“The great only appear great because we are on our knees – let us rise”. The quote – also used by Jim Larkin – appeared in Connolly’s article on Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Ireland. His portrait is flanked by the tricolour and the starry plough.
“Sponsored by trade union group”, painted by Digger.
Beechmount Avenue, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00135
Rolston 1991 p. 95 gives 1982.
Three images of a mural on the Whiterock Road, Belfast, showing a blanketman/hunger-striker and a uniformed volunteer on a tricolour cloth at the feet of an angel holding a banner reading “blessed are those who hunger for justice“. Above are the words “Their hunger, their pain, our struggle“. The shields of the four provinces of Ireland and two shamrocks complete the mural. The third image shows the mural in progress, and it looks as though it has already been vandalised.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00129 M00130 M00127 [M00128]
A hunger-striker lies in bed praying with rosary beads and bathed in beams of light coming from the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
(Painted by Con, who describes the mural as an attempt to break through with nationalists (as distinct from republicans), though one source says “by a Ballymurphy man, named something like Tim Skillen/Skelly”.)
Rockmount Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00131
“Soldier, did you think that you have got away with the murder’s of our political prisoners and innocent children on the street’s? Well, think again for your name is engraved on the freedom-fighter’s bullet!” with a drawing of an IRA volunteer with gun. Also, “Welcome to Provo Land”. Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00132
Here are four panels on Beechmount Avenue (Belfast) in 1981 depicting (from left to right) Ireland in the grip of a fist with a Union Flag cufflink, a prison guard whose mouth holds prison bars, a naked figure in a tricoloured scarf crucified on a Union Flag, and Ireland carrying a cross “Made in Britain”.
At least three of the original images are by Jack Clafferty, a founder member of the Troops Out Movement, and can be found on-line.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00121 M00122
A naked republican prisoner lies in the arms of his parents – invoking Michelangelo’s pietà – with the towers of Long Kesh (a.k.a. HMP Maze) in the background.
Painted by Con at the top of Donegall Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00111 M00109 M00110
Here are four images of the completed ‘Incident At Narrow Water’ mural shown in-progress in a separate post.
For interpretation of the piece, see Visual History 4 – Paramilitary Murals (1981-1982).
Rockville Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00107 M00105 M00106 M00108
Here are three images of a Rockville Street (CNR west Belfast) mural being painted in 1981, depicting (one part of) the IRA’s 1979 ambush of the British Army at Narrow Water Castle, near Warrenpoint (WP), on the same day that Louis Mountbatten was killed (see previously: 13 Gone But Not Forgotten).
Images of the completed mural are in a separate entry.
For interpretation of the piece, see Visual History 4 – Paramilitary Murals (1981-1982).
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00103 M00102 M00101
A poster showing an armed republican volunteer against the background of an Irish tricolour attached to a poleaxe (pike) is reproduced in Rockdale Street, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00118
The first names of six hunger-strikers — Bobby, Francis, Patsy, Raymond, Joe, Martin — on a ribbon held by a tricoloured phoenix against a sunburst, flanked by Starry Plough and Tricolour and volunteers firing a final salute. The ribbon would be expanded to include the first names of all ten 1981 hunger strikers – see the Paddy Duffy Collection.
Painted by Con in Rockdale Street, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 1981 LC
M00116
Peter Moloney Collection 