Bouquets of tricoloured flowers are placed on the Free Ireland mural at the corner of Beechmount Avenue and Falls Road, Belfast. A hand clasping an Easter lily is manacled by bonds “Made in Britain”. The mural is now in its fifteenth year. For the plaque, see the original 1990 post.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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The Continuity IRA (CIRA) broke from the Provisionals back in 1986 over the issue of abstentionism in Dáıl Éıreann, but did not begin military attacks until the ceasefire in 1994. This somewhat cryptic graffiti in Beechmount Avenue, Belfast, insists that recent events such as a split in the organisation and decommissioning by the Provisionals will change the CIRA’s status. “CIRA – 2. Delayed No Chance”
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Joe Cahill joined the Fianna in 1937 and was involved in the republican movement from then until his death in 2004, including being in Tom Williams’s company in 1942 and later a founder member and Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA. In the centre of the image he is at the end of the table at the August 13, 1971, press conference to comment on the introduction of internment (CAIN). He is honoured in the mural above alongside his brothers Tom and Frank Cahill. (Pat O’Hare is painted between Tom and Frank.)
In the top left are small boards with portraits of Ned Maguire Snr, Ned Maguire Jnr, Sam Holden, Dal Delaney, Rita McParland, Paddy Meenan, Paddy Corrigan, Sean Wallace, John Petticrew, Alex Crowe.
“Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal – Bobby Sands [March 6th Diary].”
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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British Army snipers ensconced into Corry’s timber yard shot dead five people, including three teenagers, from Springhill and Westrock on the summer night of July 9th, 1972. All were unarmed. These images are from the Westrock-Whiterock memorial gardens (“gairdíní cuimhneacháin”) in Westrock Drive, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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The handgun is “authorised by MI5” and “approved on behalf of her majesty’s government”.
Quote from Gusty Spence: “[There was] An element of the UVF [reconstituted in 1935 and some] were covertly enlisted by the Ulster Government at a fee of ten shillings a day to promote a sectarian war …”. (Balaclava Street)
The report of the Stevens Inquiry was published in 2003 and the Cory reports in 2004; both concluded that there had likely been collusion between the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries and called for public inquiries into specific cases.
Whiterock Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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“Freedom fighters outside the GPO – Easter Rising 1916”. Connolly, Pearse, and Markievicz lead the attack on the GPO. Markievicz was in fact at St Stephen’s Green.
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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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“Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” was a slogan used during the French Revolution of 1789. The Society Of United Irishmen was inspired by both the American and French revolutions. It was founded in 1791 and planned to rebel when French troops arrived. 15,000 attempted to land unsuccessfully in 1796 and only a thousand were involved in 1798. South Link, Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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“This plaque marks the spot where Kellys Bar once stood and where on 13th May 1972 a no warning loyalist car bomb exploded. As a result 66 people were injured and three innocent members of staff of Kellys Bar lost their lives. They were Tommy McIlroy Died 13th May 1972; John Moran Died from his injuries 23rd May 1972; Gerard Clarke Died from his injuries 6th September 1989. Ar dheıs De [sic] go raıbh a namacha [sic].” Punters were watching a World Cup match between England and West Germany when the bomb went off. McIlroy was not killed in the explosion but in the gunfire from Springmartin which followed. More died in the gun battles that followed over the next two days – see the Battle At Springmartin (WP),
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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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In 2004, Sınn Féın took the third European parliament seat from the SDLP. This election board for candidate Baırbe de Brún – with support from Gerry Adams – is on the Whiterock Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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Robert Emmet was hanged on September 20th, 1803, after his unsuccessful rebellion. At trial, he predicted that the struggle for Irish independence would continue, in his parting speech: “When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not till then, let my epitaph be written.” There is no direct link between the Irishmen and an army of the Irish Republic – after the execution of Emmet and Thomas Russell, the Society Of United Irishmen collapsed. The Maid Of Erin harp is the symbol of the Society.
Bingnian Road, Andersonstown, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 