A new sign directs people crossing the bridge out of Strabane centre towards Caırde [Friends] republican museum. With a vintage “Free Sean Kelly Now” stencil on the wall behind it.
Kevin Lynch captained the Derry Under-16 hurling team to an All-Ireland trophy (see X02866). The hurling half of the local Dungiven CLG was renamed in his honour after the INLA volunteer died after 71 days on hunger strike in 1981. “Mısneach ‘s dılseach” [Courageous and loyal]. Lynch is shown here in a setting of ancient Ireland, reminiscent of Setanta/Cú Chulaınn.
This BBC page gives a brief history of water charges in Northern Ireland up to 2009, eight years after they were originally to be introduced. The protesting board above – “No water charges”, below an Ógra Shınn Féın board, is in Bridge Street, Strabane.
“Join Ógra Shınn Féın. Shaping the Ireland of tomorrow – a voice for the youth of today. ‘Everyone has their part to play’ – Bobby Sands.”
The river Mourne flows through Strabane town, home to 20 IRA volunteers and Sinn Féin activists who died during the Troubles: Fian Tobias Molloy, Vol. Eugene Devlin, Vol. Seamus Harvey, Vol. Gerard McGlynn, Vol. Jim McGinn, Vol. Neil Lafferty, Vol. Patrick Cannon, Vol. Peter McElchar, Hugh Devine, Vol. Michael Devine, Vol. David Devine, Vol. Charles Breslin, Vol. Josie Connolly, Vol. Danny McCauley, Patrick Shanaghan, Vol Damian Brolloy, Jim McAleer, Ivan Barr, Charlie McHugh.
“You’ve come to know the winds that blow, the glory that surrounds you. You hills that flow from Knockavoe, to wrap their warmth around you; on Irish streets in August heat, thro’ dusky dark December, you lost your lives but will never die, as long as we remember.” The author of the poem is unknown.
“50 aniversario Cuban Revolution 1959-2009. Comhgaırdeas a mhuıntır Chúba! [Congratulations, people of Cuba!] Caoga blıaın den réabhlóıd. [Fifty years of the revolution.] ‘We have no right to believe that freedom can be won without struggle’ – Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara Lynch. Ógra Shınn Féın.” International board in Meetinghouse Street, Strabane, with portraits of Fidel Castro and (Jim Fitzpatrick’s) Che.
National Hunger Strike Commemoration. Remember the hunger strikers. Tír Eoghaın 2009. Blackflag and torchlight presentation, Anne Street, Dungannon. Main commemoration Galbally community centre.” Placed temporarily on top of Sınn Féın – The Winning Way. The same board was hung in Chapel Road, Dungiven.