Imagined Nations: Ireland, Palestine, and the Politics of Anti-Colonial Memory

This paper covers the life and career of notable IRA operative Brendan “the Dark” Hughes and how his thoughts on the “Armed Struggle” or “Cause” changed over time. Brendan Hughes was forced to frequently deal with violent and heavy handed discrimination from Protestants, which led to him joining the Paramilitary movements as a result of frustration and misplaced youthful vigor. Brendan played a major role in the Troubles through his planning of prolific violent attacks such as the Four Square Laundry attack, Bloody Friday, and the H Block blanket protest and subsequent hunger strike in the Maze Prison. Brendan’s disconnect with the desires of average Northern Irish citizens led to him feeling like his violent acts were negated by the Good Friday Agreement and that his movement left him behind which ultimately made him feel that his violent acts were for nothing.