three days before McDonnell's death the British government made a firm offer to the prison leadership substantive enough to end the protest. O'Rawe alleges that while the leadership inside the prison were prepared to go for the deal and end the protest to save the lives of McDonnell and the others who died after him, the leadership outside told them to continue. The IRA commander inside Long Kesh at the time, Brendan McFarlane (known as "Bik"), has publicly disputed this version of events. Only one other prisoner on the prison wing O'Rawe and McFarlane were on, Anthony McIntyre, has backed up O'Rawe's version of events in relation to the 1981 hunger strike. Commemoration Upon his death, McDonnell was martyred alongside the other hunger strikers and remains a well-known figure in the movement today, even with his death. McDonnell is commemorated on the Irish Martyrs Memorial at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney, Australia. Joe McDonnell is also commemorated in the Wolfe Tones song, "Joe McDonnell". His family is also recognized in the Irish Brigade's "A Father's Blessing", and is one of the 10 hunger strikers mentioned in "The Roll of Honour". References External links General Election: 11 June 1981 Sligo/Leitrim Ireland's OWN: The Hungerstrikes – Joe McDonnell Lyrics to Joe McDonnell, the song Stailc 81 Hunger Strike Commemoration Committee 1951 births 1981 deaths Irish republicans interned without trial Paramilitaries from Belfast People who died on the 1981 Irish hunger strike Provisional Irish Republican Army members Republicans imprisoned during the Northern Ireland conflict