The first panel of “Freedom Corner” on the Newtownards Road, is repainted for the 40th anniversary of the UFF [Ulster Freedom Fighters], 1973-2013. For the previous (or at least, a 2005) version, see M02370. “Feriens tego” is Latin for “In striking, I defend”.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10411
In this new east Belfast mural, we move from a part of “violence – terrorism – conflict – imprisonment’ to a future of ‘culture – empowerment – human rights – multiculturalism’. The mural is black-and-white on one side and colour on the other. On the left we have watchtowers and paramilitaries in hats and sunglasses; on the right schoolchildren in front of city hall, working on a computer and playing football.
The mural was defaced immediately after it was finished (roughly the end of July), indicating dissatisfaction with the current direction of ‘the future’, but quickly repaired.
For the “Understanding” mural above, see 2010’s Peace Cannot Be Kept By Force.
The information board give Belfast City Council, Charter NI, and the Housing Executive as sponsors. It incorrectly states that a Young Newton UDA emblem was previously on this wall. The emblem was in fact in McMaster Street (see Young Newtown); previously on this wall was a “Dedication To All Our Fallen [UVF] Comrades” (see D00986).
Lendrick Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10406 [M10407] [M10408] [M10409] [M10410]
M10405
M10403 [M10404]
Hooded gunmen return to Sydenham, in east Belfast. The George Best mural that had “re-imaged” a UVF emblem has now (controversially – BBC | Guardian | U.tv video | Slugger) been replaced by an armed gunman.
The quote on the right – “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” – comes from the section of Martin Luther King’s Letter From A Birmingham Jail in which he considers the merits of civil disobedience or direct action.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10398 [M10399] [M10400] [M10401] [M10402]
This board on Rossville Street, Derry, originally named only “Colin Duffy”. It was then modified for Marian Price and again for Martin Corey. It now reads “End internment by remand and release the Duffy 3 now!” The “Duffy 3” are Colin’s brothers Paul and Damien and cousin Shane, who are charged with collecting information of use to terrorists (BelTel).
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10380
“Discover the past/Aimsigh an t-am atá caite, build the future/tóg an todhchaí. Derry Walls Day, National Heritage Week.” The aim of the “wave on the wall” was to have almost 2,000 participants in red t-shirts form a chain around the wall (web).
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10377
“Moss side” is probably Scots, with “moss” meaning “marsh” or “(peat) bog” (DSL) and this mural is appropriately on Ballybog Road (in Dunmurry), “bog(ach)” in Irish meaning “soft (ground)..
In the mural, “QFB” is Queensway Flute Band – they used to have a mural in Seymour Hill – and “LOL 136” is a lodge in the Derriaghy District (Fb). It’s not clear if there is a specific referent for the dolmen in the centre.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10375 [M10376]
This small board is not far from the upper entrance to Old Warren in Lisburn. There’s no trace on-line of a ‘Moira Road Young Loyalists’. So, it might have been painted by an individual or family along the road. Neither the old UDA A Coy or B Coy boards mention a youth division.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10374
The South Belfast UDA/UFF commander John McMichael (1948-1987) was killed by an IRA car bomb. In addition to organising a team of assassins in the 70s and 80s, he founded a Political Research Group and wrote two documents proposing an independent Northern Ireland, 1979’s Beyond the Religious Divide and 1987’s Common Sense (available at CAIN), promoting the philosophy of ‘Ulster nationalism’. The quote on the board comes from the end of the Introduction to Common Sense:
“There is no section of this divided Ulster community which is totally innocent or indeed totally guilty, totally right or totally wrong. We all share the responsibility for creating the situation, either by deed or by acquiescence. Therefore we must share the responsibility for finding a settlement and then share the responsibility of maintaining good government.”
“One man, one love, one country. Commonsense. In loving memory. Quis separabit.” “A Coy” “Old Warren”
The Smallwoods plaque is the same but the trio of boards is new, as compared to 2010.
Drumbeg Drive, Lisburn.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10368 [M10369] [M10370] [M10371] [M10372] [M10373]
M10364 [M10365] [M10366] [M10367]
M10363
“Release Martin Corey, political prisoner. End internment now” with an unusual use of a dove rather than a lark. For background, see Release Martin Corey. With various other anti-Agreement graffiti and stencils in the area, including a “Join RSF [Republican Sınn Féın] – Éıre Nua” stencil, “SF” in a cross-hairs, and a “CIRA” “RIRA” cross-word.
Levin Road, Deeny Drive, Drumnahoe Avenue, Lurgan
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10353 [M10354] [M10355]
M10356 M10357 M10358 M010359 M10360
On the evening of November 21, 1982, the car in which IRA volunteers Eugene Toman, Sean Burns, and Gervaise [also spelled “Gervase” and “Gervais”] McKerr were travelling was hit by 109 bullets and all three were killed. They were perhaps the first victims of the “shoot to kill” policy. The first of the five panels in this Kilwilkie mural shows the bullet-holes in the driver’s side of the car, pointing out an inconsistency with the RUC’s statement that the car had run an RUC checkpoint and was fired at only from behind. (An Phoblacht)
“Lurgan town was rocked with sorrow/On that bleak November day/Hushed tones and tears were mingled/When great numbers stopped to pray” – these are the opening lines of Ida Green’s poem ‘The Lurgan Ambush’ (sung by Bo Loughran on youtube)
“Cumann Thomáıs Uí Chléırıgh, An Lorgaın” – Clarke was raised in Dungannon, where is a cumann and GAA club in his name.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10335
M10352
M10349 [M10350] [M10351]
M10346 [M10347] [M10348]
M10343 [M10344] [M10345]
M10340 [M10341] [M10342]
M10336 [M10339] [M10337] [M10338]
Peter Moloney Collection 