The 1920 Cork hunger strike began on 11 August 1920, when 65 men interned without trial in

Cork County Gaol Cork County Gaol was a former prison located in Cork (city), Cork, Ireland. The main walls and gate entrance of the prison are today incorporated in the perimeter of University College Cork. History The main Cork County Gaol buildings were ere ...

went on

hunger strike A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke a feeling of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most ...

, 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 Terence James MacSwiney (; ga, Toirdhealbhach Mac Suibhne; 28 March 1879 – 25 October 1920) was an Irish playwright, author and politician. He was elected as Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork during the Irish War of Independence in 1920. He ...

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

Thomas O'Donovan 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 ...

, Michael O'Reilly, John Power, and

Christopher Upton 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 ...

- continued on for 94 days, ending their fast on 12 August 1920, following orders from

Arthur Griffith Arthur Joseph Griffith ( ga, Art Seosamh Ó Gríobhtha; 31 March 1871 – 12 August 1922) was an Irish writer, newspaper editor and politician who founded the political party Sinn Féin. He led the Irish delegation at the negotiations that prod ...

. 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)