lark

Remembering The Hunger Strikers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is the fourth iteration of the hunger-strikers board in Rockmore Road, which goes back (at least) to 1995. For two earlier versions, see third | first.

Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg are included alongside the ten deceased men from the 1981 strike.

Rockmore Road, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12558 [M12559] [M12560] [M12561] [M12562]
bobby sands mp 5th may francis hughes 12th may raymond mccreesh 21st may patsy o’hara 21st may joe mcdonnell 8th july michael gaughan 3rd june 1974 frank stagg 12th february 1976 martin hurson 13th july kevin lynch 1st august kieran doherty 2nd august thomas mcelwee 8th august michael devine 20th august st james’s commemoration committee sınn féın

Poet, Gaeılgeoır, Revolutionary, IRA Volunteer

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

April 1st:

The Bobby Sands mural in Sevastopol Street has been given a facelift, including the blocking-up of a vent on Sands’s left cheek. Kieran Doherty and Joe McDonnell have been added in place of the 1798 medallions on each side. On the side-wall are Sean McCaughey, ten doves representing the 1981 hunger-strikers, and Long Kesh. Aerosol‘s accordion-player stencil has been also been retained, on the right.

For a full history of the wall, see the Bobby Sands (Sevastopol Street) Visual History page.

The ‘Slí Na Gaeltachta’ plaque off to the left reads:

Ag sráıd Sevastopol cuımhnıtear ar Bobby Sands ı múrmhaısıú a aithnıtear ar fud an domhaın. Ba scrıbhneoır, file, réabhlóıdí agus díograıseoır Gaeılge é Sands. Fuaır sé bas 5 Bealtaıne 1981 tar éıs 66 lá ar stailc ocraıs. As ucht na dıograıse a thaıspeáın Sands agus a chomhchımí ı leıth fhoglaım na teanga faoı choınníollacha uafásacha Bhlocanna H na Ceıse Fada, spreagadh glúın úr chun dul ı mbun athghabháıl na Gaeılge.

Here at Sevastopol Street Bobby Sands is remembered in a mural which has become world-renowned. Sands, a writer, poet, revolutionary and Gaelic enthusiast, died on May 5th 1981 after 66 days on hunger strike. Sands and his fellow prisoners inspired a new generation to reclaim the Irish language enthusing them by the huge efforts they put into learning Irish in the horrendous conditions on the H Blocks of Long Kesh.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12515 M12502 M12503 [M12504] [M12505] [M12506] [M12507] [M12508] M12509
Slí: M11752 [M12516] [M12517]
in prog: M11749 [M11750] [M11751]

Those Who Hungered For Justice

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a 2015 repainting of a 2001 mural in Glenwood. The ten deceased hunger-strikers of 1981 are listed in the bottom right: Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Tom McElwee, Mickey Devine. In the main panel, a lark in barbed wire flies over the H-blocks of Long Kesh and a funeral volley being fired over a Tricolour-draped coffin.

Glenwood Gardens, Dunmurry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12493 [M12494] [M12495] [M12496] [M12497]

Our Unforgotten Comrades

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In memory of the unforgotten comrades who died on hungerstrike in the H-Blocks for the cause of Irish freedom. Síochá[ı]n Dé orthu. [Our] revenge will be the laughter of our children – Bobby Sands”.

Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg, who died in English prisons in the 1970s, are included below the ten deceased 1981 hunger-strikers.

Main Street/Galloon Gardens, Newtownbutler

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12467 [M12466] M12465 [M12468] [M12469] [M12470] [M12471] [M12472]

Óglach Joe McDonnell

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Óglach Joe McDonnell died on hunger strike in the H Blocks of Long Kesh July/ 8th/ 1981. ‘You dare to call me a terrorist while you look down your gun.’ [youtube]”

This is a new (July 2014) version of the McDonnell mural, painted by Gerard “Mo Chara” Kelly, on the Suffolk Road, Andersonstown, west Belfast.

Click an image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M11421 M11422 M11423 [M11424] [M11425] [M11426] [M11427]

I Have The Spirit Of Freedom

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Four deaths have been added to the memorial plaque in St James’s Road, west Belfast, which commemorates locals from the area who died at the hands of the police and army.

The plaque dates back to (at least) 1986, and originally named Rooney (civilian), Liggett (IRA), Waterson, McDonald (civilian), McGrady (civilian), Larmour (civilian), Burns (IRA), and Brady (SF).

To these have been added McAllister (civilian), Devine (civilian), O’Dwyer (civilian), and Burns (IRA).

See also: The area’s main memorial garden also includes O’Callaghan (d. 1977 IRA) and Lenaghan (d. 1991 civilian). Next to it is a mural to Liggett And Brady.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M05786

Australian Aid For Ireland

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This Conway Street mural, outside the mill and the republican museum, features banners of two Australian republican support-groups, with supporters holding banners reading “Australian Aid for Ireland QLD [Queensland] Branch [Fb] – The Spirit of Freedom” and “The Casement Support Group – Saoirse Melbourne”.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10208 [M10209] [M10210]

Our Friends And Comrades

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In memory of our friends and comrades. This Memorial is dedicated to all those Irish Republicans who fought in the Struggle for Irish Freedom, and in the defence of this community in our Time of Need. This Memorial honours their Courage and Dedication to the cause of Irish Freedom. Ar dheıs Dé go raıbh a n-anam.” Hugo Wilkinson, Terry Murphy, Paul Watson, Jim McLaughlin, Richard McIlkenny, Jake McGowan, Patsy Quinn, Liam Mulholland, Francis O’Neill, Sean Delaney, Carmel Cahoon, Christine Beattie, Geraldine Rice, Anthony McIlkenny, Joey Saunders, Danny Mullan, Tony Molloy, Seamus Rice, Eamon McAllister, Gerry McAllister, John Bateson, John Barnes, Jim Floyd. With images of the prisons Armagh, Long Kesh H-Blocks, Magilligan, Long Kesh cages, HMS Maidstone, Portlaoise, Wormwood Scubs, Crumlin Road.

“We would like to thank all our friends from Wexford, Limerick & Fermanagh who kindly donated to this memorial. Go raıbh maıth agaıbh.”

Ardilea Close, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
[M09389] M09390 [M09391] [M09392] [M09393] M09394

McDonnell Street

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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

“Kieran Nugent 1857-2001, Maıréad 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 ndéanfaıdh Dia trócaıre 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.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M08923 M08924