A REPUBLICAN group plan to hold a march in Glasgow to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes – on the same day as an Orange Order parade.
Cairde na hEireann – Friends of Ireland – have told Glasgow City Council they intend to hold a march and rally on Saturday, June 11.
The group, who describe themselves as the main republican organisation in Scotland, have outlined a route for the march which will start in Garnock Street, Royston in the city’s East End before finishing in the South Side’s Queen’s Park.
If the march goes ahead as planned by the group, it will coincide with the County Grand Lodge of Glasgow’s WW1 national commemoration parade.
The council have confirmed that they are aware of the group’s intentions.
A spokesman added: “A formal notification has been lodged, and will be discussed with the organiser and police.”
Cairde na hEireann hold regular events in Glasgow and they have recently been taking part in vigils at Glasgow Cross to mark the hundred anniversary of the Easter Rising.
Their supporters have held peaceful vigils in an area close to the High Street most week nights to remember the moment in Irish history.
The Rising took place in April 1916, and was launched by Irish republicans who wanted to end British rule in Ireland.
They wanted to establish an independent Irish Republic while the United Kingdom was heavily engaged in WW1.
Cairde na hEireann event in June, however, has been organised to remember the 35th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes in Northern Ireland.
They have held a similar event in previous years in June.
Over the summer of 1981, ten men died while imprisoned at HM Prison Maze as a result of “self-imposed starvation’ including Bobby Sands, who was elected as a member of the British Parliament during the strike.
He was the leader of the 1981 hunger strike in which Irish republican prisoners protested against the removal of Special Category Status.
Meanwhile, around 950 participants are expected to take part in the County Grand Lodge of Glasgow’s WW1 national commemoration parade.
The parade will kick off at Corn street and head through the city centre taking in busy routes including Sauchiehall Street and George Square.
It will head through the Gallowgate and finish in the East End’s London Road.
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