SANDS, Bobby. The Spirit of Freedom. Prize Winning Entries in the Bobby Sands Commemoration School Essay Competition. (Signed by— Éamonn Mac Thomáis)

Dublin: Coiste Chomóradh Roibeaird Mhic Shandair, 1983. pp. 80. First edition. Original publisher’s pictorial wrappers, printed in red and green with stylised portrait design to upper cover. Signed by Bobby Sands’ brother, Tomás Mac Síomóin, to the title page, and bearing contemporary ownership inscription and distinctive armorial bookplate. Very good. Minor handling wear and light marking to covers; internally clean. Signature bold and clear.

A rare and politically significant publication issued shortly after the death of Bobby Sands (1954–1981), commemorating his legacy through a school essay competition organised in his honour. The volume gathers prize-winning essays reflecting on Irish nationalism, the hunger strikes, and the intellectual and symbolic importance of Sands within modern Irish republican thought.

Éamonn Mac Thomáis (13 January 1927 – 16 August 2002) was an author, broadcaster, historian, Irish Republican, advocate of the Irish language and lecturer. He presented his own series on Dublin on RTÉ (Irish National Broadcaster) during the 1970s and was well known for guided tours and lectures of his beloved Dublin. He is buried in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery, next to Frank Ryan.

Rare in commerce, especially signed examples. Ephemeral republican publications of this period were often issued in small numbers and survive poorly.

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