IRA volunteers from the New Lodge are “fondly remembered” in the (second) memorial garden, at the end of Donore Court. The portraits are to the left and the right of the lists of names.
The Bernadette mural by the Bogside Artists is prepared for an update, ten years after originally being painted, in 1997.
“The Artists’ first coloured mural is a tribute to the women of Derry and their role in the civil rights campaign. Bernadette Devlin, Britain’s youngest MP, addresses the crowd during the Battle of the Bogside: her actions resulted in a six month jail sentence for inciting and taking part in a riot. The woman to her left bangs a dustbin lid on the ground to alert neighbours to the arrival of the authorities. The triable motif inspired by the gable end is repeated throughout the painting. Our job is to do justice to our history and the price people have paid for their democratic rights. That’s what we are about.“
“This plaque commemorates IRA vol. Joe McDonnell who lived in this house prior to his capture on 14th Oct 1976. Joe later died at 5.11 am on 8th July 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike in the h blocks Long Kesh. ‘Let us swear by Joe’s martyred blood never to waver of fail til the true united Irish socialist republic stands forth before the nations, a testimony to the worthiness of our case.’ Óglach calma dobhrıste. [A strong, unbreakable volunteer]”
“Nature sent the potato blight, government & landlords created the famine.” 1845-1849 saw one million Irish people die and a million more emigrate. During the period, the full range of other foodstuffs was produced and shipped to England, being too expensive for the native population.
“Our rulers will stop at nothing to attain their ends. They will continue to rule and rob until confronted by men who will stop at [nothing to overthrow them].” The quote is from James Connolly on Conscription. Local volunteer Joe McDonnell is portrayed between the names of the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers.
A week before Carol Ann Kelly was shot in Twinbrook, 14 year-old Julie Livingstone was also killed by a plastic bullet, on May 13th, 1981 in Lenadoon. The previous stone was also “erected by young people of Leicester, England”.
For the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike [staılc ocraıs], a prisoner reaches for a lark (the spirit of freedom) bathed in sunbeams like a beatific vision. “Go dtreoraí cuımhne bhur níobaırtí agus íobaırtí denár dtírghráthóırí náısıún beo bocht chun bua.” [“May the memory of your sacrifices and the sacrifices of our patriots guide a desperate nation to victory.”] The sentence is attributed to Bobby Sands but the source is unknown – please get in touch if you can place it.
“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”.