An Irish Republican parade commemorating the hunger strike death of IRA prisoners protesting against British government policy began today in Northern Ireland.
Thousands attended the West Belfast procession up the Falls Road to mark 25 years since ten men died protesting against the government's refusal to grant them political status.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams led the group of demonstrators from outside the party's headquarters to Casement Park where a rally will be held later.
The hunger strikers attracted international attention when they refused food in 1981 after demands for prison privileges like wearing their own clothes and being housed in cells known a H-Blocks were denied.
The strikes took place at Long Kesh prison close to Lisburn in County Antrim. Men and women wearing brown blankets symbolising the rags which the hunger strikers were wearing took part in the walk.
Lines of men in white shirts and black ties as a symbol of mourning, paraded past crowds of onlookers. Banners were carried calling for the removal of British troops from Northern Ireland and there were many pictures of the dead men. There were also Palestinian flags in a reference to the conflict in the Middle East.
Mr Adams and relatives of the hunger strikers will address the group later today at Casement Park.