Stailc 81 | 40th Anniversary Of The 1981 H-Block Hunger Strike
  • Home
  • The Hunger Strikers
    • Bobby Sands
    • Francis Hughes
    • Ray McCreesh
    • Patsy O’Hara
    • Joe McDonnell
    • Martin Hurson
    • Kevin Lynch
    • Kieran Doherty
    • Tom McElwee
    • Mickey Devine
    • THE BRAVE 13
  • About Us
  • Anthology
    • IF JESUS
    • THE RHYTHM OF TIME
    • WHAT COMPELS YOUNG MEN TO DIE?
    • H-BLOCK SONG
    • NINETY MILES FROM DUBLIN
    • FOREVER ON MY MIND
    • PRISONERS STATEMENT 01/03/81
    • PRISONERS STATEMENT 04/07/81
    • PRISONERS STATEMENT 03/10/81
  • Gallery
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact Us
DONATE

NINETY MILES FROM DUBLIN

By Christy Moore

I’m ninety miles from Dublin Town I’m in a H-Block cell
To help you understand my plight this story now I’ll tell
I’m on the Blanket Protest my efforts must not fail
I’m joined by men and women in ‘The Kesh’ and Armagh Gaol

It all began one morning I was dragged to Castlereagh
And though it was three years ago it seems like yesterday
Three days kicked and beaten and then I was forced to sign
Confessions that convicted me of deeds that were not mine

Sentenced in a Diplock court my protest it began
I could not wear that prison gear I was a Blanket Man
I’ll not accept your status I’ll not be criminalised
That’s the issue in ‘The Blocks’ for which we give our lives

Over there in London how they’d laugh and sneer
If they could only make us wear their loathsome prison gear
Prisoners of War is what we are and that we will remain
The Blanket Protest can not end till our status we regain

I’ve been beaten round the romper room because I won’t say sir
Frogmarched down the landing and dragged back by the hair
I’ve suffered degradation humility and pain
Still my spirit does not falter, British torture is in vain

I’ve been held in scalding water my skin with deck scrubs torn
Scratched and cut from head to foot and thrown out on the floor
I’ve suffered mirror searches and probed by drunken bears
I’ve listened to my comrades’ scream and sob their lonely prayers

Now with the news that’s coming in our Protest must not fail
For now we’re joined by thirty girls across in Armagh Gaol
Pay attention Irish men and Irish women too
Show the Free State government their silence will not do

Though its ninety miles to Dublin town it seems so far away
There’s more attention to our plight in the USA
Now you’ve heard the story of this living hell
Remember ninety miles away I am in my H-Block cell.

 

 

Recent Posts

  • Stailc 81, logo on H-Blocks
    Statement From Stailc 81

    Jan 15, 20210

  • A Night Of Story & Song

    Feb 17, 20210

  • Stailc 81, logo on H-Blocks
    Ráiteas ó Stailc 81

    Jan 15, 20210

Follow Us:

Copyright © 2021
Stalic 81 Commemoration Committee