# Bobby Sands

> Activist of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (1954-1981)

**Wikidata**: [Q121615](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q121615)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Sands)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bobby-sands

## Summary
Bobby Sands was an Irish republican activist and member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) who became a prominent political prisoner during The Troubles. He is best known for his hunger strike in 1981, which led to his death and became a symbol of the struggle for Irish republicanism.

## Biography
- Born: March 9, 1954, in Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Nationality: Irish
- Education: Attended St. Malachy's College in Belfast
- Known for: Leading the 1981 hunger strike in Maze Prison, which ended in his death and became a key event in the Irish republican movement
- Employer(s): Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA)
- Field(s): Irish republican activism, political prisoner advocacy

## Contributions
- **1981 Hunger Strike**: Sands and five other prisoners launched a hunger strike in Maze Prison to protest British detention policies. The strike lasted 66 days and ended in Sands' death on May 5, 1981. His death became a major rallying point for the Irish republican cause and led to the establishment of the Bobby Sands Freedom Fund.
- **Symbol of Irish Republicanism**: Sands' death and the hunger strike became iconic in the struggle for Irish republican rights, inspiring further activism and international solidarity.

## FAQs
**What was Bobby Sands' role in the Irish republican movement?**
Bobby Sands was a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and a prominent political prisoner during The Troubles. He is best known for his 1981 hunger strike in Maze Prison, which ended in his death and became a symbol of the struggle for Irish republicanism.

**Where was Bobby Sands born?**
Bobby Sands was born on March 9, 1954, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

**What was the significance of Bobby Sands' hunger strike?**
Bobby Sands' hunger strike in 1981, along with five other prisoners, lasted 66 days and ended in his death on May 5, 1981. The strike became a major event in the Irish republican movement and a symbol of the struggle for Irish republican rights.

**Who were the other prisoners involved in Bobby Sands' hunger strike?**
The other prisoners involved in Bobby Sands' hunger strike were Francis Hughes, Bobby Hughes, Seamus Costello, Kieran Doherty, and Raymond McCreesh.

**What was the outcome of Bobby Sands' hunger strike?**
Bobby Sands' hunger strike ended in his death on May 5, 1981. His death became a major rallying point for the Irish republican cause and led to the establishment of the Bobby Sands Freedom Fund.

## Why They Matter
Bobby Sands' death and the hunger strike he led in 1981 became a defining moment in the Irish republican movement. His actions and sacrifice inspired further activism and international solidarity, shaping the struggle for Irish republican rights. Sands' legacy continues to influence political discourse in Ireland and beyond.

## Notable For
- **Symbol of Irish Republicanism**: Sands' death became a major rallying point for the Irish republican cause.
- **Hunger Strike Leader**: His 1981 hunger strike in Maze Prison lasted 66 days and ended in his death, making it a landmark event in the struggle for Irish republican rights.
- **Establishment of the Bobby Sands Freedom Fund**: His death led to the creation of the Bobby Sands Freedom Fund, which supports political prisoners in Ireland.

## Body

### Early Life and Activism
Bobby Sands was born on March 9, 1954, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He attended St. Malachy's College in Belfast and became involved in the Irish republican movement. Sands joined the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and was elected as a member of the Irish Republican Parliamentary Party (IRPP) in 1979.

### Political Prisoner and Hunger Strike
In 1981, Sands and five other prisoners—Francis Hughes, Bobby Hughes, Seamus Costello, Kieran Doherty, and Raymond McCreesh—launched a hunger strike in Maze Prison to protest British detention policies. The strike lasted 66 days and ended in Sands' death on May 5, 1981. His death became a major rallying point for the Irish republican cause and led to the establishment of the Bobby Sands Freedom Fund.

### Legacy and Influence
Bobby Sands' death and the hunger strike he led in 1981 became a defining moment in the Irish republican movement. His actions and sacrifice inspired further activism and international solidarity, shaping the struggle for Irish republican rights. Sands' legacy continues to influence political discourse in Ireland and beyond.

## References

1. [Bobby Sands MP](http://www.bobbysandstrust.com/bobbysands)
2. Catalog of the German National Library
3. [Republican Roll of Honour. An Phoblacht](http://www.anphoblacht.com/roll-of-honour)
4. datos.bne.es
5. [1981: Hunger striker elected MP. British Broadcasting Corporation. 1981](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/10/newsid_2453000/2453183.stm)
6. catalogue of Eye Film Museum
7. Find a Grave
8. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. [1981 Hunger Strikes. New York University. 2001](https://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/aia/exhibits/0501_hunger/timeline/timeline01.htm)
11. Virtual International Authority File
12. MusicBrainz
13. [Bobby Sands – Born 60 years ago. An Phoblacht. 0014](http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/23828)
14. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
15. Discogs
16. Dictionary of Irish Biography
17. BnF authorities
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. [Bobby Sands Biography. A&E](http://www.biography.com/people/bobby-sands-20941955)
20. [Bobby Sands Biography](http://www.biography.com/people/bobby-sands-20941955)
21. Quora