Belfast west

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Extramural Activity1 Comment

“Éıre Nua” was (and is) the name of a Sınn Féın plan (pdf | also a social and economic plan pdf) for a federal Ireland, with a semi-independent Ulster parliament; Republican Sınn Féın split off in 1986 and – like Na Fıanna Éıreann and Continuity IRA – still supports the vision outlined in it. Notable here is the inclusion of a (now-defunct) web address.

Divis Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01619

Our Revenge Will Be The Laughter Of Our Children

Extramural Activity1 Comment

The Sınn Féın offices and shop on the Falls Road at Sevastopol Street were torn down and rebuilt in 2000. A mural had been on the gable wall since 1982, initially advertising An Phoblacht/Republican News, and later included Bobby Sands. (1989 white | 1990 blue)

The mural on the new gable, shown above, removes the full An Phoblacht/Republican News masthead and instead includes the visual part of it (most prominent in the earliest mural on the wall An Phoblacht – Official Organ): the crest of 1798’s United Irishmen – “Equality” and “It is new strung and shall be heard” around a Maid Of Erin harp and the cap of liberty.

Otherwise the wall is devoted to “Irish republican, revolutionary, poet, Gaeligeoir, visionary” Bobby Sands/Roıbeaırt Ó Seachnasaıgh, adding another famous saying of his, namely “our revenge will be the laughter of our children” alongside “everyone, republican or otherwise, has their own particular part to play”. [Diary, March 14th, 1981]

The mural also adds a border of breaking chains (and a lark) and (not visible in the apex) a phoenix and the word “saoırse”. The multi-coloured border is perhaps the most unusual element, working with the sky-blue background and Sands’s smiling face to give the mural a positive feel.

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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01489

Lower Falls Memorial Garden

Extramural Activity1 Comment

Here are six images from the lower Falls memorial garden. Four of the central monument, which honours “those brave and gallant vols” of Belfast Brigade D Coy, 2 Batt. The left-hand panel quotes Pearse and the right-hand panel commemorates the Falls Curfew of July 1970. Also shown are two plaques, one to the left and one to the right, again honouring the members of D Coy, 2nd battalion of the IRA. “Their bravery and courage will be etched in the annals of Irish Republicanism and indelible in the minds of generations to come. Scríobhfar a n-aınmneacha ı lıtreacha óır.”

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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
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