Why when nine others died on hunger strike, was the death of Bobby Sands MP more famous?

Question

Why when nine others died on hunger strike, was the death of Bobby Sands MP more famous?

Answer 1

The first is always remembered.

For example No one remembers the name of the 9th person to climb Everest or walk on the moon.

Answer 2

It is to bad in a way

But they are right he was just the first I dont consider the others as also rans

Answer 3

Several reasons

He was the leader, and on 01 Mar, 1981 the first to begin the hunger strike (the strikes were spread out, with other strikes joining at later dates)

He was the first to die.

He was elected to the Parliment on 09 April.

I think this last point was a major factor in contributing to the Sands legend.  In electing him as their representitive, the people of his district showed their support for him.  He became a representitive and surrogate of the people, and so in not adressing his demands, the government showed directly their distain for the majority in the district who supported Sands.

Answer 4

~Depends on your interest as to whether or not he is the most famous.  In the wonderful world of 'recording history', the authors need their symbols and figureheads.

On the other hand, at least outside Ireland, Bobby was more renown in life than were Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh, Patsy O'Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Tom McElwee, Kieran Doherty and Mickey Devine.  Bobby was in the headlines, and in the hearts and minds of the (Republican) Irish for years before his interment at Long Kesh.  

Billy McKee's hunger strike in 1972 had won political prisoner status for IRA/INLA prisoners.  That status was revoked in 1976.  A series of strikes (such as the Blanket Strike and The Dirty Protest) followed but produced no results.  In October, 1980, Brendan Hughes was the IRA Officer Commanding in H-Block.  Hughes led a hunger strike beginning on the 27th, joined immediately by 6 others (John Nixon, Sean McKenna, Raymond McCartney, Tommy McKearney and Leo Green).  On December 1, Mairead Farrell, Mairead Nugent and Mary Doyle joined the strike from Armagh Women's Jail.  On December 18, the strikers believed negotiations had borne fruit and that the British were going to meet their demands.  The strike ended.  Sean McKenna was all but dead.

When the prisoners saw the "comprimise" made by the Brits, they realized they had gained nothing.  Sands had succeeded Hughes as Officer Commanding.  He vainly, and publicly and vociferously, demanded that the Thatcher government negotiate in good faith and accord the prisoners political status once again.  When that didn't work, Sands began a follow-up hunger strike on March 1, 1981.  This time, the strikers would begin their fast at staggered intervals, so as to protect against the prospect that all would die at or about the same time (near simultaneous deaths would have played into British hands as the strike would have been over for lack of participants).  During the strike, MP Frank Maguire died (he was not involved or in prison) and Sands was elected to fill the vacancy.  Even his status as MP did not improve the negotiations or produce results.  In fact, Parliament responded by passing a law prohibiting prisoners from standing for election in the future.  

Sands died on May 5, 1981.  At least 100,000 people attended his funeral.  World wide protests followed.  The British Isles were immolated by bloody riots and countless deaths in the streets.   Thereafter, one by one, the remaining strikers died.  The strike was a failure and was ended on October 3 with no results beyond the death of the 10 and their ensuing martyrdom.  

Sands was the most famous of the strikers before his death, the most articulate of them and the most vocal.  He led the strike.  His death brought about the most civil unrest and publicity.  It is axiomatic that anyone lacking in knowledge of the times or the event would only remember Bobby Sands.  The circumstances of his arrest and imprisonment (the injustice of it? He got 17 years because police found a revolver that couldn't be connected to him  in his unattended car) had already pretty much guaranteed that he would be infamous.   His death made him the symbol and figurehead of the cause.

Answer 5

Bobby Sands was the first to die, so people

remember him.

Answer 6

Bobby Sands. 'Trailblazer.' An Irish Martyr.

Answer 7

Although he was the first to die, it was because he was elected MP for West Belfast that he was more famous, the reason behind him running was to try to get the eyes of the world fixed on the hunger strike and the prisoners political status.

Just a little side note, i went to the same school as Bobby Sands, although i was too young to remember him. The school was called Stella Maris!

Answer 8

He was the first of the hunger strikers to die.