Belfast west

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.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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[M01893] Copyright © 2000 Sınn Féın

Stop The Sell-Off

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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 By October, Carvill had withdrawn their plans.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”.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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No Bail For Murderers

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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.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Labhaır Cıbé Gaeılge Atá Agat!!!

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“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

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Volunteers From The New Barnsley Area

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The New Barnsley memorial garden is greatly expanded over the single plaque from 2005, to include a larger main plaque, a smaller one commemorating early resistance “Sheas sıad le chéıle” [They stood together], and wrought-iron gates with a phoenix and “Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann”.

Update: painted gates in 2015:

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Copyright © 2008/2015 Peter Moloney
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