“Vote Sınn Féın 1 2 3 4” and “Tıocfaıdh ár lá!” have been painted on top of a 1981 mural based on a poster sent by the Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini, which featured the head of Bobby Sands against a backdrop of skeletal bodies, one of which can still be seen in the top middle of the wall. Somewhat ironically, the original mural also included the quote to the right: “The Irish Republican Army is right: The British government does not listen to the ballot box in Ireland and the only thing they will listen to in Ireland is what they listened to in other colonies: agitation, rebellion, and armed forces”.

(An image of the original mural can be found in the Paddy Duffy Collection – T00048)

Oakman Street, Beechmount, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1986 Peter Moloney
M00415