hunger strike

Support The Prisoners/Hunger Strike

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A two-panel wall in Ballycolman, Strabane. On one side, a prison guard looms over a blanket man; on the other, the names and dates of death of the 1981 hunger strikers: Bobby Sands MP 5th May, Francies Hughes 12th May, Raymond McCreesh 21st May, Patsy O’Hara 21st May, Joe McDonnell 8th July, Martin Hurson 13th July, Kevin Lynch 1st Aug, Kieran Doherty TD 2nd Aug, Tom McElwee 8th Aug, Mickey Devine 20th Aug.

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Copyright © 1989 Peter Moloney
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H Block Martyrs

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The ten deceased hunger strikers are named alongside a celtic cross with “saoırse” on a scroll, a tricolour and Starry Plough. Ballycolman, Strabane. Bobby Sands OC MP, Francies Hughes, Ray McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty TD, Tom McElwee, Mickey Devine.

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Copyright © 1989 Peter Moloney
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The Felons

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From inside the Felons Club in Andersonstown, Belfast: a version of Walter Paget’s Birth Of The Irish Republic above the famous quote from Pearse’s O’Donovan Rossa oration – “The fools, the fools, they have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace” — along with portraits of hunger strikers.

For a history of the club in its previous locations, see this Danny Morrison remembrance.

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Copyright © 1988 Peter Moloney
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Three Songs To The One Burden

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The ten deceased hunger strikers are named, called “H-Block Martyrs”, and their entry into heaven requested: “St. Peter let these men into heaven, for they have served their time in hell” (for info, see I Refuse To Change) alongside a christian cross.

The lower part of the gate is the last stanza of a Yeats poem, Three Songs To The One Burden: “Some had no thought of vi[c]tory but had gone out to die, that Ireland mind be greater, her heart mount up on high; and yet who knows what[‘]s to come[?]”

This is a repainted and greatly changed version of Remember The Hunger Strikers in Westland Street, Derry.

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Copyright © 1986 Peter Moloney
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Vote Sınn Féın 1 2 3 4

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“Vote Sınn Féın 1 2 3 4” and “Tıocfaıdh ár lá!” have been painted on top of a 1981 mural based on a poster sent by the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini, which featured the head of Bobby Sands against a backdrop of skeletal bodies, one of which can still be seen in the top middle of the wall. Somewhat ironically, the original mural also included the quote to the right: “The Irish Republican Army is right: The British government does not listen to the ballot box in Ireland and the only thing they will listen to in Ireland is what they listened to in other colonies: agitation, rebellion, and armed forces”.

(An image of the original mural can be found in the Paddy Duffy Collection – T00048)

Oakman Street, Beechmount, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1986 Peter Moloney
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