political

I’m Not A Criminal

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“Vol. Kieran Nugent – the first blanketman. ‘I’m not a criminal – the Brits will have to nail prison clothes to my back.'”

This mural was originally launched in February surrounded by a selection of posters from the era (see The First Blanketman and for close-ups see the post at Extramural). These have all now been stripped away and the red background (which was present for the previous mural – see Ciarán Nugent) has been repainted.

Rockville Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Kieran Doherty TD

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“Vol. Kieran Doherty, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, age 25, commenced his hunger strike on May 22 and tragically died on Sunday afternoon 2nd Aug 1981. Kieran was elected TD by the people of Cavan and Monaghan in their support of the prisoners’ campaign for political status.” “It is not those who inflict the most but those who endure the most who shall conquer in the end – this [paraphrase of 1920 hunger-striker Terence MacSwiney] was one of the last messages sent out of the H-Blocks by Vol Kieran Doherty TD.”

The mural on the stairs has been removed – compare with 2004, which also has close-ups.

This portrait and plaque to Doherty are at the bottom of Slemish Way at the junction with the Andersonstown Road; there is a memorial stone at the top of Slemish Way on Commedagh Drive.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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John Mitchel

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“John Mitchel 1815-1875. He took a prominent role in leading Ireland to be an independent nation.”

Mitchel was born near Dungiven but at age 8 the family moved to Newry, where Mitchel was schooled before entering Trinity College Dublin at age 15 (WP).

For his political life, see the post on the statue of Mitchel in downtown Newry.

Armagh Road, Newry

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Beıdh An Bua Agaınn Go Fóıll

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“Tógadh an leacht cuımhneacháın seo ag muıntır an cheantar ı gcuımhne an Óglaıgh [Óglach] Réamonn Mac Raoıs a fuaır bás ar an 21 Bealtaıne 1981 ı ndıaıdh lá agus seasca ar staılc ocraıs sna H-Blocanna. Rugadh Réamonn ar an 15 Feabhra 1957 ag Páırc Naomh Maolmhaodhóg. … Seasann an deıch gcrann atá curtha taobh thıar den leacht chuımhneacháın do na fıréın [fíréın].”

“This monument was erected by the people of the area in memory of IRA Volunteer Raymond McCreesh who died on May 21st 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike in the British H-Block prison at Long Kesh. Raymond McCreesh was born on February 25th 1957 at St Malachy’s Park, Camloch. … The ten trees planted behind the monument represent the ten men who died in the H-Blocks in 1981.”

There is a mural to McCreesh on the gable of Teach Réamoınn Mhıc Raoıs – see Keep On Marching.

Newry Rd, Camlough

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Freedom Of Speech

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“Freedom Of Speech” was the name given to a piece that the Bogside Artists did during a stay at Hanover College in November 2010, during a tour of the USA. In that piece, the mouth was closed with plain red tape (Hanover) but for this local version, the mouth is closed with tape that combines the Union Flag with green and orange strands.

As the second image shows, the piece did not last long when put outside – the difference in date between the two images is four days.

Rossville St, Derry

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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The Spirit Of Freedom

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There are a couple of interesting elements in this 30th anniversary hunger strikers mural in the Bogside. The frame is formed by chains (as seen previously on the Bobby Sands mural in Belfast) rather than knot-work, the names of Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are mixed into the list (rather than appearing together at the beginning or end), both the lark and the dove are included, and – most unusual and possibly unique – is the Irish translation of Bobby Sands’s saying “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children”: Baınfear ár ndíoltas amach leıs an gháıre dár bpáıstí. (And, as a super-extra bonus, the Irish has been – correctly – painted without tittles.)

“Derry remembers 1980-1981 hunger strikes. Re-dedication of mural 20th August 2011 on the 30th anniversary of Óglach Mickey Devine.”

Westland Street, Bogside, Derry

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Murdered By Britain

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The ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers are shown, each “murdered by Britain”, plus Michael Gaughan (“died on hungerstrike in Parkhurst Prison June 3rd 1974”) and Prıonsıas Stagg (usually Frank Stagg) (“died on hunger-strike February 12th 1976 Wakefield Prison”).

Republican Sınn Féın (web | old web | tw) board Chapel Road, Dungiven.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Hunger Striker Mosaics

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For the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, the mosaics of the Troubles-era hunger strikers are mounted around the blanket-men board and above the Phoenix in Clowney Street; for a few years they were previously at the Falls-Beechmount corner.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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