Review of Bobby Sands: 66 Days (2016) by Mártan C — 06 Aug 2016
Good, but it fails in a number of areas. It's too focused on Sands, to the detriment of the other Hunger Strikers. They're mere footnotes. That's sad because some of them were very interesting.
Kevin Lynch captained his Dungiven team to under 16 All-Ireland medals in 1972. He was also a champion boxer. What motivated him to join up? And later join the Hunger Strike? No mention of the INLA. The principle interviewee is Fintan O'Toole, and ex-Stickey.
Inappropriate. It would've been more interesting to have heard more contributions from the Unionist side (besides the Prison guard), or soldiers. Charles Moore from the Telegraph was a poor choice.
The Church was quite split on this matter too, e.g. Archbishop Tomás Ó Fiach: "We have to get our lads out of Long Kesh!!", versus Monsigner Faul and Cardinal Cahal Daly. No mention of the successful electoral campaign south of the border, that resulted in Haughey's defeat and the rise of Fitzgerald and the Anglo Irish Agreement.
No mention of the smaller crowds with each striker, and the survivors and how they felt. Missed a lot I think.
This review of Bobby Sands: 66 Days (2016) was written by Mártan C on 06 Aug 2016.
Bobby Sands: 66 Days has generally received positive reviews.
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