Wakefield vigil on 50th anniversary of death of Mayo's Frank Stagg

IRISH republicans from London, Manchester, Sheffield and elsewhere in England gathered outside Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, to remember Irish patriot Frank Stagg, to mark the 50th anniversary of his death - after 62 days on hunger-strike - on February 12, 1976.

The vigil was accompanied by music performed by the celebrated piper Tom Lynch of Achill Island. The Proclamation of 1916 was read by Denis Grace and a statement was read by Joe Dwyer on behalf of the Sinn Féin London Office.

The keynote oration was delivered by Frank Glynn, chairperson of the Terence MacSwiney Commemoration Committee (London), the main organisers for the commemoration. A solemn wreath was laid by veteran republican Sean Flaherty.

A special message recorded by Stagg's comrade Gerry Kelly (now a Sinn Féin MLA in the Northern Assembly for North Belfast) was played for those in attendance.

Mr. Kelly was in jail in England at the same time as Frank Stagg, and was also on hunger-strike with Stagg and Michael Gaughan in 1973-74. On hearing of the Wakefield vigil, he said he wanted to send a message of solidarity and also of thanks.

He said: “It was people who were living in England, mostly Irish people and others, who in very difficult circumstances came out to support Frank and the rest of us who were on hunger-strike at that time and we were very grateful. Unfortunately, we lost two great comrades: Michael Gaughan in 1974, through forced feeding, and then Frank who was forced onto three hunger-strikes and then died on 12 February, 1976.

“I just want you to know that our thoughts are with you. Thank you for all you have done over many years, over generations actually, to show us solidarity.”

Frank Glynn thanked those in attendance and said that the committee hoped to make the vigil a part of the republican calendar, suggesting that a similar service be held in 2031 to mark Stagg's 55th anniversary.

Following the commemoration, the Terence MacSwiney Committee received a message from the Stagg family thanking them for their tribute to Frank's memory.

BALLINA COMMEMORATION

Back home in Mayo, an estimated 2,500 people from across Ireland gathered at Leigue Cemetery in Ballina on February 14 to mark the 50th anniversary of the death on hunger strike of Frank Stagg.

The commemoration, organised by Mayo Sinn Féin, was described by those in attendance as emotional, dignified and deeply moving.

Attendees endured plunging temperatures and cutting winds as they honoured the Hollymount native who died on hunger strike in Wakefield Prison in England on February 12, 1976, aged 34. The size of the crowd exceeded expectations, according to chairman Seán Quinn, who led the organising effort.

Speakers noted that 50 years on, respect for Stagg’s sacrifice remained undimmed. His decision to embark on hunger strike was rooted, they said, in deep conviction, courage and an unwavering belief in Ireland’s right to self-determination and unity.

Frank Stagg spent 62 days on hunger strike protesting for political status and against the gruesome conditions imposed on Irish republican prisoners in English jails.

One of the most powerful moments recalled during the ceremony were Stagg’s final words to his wife as he lay dying: “Well, this is how a hunger strike ends.”

Another quote from his final days was also repeated to the crowd: “We are a risen people. This time we must not be driven into the gutter, even if this should mean dying for justice. The fight must go on.”

Sinn Féin TD for Mayo, Rose Conway-Walsh, delivered an address reflecting on Stagg’s life, his sacrifice and the legacy of the prison struggle. She spoke of the continued relevance of his political vision and the enduring impact of the hunger strikes on Ireland’s political landscape.

“Frank’s message of justice and peace lives on 50 years after his sacrifice,” she said. “As we look forward to the reunification of our country, it important that we remember those who died for Irish freedom.”

Gerry Kelly, a member of the Northern Assembly who also imprisoned in England at the same time as Frank and who also participated in a hunger strike, addressed the gathering. Kelly described the harsh treatment endured by Irish prisoners in English jails during the 1970s. He recalled the brutal prison conditions, the solidarity among Irish republican prisoners and the wider campaign for political status.

Several speakers referenced the deeply controversial actions of the Irish government following Stagg’s death. The then Fine Gael-Labour coalition took control of Frank Stagg’s remains, denying his family access and refusing his stated wish to be buried alongside fellow Mayo hunger striker Michael Gaughan in the Republican Plot in Ballina.

On February 19, 1976, Stagg’s coffin was transferred by British police to the Irish authorities at Heathrow Airport. While members of his family and republican representatives waited at Dublin Airport, the aircraft was diverted to Shannon on the instructions of the Irish Government. In a major security operation, Stagg was buried in an isolated grave in Leigue Cemetery, and the grave was covered in concrete in an effort to prevent his remains being moved.

However, following an extended period of garda surveillance, Stagg’s remains were retrieved by his comrades in November 1977 and reinterred in the Republican Plot alongside Michael Gaughan, in accordance with his wishes. The episode has long been regarded as a dark and painful chapter in modern Irish history.

Three generations of the Stagg family gathered at the commemoration. Music was provided by two younger members of the family, adding a deeply personal and reflective tone to proceedings.

“It was heartening to see so many people gather to remember Frank Stagg and to support the Stagg family,” Deputy Conway-Walsh said.

The most poignant contribution came from Frank’s brother, George Stagg, who received sustained applause as he spoke of both the personal loss suffered by his family and the dramatic events surrounding his brother’s reinterment.

George reflected on the night in 1977 when a small group removed Frank’s remains from the concrete grave and laid him to rest in the republican plot. His words served as a powerful reminder that behind every act of political sacrifice lies a family who carries that loss in the most intimate and enduring way.

The ceremony concluded with thanks to the organisers and a renewed reflection on Frank Stagg’s enduring legacy - as a son of Mayo, as a hunger striker and as a figure whose final words continue to resonate half a century later.

Fifty years on, those gathered in Ballina reflected not only on the events of 1976 and 1977, but on the lasting imprint they have left on county and the country.

“Frank Stagg’s legend will always live on in Mayo,” said Karen Gallagher, secretary of Mayo Sinn Féin. “His courage and commitment will never be forgotten.”