Stad Maggie Anoıs

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A hand with tricoloured cuff attempts to stop one with a Union flag from taking the six counties from the rest of the island. The plural imperative would be “stadaıgí”.

The image was used (in the 70s? and 80s?) in the United States for fundraising (MOMA | Fb | Etsy).

Beechmount Avenue, west Belfast. See also the same idea in Strabane: England Get Out Of Ireland.

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Copyright © 1986 Peter Moloney
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Tell The World, Freedom Is At Hand

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The death by hanging of African National Congress supporter Benjamin Moloise on 18 October, 1985, for the alleged murder of a South African policeman, drew international condemnation and led to widespread rioting in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. (ExecutedToday | Jet) His words, “tell the world, freedom is at hand”, are paired with a phrase from Bobby Sands, “we aim to be free”, in this ANC-IRA mural featuring an armalite and a zulu shield and spear. In the second and third images the boards (above the mural) declaring west Belfast an “apartheid free zone”/”ceantar saor ó apartheıd” can be seen.

“Beır bua” [seize victory]; “erected by Sınn Féın April 1986”

Ascaıll Ard Na bhFeá/Beechmount Avenue, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1986 Peter Moloney
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Belfast Says No

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November 1985 saw the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which established an “inter-governmental conference” advisory body on (some) Northern Irish affairs, in which the Irish government participated. It spawned the slogans “Ulster says No” and the localized “Belfast says No”.

City Hall, Belfast

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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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Divis Flats

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Four images from Divis Flats, Belfast, in 1985.  First and second, the two murals in the middle of the complex, both from 1981, one to INLA volunteers Matt McLarnon (killed in action on 12 May, 1981) and Danny Loughran (killed by the OIRA on 5 April, 1975) and the other (on the left) a street scene from yesteryear, part of the City Council’s Community Services programme from 1977 to 1981 (see chapter 2 of Bill Rolston’s Politics & Painting). Third, “Touts beware”. Fourth, “Stop the strip searches” on the top of the flats (to the right of faded “Divis Flats supports the hunger strikers”).

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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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