“We remain what we are – political prisoners of war.” The words of 1981 hunger striker Bobby Sands are used in support of contemporary (2003) republican prisoners. Long Kesh is on the left, Maghaberry is on the right.
Iniscarn Drive, Derry
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M02041
2003 image of the 2001 RSF board to “H Block martyrs” – the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers, now with “CIRA” [Continuity IRA] graffiit. Seen in 2001: Remember Them Always.
Falls Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01992
In Basque: “Euskai eta irlandur gazteria etorkizunagatik borrokan” (“Basque and Irish youth are fighting for the future”). “Éılíonn óıge na mBascach agaus na hÉıreann saoırse agus sóısıalachas”(“Basque and Irish youth demand freedom and socialism”).
Segi (“follow”) is a proscribed organisation in the EU on account of its ties with ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna). It maintains fraternal ties with the youth wing of Sınn Féın.
Andersonstown Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
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This is the first full mural from the IRPWA in the Collection (after a 2001 flag in Derry and some 2002 writing in Belfast). It calls for segregation in Portlaoise, Maghaberry, and English jails.
Divis Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01758 [M01760]
“Restore political status – Stand by Maghaberry POWs.” Inside a rectangle of barbed wire is a lark carrying an assault rifle and a watchtower (from Long Kesh) and Faintly seen towards the top is “81 – 02 Óglaıgh na hÉıreann”. Whiterock Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01663
Here are two images from Twinbrook Road, Belfast, one of a hunger strike 20th anniversary board with portraits of the ten deceased men and a lark carrying keys in a circle of barbed wire and the other showing “IRA” in green, white, and orange letters.
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01628 M01629
Three plaques above the Sınn Féın office on the Falls Road, Belfast, the first is to 1981 IRA hunger striker Pat “Beag” McKeown, who worked for Sınn Féın and was elected to Belfast City Council until dying in 1993. The other two are to Michael O’Dwyer, Paddy Loughran, and Pat McBride. O’Dwyer had stopped in to the office to register a complaint; Loughran and McBride were Sınn Féın members. All three were shot in February 1992 by RUC constable Alan Moore, who had been suspended the previous day for driving drunk after firing shots over the grave of a deceased colleague; after killing the SF men he drove to Lough Neagh and took his own life with a shotgun. (NYTimes | Independent | For a somewhat different take, see An Phoblacht)
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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
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The 1980 and 1981 hunger strikes are both commemorated in this black flag with the lark in barbed wire representing the “Spirit of freedom”.
Falls Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M02096
Hunger strikers Patsy O’Hara and Raymond McCreesh died on the same day – May 21st, 1981. There are thus two portraits placed next to the memorial in Rossville Street, Derry, on this day each year.
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M03547 M03548 [M03546]
The hunger strikers memorial in Rossville Street, Derry, was launched in 2000. The central “H” carries the names of the ten deceased 1981 strikers, while the stones to either side carry the names of other republicans to have died on hunger strike: Thomas Ashe 1917, Michael Fitzgerald 1920, Joseph Murphy 1920, Terence McSwiney 1920, Joseph Whitty 1923, Denis Barry 1923, Andrew Sullivan 1923, Tony D’Aroy 1940, Jack McNeela 1940, Sean McCaughey 1946, Michael Gaughan 1974, Frank Stagg 1976.
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 