
Cormac’s four-panel cartoon – showing a tricoloured head preaching peace after removing a Union jack gag – was painted twice by Mo Chara. This one is on the Whiterock Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 1989 Peter Moloney
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A British paratrooper (with distinctive red beret) is hit by a falling box of ballots with Sinn Féin getting the top four preferences. Another Cormac cartoon painted as a mural by Mo Chara. For the yard wall, see Arms At The Ready.
Whiterock Road x Springfield Road, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 1989 Peter Moloney
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A cartoon by ‘Cormac‘ (Brian Moore) is turned into a mural on Belfast’s Whiterock Road by Mo Chara Kelly. The mural satirizes the ad below, which urges people to call the confidential telephone to report terrorist activity. Instead, the protagonist can no longer ignore the violence of the British Army (and RUC) and calls the Sınn Féın office.
1 When the Brits were having a go … “Who cares?” I thought.
2 And when something really rough happened I just trained harder to forget it … [Speech-bubble:] Anything for a quiet life, see.
3 But where’s it got me? What have these brave lads in khaki done for me? [British Army soldier:] We’re not here to do things for you; we’re here to do things to you.
4 [RUC commander:] Hey, don’t forget us. We’ve done our share of wrecking homes, harassing people. We’ve murdered and tortured and …
5 And when I saw their kind of justice I thought “There’s got to be something better than this.” [Judge:] You may think I’m a corrupt Orange bigot. But I know that I’m a very well paid corrupt Orange bigot! And the only justice you’re going to get is British justice.
6 So I made up my mind. I wanted these thugs off our backs. [Thought-bubble:] Is it any wonder that the British tourist is the most despised person on earth?
7 You see I want a decent future, and it’s not going to happen while these “hero[e]s” are doing the dirty work of British imperialism. And it’s not going to happen if you’re waiting for someone else to do something.
8 622112. Hallo? Is that the Sınn Féın office?
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Copyright © 1989 Peter Moloney
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For nine years, IRA man Joe Doherty, a native of the New Lodge, fought extradition from the United States. Doherty had escaped from Crumlin Road jail while awaiting trail on three counts of murder. He was eventually deported in 1992. (WP)
New Lodge Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 1989 Peter Moloney
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An ornate regimental (WWI) coat of arms, for the East Belfast regiment, with the emblem of the Ulster Volunteers symbol on an Ulster banner shield, topped by a crown and surrounded by an arrangement of roses, thistles, and shamrock. “Contemporised” by masked volunteers with weapons pointed, in front of Union flag and St Andrew’s Saltire. Chelsea Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 1989 Alan Gallery, All rights reserved alan@alangallery.com
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