hunger strike

In Honour

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
M00158+

M00160+

M00159+

In the first two of these three images from (somewhere on) the Andersonstown Road, nine hunger-strikers are named — Bobby Sands M.P., Joe McDonnell, Francis Hughes, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty T.D., Ray McCreesh, Martin Hurson, Patsy O’Hara, and Tom McElwee — while in the third, Michael Devine’s name has been added and the bottom of the wall painted black. “Smash H-Block” is on the right; “Victory to the prisoners” is on the building on the other side of the road.

Andersonstown, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1981 LC
M00158 M00160 M00159

The Last Post

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
M00149+

A bugler plays The Last Post over a grave of hunger-strikers from the early part of the 20th century: Thomas Ashe May 25, 1917; Michael Fitzgerald October 17, 1920; Joseph Murphy October 25, 1920; Terence M[a]cSwiney October 25, 1920; Joseph Whittey [Whitty, Witty] September 9 [or 2nd], 1923; Denis Barry November 20, 1922 [1923]. Not included is Andrew Sullivan, who died two days after Barry. Dan Downey died in June 1923 having earlier been on hunger strike.

Beechmount Drive, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1981 LC
M00149

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger For Justice

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
M00129+

M00130 crop+

M00127+

Three images of a mural on the Whiterock Road, Belfast, showing a blanketman/hunger-striker and a uniformed volunteer on a tricolour cloth at the feet of an angel holding a banner reading “blessed are those who hunger for justice“. Above are the words “Their hunger, their pain, our struggle“. The shields of the four provinces of Ireland and two shamrocks complete the mural. The third image shows the mural in progress, and it looks as though it has already been vandalised.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1981 LC
M00129 M00130 M00127 [M00128]

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger For Justice

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
M00131+

A hunger-striker lies in bed praying with rosary beads and bathed in beams of light coming from the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

(Painted by Con, who describes the mural as an attempt to break through with nationalists (as distinct from republicans), though one source says “by a Ballymurphy man, named something like Tim Skillen/Skelly”.)

Rockmount Street, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1981 LC
M00131

The Final Salute

Extramural Activity1 Comment
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.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1981 LC
M00116

We Remain What We Are

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
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.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1981 LC
M00097 M00205 M00204 [M00207]

Unite To Fight Hunger Torture Death

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
M00082+

In addition to the board at the top of the stairs there is a tricolour with “IRA” on it (to the left) and (on the right) the names, in Irish, of the first four hunger-strikers on either side of a celtic cross: Roıbeard Ó Seachnasagh, Eamonn Mac Craoıs, Pronsıas Ó hAodha, and Pádraıg Ó hEadhra.

For the twin end-wall, see Their Hunger, Their Pain, Our Struggle.

Shaws Road, west Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1981 LC
M00082