Belfast

Freedom Must Be Demanded By The Oppressed

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Hooded gunmen return to Sydenham, in east Belfast. The George Best mural that had “re-imaged” a UVF emblem has now (controversially – BBC | Guardian | U.tv video | Slugger) been replaced by an armed gunman.

The quote on the right – “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” – comes from the section of Martin Luther King’s Letter From A Birmingham Jail in which he considers the merits of civil disobedience or direct action.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Moss Side Community Hall

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“Moss side” is probably Scots, with “moss” meaning “marsh” or “(peat) bog” (DSL) and this mural is appropriately on Ballybog Road (in Dunmurry), “bog(ach)” in Irish meaning “soft (ground)..

In the mural, “QFB” is Queensway Flute Band – they used to have a mural in Seymour Hill – and “LOL 136” is a lodge in the Derriaghy District (Fb). It’s not clear if there is a specific referent for the dolmen in the centre.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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UVF Bonfire

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The quotation marks suggest that this is commentary on the coverage of the Avoniel bonfire (Extramural Activity | BBC) (and in the larger context of the “flag protest” rioting of winter 2012-2013 (WP) and July 2013 (WP)).

This graffiti on the back of a derelict building in Beersbridge Road (as seen from Ravendale Street, at the junction with Clara Street).

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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The Sacrifice Remains The Same

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“Time changes! But the sacrifice remains the same.” Pictured is a board in Ogilvie Street in east Belfast, sponsored by the EU and the Cosy Somme Association, showing, in black and white, a WWI soldier, who is comforting another solider, in modern gear and in colour. The emblems of the 36th (Ulster) division and Royal Irish Rifles are also shown.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Remember The La Mon Bombing

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“Remember the La Mon bombing – 13 protestants killed for what??? Sinn Fein/Sinn Fien vote!” The La Mon hotel and restaurant, outside Belfast, was filled with civilians enjoying dinner-dances at the time it was bombed by the IRA in February 1978 (WP).

Ravenhill Avenue and Clara Street. There was identical graffito in Carrington Street.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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We Shall Never Surrender

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A message from “E.B. [east Belfast] Loyalists” in Castlereagh Parade, combining two speeches of Winston Churchill’s: We have nothing to offer but blood, tears, and sweat. Whatever the cost maybe, we shall fight on the beach’es, we shall fight in the fields and on the street’s. We shall never surrender.”

1940-05-13: “I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined the government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask: What is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us, to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime.”

1940-06-04: “We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. ”

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Gerard McDade

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“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Gerard [Gerald] McDade, Belfast Brigade, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. Murdered by British Crown Forces 21st December 1971, aged 23 years. NÍ dhéanfaıdh muıd dearmad [gur] fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Remember Our Volunteers Committee, 17th December 2011.”

McDade was staff captain of 3rd battalion. He was stopped on foot in Ardoyne (where he is also remembered) and was shot while trying to run off (Belfast Child). This plaque, in Beechmount Road, was mounted for the fortieth anniversary of his death.

The plaque is on the whitewashed gable that was previously the site of a mural to volunteers Liam “Bulmer” McParland, Billy Carson, Liam Mulholland, and Sean Doyle – see Ballymurphy Resistance.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Shankill Bombings

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A small engraved plaque showing the shop-front of Frizzell’s fish shop has been added to the memorial on the Shankill Road. The upper tablet was seen previously in Frizzell’s.

Another such engraving can be found on the Mountainview Bar/Tavern, commemorating the 1975 bombing and gun attack there in which five people were killed and 60 injured (WP).

Three more Shankill bombings are commemorated in Shankill Atrocities.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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