The hunger strikers memorial in Rossville Street, Derry, was launched in 2000. The central “H” carries the names of the ten deceased 1981 strikers, while the stones to either side carry the names of other republicans to have died on hunger strike: Thomas Ashe 1917, Michael Fitzgerald 1920, Joseph Murphy 1920, Terence McSwiney 1920, Joseph Whitty 1923, Denis Barry 1923, Andrew Sullivan 1923, Tony D’Aroy 1940, Jack McNeela 1940, Sean McCaughey 1946, Michael Gaughan 1974, Frank Stagg 1976.
Twentieth anniversary retrospective board on Ormeau Road, Belfast, with posters and news articles from the 1981 hunger strike, as well as the names of the ten who died.
For the twentieth anniversary of the hunger strikes (1981-2001), a large H with portraits of the ten deceased strikers, plus Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg.
The Sınn Féın offices and shop on the Falls Road at Sevastopol Street were torn down and rebuilt in 2000. A mural had been on the gable wall since 1982, initially advertising An Phoblacht/Republican News, and later included Bobby Sands. (1989 white | 1990 blue)
The mural on the new gable, shown above, removes the full An Phoblacht/Republican News masthead and instead includes the visual part of it (most prominent in the earliest mural on the wall An Phoblacht – Official Organ): the crest of 1798’s United Irishmen – “Equality” and “It is new strung and shall be heard” around a Maid Of Erin harp and the cap of liberty.
Otherwise the wall is devoted to “Irish republican, revolutionary, poet, Gaeligeoir, visionary” Bobby Sands/Roıbeaırt Ó Seachnasaıgh, adding another famous saying of his, namely “our revenge will be the laughter of our children” alongside “everyone, republican or otherwise, has their own particular part to play”. [Diary, March 14th, 1981]
The mural also adds a border of breaking chains (and a lark) and (not visible in the apex) a phoenix and the word “saoırse”. The multi-coloured border is perhaps the most unusual element, working with the sky-blue background and Sands’s smiling face to give the mural a positive feel.
Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are included alongside (what remains of portraits of) the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers on a board on the side of the “Falls/Clonard” library.
Commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes on an advertising hoarding on the Springfield Road, Belfast, previously the site of Vote Adams X and before that, Victory To The Blanketmen.
For the 20th anniversary of the hunger strike: “H” installation with portraits of the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers, along with those of Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg, on the Andersonstown Road.
Kieran Doherty was elected TD (Teachta Dála) for Cavan-Monaghan three weeks into his 1981 hunger strike. He held the position for two months, until he died on August 2nd. The portraits, plaques, and mural of marchers are in his home area of Andersonstown. The words “It is not those who inflict the most, but those that can endure who shall conquer in the end” is an echo of Terence MacSwiney, whose hunger strike in 1920 lasted 74 days, one more than Doherty’s.
Painted by Lucas Quigley in Slemish Way, Andersonstown, west Belfast
