A naked republican prisoner lies in the arms of his parents – invoking Michelangelo’s pietà – with the towers of Long Kesh (a.k.a. HMP Maze) in the background.
Painted by Con at the top of Donegall Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00111 M00109 M00110
“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
A first clenched in resistance. “RUC thugs keeps [out]”, “Provos rule”.
Abercorn Road, Derry
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Copyright © 1981 Peter Moloney
M00089
“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]
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
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
“Political status for the men in H.Block and the women in Armagh”, “Victory to the Provos” – graffiti in Beechwood Avenue, Derry.
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Copyright © 1981 Peter Moloney
M00052
Here are two images, from 1981 and 1983, of graffiti in Bond’s Street, Waterside, Londonderry, reading “More H Blocks”, “Let them die”, with the outline of a coffin and the number “9” on it.
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Copyright © 1981 Peter Moloney
M00050
Copyright © 1983 LC
M00074
Peter Moloney Collection 