“We must grow tough, but without ever losing our tenderness.” Three female activists, one with a rifle, proclaim “Resistance” on the Falls Road, Belfast “painted by Sınn Féın Youth”. The phrase is attributed to Che Guevara. Rolston (1991 p. 94) claims this mural was done for International Women’s Day 1982 (March 6th). An in-progress image can be seen in the Paddy Duffy Collection.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00100 M00137
“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.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00097 M00205 M00204 [M00207]
“Prisoner of war, Kieran Doherty T.D. Murdered! 2nd August 1981”
Rosnareen Avenue, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00096
“Hands off Ireland, bitch”, with a line drawing of Margaret Thatcher; “No, not a dog, but a political prisoner” with a prisoner on all fours. Also a harp in green, white, and gold, and a phoenix with Tricolours, and a hand clasping a dagger.
Rosnareen Park, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00095 [M00379]
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.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00082
An advertising hoarding on the Springfield Road (just before the Whiterock Road), Belfast, is taken over by a republican artist: “H” and “A” for the H-Blocks and Armagh Women’s Prison, with the names of four hunger-strikers (Bobby Sands Patsy O’Hara, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh) and two tricolours.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00085 M00086
There is a lot going on in this image: pedestrians pass in front of a row of boarded-up shops, above them is written “Until the last prisoner is free we are all imprisoned” with posters of the hunger strikers, an Irish tricolour and “If they die, you die”; on the left “No, not a dog, but a POW” and a version of the five demands, concerning prison uniforms, work, association, parcels, and remission.
Ballymurphy shops, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00058
“RUC keep out”, “Patsy O’Hara”, “IRA”, “Political status must stay” on flats in Glenfada Park, opposite the Rossville flats in Derry’s Bogside. Here is a guide to the row of murals along the bottom of Rossville flats. A close-up of the left-hand side of the image above is included below.
M00057
Copyright © 1981 Peter Moloney
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Copyright © 1981 Peter Moloney
M00057c
The names of seven of the 1981 hunger-strikers – “POWs” Kieran Doherty, Joe McDonnell, Kevin Lynch, Martin Hurson, Tom McIlwee [McElwee], Paddy Quinn, Michael Devine – are placed next to outstretched arms wrapped in barbed wire.
The hands-in-barbed-wire design is by Jack Clafferty of Troops Out.
Beechmount Street, Belfast.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00120 M00055 M00119
“The right honourable Bobby Sands Esq MP – Murdered by his fellow members of H.M. Govt”, “I have the spirit of freedom that cannot be quenched by even the most horrendous treatment. Of course I can be murdered, but while I remain alive, I remain what I am, a political prisoner of war, and no one can change that.” Barbed wire stretches over an Irish tricolour next to an image of Sands.
Shaws Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00140 M00133 M00054
Peter Moloney Collection 