Here is a final float from the March For Truth, with a blanket man on the “dirty” or “no wash” protest. The last six of the deceased 1981 hunger strikers are portrayed along the skirting of the van.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03761
Two images of various “soldiers” from the March For Truth; in the second they are chained up but still carrying arms.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03762 M03759
The Troubles in Belfast began with violence along the interface between the Falls and Shankill in Clonard. Houses in Bombay Street and others (listed in the images above) were burned out and their inhabitants displaced.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03764 M03763
Here are four images of another float in the March For Truth, this one on the issue of Shoot To Kill. In the second panel are six people shot in Lurgan in three incidents in November and December of 1982: Seamus Grew, Roddy Carroll, Michael Tighe, Gervaise McKerr, Sean Burns, Eugene Toman. These would be investigated by the Stalker Inquiry. The third panel shows the killings of (Celtic supporter) Thomas ‘Kidso’ Reilly in St Aidan’s (Private Ian Thain of the Light Infantry Regiment would serve two years for the killing) and of Sean Savage on Gibraltar.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03738 M03739 M03740 M03741
These two images from the March For Truth concern collusion (and plastic bullets). The large board in the first image (“Murdered by the British state”) gives a list of victims of and attacks (from 1974-1977) by the Glenanne Gang, which operated in Armagh and Tyrone with members from the UVF, RUC, and UDR (WP).
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03760 [M03755] M03737
These images concern the 1971 Ballymurphy Massacre and the 1972 Springhill/Westrock Massacre. The demands for inquiries into the British Army killings were among the causes included in the March For Truth. The two painted boards on the lorry are by Mo Chara Kelly.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03742 M03758 [M03735] [M03734] [M03733] [M03732]
The March For Truth was a 2007 event in nationalist west Belfast highlighting a number of related issues: the Ballymurphy and Springhill/Westrock massacres, collusion, and shoot-to-kill; it also commemorated the 1981 hunger strike and the beginning of the Troubles.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03777
“This plaque commemorates IRA vol. Joe McDonnell who lived in this house prior to his capture on 14th Oct 1976. Joe later died at 5.11 am on 8th July 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike in the h blocks Long Kesh. ‘Let us swear by Joe’s martyred blood never to waver of fail til the true united Irish socialist republic stands forth before the nations, a testimony to the worthiness of our case.’ Óglach calma dobhrıste. [A strong, unbreakable volunteer]”
Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03539
“Nature sent the potato blight, government & landlords created the famine.” 1845-1849 saw one million Irish people die and a million more emigrate. During the period, the full range of other foodstuffs was produced and shipped to England, being too expensive for the native population.
Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03538
“Our rulers will stop at nothing to attain their ends. They will continue to rule and rob until confronted by men who will stop at [nothing to overthrow them].” The quote is from James Connolly on Conscription. Local volunteer Joe McDonnell is portrayed between the names of the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers.
Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03537
Peter Moloney Collection 