The Bobby Sands Mural is situated at 49 Falls Road, Belfast (BT13 2QR). Born on March 9th, 1954 in Belfast, Bobby Sands grew up in Rathcoole and attended Stella Maris school until leaving at 15.

In 1972, sectarian violence prompted him and his family to relocate to Twinbrook, West Belfast, where he joined the provisional IRA on his 18th birthday. Sands was arrested in October 1972 for possessing handguns in the house where he was staying, and was sentenced to 5 years in jail in 1973.

He was released in April 1976, but resumed IRA activity and was arrested again in 1977 for possession of a gun, resulting in a 14-year sentence in Long Kesh (Maze Prison).

In 1980, he was chosen as the officer commanding the IRA in the jail. When Sands and his fellow prisoners demanded special category status and refused to wear a prison uniform, the Blanket Protest began, leading to the no-wash protest and ultimately the Hunger Strike. Sands and the other strikers wanted 5 demands met, including being considered as political prisoners.

During the Hunger Strike, Frank Maguire, a member of the British Government, died on March 5th, 1981, triggering a by-election in which Sands was selected as a candidate and won the seat on April 9th, 1981.

Despite still being in prison and on the Hunger Strike, Sands held the position until his death on May 5th, 1981, after 66 days. Nine more men followed him in what is now known as the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike. You can view the Bobby Sands Mural, along with others, on our site.