Hunger Strike – peter moloney collection

McDonnell Street

2012-09-212023-03-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

On adjacent gables in McDonnell Street (strictly, Osman Street), Belfast, plaques to Kieran Nugent and Mairéad Farrell and to Joe McDonnell.

“Kieran Nugent 1857-2001, Mairéad Farrell 1957-1988. In memory of two heroic Republicans from the Falls area who defied Britain’s criminalisation policy in the H Blocks and Armagh Jail, ‘I’ll wear no convicts uniform nor meekly serve my time.'”

“Dedicated to the memory of Vol. Joe McDonnell born here in Slate Street 14th September 1950 and who died after 61 days on Hunger Strike in the H Blocks of Long Kesh 8th July 1981. ‘A mother kneels in silent prayer, a flower clasped to her breast, she lays it on the lonely grave, where her fallen son now rests. No tears blur her deep blue eyes, they shine with loving pride, she knows he fought for freedom, for liberty he died.’ Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a anam.” “McDonnell Street” is the original name of the street and presumably not connected to Joe McDonnell or his predecessors; Slate Street is now Osman Street.

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They Cannot Break Our Spirit

2012-08-122023-02-18Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“‘They cannot or never will break our spirit …’ – Bobby Sands. [A paraphrasing of a line from day 6 of Sands’s hunger strike diary.] ‘Tiocfaidh ár lá’.”

The back of the Springhill memorial garden is decorated for the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike in which ten republican prisoners died in the H-Blocks.

Springhill Avenue, Belfast

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Cullyhanna Memorials

2012-08-102023-02-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Three Cullyhanna memorials:

Top: “During the hunger-strike of 1981, in which ten men died, the Holy Rosary was recited here [on Freeduff Road], daily, by the community of Cullyhanna, to highlight the suffering of all the women and men in Armagh Gaol and Long Kesh, described by the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiach, a native of Cullyhanna, as being “worse than the sewers of Calcutta”. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a n-anam. Unveiled on the 8th July, 2001 by former hunger-striker, Paddy Quinn.”

Middle: The central panel is to Brendan Moley, Kevin Caherty, Michael McVerry, Brendan Burns, Fergal Caraher. Flanking this is a a longer list of volunteers, in English (left) and Irish (right). McVerry, Boyle, Jordan, McKiernan, Lochrie, Campbell, Cleary, Harvey, McElvanna, Caherty, McCreesh, Moley, Burns, Caraher, Duffy, Martin, Daly, Watters, Toner, Rogers. With smaller plaques to Tom Rooney & John Caraher, and to Brian Keenan.

Bottom: An individual memorial to “Vol Francis Caraher, Óglaigh Na hÉireann, murdered by British soldiers at this spot [on Tullyvallen Road] on 30th December 1990, aged 20 years.”

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Remember The Hunger Strikers

2012-08-102023-02-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

These are images from 2012 of the ‘My brother is not a criminal’ memorial in Ford’s Cross/Silverbridge, seen previously in 2006.

As the second image shows, earlier hunger strikers are also remembered: Thomas Ashe 1917, Michael Fitzgerald, Joseph Murphy, Terence McSwiney 1920, Joseph Whitty, Denis Barry, Andy Sullivan 1923, Tony Darcy, Sean McNeela 1940, Sean McCaughey 1946, Michael Gaughan 1974, Frank Stagg 1976.

The gallery of twelve hunger strikers in ‘Remember the hunger strikers’ is further up the road, towards Cullyhanna.

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Na Stailceoirí Ocrais

2012-08-102023-02-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Erected by the local people to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the hunger strikers. I ndil chuimhne ar na stailceoirí ocrais a fuair bás ar son na h-Éireann 1981. In loving memory of the hunger strikers who died for Ireland in 1981.” With a small blanketman illustration.

Kilmorey Street, Newry

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Óglach Réamonn Mac Raois

2012-08-102023-02-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Go luath ina shaol thuig Réamonn nach mbainfeadh muintir na hÉireann an tsaoirse ná an cothrom amach go dtí gur cuireadh ar na Sasanaigh déileáil go hoscailte gan claonadh lenár n-ionadaithe. Chuaigh Réamonn i gcomhar leis na Fianna Éireann in 1973 …”

A pair of boards describing the life of IRA volunteer and 1981 hunger striker Raymond McCreesh in both English and Irish are mounted on the railings at Raymond McCreesh Park, in Patrick Street, Newry.

For the controversy over naming the playground after McCreesh, see Páirc Réamoinn Mac Raois.

The same pair of boards were also mounted at the McCreesh memorial in Camlough.

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Vol. Kevin Lynch

2012-08-092023-02-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Vol. Kevin Lynch, born Park 25rg May 1956, died – Long Kesh 1st August 1981 after 71 days on hunger strike “I’ll wear no convicts uniform” Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam uasal.”

“Erected by Counties Derry & Antrim Commemorative Committee. Unveiled by Raymond McCartney MLA on 24th May 2009.”

A painting of the monument is included in the Kevin Lynch mural in Dungiven.

Learmount Road, Park.

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National Hunger Strike Commemoration 2012

2012-08-052023-03-10Extramural Activity1 Comment

Here is a board announcing, and a gallery of images from, the hunger strike commemoration in 2012, Dungiven.

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Kevin Lynch 1956-1981

2012-08-042023-02-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Kevin Lynch is shown raising the Under-16 County Derry hurling trophy (photo below). He was arrested in December 1976 and went on the blanket and then the second hunger strike. Lynch died after 71 days on hunger strike – the longest-surviving striker – in Long Kesh/the Maze prison. The H-Block Song (with lyric “I’ll wear no convict’s uniform/nor meekly serve my time/that Britain might brand Ireland’s fight/800 years of crime” was played by a piper at his funeral. (An Phoblacht)

The four black-and-white squares show (top left) Mary Nelis, Kathleen Deeny and Theresa Deery, protesting the arrests of their sons; (bottom left) the memorial to Lynch in Park, where has was born; (top right) blanketmen Hugh Rooney and Freddie Toal; (bottom right) Lynch’s gravestone in Dungiven.

Along the bottom are the emblems of Kevin Lynch Memorial flute band (Fb), Kevin Lynch’s hurling club (“misneach ‘s dílseacht”), and St Dympna’s football club, Luton (Fb).

The mural is shown on the day of its launch, August 4th, 2012 – the plaque on the left is covered by a small curtain in the first image above but shown in the second.

The street was also named in Lynch’s honor, with a plaque at the other end.

The placard is in Chapel Road – it seems to be the same one as in 2011, but with a frame added.

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Dungiven Remembers Kevin Lynch

2012-08-042023-01-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Dungiven remembers INLA Vol Kevin Lynch. Help build the socialist republic for which he died.” Lynch died after 71 days on hunger strike in 1981. The IRSP was the political wing of the INLA and continues to operate.

This is a new or repainted version of the board seen in 2010.

For the nearby memorial stone and plaque, see Vol Kevin Lynch.

Main Street, Dungiven

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