Thank you visiting the Peter Moloney Collection – Murals. (See the About page for other parts of Peter’s collection of ephemera.) Use the search tools in the side-bar on the right to access images from specific dates or categories, or simply keep scrolling.
Community
Sinn Féın have been over-run by money and lost touch with the community, according to this Ardoyne banner: a boot arrayed with Euro and Sterling signs tramples on the Sinn Féın symbol. “Say No to budget cuts! Say No to welfare reform! Community.”
Replaces: Resistance in Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13075
In Commemoration Of Easter 1916
“In commemoration of Easter 1916 – 2016. Ardoyne – Bone – Ligoniel. Unbowed – unbroken.”
Tom Clarke is at the head of his fellow signatories as he looks down over a printed tarp reproducing photographs of events surrounding the Easter Rising of 1916, including soldiers from the Irish Citizen Army on a rooftop (see the original in this Spectator article) and members of Cumann Na mBan on parade. For the photo of the building in the top left, see this Irish Times article.
The previous Ardoyne – Bone – Ligoniel mural fell down almost as soon as it was completed, leaving only the boards with portraits of locals killed during the troubles. The stone and plaque (in the final images) go back to the mural before that.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13057 M13058
[M13059] [M13060] [M13061] [M13062] [M13063] M13064] [M13065] [M13066]
M13067 M13068 M13069
M13070 [M13071] [M13072] [M13073]
For Valour
This WWI Victoria Cross mural was launched in December, 2014 (NI World), replacing Fight To A Finish. The soldier doesn’t appear to be anyone in particular; the only VC winner from Ballymena was from the Boer War (VC Online).
There are three plaques on the sides, added at various times over the years. On the right, two to James Aberdeen: “In loving memory of our brother Jimmy Aberdeen 28th Aug 1965 – 20th Nov 1995. Forever in our thoughts.” “In memory of James Aberdeen from the members of the Young Loyalist F.B. Pollok, Glasgow. Always remembered.” And on the left: “In loving memory of Charles Robertson 17/07/56 to 25/06/07. A father, grandfather a brother and loyal friend to all hands across the water.”
Drumtara, Ballymena
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13044 M13045 M13046 M13047 [M13048] M13049 M13050
The Lion Wears The Crown
This Ballee Flute Band mural (formerly for the Ballee Blues And Royals) shows the ‘lion and the unicorn’ from the UK coat of arms. The lion (England) wears a crown but the unicorn (Scotland) does not, since, as the nursery rhyme has it, “the lion beat the unicorn all around the town” (WP).
However, in place of the Royal Standard’s crest and “honi soit qui mal y pense” and “Dieu et mon droit” inscriptions, we find the Bible, “Drumtara”, and “In God we trust”.
Behind are the Union Flag and the flags of the Apprentice Boys and the Orange Order.
Ballee Way, Ballymena
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13043 M13042
We Will Remember Them
This mural in Carrick has a 3D element: 312 wood poppies were hand-painted and attached to the wall, one for each local man who did not return. By artist Gary Orr.
North Street, Carrickfergus
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13039
UFF Carrickfergus
This is an update to the 2014 entry, when the mural was new. Also included (below) is a piece of graffiti behind Castlemara Stores: “All taigs out”.
Castlemara Drive, Carrickfergus
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13037 M13036
Brave Sons Of Ireland
Three plaques have been added to the two seen previously, the McDade and Donnelly-Montgomery plaques.
“Óglach James McDade 24 July 1946 – 14 Nov 1974 died on active service, England; Óglach Gerard McDade 22 Nov 1950 – 21 Dec 1971 murdered by British Crown Forces. A Mháthaır na hÉıreann, fáısc do bhéırt mhac, Séamus agus Geraóıd, le do chroí. Throıd sıad agus fuaır sıad bás. Mother Ireland, hold your sons, James and Gerard, close to your heart. They fought and they died.”
“Óglach James Reid born 23 May 1945 killed on active service 14 July 1972. Óglach Terry Toolan born 7 May 1936 killed on active service 14 July 1972. Óglach Brian Smyth born 23 Oct 1941 died on active service 17 April 1973. You will never be forgotten, brave sons of Ireland. Nuaır a bhí Éıreann agus a daoıne ı gcontúırt, sheas sıbh sa bhearna bhaoıl leó [sic leo].”
“Ireland and her people called on you, you answered unselfishlessly. Óglach Paddy McAdorey 22 Feb 1947 – 9 Aug 1971 died on active service. Nuaır a bhí Éıreann agus a daoıne ı gcontúırt, sheas sıbh sa bhearna bhaoıl leó.”
“Óglach Denis Brown born 13 May 1950, Óglach Jim Mulvenna born 26 Jan 1950, Óglach Jackie Mailey born 19 Sept 1947 – killed on active service, 21st June 1978. You lived, you fought, you died for Ireland. Fad ıs a bhí sibh beo, throıd sıbh agus fuaır bás ar son Éıreann ní bheidh dearmad déanta go deo ar íobaırd s’agaıbhse, a mhıc cróga na hÉıreann.”
“Óglach Frankie Donnelly 26 Aug 1954 – 5 Jan 1979 died on active service; Óglach Laurence Montgomery 12 June 1954 – 5 Jan 1979 died on active service. Níl sa saol seo ach tréımhse gaırıd ar an bhóthaır fada chun na saoırse – life is but a short part on the long journey to freedom.”
Herbert Street, Ardoyne
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M12450a M13055 [M13055a] M13054 M13056 [M13056a] M12451a
M13053
If You Remove The English Army Tomorrow
A line from James Connolly’s 1897 piece “Socialism And Nationalism” is adapted by the IRSP for the current post-partition situation: “England will still rule you, she would rule you through her bankers, landlords and Stormont”.
Connolly’s original thought is that – even in a self-governing republic – nationalism is not enough to establish an authentically Irish state: “If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organization of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain. England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist institutions she has planted in this country and watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs.”
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13024
The Evolution Of Our Revolution
A history of nationalism/republicanism from left to right: a pair of Easter lilies, four generations of rifles, and then a switch to a ballot paper with a check in favour of “unity” and a road named “Unity Way”: “From bullet to ballot: the evolution of our revolution. 1916 – 2016”
The mural was painted by Con on the north side of Hugo Street – the south side remains exclusively éırígí.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13022
Mná Na hÉıreann
Érıu/Éıre of the Tuatha Dé Danann, queen of Ireland, (as depicted by Richard J King) is at the centre of various representations of republican women.
Along the top are Ann Devlin, Betsy Gray, Mary Ann McCracken, Countess Markievicz, Nora Connolly?, and Winifred Carney. Suffragettes, the modern IRA, and Cumman Na mBan are depicted, as are Máıre Drumm at the Falls Curfew, Tom McElwee’s sisters carrying his coffin, and Molly Childers and Mary Spring Rice running guns on the Asgard. There is also an unusual ‘four provinces’ in the corners.
The wide shot (below) shows a 1916 centenary (“céad blıaın”) board: “Ag fíorú na poblachta”.
Rockmount Street, above the James Connolly trade-unions mural
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13020 M13021 M13019
