For the 25th anniversary of the second hunger strike, a national march and rally is called, going from Dunville Park to Casement Park. The mural shows a blanket man and lark above the watch towers of Long Kesh.
Divis Street, west Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M02882
“We’ll wear no convict’s uniform”, from the chorus of Francie Brolly’s H-Block Song.
Levin Road, Lurgan.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02594
Kieran Nugent was 18 when he went “on the blanket” in the H-Blocks (see The First Blanketman). He reportedly told his mother, “The only way I’ll wear a prison uniform is if they nail it to my back.”
Divis Street, west Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02576
IRA volunteer Kieran (here Cıarán) Nugent spent nine months in Long Kesh as a Special Category prisoner in 1975. When he was arrested again in 1976 and sent to the H Blocks, the status no longer existed and he could no longer wear his own clothes. He refused to wear a prison uniform and spent his first night naked. On the next day he was given a blanket and so became the first blanket man.
Rockville Street, west Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02550 [M02551]
2004 image of the names (left) and portraits of the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers, seen previously in 2001.
Bishop Street, Derry
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
M02174
Three images of IRPWA graffiti outside the Royal Hospital on the Falls Road, Belfast: “End the blanket torture of republican POWs – Portlaoise * Maghaberry * England”, “Support the POWs protest Sat Aug 10th 2pm Whiterock Road POW mural”, and “Protest 4 POW status. If you care – you’ll be there “Silence = Complicity” IRPWA.”
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M03958 M03963 M03959
A large board on Oldpark Road, Belfast, shows a lark, an H-Block, blanket men Hugh Rooney and Freddie Toal, the towers of Long Kesh, and portraits of the deceased 1981 hunger strikers.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01806
A “refusing prisoner” pulls his blanket around him.
Fountain Street, Strabane
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01726 [M01727]
This is a 2002 image of the board in Beechmount Avenue, Belfast, for the 20th anniversary of the (1980) hunger strikes in Long Kesh and Armagh Women’s prison. Previously seen in 2001.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01671
St James’s supports the hunger strikes – in Long Kesh and Armagh and (on the right) in Turkey.
Various images and posters from 1980 and 1981 are reproduced. Along the top, we see (l-r) a soldier is confronted at the top of Springhill (image at Irish Times), “Wanted for murder [and torture of Irish prisoners]” (image at MSU), “Mothers hunger”, “Blessed are those who hunger for justice“, “Where there is oppression there is resistance”, Armagh hunger-striker Mary Doyle.
Along the bottom: “Stop strip searches“, “Save our children from plastic death”, “Support the hunger strike demands”, and portraits of 1981 hunger-strikers Bernard Fox and Pat Sheehan, both from the Falls Road.
For Turkish hunger-strikers, see F-Block Martyrs | Zehra Kulaksiz | Support The Turkish Hunger Strikers.
On the side-wall to the left, son Joseph McDonnell weeps at the foot of the coffin of his father, Joe.
For in-progress images, see the 2001 post.
Hugo Street, west Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2002/2003 Peter Moloney
M01664 M01665 M01973
Peter Moloney Collection 