The Five Demands

New hunger strike mural underway in the Bogside (Derry Journal)
Work began on a new mural in the Bogside on Friday to commemorate the five hunger strikers who came from Derry, city and county.
The mural is being painted at the corner of Westland Street and Blucher Street by leading Belfast muralist Danny Devenney and will feature the faces of all the 1981 hunger strikers, as well as Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg, who died on hunger strike in England in 1976.
The main focus of the mural will be the five men from county Derry who died in Long Kesh in 1981; Francis Hughes, Patsy O’Hara, Kevin Lynch, Thomas McElwee, and Mickey Devine.
The painting of the mural was organised by the 1981 Committee, who have been co-ordinating events to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes.
It had been due to be completed in May in time for the large hunger strike commemoration march from Creggan to Rossville Street but poor weater conditions meant work on the mural had to be delayed until this weekend.
The mural replaces another hunger strike mural depicting a prison cell, a mattress, and a lark, which was painted five years ago as part of the 25th anniversary commemoration events.
Alongside the mural is a plaque commemorating the hunger strikers and all those who lost their lives on the streets during the period of the prison protests in 1980 and 1981.
The mural is expected to completed in the next few days.