“Fır na Pluıde: ı ndıaıdh do Rıaltas na Breataıne stadás polaıtıúıl a tharraıngt sıar ı 1976 mar chuıd dá straıtéıs le Cuma coırpeach a chur ar an streachaılt poblachtach. Dhıúltaıgh cımí poblachtacha cloí de rıalacha príosıún, a chur ıallach orthu obaır phríosúın a dhéaneamh agus éıde phríosúın a chaıtheamh. Ar an ábhar sın, séanach éadach ar bıth ar na cımí dıomaıte de phluıd agus dıútaíodh cead dul amach as a gcıllıní nó caıdreamh a dhéanamh le cımí eıle. Ó 1978-1981 b’éıgean daofa gabhal ar staılc folchta agus mar gheall aır sın séanadh aıseanna folctha agus leıthreas orthu. D’fhulaıng sıad córas mıllteanach brúıdıulachta a mhaır ó 1976-1981 a raıbh d’aıdhm aıge toıl na gcımí – cımí óga a bhformhór – a chloí. D’fhag an tréımhse brúıdıúıl sın a lorg ar chuıd mhaıth de na cımí agus bíonn an tráma acu go fóıll.”

“The Blanket Men: When political status was withdrawn by the British Government in 1976 as part of their strategy to criminalise the republican struggle, Republican prisoners refused to conform with prison rules which demanded that they wear prison uniform and carry out prison work. They were denied any clothing with the exception of a blanket and denied exercise or to associate with any other prisoners. From 1978-1981 prisoners were forced onto a no wash protest, as a result of which they were denied washing and toilet facilities. They were subjected to a regime of brutality that lasted from 1976-1981 aimed at forcing the mainly young protesters to confirm [sic] with prison rules. Many of the prisoners were scarred and brutalised by their experiences and live with the trauma of that time.”

Clowney Street, above the Phoenix.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04943 M04941 [M04942]