On The Blanket

M00280 Fahan St 1985+

A prisoner on the blanket stands in front of a brown “H”. On the right hand side, a fist clutches a strand of barbed wire. There are also hunger strikers’ names on the gable wall to the left. Fahan Street, Derry. For the mural on the background-left wall, see IRA (P).

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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
M00280

1916-1982/Break Thatcher’s Back

M00212+

M00213+

Here is a 1982 image of the Break Thatcher’s Back mural in Rockmore Road, Belfast, showing a blanket man with outstretched arms demanding “status now”, framed by a large “H” and surrounded by barbed wire, Tricolours, and the Starry Plough. In 1981, there was a Sean O’Casey quote on the left, rather than a lily and the year of the Easter Rising — 1916. “Free Belfast” in the top left.

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Copyright © 1982 LC
M00212 M00213

IRA Rule Derry

M00188 Westland St 1982+

M00189 1982+

M00190 1982+

On the left, a Bible quote — “No greater love hath a man than he lays down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13] — and The 5 Demands — No prison uniform, no prison work, free association, letters, visits, etc., full remission — with the oak leaf and crossed rifles of the Derry Brigade Provisional IRA in between.

On the right, Starry Plough, fractured “H”, and Irish Tricolour are linked by barbed wire. With posters above for hunger-strikers Pat Sheehan, Jackie McMullan, [Hugh] Gerry Carville, who all ended their strikes when October 3rd, 1981, when the strike was ended.

Westland Street, Derry

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Copyright © 1982 Peter Moloney
M00188 M0189 M00190

Our Fetters Rent In Twain

M00223+

A phoenix rises from a pair of disembodied hands tearing apart an “H” made of brick, illustrating the lines “and then I prayed I yet might see/our fetters rent in twain/and Ireland long a province be/a nation once again”. Also with the lark in barbed wire, four provinces, and names of six hunger strikers: Bobby Sands MP, Francis Hughes, Ray McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson. Falls Road in Andersonstown, Belfast.

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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00223