Óglach Réamonn Mac Raoıs

“Go luath ına shaol thuıg Réamonn nach mbaınfeadh muıntır na hÉıreann an tsaoırse ná an cothrom amach go dtí gur cuıreadh ar na Sasanaıgh déıleáıl go hoscaılte gan claonadh lenár n-ıonadaıthe. Chuaıgh Réamonn ı gcomhar leıs na Fıanna Éıreann in 1973 …”

A pair of boards describing the life of IRA volunteer and 1981 hunger striker Raymond McCreesh in both English and Irish are mounted on the railings at Raymond McCreesh Park, in Patrick Street, Newry.

For the controversy over naming the playground after McCreesh, see Páırc Réamoınn Mac Raoıs.

The same pair of boards were also mounted at the McCreesh memorial in Camlough.

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Political Internees

“Free Marian Price – political internee.” “Release Martin Corey now!”

For Price, see Free Marian Price. Martin Corey was returned to prison in 2010 and a 2011 commission ruled that he was a member of the CIRA (WPBelfast Telegraph).

[An appeal – on the grounds that evidence had been withheld – was rejected in December, 2012.]

Camlough Road, Newry; Bell Steele Road, Belfast; Glen Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Vol. Kevin Lynch

“Vol. Kevin Lynch, born Park 25rg May 1956, died – Long Kesh 1st August 1981 after 71 days on hunger strike “I’ll wear no convicts uniform” Go ndéana Dıa trócaıre ar a anam uasal.”

“Erected by Counties Derry & Antrim Commemorative Committee. Unveiled by Raymond McCartney MLA on 24th May 2009.”

A painting of the monument is included in the Kevin Lynch mural in Dungiven.

Learmount Road, Park

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Civil And Religious Liberty

Two PUL banners are added to the internment bonfire in Divis: the upper one says “East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force”, while the latter reads “Shankill Protestant Boys [Fb] USSF Ulsters No 1 flute band.” On the top is a Drumcree Orange Order flag: “Civil and religious liberty”; “Here we stand, we can do no other”.

Divis Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Never Actually Existed

Marty Lyons is shown adding the WARN emblems to an otherwise-completed mural on the International Wall, Divis Street.

On the left, an Irish family in front of a window reading “No Irish need apply” is stereotyped as jagged-toothed, shillelagh-wielding hunch-backs in the style of Punch and other magazines’ portrayal of the Irish. The Punch portrayal is described, and Punch named explicitly, in the song ‘Do Me Justice’ a.k.a. ‘Here I Am From Donegal’. (Lyrics | audio: Frank Harte (full song) | Len Graham (clip).) They also carry a copy of “The Big Begorra” – a play on The Big Issue, a newspaper published on behalf of, and sold by, homeless people. “We’re projections of 19th century anti-Irish prejudice—we’ve never actually existed.” 

The treatment of the Irish is used as an anology for the the Roma (WP): “Whereas I, ethnoid steriotypus their creator, have existed since time immemorial. My latest target—the Roma! I hope you’ll swallow all the lies I concoct.”

“Hey—what was the outcome of the harassment of the Roma newspaper sellers?” “The evening edition collapsed!” – this is a reference to the Belfast Telegraph‘s decision to cease printing an evening edition.

In the lower right is the signature of political cartoonist Ian Knox, a.k.a. Blotski (WP) – Marty Lyons and a Short Strand artist were also involved – and date (9 August, 2012 – for Féile 2012 (pictures of the launch).

Divis Street and Falls Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Local History From Local People

“Get the real story – local history from local people – take a black taxi tour – West Belfast Taxi Association – 40 years unbroken service”. The tours of “local” history are of course aimed at non-locals as part of the ‘dark tourism’ or ‘Troubles tourism’ boom.

Here is the Getty Images photo of British Army soldiers on the Falls Road in 1969, on which the mural is based.

Divis Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Solidarity POWs

This mural expresses solidarity between Irish republican and Palestinian prisoners of war. It was painted by Carlos Latuff, a Brazilian political cartoonist, in collaboration with a local artist. There’s a picture of them in front of the mural, as well as Latuff’s cartoon version, here. He also drew a cartoon on the wall of a café in Belfast and visited Derry.

Northumberland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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