“Thatcher 81 – Ford 2011” refers to Margaret Thatcher, UK Prime Minister at the time of the second hunger strike and David Ford, NI Justice Minister at the time of the campaigns to free Marian Price and Brendan Lillis (BBC).
‘Nebula’ is Free Derry Corner as re-imagined by four street/graffiti artists from the US, including L.A.’s Man One (web), who described the thinking behind the piece.
There are a couple of interesting elements in this 30th anniversary hunger strikers mural in the Bogside. The frame is formed by chains (as seen previously on the Bobby Sands mural in Belfast) rather than knot-work, the names of Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are mixed into the list (rather than appearing together at the beginning or end), both the lark and the dove are included, and – most unusual and possibly unique – is the Irish translation of Bobby Sands’s saying “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children”: Baınfear ár ndíoltas amach leıs an gháıre dár bpáıstí. (And, as a super-extra bonus, the Irish has been – correctly – painted without tittles.)
“Derry remembers 1980-1981 hunger strikes. Re-dedication of mural 20th August 2011 on the 30th anniversary of Óglach Mickey Devine.”
“This monument is dedicated to the memory of IRA Volunteers from the local area [1st Battalion, Derry Brigade]. We would appeal the area in and around the monument is respected at all times. This area is now covered by CCTV.”
Relatives for justice (web) youth project holds an annual vigil for victims of plastic bullets and their families. This display places cut-out figures on the railings of the City Cemetery at the distances at which they were hit by a rubber or plastic bullet, between 1972 and 1989. (Previously done in mural form on Divis Street: Ban Plastic Bullets.)
From left to right, the victims are Keith White, Norah McCabe, John Downes, Tobias Molloy, Peter McGuinness, Stephen McConomy, Paul Whitters, Francis Rowntree, Julie Livingstone, Carol Ann Kelly, Seamus Duffy, Brian Stewart, Henry Duffy, Michael Donnelly, Thomas Friel, Peter Doherty.
The board on the far right contains an acrostic for “Plastic Bullets”: “Panic – Lethal – Age – Sorrow – Terror – Innocence – Children. Ban them – Unnecessary – Loss – Life – Extreme use – Transgenerational trauma – Stop using them”.
With support from Pobal, An tAontas Eorpach, and the Community Relations Council.
“Release Brendan Lillis – don’t let him die” on the walls of Derry and Free Derry Corner. Originally convicted in 1977 on explosives charges, Lillis’s license was revoked in 2009 on charges of plotting a kidnapping and bank heist (BBC). He would be released in August on compassionate grounds (BBC | BelTel).
This new board is on the side of Cathedral Youth Club, in the Fountain in Londonderry. From bottom left, clockwise, it shows: St Columb’s cathedral, the old Gaol Tower, Hands Across The Divide (though holding a scroll with a bearded figure with “1690” on his forehead), the Guild Hall, the city crest (Vita, Veritas, Victoria), the peace bridge, the walled city of Derry, Roaring Meg (cannon).
“Make a difference – Join RNU – Be committed – Stand as one – Implement 12th August Agreement! – End strip searches – End controlled movement.” Cogús is the POW department of the RNU, no longer on-line at http://www.republicannetwork.ie. The board is on the rear of Free Derry Corner, which has its own Visual History page.
The Fountain bonfire on July 11th, ready for burning after nightfall, with a slew of CNR flags and banners, including Irish Tricolours, as well as flags and electoral boards for Sınn Féın. At the bottom are two small boards and a wreath for the 30th anniversary of the second hunger strike.