H-Block

Beidh An Bua Againn Go Fóill

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“Tógadh an leach cuimhneacháin seo ag muintir an cheantar i gcuimhne an Óglaigh [Óglach] Réamonn Mac Raois a fuair bás ar an 21 Bealtaine 1981 i ndiaidh lá agus seasca ar stailc ocrais sna H-Blocanna. Rugadh Réamonn ar an 15 Feabhra 1957 ag Páirc Naomh Maolmhaodhóg. … Seasann an deich gcrann atá curtha taobh thiar den leacht chuimhneacháin do na firéin [fíréin].”

“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 Réamoinn Mhic Raois – see Keep On Marching.

Newry Rd, Camlough

[M07322] M07324 M07323

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

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”: Bainfear ár ndíoltas amach leis an gháire dár bpáistí. (And, as a super-extra bonus, the Irish has been – correctly – painted without tittles.)

Westland Street, Derry

M07214 M07213 M07209 [M07215] [M07216] [M07217] [M07218] [M07219] [M07220] [M07221] [M07222] [M07223] [M07224] [M07225] [M07226] [M07227] [M07228] [M07229] [M07230] [M07231]

Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Micky Devine

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“This memorial is dedicated to the memory of Volunteer Micky Devine, Irish National Liberation Army and H-Block martyr who gave his life on 20th August 1981. Also dedicated to his nine brave comrades. ‘Our freedom must be had at all hazards. If the men of property will not help us they must fall; we will free ourselves by the aid of that large and respectable class of the community – the men of no property’ – Theobold Wolfe Tone” Brandywell Avenue, Derry.

M05451 [M05450]

Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney

Beechmount Óglaigh

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The memorial garden in Beechmount Avenue, Belfast, goes beyond commemoration of IRA volunteers. Moving clockwise: dying volunteer, “local men and women and POWs”, hunger strikers, comhaltaí Shinn Féin, proclamation, na hÓglaigh, “innocent people from the area”, “the unsung heroes off [sic] this area”, Sands quote.

M04423 M04425 [M04426] M04424 [M04427] [M04428] [M04422] [M04429] [M04421] M04414 M04420 M04418 [M04419] M04416 [M04417] M04415

Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney