Operation Motorman

Operation Motorman, the British Army’s retaking of ‘Free Derry’, took place on July 31st, 1972. This is the repainted mural (the in-progress shot is from April); for the 2001 original, see M01426. (Part of The People’s Gallery by the Bogside Artists.)

For the installation to Seamus Bradley, who died during the operation, (and for the photo the mural is based upon) see X01130.

The plaque is to Patrick Shiels (M03583).

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Damn Your Concessions England

“Damn your concessions England, we want our country.” Board to Seán Mac Dıarmada in Ardoyne, detailing his exploits leading up to and including the 1916 uprising and his earlier connection with the local area. “Seán lived at 106 Butler Street, Ardoyne in 1906-08.”

Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.

Butler Walk, Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09525 [M09526]

Break The Connection With Capitalism

“In Memory of the Belfast men who fought against fascism with the international brigade, Spanish civil war 1936 – 1939.” The colours of the international brigade (red, yellow and purple – here a lighter violet colour) serve as a background.

The board shows Belfast socialists walking at Bodenstown, 1934 as part of the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration, held each year in June. Tone, an Anglican and the founder of the United Irishmen, is buried in the Bodenstown graveyard. Sources report, however, that there was an attempt to exclude these marchers, from “Shankill Rd Belfast Branch”, from part of the 1934 commemoration. The reasons given vary: they were carrying a non-standard banner, they had communist leanings, and, they were Protestants. (See Paddy Byrne | WP – though a different banner is mentioned | WP – see “legacy” section | WP – see fn. 1).

The plaque to the right reads: “In memory of all those who fought in Spain against Fascism 1936-1939. This mural  was erected by Teach na Fáilte Republican Ex-Prisoners Support Group and Belfast City Council. It was unveiled on April 20th, 2013. Signed “[Fra] Maher 2013”. Northumberland St.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Rot In Hell

“Rot in hell T[h]atcher scum” and “Rot in hell Maggie Thatcher”. Margaret Thatcher, former UK Prime Minister, died on April 8th. These pieces of graffiti are in west and north Belfast; for Derry, see Thatcher’s Dead.

Beechmount Avenue; McQuillan Street; Leeson Street; N Queen Street.

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Copyright © 2013/2014 Peter Moloney
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Don’t Let Our Brave Men Die In Vain

The Clowney Street phoenix, originally painted in 1981, is repainted – for a history, see The Oldest Murals.

Above, the board at the centre of the mosaics has changed, from an image of blanketmen to a montage of photographs “commemorating the courage and sacrifice of the hunger strikers”.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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The Birth Of The Irish Republic

In addition to the seven signatories of the Proclamation of an Irish Republic, nine other leaders of the Easter Rising were executed in the wake of the rebellion. The portraits of all 16 are part of this new mural (on boards) of Walter Paget’s painting The Birth Of The Irish Republic. (For Paget’s painting, see the painting’s Visual History page.) In order of appearance, the 16 (with links to their WP pages) are …

             (Left-hand side)

  1. John MacBride
  2. Roger Casement
  3. Thomas MacDonagh
  4. Éamonn Ceannt
  5. Thomas Kent
  6. Con Colbert
  7. Michael Mallin
  8. Edward Daly
  9. Michael O’Hanrahan
  10. Willie Pearse
  11. Seán Heuston
    (Right-hand side)
  12. James Connolly
  13. Joseph Plunkett
  14. Patrick Pearse
  15. Tom Clarke 
  16. Seán Mac Diarmada

In Lake Glen Drive, on the side of the Felons’ Club, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Craigavon House

Craigavon House was the home of James Craig, a political centre during the (3rd) Home Rule crisis – an estimated 100,000 people congregated at Craigavon House on the 23rd of September, 1911, to hear Edward Carson’s inaugural speech as Unionist leader (McNeill Ch. 4 | We Will Take Nothing Else) – and a hospital during the latter part of WWI (Bangor Historical). It has fallen into disrepair, covered over by the fourteen panels seen here, in order to serve as the rallying point of the 100th anniversary commemorative parade in April (RTÉ | BBC).

Various people and units are portrayed: USSF, post house staff, motor car corps, young citizen volunteers, the Larne gun-running, Fred Crawford, Edward Carson, James Craig, the nursing corp, Ethel Burnside, the 36th Division, the Ulster Covenant.

Circular Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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