Belfast west

Life In School At Malvern

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“… The school playing grounds were covered in cinders we used it playing football matches on, you always skinned your legs on the cinders. I played for the school football team, we didn’t wear a kit we wore old trousers an old jumper and any old shoe or boots you could find. Sometimes the ball we used was made of paper or hankies. … – Water Scott aged 95”

“Schools at Malvern are different to schools in older times. Many things have changed such as discipline. Discipline in the older days was if you spoke back you got hit with a cane, at Malvern if we speak back we get warned and then sent to the Principles office. … – Curtis Nesbitt P6”

By Blaze FX in Hopewell Avenue, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04248 M04247 M04246 M04245 M04244 M04243 M04242 M04241 M04240 M04239 M04238 M04237 M04236 M04235 M04234 M04249

Weary People, What Reap Ye?

Extramural Activity1 Comment

“Weary people, what reap ye? Golden corn for the stranger.
What sow ye? human corpses that wait for the avenger.
Fainting forms, hunger–stricken, what see you in the offing?
Stately ships to bear our food away, [amid the stranger’s scoffing].
There’s a proud array of soldiers — what do they round your door?
They guard our masters’ granaries from the thin hands of the poor. – Speranza”

The poetry is the first few lines of The Famine Year by “Speranza”, i.e. Lady Jane Wilde, mother of Oscar.

In the centre an aboriginal figure holds the flags of Ireland and of the Native Australians.

This is one of about nine murals painted in 1995 on the Great Hunger (Visual History).

“Painted by Síle Na Gıg & St James Youth Aug 95” in St James’s Crescent/Donegall Road, west Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04224 M04222 [M04223]
[M01893] Copyright © 2000 Sınn Féın

Stop The Sell-Off

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Andersonstown RUC barracks at the junction of the Glen and Falls roads was demolished in early 2005. Plans to develop the site with residential housing involving private company Carvill were opposed by locals, who launched the ‘Stop The Sell-Off’ campaign, aimed in particular at then-minister for Social Development (DSD) Margaret Ritchie of the SDLP. By October, Carvill had withdrawn their plans.

Brendan McNamee was shot by the PIRA after he defected to the INLA. Miriam Daly was shot by the UDA (or SAS). There is a plaque to the pair on the Andersonstown Road.

“Belfast IRSP. Brendan McNamee and Miriam Daly – murdered by British agents”; “DSD – Stop the spin”; “Public land for public use”; “Dear Santa, please get Minister [Margeret] Ritchie to give us back our land. Signed, West Belfast Residents”; “Justice for Harry [Holland] – No bail for his killers”; “Stop the sell-off campaign”; “Cuır deıreadh leis an díoladh”.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04022 M04021 M04020 M04019 M04018 M04017 M04016

No Bail For Murderers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Greengrocer Harry Holland was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver by teens in Norfolk Drive (just above the Milltown roundabout where this board is positioned) on September 12th, 2007. Stephen McKee, Patrick Crossan, and Niamh McKee (who was granted bail) would later be sentenced for murder, affray, and assault charges relating the crime. The Glen Road shop would remain open until 2018.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04013

Labhaır Cıbé Gaeılge Atá Agat!!!

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Labhaır cıbé Gaeılge atá agat” (“speak whatever Irish you have”; “Is fearr Gaeılge bhrıste ná Béarla clıste” (“Broken Irish is better than clever English”; “Rally for Irish Language Act this Saturday June 9th @ Cultúrlann 1 pm”.

The mural in the background is No Plastic Bullets – see 1995 and 2004.

Whiterock Road, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04006 M04005 M04004