The death has occurred of leading republican Francie Brolly, a civil rights activist, a former prisoner, singer and songwriter, and for seven years until 2010 Sinn Féin MLA for East Derry. Only last August Francie, along with his wife Anne, attended the relaunch of the Bobby Sands Trust’s book Hunger Strike, at which Francie sang his own composition, ‘The H-Block Song’, which reduced many in the audience to tears. Many people said it was the most poignant rendition of the internationally famous song that they had ever heard.

Deepest condolences to Anne, children Joe, Proinnsías, Conal, Áine and Nollaig and the entire Brolly family.

“Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

Here is a link to Francie Brolly’s song and below we reproduce the feature that Francie wrote about the origins of the song.