Belfast west

Gabh Gaelach

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“Gabh Gaelach” [Go Gaelic]. “Is fearr Gaeılge bhrıste ná Béarla clıste” [Broken Irish is preferable to clever English]. “Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam” [A land without a language is a land without a soul]. “Sí athghabháıl na Gaeilge athghabháıl na hÉıreann” [The repossession of Irish is the repossession of Ireland] – based on a quote by Máırtín Ó Cadhaın. Bunscoıl An tSléıbhe Dhuıbh [Black Mountain Primary School]. The mural on the gable celebrates 125 of the GAA, particularly local teams Cumman [sic] Spóırt An Phobaıl, Cardinal O’Donnell’s, Gort Na Móna, and Cumann Naomh Eoın.

Video of the Gabh Gaelach murals launch on August 3rd. Funding from the Re-Imaging Communities project with help from USDT and Glór Na Móna. Artists Lucas Quigley (gable), Fra Maher (left), Rıstead Ó Murchú (right).

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05281 [M05280] M05282

Ballymurphy Massacre

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“Ballymurphy Massacre August 1971 – We demand the truth.” 11 Catholic civilians from Ballymurphy were shot and killed by British Army paratroopers on August 9th-11th, during the initial wave of internment. Father Hugh Mullan is shown among the flats waving a baby’s babygro/onesie as he goes to the aid of a wounded man (Bobby Clarke); having turned to go after giving him the last rites, he would be shot be a Paratrooper (depicted in the bottom right corner with distinctive beret).

Fr Hugh Mullan, Paddy McCarthy, Frank Quinn, Joseph Murphy, Noel Philips, John Lavrty, Joan Connolly, Joe Corr, Daniel Teggart, John McKerr, Eddie Doherty

Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.

Whiterock Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05279

Nuada Reborn

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M04008 2008+

M04505 2008+

Gerard ‘Mo Chara’ Kelly first painted a mural of King Nuada in 1987, a year after being released from Long Kesh. He reproduced an illustration by Jim Fitzpatrick on a gable wall in Springhill (see images from 1987 | 1988 | 1989). This post-peace version is on the side-wall of the Whiterock Road Spar and was painted as statement of Kelly’s own rebirth after ceasing to work with funding agencies such as the Upper Springfield Development Trust. The third and fourth images are from 2008 and show the mural in an early state; the mural as shown above in 2009 is in fact still not complete – the bottom and left-hand side are unfinished. See these 2010 images for the full effect.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05276 M05277
2008 M04008 M04505

Ballymurphy Massacre

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11 Catholic civilians from Ballymurphy were shot and killed by British Army paratroopers on August 9th-11th, during the initial wave of internment. Father Hugh Mullan, the second to be killed, is shown in the cross-hairs of a rifle’s sight, waving a baby’s onesie as he goes to the aid of a wounded man (Bobby Clarke). “Time for truth, time for justice. The families demand … an international independent investigation surrounding all of the deaths … the British government to issue a statement of innocence and a public apology.” “57 children left without a parent. Hundreds [of other children never got to meet their granny, granda, aunt or uncle.]” The blank panel is for “Family Messages”.

For the anti-joy-riding board on the gable, see Where’s The Joy?

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05265 M05264 [M05263] M05266 M05268 M05267
2010 [M06142]

Jim McKernan

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“I ndıl cuimhne [chuimhne] Óglach Jim McKernan executed by the British Army near this spot 14th September 1986. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. [He died for the cause of Ireland’s freedom]” McKernan was killed in a gun battle between an IRA unit and a British Army foot patrol. Andersonstown Road at Ballyowen.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05160

They Were Faithful And They Fought

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The main plaque (shown first above) is new; like its predecessor (see M02186)  list of the local dead of the IRA 1st battalion, Belfast brigade and related members of the republican movement. (A shorter list is on the plaque to the left, shown second.) There is also a 200th anniversary plaque for the 1798 rebellion: “1798-1998 Who Fears To Speak Of 98. This plaque was erected to the memory of the United Irishmen who gave their lives for Irish freedom also those who died as a result of the Great Hunger. ‘These are the times that try mens’ souls.’ [- Thomas Paine] The rich always betray the poor.’ – Henry Joy McCracken.” The memorial garden is next to the Andersonstown Social Club (a.k.a. the PD or “People’s Democracy”).

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05152 [M05153] [M05156] M05157 M05154 [M05155]
2010 [M05793] [M05792] [M05791]