Former blanket man Seamus Kearney gives talk in Dungiven

On Friday, July 26 the Thomas Ashe 1916 Society Dungiven hosted former blanket man Seamus Kearney to give a talk on his book, ‘No Greater Love’.

Seamus explained that the book's title comes from a quote from Kevin Lynch's grave, ‘A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friend’.

The book launch was part of a series of events organised over the  weekend to commemorate Dungiven Hunger Striker Kevin Lynch.

Seamus began by recalling his experiences at the outbreak of troubles while living in East Belfast. Initially local men defended the area from Loyalist attack. Up until the Battle of St Matthew's, when Billy McKee and the IRA came in to defend the area, a pivotal moment in the formation of the Provisional Republican Movement. Seamus went on to talk about how his family moved to West Belfast to escape the violence in East Belfast, though this was to no avail as the violence soon engulfed the city. He goes on to talk about how these series of events lead to him joining the Republican Movement.

Seamus spoke about joining the IRA, his time in active service and getting wounded, his repeated arrests, his interrogations in Castlereagh and finally getting caught on Active service.

ABOVE: Seamus Kearney pictured with Paddy Mulgrew.

Following Seamus’s arrest he was sent to the Crumlin Road jail then moved to the H-Blocks while still on remand. The H-Blocks were a newly built prison system built at the site of Long Kesh, as part of the criminalisation policy of the British Government which they renamed the Maze. 

There he met with Kieran Doherty, Tom McElwee, Bobby Sands and Kevin Lynch, all of whom would later go on to give their lives on hunger strike. During this time Seamus got 14 years and was moved to a non conforming block, H5. Seamus joined the Blanket Protest. The experience which Seamus describes was 'brutal, with habitual beatings, starvation and overall degradation'. Throughout this harrowing experience the Blanket Protesters only grew more determined. Despite everything they became a brotherhood. 

This became more important when Seamus got the worst news anyone could get, Seamus' brother was executed by supposed comrades as being accused as an informer. Seamus' dedication to his fellow Blanketmen never wavered and he went on to prove his brother's innocence. 

Seamus' brother Michael was used as a scapegoat in an operation that he had nothing to do with him to cover for other informers by the British operative Steak Knife, Freddie Scappaticci. Despite such betrayal Seamus and his comrades gave the struggle real meaning, they overcame despite all odds. 

Seamus summed up the experience of the Hunger Strikers with a fitting quote, ‘One brother laying down his life for another.’ Fidel Castro, the revolutionary Cuban leader spoke of the profound impact the hunger strikers had: “They have earned the respect and admiration of the world, and likewise they deserve its support. Ten of them have already died in the most moving gesture of sacrifice, selflessness and courage one could ever imagine.”