Manchester Martyrs

A Manchester Martyrs mural is returned to Divis Street’s “International Wall” after being replaced for a short time by Las Brigadas Internacionales. The new mural is somewhat similar to the original mural, with portraits of the “martyrs” – IRB members William Philip Allen, Michael Larkin, and Michael O’Brien – and a reproduction of a painting showing the IRB’s attack on the prison van which killed a guard (see the post on the original mural).

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Martin Meehan

“A leader is gone – the legend forever lives on! Codaıl samh a chomradaí.” Long-time IRA volunteer Martin Meehan, who went with the Provisionals in the split, spent 18 years in prison during the Troubles, and stood in various elections for Sınn Féın, died of a heart attack in November 2007. Divis Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Free The Derry Four

This “Derry Four” is Gary Donnelly, Michael Gallagher, Martin O’Neill and Paddy McDaid, arrested on charges of RIRA membership (Irish Times). (The original “Derry Four” were arrested for the 1979 murder of Steven Kirby of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. (Update 2019-01.)) Sınn Féın were accused by Creggan residents with removing graffiti in support of the four (Derry Journal). The board underneath is ‘Free Seamus Doherty‘.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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St Colmcille

Three new murals are added to the walls of the Lecky Road underpass to brighten it up. Above, St Colmcille (St Columba) sails from Derry to Iona (Scotland), in order to start a monastery there; he founded a Derry monastery in 540. The smaller pieces show the emblem of (Glasgow) Celtic FC and a young mother in front of a (civil rights?) protest beside Free Derry Corner.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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William Morgan

“In loving memory of William Morgan (Big Willie). Will always be remembered and sadly missed by all his mates in Tigers Bay. Murdered by cowards 11th July 2002. You will never be forgotten ‘big man’.” Morgan was struck by a hit-and-run car on July 6th, 2002 and died in hospital five days later. The car is reported to have deliberately mounted the kerb where he was walking on North Queen Street and the attack was thought to have been sectarian, as the alleged driver and passenger were republicans and the car was found burned out in the New Lodge (NewsLetter | IndyMedia).

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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