knot-work

Kieran Doherty

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“I gcuımhne ar Vol. Kieran Doherty TD, [IRA] Brıogáıd Bhéal Feırste, of 54 Commedagh Drive, rugadh 16ú Deıreadh Fómhaır 1955, elected TD for Cavan/Monaghan 18th June 1981, a fuaır bás 2ú Lúnasa 1981, after 73 days on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh. ‘It is not those who can inflict the most, but those who can endure the most, who will conquer in the end.’ [paraphrase of Terence MacSwiney]” The memorial stone is in Commedagh Drive, Belfast, just west of Doherty’s home, where there is a plaque to mark his residence “Vol Kieran Doherty T.D. lived here 16-10-1955 – 2-8-1981 Fuaır sé bás as son saoırse na hÉıreann”.

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03532 [M03531] [M03533]

M09483+

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09483

Conway Linen Mill

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“Conway linen mill 1842-1976.” Culture NI has a brief history of the mill. It is currently in use as an arts centre and museum.

“Artists Margaret McCann & Deborah Hamilton 06. Beechmount Community Project.”

Another piece for the project was hung in Beechmount Avenue. See M04431.

Thames Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03527

In These Ancient Lands

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“… and in these ancient lands/enchased and lettered as a tomb/and scored with prints of perished hands/and chronicled with dates of doom/I trace the lives such scenes enshrine/and their experience count as mine”. (Lines from Thomas Hardy’s On An Invitation To The United States.) Éıre takes the form of a woman, with two wolfhounds, between portraits of the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers.

Navan Street, Armagh

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03195 [M03196]

My Brother Is Not A Criminal

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The brothers in question are Raymond and Brian McCreesh, from Camlough, Co Armagh. Raymond is third in the list of the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers. “In memory of the volunteers who died on hunger strike in H-Blocks 1981.” “H-Block is rock that the British monster shall perish upon for we in H-Block stand upon the unconquerable rock of the Irish socialist republic – Bobby Sands”.

The lower stone reads “These men made the supreme sacrifice for their country by dying on hunger strike from 1917 to 1976: 1917 Thomas Ashe; 1920 Michael Fitzgerald, Joseph Murphy, Terence McSwiney; 1923 Joseph Whitty, Denis Barry, Andy Sullivan; 1940 Tony Darcy Sean McNeela; 1946 Sean McCaughey; 1974 Michael Gaughan; 1976 Frank Stagg. “It is not those who can inflict the most but those that can suffer the most who will conquer” – Terence McSwiney.”

New Road, Silverbridge

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03147 [M03148] M03149 M03150

Keep On Marching

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M07329+

“Keep on marching, don’t give up – Raymond McCreesh 1957-81. Died after 61 days hunger-strike, H-Block Long Kesh 1981.” The phrase was spoken at the end of a visit with Jim Gibney. “Beıdh bua agaınn go fóıll” [victory will be ours yet]. The mural is on the Quarter Road gable of “Raymond McCreesh House/Teach Réamoınn Mhıc Raoıs”, at Maryville Camlough.

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03145] M03146
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M07329 [M07331]

Óglach Réamann Mac Raoıs

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“Déanann Poblachtánaıgh An Iúır cuımhne ar an óglach Réamann Mac Raoıs.” [Newry republicans remember volunteer Raymond McCreesh]

IRA volunteer Raymond McCreesh – born in Camlough – was arrested in the aftermath of an attack on a British Army observation post in 1976. He joined the blanket protest and then the hunger strike; he died after 61 days on May 21st, 1981.

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03139 [M03138]

St James’s Support The Hunger Strikers

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Here is a wide shot and some details of the two-part mural in Hugo Street, seen in progress in 2001 and completed in 2002. On the left is a depiction of the funeral of Joe McDonnell; on the right, posters and protesters from the time of the hunger strikes.

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03109] [M03110] M03111 M03112 M03113 M03114

Sean McCaughey

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“I ndıl gcuımhne [sic] oglach [sic] Sean McCaughey, Gaelgoır [sic] agus muınteıor [sic] [Irish-speaker and teacher]. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.” “Formerly of Duneden Park, Ardoyne. Died on hunger and thirst strike after 23 days in Portlaoise gaol on May 11th 1946.” “For those who believe no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t believe no explanation is possible.” McCaughey was convicted of kidnapping and torturing IRA chief of staff Sean Hayes, who was suspected of treason. His hunger and thirst strike was preceded by five years on the blanket. “NBCS” = North Belfast Cultural Society.

Brompton Park, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03103