They Weren’t Criminals Then

“1981 – hungerstrikers gain political status; 1998 – Good Friday Agreement signs it away; 2006 – political prisoners are again denied political status. Re-instate political status now!” “The hunger strikers died for political status”. “They weren’t criminals then! They still aren’t now!”. Boards on the railings outside the IRSP offices on the Falls Road.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03281 M03282 M03280

So It Will Be To The End

“I ndíl [ndıl] chuımhne ar Óglach Paul Fox A-Coy 2 Batt Belfast Brigade, died on active service 1-12-1975, Óglach Sean Bailey A-Coy 2 Batt Belfast Brigade, died at this location on active service 13-2-1976, Óglach Paul Marlowe A-Coy 2 Batt Belfast Brigade, died on active service 16-10-1976, Óglach Tony Campbell died of natural causes 4-8-1985. I measc laochra na hÉıreann atá sıad. In every generation we have renewed the struggle and so it will be to the end. When England thinks she has trampled out our blood in battle, some brave men and women rise and rally us again.”

All three 1970s deaths were by premature bomb explosion.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03276

A Generation Remembers

“A generation remembers the hungerstrike martyrs.” On the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, portraits of the strikers (including Gaughan and Stagg from the 70s) were displayed on the railings of Dunville Park, Falls Road, Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03260] [M03261] [M03262] [M03263] [M03264] M03265 [M03266] [M03267] [M03268] [M03269] [M03270] [M03271] M03272 [M03285]

Dan Winter’s Cottage

“Dan Winter’s ancestral home – the focal point of the Battle Of The Diamond on 21st September 1795, which led to the formation of the Orange Order in Sloan’s house, Loughgall.”

Dan Winter’s cottage at “the Diamond” (the crossroad of Grange Road and Derryloughan Road) was occupied by (Catholic) Defenders as they marched towards the (Protestant) Peep-O-Day Boys on a nearby hill. 30 out of 300 Defenders would be killed while the Peep-O-Day Boys went unscathed. After the battle, the Protestant combatants met in Loughgall and formed the Orange Society. 10,000 Catholics would subsequently migrate from Armagh.

This is one of two buildings on Derryloughan Road with “Dan Winter’s Cottage” plaques.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03232] [M03233] M03234 M03235

Orange Order Bicentenary

“This monument is erected by the County Grand Orange Lodge of Armagh to commemorate the bicentenary of the formation of the Orange Order after the Battle Of The Diamond on 21st September 1795.” The monument is near “the diamond” itself – the cross-roads of Grange Road and Derryloughan Road.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03129] [M03130] M03231