RNU (Republican Network For Unity) mural at the top of Berwick Road (Paráıd An Ardghleanna) featuring the words of Maıréad Farrell, one of the PIRA members shot on Gibraltar.
“Everyone tells me I’m a feminist. All I know is that I’m just as good as others … and that especially means men. I am definitely a socialist and I am definitely a Republican. I believe in a united socialist country, definitely socialist. Capitalism can offer our people nothing and yet that’s the main interest of the British in Ireland.”
“Purity in our hearts, strength in our arms, truth in our lips.” Here are images from the launch of the new Fıanna tarp at the top of Berwick Road (Paráıd An Ardghleanna) on Easter Saturday (April 19th). The tarp is an RNU tribute to four teenaged members of Na Fıanna Éıreann who died in 1972: Davy McAuley, Josh Campbell, Josie McComiskey and Bernard Fox – all four from Ardoyne/Ard Eoın. McAuley died of a gunshot wound, perhaps at a Louth training camp (Nelson McCausland). Campbell was shot in Eksdale Street in a gun battle with the British Army; McComiskey was shot in Flax Street in a gun battle with the British Army; Fox was shot by the British Army in Brompton Street. (Close-up of the plaque.)
The memorial gallery on the right-hand side of Ardilea Close has been expanded from three panels to five (compared to last year/2013) and the first new face is “Charlie Wilson – age 66”.
The UFF mural on the first gable of (so-called) Freedom Corner in east Belfast has been repainted many times since the first one took over – in 1991 – from a Gertrude Star mural (D00388). Repaints followed in roughly 2001, 2008, and 2011, now followed by the image shown above. The elements remain as before: a balaclava’d volunteer with assault rifle, the UFF emblem, a pistol, and a modified version of the Declaration of Arbroath: “For as long as one hundred of us remain alive we shall never in anyway consent to submit to the Irish [instead of “English”] for it’s not for glory, honour or riches we fight but for freedom alone which no man loses but with his life – U.D.A./U.F.F”
“Easter Sunday commemoration march. Assemble 2.00 pm Westland Street. Tírghrá.” The sign is the same as in 2013 (M09214), which was a modified version of the 2011 board (M06631).
1ú Caṫlán Oırṫear Tıreoın Óglaıġ Na hÉıreann [more typically “Tír Eoghaın”; 1st battalion east Tyrone IRA]
“Beannaımıs spıorad do-ċlaoıte na laoċra atá ına luı ıns na huıgheanna seo.” [We bless the indomitable spirit of the heroes who are buried in these graves.] “do-ċlaoıte” appears to be a Connacht form of “do-ċloíte”, meaning “indomitable”, “indefatigable” (Focaıl Fholaıthe).
The volunteers named on the various stones are Patrick Kelly, Patrick Vincent, Kevin Murray, Patrick Quinn, Patrick Carty, Seán Loughan, Patrick McDonald.
Murray and McDonald were “killed in action” in 1974 (Fb).
Quinn was “killed in action” in 1973, along with Daniel McAnallen (Fb).
Loughan and Carty were “killed in action”, along with Dermot Crowley, in June 1973 (An Phoblacht).
The flat stone with the phoenix reads: “Romantic Ireland never dies!/O’Leary lies in fertile ground./And songs and spears throughout the years/Rise up where patriot graves are found.”
St Malachy’s churchyard, Coalisland Road, Edendork.
A faded “IRA” board hangs on in the Main Street of Coalisland (at the back of the Canal End bar), perhaps of the same vintage as this PIRA gunman and these PIRA rifles.
Political commentary on the Cupar Way “peace” line (near Lanark Way): “Stick Haass up your ass” — a reference to the negotiations which were taking place around Christmas and New Year’s, led by Richard Haass, into the “legacy issues” of flags and emblems (including murals) and parades. No agreement was reached. (BBC | pdf | BBC)
December update: the Stormont House Agreement covered many of the same areas (WP).
This piece of aspirational graffiti is on the Cupar Way “peace” line. “Free us all .. from the prison .. of mistrust .. misunderstanding .. and misdeeds.” It goes back to the the very first wild-style writing jam on the wall, in April 2009.
