The Ulster Banner and Union Flag serve as bookends for two additional boards: “Still loud, still proud – No surrender” (presumably Seapatrick Flute Band) and the insignia of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Seapatrick Road, Seapatrick (near Banbridge), Co Down
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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In addition to three plaques, a wrought-iron head-piece, multiple flag-pole holders and railings fencing in a small area, this mural in Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close in Ardoyne uses painted discs for each of the twelve hunger strikers (the ten in Long Kesh 1981 and two from the 70s in English prisons, Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg – the twelve also featured in Derry’s Spirit Of Freedom mural), rather than painting their likenesses directly onto the wall. The two quotes are from Bobby Sands “Let our revenge by the laughter of our children” and Michael Gaughan “Let there be no bitterness on my behalf to achieve a united Ireland”.
The items above the mural are new, compared to 2010. The plaque on the left is to people who died “in defence of the area” and on the right to those who died “of natural causes” who endured discrimination, hardship, suffering, imprisonment.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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The Twinbrook gallery is updated for the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike. Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg (from the 1970s) are included on the left; Bobby Sands is portrayed separately off to the right. See e.g. the 25th anniversary post in 2006.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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“Our revenge will be the laughter of our children.” For the thirtieth anniversary (30ú comóradh) of his death on May 5th, 1981, a board in Twinbrook remembering IRA volunteer, hunger striker, and MP, Bobby Sands.
Twinbrook Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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IRA prisoner Kieran Nugent is reputed to have said – upon being imprisoned after the removal of Special Category status in 1976 – “I’m not a criminal – the Brits will have to nail prison clothes to my back.”
The mural is a February repainting of Cıarán Nugent and for the launch it was surrounded with posters from the period.
Rockville Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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“Wear an Easter lily – ı gcuımhne ar an staılc ocraıs.” The title phrase and the lily are typically used in calls to remember the rebels of 1916 (see e.g. the mural this one replaces) but here it is (also) employed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike. The lark is a symbol of political prisoners, the green ribbon was used in the campaign to free them as part of the Agreement; the watchtowers of Long Kesh/Maze are shown.
Beechmount Ave/Ascaıll Ard Na bhFeá
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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The Irish tricolour flies above Free Derry Corner.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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For the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike. “Assemble Mickey Devine’s house Rathkeele Way. Main speaker Raymond McCartney.” On the rear of Free Derry Corner.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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The Irish tricolour flies over Free Derry Corner in early 2011. In the background are The Petrol Bomber and Bernadette.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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“Forced to endure years of brutality, humiliation, degradation and torture, the prisoners embarked on hunger-strike.” The 1980 hunger strike involved Brendan Hughes, Raymond McCartney, Tommy McKearney, Tommy McFeely, Leo Green, Sean McKenna, and John Nixon. On December first, three women in Armagh prison also went on strike (newspaper/posters from left to right): Mairéad Farrell on the dirty protest in her cell (for the original image, see Prison Walls), Mairéad Nugent, Mary Doyle.
The Relatives’ Action Committee was a women-led movement founded in 1976 in Turf Lodge (but with local groups in many places) in order to support the prisoners’ campaign for political status and the Five Demands. For background, see the NVTv documentary on Tar Anall | chapter 5 of Shattering Silence | the documents collected at hungerstrikes.org.
See also the previous posts The Conveyor Belt | Do You Care?
If you can identify the three speakers (perhaps Geraldine McKee. Rosemary Lawlor, Mary Ferris?), please comment or send an e-mail.
On the right, Farrell reads An Phoblacht/Republican News reporting on the assassination of politician and hunger-strike activist John Turnley by the UDA (WP). The headline on the cover reads “Don’t let Thatcher fill these [coffins]” and a graffitist has added “because Adams will” – a reference to the allegations of Richard O’Rawe (BelTel | The Blanket).
Initially without the quotation along the top. The mural was launched on the anniversary date: October 27th, 2010.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 