Terence MacSwiney's Death

In the 1918 general election, MacSwiney was returned unopposed to the first Dáil Éireann as Sinn Féin representative for Mid Cork, succeeding the Nationalist M.P. D. D. Sheehan. After the murder of his friend Tomás Mac Curtain, the Lord Mayor of Cork on 20 March 1920, he was elected Lord Mayor of Cork. On 12 August 1920, he was arrested in Dublin for possession of seditious articles and documents, and also possession of a cipher key. He was summarily tried by court martial on 16 August, sentenced to two years' imprisonment in Brixton Prison.

In prison, he immediately started a hunger strike in protest at his internment and the fact that he was tried by a military court. Eleven republican prisoners in Cork Jail went on hunger strike at the same time. On 26 August, the cabinet stated that "the release of the Lord Mayor would have disastrous results in Ireland and would probably lead to a mutiny of both military and police in South of Ireland." MacSwiney's hunger strike gained world attention. The British government was threatened with a boycott of British goods by Americans, while four countries in South America appealed to the Pope to intervene. Protests were held in Germany and France as well.

MacSwiney's funeral in Cork on 31 October 1920.Attempts at force-feeding MacSwiney were undertaken in the final days of his strike. On 20 October 1920, he fell into a coma and died five days later after 74 days on hunger strike. His body lay in Southwark Cathedral in London where 30,000 people filed past it. Fearing large-scale demonstrations in Dublin, the authorities diverted his coffin directly to Cork and his funeral there on 31 October attracted huge crowds. Terence MacSwiney is buried in the Republican plot in Saint Finbarr's Cemetery in Cork. Arthur Griffith delivered the graveside oration.

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[iriesoaringeagle]

thnx for sharing he was my great uncle and a real insoiration to me

[fairhillnorrie]

great footage.... im proud to be Irish and always will...

[AMason8634]

Great video.

[dubbigot]

it is not the one who inflicts the most pain but the one who endures the most suffering who will ultimately win . words of McSwiney , RIP and mind who came after you.

[irishfreedom32]

Very brave man...

[CaoimhinDunDealgan]

RIP Terence, Good video mate 5**********

[thenurneyboyz]

RIP Terence MacSwiney

[ineendubh]

Interestingly, McSwiney's 'little daughter' who is mentioned in this song is still alive. She lives near me in Dublin and recently published a book about her father and her own life. She married Cathal Brugha's son Ruairi.

[ineendubh]

Wonderful tribute. I'd never seen the Pathe footage before.

RIP Terence MacSwiney

[CorsicaNustrale]

Free Corsica, free Ireland!

Libertà per a Corsica, libertà per l'Irlanda !