The Final Salute

M00116+

The first names of six hunger-strikers — Bobby, Francis, Patsy, Raymond, Joe, Martin — on a ribbon held by a tricoloured phoenix against a sunburst, flanked by Starry Plough and Tricolour and volunteers firing a final salute. The ribbon would be expanded to include the first names of all ten 1981 hunger strikers – see the Paddy Duffy Collection.

Painted by Con in Rockdale Street, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00116

Venceremos

M00115+

“Venceremos” is a Spanish Civil War slogan meaning “we will win (or: overcome)”, here alongside Irish revolutionaries armed with rifles and machine guns against a background of tricolour and sunburst.

Slemish Way/Andersonstown Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00115

We Must Grow Tough

M00100+

M00137+

“We must grow tough, but without ever losing our tenderness.” Three female activists, one with a rifle, proclaim “Resistance” on the Falls Road, Belfast “painted by Sınn Féın Youth”. The phrase is attributed to Che Guevara. Rolston (1991 p. 94) claims this mural was done for International Women’s Day 1982 (March 6th). An in-progress image can be seen in the Paddy Duffy Collection.

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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00100 M00137

We Remain What We Are

M00097+

M00205+

M00204+

“Of course we can be murdered, but while we remain alive, we remain what we are, political prisoners of war – B. Sands”. A lark in barbed wire on an Irish tricolour, with the names of the ten hunger-strikers who died: B. Sands, F. Hughes, P. O’Hara, K. Lynch, M. Devine, R. McCreesh, J. McDonnell, M. Hurson, K. Doherty, T, McIlwee [McElwee].

Whiterock Road, Belfast.

The latter images show an earlier version of the mural, with six names, and the wall in preparation.

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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00097 M00205 M00204 [M00207]

Victory To The Blanketmen POWs

M00085+

M00086+

An advertising hoarding on the Springfield Road (just before the Whiterock Road), Belfast, is taken over by a republican artist: “H” and “A” for the H-Blocks and Armagh Women’s Prison, with the names of four hunger-strikers (Bobby Sands Patsy O’Hara, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh) and two tricolours.

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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00085 M00086