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Bobby Sands rose to international prominence in 1981 when he embarked on a fatal hunger strike while imprisoned for activities related to the IRA’s armed campaign against the British government.

Sands’s rough childhood, which included several assaults by unionist paramilitaries and local Protestant gangs, led to his decision to volunteer for the IRA in 1972. Sands was arrested twice, the first time for weapons possession, in 1972, and imprisoned at Long Kesh as a “special category” prisoner due to his involvement with the IRA. The special category status acknowledged a sort of political status and granted those prisoners the right to wear their own clothing.  When these privileges were taken away and seen as criminals they started several protest to get them back.  When Margaret Thatcher would not budge, he died at the age of 29 and 9 others would follow.

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Irish Mythology - Mythical Cycle - Book of Invasions