The 1920 Cork hunger strike began on 11 August 1920, when 65 men interned without trial in Cork County Gaol went on hunger strike, demanding release from prison, and reinstatement of their status as political prisoners. The following day, they were joined by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney. A week into the hunger strike, all but 11 of the hunger strikers were released or deported to prison in England, with MacSwiney being among the latter.

Michael Fitzgerald Michael Fitzgerald may refer to: Arts *Michael C. FitzGerald (born 1953), art historian and Picasso scholar * Michael G. Fitzgerald (1950–2006), American film historian and author *Michael O. Fitzgerald (born 1949), American author Religion ...

died after 68 days, while Joe Murphy died after 79 days. The nine surviving hunger strikers - Michael Burke,

John Crowley John Crowley may refer to: *John Crowley (Irish revolutionary) (1891-1942), Irish revolutionary and hunger striker *John Crowley (author) (born 1942), American author *John Crowley (baseball) (1862–1896), American Major League catcher *John Crowl ...

, Peter Crowley,

Seán Hennessy The 1920 Cork hunger strike began on 11 August 1920, when 65 men interned without trial in Cork County Gaol went on hunger strike, demanding release from prison, and reinstatement of their status as political prisoners. The following day, they were ...

, Joseph Kenny, Thomas O'Donovan, Michael O'Reilly, John Power, and Christopher Upton - continued on for 94 days, ending their fast on 12 August 1920, following orders from Arthur Griffith. The nine survivors of the 1920 Cork hunger strike hold the

Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

for the longest hunger strike in history, in which no food was consumed, whether as a result of force-feeding or otherwise. In October 1923 mass hunger strikes were undertaken by

Irish republican Irish republicanism ( ga, poblachtánachas Éireannach) is the political movement for the unity and independence of Ireland under a republic. Irish republicans view British rule in any part of Ireland as inherently illegitimate. The develop ...

prisoners protesting the continuation of their internment without trial (see 1923 Irish Hunger Strikes).

References

{{reflist 1920 in Ireland Hunger strikes Cork (city)