Ireland – Catalonia

Seven years after it was originally painted in 1997, the pro-Catalan mural in Beechmount Avenue is showing its age. “Not Spain, not France. Free Catalonia. Since 1714 the Catalan nation is military [sic] occupied for the Spanish and French states. Catalonia has their own culture, language, and history. Our country have [sic] more than 1000 years of history as a nation. The Catalan flag is the first European flag. Our fight flag is the “Estalada”. The white star means the freedom, and the blue triangle stands for the sky of humanity. Free Catalonia! United Ireland! El nostre dia arribarà! Tıócfaıdh [sic] ár lá. 11/8/97”

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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The Women Of 1916

“They stand for the honour of Ireland/As their sisters in days that are gone/And they’ll march with their brothers to freedom/The soldiers of Cumann Na mBan.” “This mural is dedicated to the Women of Cumann Na mBan, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann & Sınn Feın”. “From R[uth] Taillon’s book The Women Of 1916.” With portraits of two volunteers with Belfast associations: Winifred Carney and Nora Connolly. Hawthorn Street, Belfast. Seen previously in 2001 left | right.

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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Vol. Kieran Doherty TD

Kieran Doherty was elected TD (Teachta Dála) for Cavan-Monaghan three weeks into his 1981 hunger strike. He held the position for two months, until he died on August 2nd. The portraits, plaques, and mural of marchers are in his home area of Andersonstown. The words “It is not those who inflict the most, but those that can endure who shall conquer in the end” are an echo of Terence MacSwiney, whose hunger strike in 1920 lasted 74 days, one more than Doherty’s.

(2004 images of 2001 M01476)

Slemish Way, Andersonstown, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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They Were Faithful And They Fought

Two images from the memorial garden in South Link, Andersonstown, Belfast to volunteers from the First Belfast Brigade (céad cathlán den Briogáid Bheal Feirste), members of the “republican movement” and “the civilians who died at the hands of the British Army, RUC, UDR, and loyalist extremists”.

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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One Hundred Years Of Revolution

The defining objective of the Sınn Féın movement was expressed by Arthur Griffith, editor of the newspaper United Irishman, in 1905: to form a Dublin government “endowed with the moral authority of the Irish nation”. In 1907 three recently created parties united to form Sınn Féın, Cumann Na nGaedheal (1900), the Dungannon Clubs (1905), and the National Council (1903). In 2004, the organisation was looking forward to its centenary.

South Link, Andersonstown, Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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