Here is a board announcing, and a gallery of images from, the hunger strike commemoration in 2012, Dungiven.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
“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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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
“Praise youth and it will respond – the laughter of our children – the joy of our hearts.” A young Bobby Sands is shown in the front right, part of the Stella Maris soccer squad for 1967; he would later “respond” by becoming an IRA volunteer and hunger striker.
The hunger strikers plaque was previously to the left of the (previous) mural; out of picture is another plaque, to the deceased from the “greater Newington area” – see Out Of The Ashes Of 1798.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
“Died before surrender – 5th May – 20th August 1981”. For the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, portraits of the ten deceased hunger strikers on either side of a Long Kesh watch-tower. “Erected by Newry Independent Republican 1918 Committee”.
Camlough Road and – with James Connolly stencils by éirígí (web) – Canal Street, Newry
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
This is the 2012 instantiation of a tradition on the Twinbrook shops of marking the anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike (though portraits of Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are included). The tradition began in 2006 with the 25th anniversary | 27th anniversary | 29th anniversary | 30th anniversary.
Twinbrook Road
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
Local IRA volunteers are commemorated in multiple stones in the Twinbrook memorial garden. On the main wall – which is a new addition – are listed Sean Keenan, Michael Ferguson, Lily Campbell, Mary Keenan, Eddie Keenan, Mary McKee, Hugh McKee. On the obelisk on the left (see previously Twinbrook & Poleglass IRA) are Gerard Fennell, John Rooney, Bobby Sands, Frankie Ryan. On the stone to the right – which was previously outside the railings (see M03008) – are the twelve deceased Troubles-era hunger strikers.
“The day will dawn when the people of Ireland this desire for freedom. It’s then we will see the rising of the moon.”
“I have sacrificed for the republic all that man holds dear – my wife, my children, my liberty, my life. – Wolfe Tone”
“The road for suffering is paved with suffering, hardships and torture, carry on my gallant and brave comrades until that certain day. – Tom Williams”
“I too have fought for my freedom not only in captivity but also outside where my country is held captive. I have the spirit of freedom that cannot be quenched. [– Bobby Sands]”
“This monument has been re-dedicated by the people of Twinbrook and Poleglass in honour of those volunteers of Óglaıgh na hÉıreann who gave their lives for Irish freedom.”
Gardenmore Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
“Sinn Féin national hunger strike commemoration – 2012. March & rally – 2 pm Sunday 5th August, Dungiven – Co. Derry. Main speaker Michelle O’Neill MLA. Dungiven 81 Committee/1981 Dún Geimhin.” There is video of the event from An Phoblacht/Sinn Féin.
On the rear of Free Derry Corner, Lecky Road, Derry.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
“Over a third of all children, are growing up in poor households. About 185,000 of households are in poverty, representatin about 502,000 people. Over 148,000 of these are children.” This is in contradiction with the aims of both the Proclamation of Éırí Amach Na Cásca, 1916 – “… cherishing all of the children of the nation equally and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past” – and the Democratic Programme of An Chéad Dáıl, 1919 “… to secure that no child shall suffer hunger or cold from lack of food, clothing or shelter, but that all shall be provided with the means and facilities requisite for their proper education and training as citizens of a free and Gaelic Ireland.” The other images are of Béal Feırste 1969, Léana An Dúın 1972, and Na Staılceanna Ocraıs, 1981.
This looks very much like a Rıstead Ó Murchú creation.
Carrigart Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
The Amnesty International symbol – a candle in barbed wire – is added to a thirtieth anniversary hunger strike mural in Melvin Road, Strabane. It’s not clear if there is any official connection. The rest of the image – a blanketman over the towers of Long Kesh – is the same as in murals in Derry and in Belfast.
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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