At 1.17am on 5th May 1981, Irish Republican and MP Bobby Sands died after 66 days on hunger strike.

Today at 7pm Sinn Féin will launch a commemorative video, to mark the 39th anniversary of his death. 

A night of music, poetry and reflection with Bobby's comrades alongside local musicians & republican activists is to take place in an unusal manner, given the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. 

However, the pandemic won't stop commemorations, ensure Sinn Féin executives. 

Bobby Sands was the first to start the hunger strike in the notorious Long Kesh prison.

Sands was elected MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone during the hunger strike, thus dispelling the myth that the hunger strikers had no support in Ireland.

More people voted for him than did for then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in her own Finchley constituency. Bobby Sands' death led to international protests and condemnation of the callousness of the government.

Bobby Sands had kept a diary throughout the hunger strike and his last entry was: "Tiocfaidh ar la — our day will come."

Ten republicans died during the 1981 hunger strike.