The iconography of the 1981 hunger strikes, rooted in the blanket protests at the H-Blocks of the Maze Prison, is centred on powerful visual symbols of resistance and defiance.

The Blanket Protest, which began in 1976 when prisoners refused to wear standard prison uniforms and instead wrapped themselves in blankets, became a potent symbol of opposition to the British government's refusal to recognise Irish republican prisoners as political detainees. The image of these prisoners, cloaked in blankets, conveyed a dignified resistance, emphasising their refusal to accept criminal status and their fight for political recognition.

As the hunger strikes reached their apex in 1981, the most striking iconography emerged through the images of the hunger strikers themselves. These visual symbols alongside written accounts of the hunger strikes resonated beyond Ireland, provoking international marches all across the world. Tthe haunting images of the prisoners’ physical decline and their political writings becoming was central to international solidarity movements.

The blankets, the photographs of the strikers, and slogans like “Give Us Our Rights” all became emblematic of the republican cause, deeply embedded in the cultural and political consciousness of Ireland. Decades later, the iconography of the hunger strikes continues to shape republican identity, symbolising not only the personal sacrifice of the prisoners but also the ongoing fight for justice and political recognition.