Stories from mythical Ireland including Clann Lır, Oısín & Nıamh, and the Salmon Of Knowledge are depicted in a 2006 mural painted by Mo Chara with the children of the Whiterock Children’s Centre.
Whiterock Road, Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05283
“Ballymurphy Massacre August 1971 – We demand the truth.” 11 Catholic civilians from Ballymurphy were shot and killed by British Army paratroopers on August 9th-11th, during the initial wave of internment. Father Hugh Mullan is shown among the flats waving a baby’s babygro/onesie as he goes to the aid of a wounded man (Bobby Clarke); having turned to go after giving him the last rites, he would be shot be a Paratrooper (depicted in the bottom right corner with distinctive beret).
Fr Hugh Mullan, Paddy McCarthy, Frank Quinn, Joseph Murphy, Noel Philips, John Lavrty, Joan Connolly, Joe Corr, Daniel Teggart, John McKerr, Eddie Doherty
Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.
Whiterock Road, Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05279
“National Hunger Strike Commemoration. Remember the hunger strikers. Tír Eoaghain 2009.” The same board was hung in Stabane (and Dungiven) and a different one for the same event in Derry.
Whiterock Road, Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05278
Gerard ‘Mo Chara’ Kelly first painted a mural of King Nuada in 1987, a year after being released from Long Kesh. He reproduced an illustration by Jim Fitzpatrick on a gable wall in Springhill (see images from 1987 | 1988 | 1989). This post-peace version is on the side-wall of the Whiterock Road Spar and was painted as statement of Kelly’s own rebirth after ceasing to work with funding agencies such as the Upper Springfield Development Trust. The third and fourth images are from 2008 and show the mural in an early state; the mural as shown above in 2009 is in fact still not complete – the bottom and left-hand side are unfinished. See these 2010 images for the full effect.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05276 M05277
2008 M04008 M04505
Portraits of Seamus Costello (INLA/IRSP founder), Gino Gallagher (INLA chief of staff), Che, Patsy O’Hara, Miriam Daly, James Connolly on the Springfield Road turn-around.
Seen in progress in 2006.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05269 [M05270] [M05271] [M05272] [M05273] [M05274] [M05275]
11 Catholic civilians from Ballymurphy were shot and killed by British Army paratroopers on August 9th-11th, during the initial wave of internment. Father Hugh Mullan, the second to be killed, is shown in the cross-hairs of a rifle’s sight, waving a baby’s onesie as he goes to the aid of a wounded man (Bobby Clarke). “Time for truth, time for justice. The families demand … an international independent investigation surrounding all of the deaths … the British government to issue a statement of innocence and a public apology.” “57 children left without a parent. Hundreds [of other children never got to meet their granny, granda, aunt or uncle.]” The blank panel is for “Family Messages”.
For the anti-joy-riding board on the gable, see Where’s The Joy?
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05265 M05264 [M05263] M05266 M05268 M05267
2010 [M06142]
“Easter [1916] commemoration. Easter Sunday. Assemble at Beechmount Ave 1 pm.” On the “H” at the top of Springfield Road/Monagh Bypass.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05259 [M05260]
“Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” This is a 2008 work by Ross Wilson commemorating David Ervine (WP) in Montrose Street South, Belfast, the area he came from. The inclusion of one of the Harland & Wolff cranes reflects his connection to working class politics in east Belfast.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05241
Sınn Féın European election hoarding in Catherine Street (off Cromac Street), Belfast.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05240
“This cairn was erected in memory of Ranger Cyril Smith QGM 2nd battalion the Royal Irish Rangers 24th October 1990. Ranger Smith was killed rescuing a civilian driver who had been tied to a car bomb by terrorists. He succeeded in releasing the driver and helping him to safety. As he knowingly re-entered the danger area to warn his comrades the bomb detonated. For this action he was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal.”
“In memory of the part-time members of A Coy. 9 UDR who were murdered by terrorists: 24289588 Pte. Russell HJ 12-13th July 1972, 24582042 Pte. Carlton SA 8th January 1982, ex. A Coy: serving 5 UDR Lieutenant Kerr WC 2nd November 1977.”
(The UDR was merged with the RIR to form the Royal Irish Regiment in 1992.) Both memorials are adjacent to the larger WWI war memorial along Marine Highway, Carrickfergus.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05256 M05257
Peter Moloney Collection 