Belfast west – Peter Moloney Collection

Murdered Close To This Spot

2016-03-292026-10-06Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A poppy cross has been added to the UVF memorial mural and plaque at Spier’s Place. The accompanying plaque reads “This poppy cross is in memory of three men who were murdered by republican murder gangs close to this spot. William Marchant died 28th April 1987, David Hamilton died 16th June 1994, Trevor King died 9th July 1994.” For some background, see Ordinary People, Extraordinary Roles.

The mural was painted in 2008; the central plaques was first recorded in 2005. For the tarp above, see Families Against Supergrass Trials.

Spier’s Place, Shankill, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13098 M13099 M13096 [M13097]

Shankill Boys

2016-03-292026-10-05Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The “Shankill Boys” were the roughly 700 men of the West Belfast battalion of the Ulster Volunteers who were almost all killed at the Somme. (This board – or a previous copy of it – was previously in Carnan St.)

As with all of the Belfast battalions, West Belfast had a “USSF” [Ulster Special Service Force] – its emblem is in the top left of the second board, below. (See previously USSF and Shankill Protestant Boys.) The other emblem is that of the ‘Greengairs Thistle Flute Band’. Although the background comes from WWI, the roll of honour lists modern-day volunteers from the UVF. Thomas Chapman, James McGregor, Robert McIntyre, William Hannah, and Robert Wadsworth are portrayed in Carnan Street – see C. Coy Street. The modern-day C Company, formed in 1974, is named after the Four Step Inn, which was bombed in September 1971 (see Four Step).

Sugarfield Street, west Belfast, adjacent to the Vanguard Bears board and a poppy cross.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13094 M13095

Locals From The Greater Shankill Area

2016-03-292026-10-04Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“This poppy cross stands as a memorial to those locals from the Greater Shankill area who lost their lives at the hands of merciless Irish republican murder gangs. Erected by vanguardbears.co.uk” For a mural commemorating bombings on the Shankill, see Shankill Atrocities.

This cross has been mounted on the corner of Sugarfield Street and the Shankill Road, adjacent to the Vanguard Bears board.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13092 M13093

Stirling And District Campsie Club

2016-03-292026-10-03Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The first panel features the cannon “Roaring Meg” (“presented by the Fishmongers Company of London 1642″) which is used as the seal for the club, and includes the club’s flag, the key to the gates, and the emblem and coat of arms of the Apprentice Boys.

“Formed on the 2nd May 1987 we have been at the forefront of loyalist culture in our area since then and were the first club in Scotland to have a Battle of the Somme Commemoration Parade. Since our inauguration we have formed many friendships with our brethren and bands from the province many of which are still active today. For many years the club has participated with Belfast Campsie Club at the closing of the gates parade in December. We have through the years had great affinity with the many bands from Belfast some who are unfortunately no longer with us. The club would like to thank the people of Belfast for their support and friendship through the years and to the people of the Shankill for giving us the privilege of this murals. / No surrender. / The Campsie Club is the only Apprentice Boys Club to be named after one of the “Brave 13″. It is persumed [presumed] that Henry Campsie was the first man to shed blood in the Defence of Londonderry. Campsie was the inspiration behind the Shutting of the Gates and was severely wounded whilst leading his associates to secure the City Magazine and armoury. The emblem of the Roaring Meg was adopted as the Seal of the new club.”

The middle panel celebrates the Stirling Protestant Boys Flute Band and its association with the Shankill Road: “Stirling Protestant Boys Flute Band [Fb] were formed in February 2003 and to this day take part in parades across Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. The band has a great connection with our friends from Belfast, especially those from the Greater Shankill area. In November 2012 Stirling Protestant Boys were presented with the battle honours of the Young Citizen Volunteers and the 36th (Ulster) Division. The band would like to thank the people of the Shankill Road for their continued support.”

The third contains a long description of the Shutting Of The Gates in December 1688 and the Siege Of Derry, which was ended with the breaking of the boom across the river Foyle in July 1689.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13085 M13090 M13091 M13086 [M13087] [M13088] [M13089]

If You Remove The English Army Tomorrow

2016-03-262026-09-18Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A line from James Connolly’s 1897 piece “Socialism And Nationalism” is adapted by the IRSP for the current post-partition situation: “England will still rule you, she would rule you through her bankers, landlords and Stormont”.

Connolly’s original thought is that – even in a self-governing republic – nationalism is not enough to establish an authentically Irish state: “If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organization of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain. England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist institutions she has planted in this country and watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs.”

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13024

The Evolution Of Our Revolution

2016-03-262026-09-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A history of nationalism/republicanism from left to right: a pair of Easter lilies, four generations of rifles, and then a switch to a ballot paper with a check in favour of “unity” and a road named “Unity Way”: “From bullet to ballot: the evolution of our revolution. 1916 – 2016”

The mural was painted by Con on the north side of Hugo Street – the south side remains exclusively éırígí.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13022

Mná Na hÉıreann

2016-03-262026-09-15Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Érıu/Éıre of the Tuatha Dé Danann, queen of Ireland, (as depicted by Richard J King) is at the centre of various representations of republican women.

Along the top are Ann Devlin, Betsy Gray, Mary Ann McCracken, Countess Markievicz, Nora Connolly?, and Winifred Carney. Suffragettes, the modern IRA, and Cumman Na mBan are depicted, as are Máıre Drumm at the Falls Curfew, Tom McElwee’s sisters carrying his coffin, and Molly Childers and Mary Spring Rice running guns on the Asgard. There is also an unusual ‘four provinces’ in the corners.

The wide shot (below) shows a 1916 centenary (“céad blıaın”) board: “Ag fíorú na poblachta”.

Rockmount Street, above the James Connolly trade-unions mural

Viva Palestine

2016-03-262026-04-26Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Tıocfaıdh ár lá”, “يومنا قادم” [yeomna qadm, our day is coming] (and below, “Saoırse” and “حرية” [freedom].

The figure at the centre of the mural, with the PFLP emblem, is sky-jacker Leila Khaled – for background on her see the same stencil of her in Hugo Street.

Seen previously in better condition in 2015. AMCOMRI St (AMerican COMmittee [for] Relief [in] Ireland), Beechmount, west Belfast

In Defence Of The Nation

2016-03-262026-05-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a more expansive version of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (web) stencil seen in 2015 on the International Wall, Divis Street (Visual History), in 2015. There is no barbed wire flags in this one and no flags; instead, two volunteers in silhouette pay their respects.

Beechmount Avenue/Ascaill Ard Na bhFeá, west Belfast

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