Mural of iconic photo to be unveiled
A NEW mural depicting one of the most iconic moments of the hunger strike period has been unveiled in West Belfast.
Painted by local artist Frank Quigley, the new mural at Dorothy Maguire Corner in the Whiterock shows the famous IRA firing party making the final salute over the coffin of Bobby Sands on the day of his funeral in May, 1981. Local Assembly candidate Pat Sheehan unveiled the huge artwork Monday at 2pm, and was joined by Sinn Féin party colleague Steven Corr.
Inspire
The mural has been painted in time for the 30th anniversary of Bobby’s death after 66 days on hunger strike, and will inspire memories of Bobby Sands and the nine other hunger strikers who lost their lives in the H-Blocks.
The firing party consisted of three masked volunteers armed with SKS rifles, who fired three shots each over the coffin of Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Sands, who was the first of the hunger strikers to die.
Spokesman for the Remembering Our Volunteers Committee, Paddy Adams, said it would also serve to educate those too young to remember of the turbulent events of the period, which sparked reactions around the world.
Skilled
“This is a skilled and detailed painting, and it is the actual firing party portrayed in detail,” he told the Andersonstown News.
“Those men will be able to look at it and recognise themselves at the Top of the Rock, thanks to the Hunger Strike Committee and ex-POWs in this area. It’s an important time for republicans, and this is a piece of history brilliantly captured by one of the best mural painters of our time.”
You can read the firing party’s story in the Andersonstown News’ special supplement on the 1981 hunger strike on Thursday.
