Brothers from around the state of Connecticut gathered in Hartford on Saturday, May 8, for the 40th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1981 Hunger Strikers. The event was sponsored by Irish Northern Aid of Connecticut and held at Bobby Sand Circle. The memorial, which was dedicated in 1997, is the only one of its kind in the United States.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Brother Martin Galvin, the chairman of FFAI for AOH. He gave a passionate talk on Sands and all the Hunger Strikers, and also the state of affairs in Ireland at the present time.
Brothers from Divisions in Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford and Meriden attended the event as did many members of the State Board.
Irish Northern Aid national chairman Rich Lawlor and INA Connecticut chairman Tom McBride did an outstanding job organizing the ceremony.
Brother Martin Galvin delivers his speech. 
FFAI Chairman Brother Martin Galvin gave a passionate speech at the ceremony about the Hunger Strikes and the state of Ireland today. 
The Bobby Sand Memorial is located in the South End of Hartford and is the only memorial for him in the United States. 
Gathering at the event were: Brothers John Gallivan, Tom Breen and Mike Enright of the Hartford Division; INA National Chairman Rich Lawlor; AOH FFAI Chairman Brother Martin Galvin; Connecticut State President Brother Brenden Walsh, State Secretary Brother Scott McNulty, State Political Education Co-Chair Brother Tom Keane, and Fairfield County Secretary Brother Bob Fox.