A large crowd is expected to attend the National Hunger Strike Commemoration Parade taking place in Lifford/Strabane this coming Sunday.
The event will be one of largest public events the area has ever witnessed with thousands of people from every corner of Ireland and further afield, along with many visiting bands, attending.
Speaking to the media beforehand the local MLA Maolíosa McHugh the event is set to be one of the biggest the area has seen.
He said “The Hunger Strike period of 1980/81 was a defining watershed in our history and had a particularly profound effect on areas like Strabane where pride in the Hunger Strikers –their courage and their sacrifice remains undiminished and on Sunday the local community will turn out in strength to remember them.
“A massive amount of work has went in to organising this parade and wider programme of commemorative events to ensure a fitting tribute to their memory.
“With thousands of people from every corner of Ireland and further afield also in attendance, along with many visiting bands, it will be one the largest public events the area has ever witnessed.
“The parade will be forming up in the Diamond in Lifford at 2:30pm and will make its way, along the Lifford Road, around the ASDA roundabout and onto Bradley Way, onto Bridge Street, over the Bridge, down Market Street and finishing at Abercorn Square.
“The organisers have liaised with the authorities on both sides of the border and will deploy large numbers of stewards on the day in an effort to keep traffic disruption to an absolute minimum.
“We look forward to welcoming and hosting families of the Hunger Strikers to the area and in making it a memorable occasion for them and for all attending. Given the massive influx of people, local businesses and particularly local hotels/B&Bs, shops, food outlets and pubs are also set to receive a welcome boost in trade.”
