They Will Never Steal Our Culture

“They may have stole our banner but they will never steal our culture.” The banner in question was on the fencing in the street (see Welcome To Loyalist Linfield Road) but wound up on a CNR bonfire in Divis; the wider context is the on-going disputes over the routes established by the Parades Commission for Orange Order marches.

Linfield Gardens, south Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10509

West Bank Estate

The red hand in Fountain Street – seen previously with “PSNI scum” and “IRA” graffiti – is somewhat repaired – “PSNI scum” is still faintly visible across the top and the “IRA” at the base of the hand has been blacked out. “WBE” has been added; the “E” in “WBE” is unknown – compare with WBLY.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10481

Mothers Of The Revolution

This painted board is by members of the Youth First (web) group in the Bogside. In the image above, a young mother sporting both a nappy pin and an Easter lily tends to her infant child while casting a look back at Free Derry corner, the silhouettes of marchers, and washing on a line.

Meenan Square, Derry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10474

The Dogs

Above is a new board (on painted background) at the Falls Road Garden of Remembrance for IRA volunteers in D company (the ‘Dogs’) of the 2nd battalion Belfast Brigade and local civilians from the lower Falls who died in the 20s, 70s and 90s. The main board shows a map of the area from Dunville Park to the Divis flats with lilies marking the spots of various deaths. Surrounding it are the portraits of fourteen of the volunteers listed on the marble – Maguire, O’Rawe, McKelney, Donaghy, Quigley, McAreavey, Hughes, Loughran, MacBride, Kelly, Carson, Campbell, Skillen, Marley.

The text in the close-up gives a history of the birth of the Provisionals and D company’s defense of the area in the Falls Curfew of 1970. Also mentioned is the 1972 hunger strike by Billy McKee and others in the Crumlin Road Gaol (NYTimes).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10446 [M10447] [M10448] [M10449] [M10450] [M10451] [M10452] [M10453] [M10454] [M10455] [M10456] [M10457] M10458 [M10459] [M10460] [M10461] [M10462] [M10463] [M10464] [M10465] [M10466]

Free Otegi

This pro-Basque mural on the International Wall on Divis Street calls for the release of Arnaldo Otegi, one-time ETA member and leader of a pro-Basque party, along with other political prisoners. (More information on Otegi at ig and WP.) “Pake bidean” is the Basque for “The pathway to peace”. 

(The mural is at the eastern end of the wall; takes the place of the Ian Knox anti-racism mural featured in Never Actually Existed.)

Update: Otegi was released in March, 2016 (Irish Times)

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10473