Pat Sheehan pays tribute to Bobby Sands as new statue unveiled in Twinbrook
4 May 2025
Sinn Féin MLA, Pat Sheehan, has called on Republicans to redouble their efforts for the cause of Irish freedom during his speech at the unveiling of Bobby Sands’ statue in Twinbrook.
The West Belfast MLA, was the main speaker at the event which took place on the 44th anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands on hunger strike in 1981.
Reflecting on the “heroism and sacrifice” of Bobby Sands and the other hunger strikers, Pat Sheehan said in “2025 we are closer than ever to undoing the injustice of partition and re-uniting our country”.
“Their bravery set in motion a series of events that makes the momentum for political and social change unstoppable and irreversible,” said Mr. Sheehan, who also took part in the hunger strike.
“That momentum will carry us forward to the realisation of an Irish national democracy. A republic where the rights and identity of all our people, of whatever persuasion or background will be accommodated and cherished.”
Mr Sheehan continued: “The Orange state is gone. Unionist domination is gone.
“There are more republicans than ever before and Sinn Féin is the biggest political movement on this island.
“Therefore, the opposite of what was intended by the British has come to pass. Not only was criminalisation defeated but the injustice of partition and the role of the British state in Ireland was exposed to international scrutiny as never before.”
Paying tribute to Bobby Sands, Mr. Sheehan said: “Bobby Sands didn’t die just to prove he was right. He had a vision, a belief and an idea that his suffering and death would lead to a better world for the rest of us.
“Today we are in a better place. We no longer need or expect our young men and women to risk their lives and liberty on active service, or to hunger strike in prison cells.
“That’s not to say there isn’t work to be done. We need to redouble our efforts and all of us put our shoulders to the wheel. Irish unity is not inevitable, we need to make it happen. It’s then, as Bobby said, we will see the rising of the moon.”
Concluding with a quote from the diary of Bobby Sands, Mr. Sheehan said: “I may die, but the Republic of 1916 will never die. Onward to the Republic and the liberation of our people.”
