even Executions. The Leader of this brutal Regime was none other than, Eamon De Valera. Who hid behind Wartime censorship laws, to persecute Political Prisoners.

Arrested in 1941, Sean Mc Caughey was among a number of Irish Republican Prisoners who were singled-out for 'Special Treatment'. As a result, they were held in barbaric conditions for the next five years in Portlaoise.

Thus, in a last ditch attempt to end their misery, Sean embarked on an agonising Hunger and Thirst Strike to highlight conditions. Sadly though, Volunteer. Sean McCaughey died just, 23 days later. The Prisoners including Sean believed, De Valera would grant them Political Status.

Tragically, the Irish Government ignored their plight. Within days of his death, an 'Inquest' was held into the circumstances which led to the dual-strike.....

When the details of the conditions, Sean and his comrades were held in. It caused outrage across Ireland. Which ultimately led to the downfall of the Fianna Fail Government in the 1948 Geneal Election.

FUAIR SE BAS NA hEIREANN