Gibraltar 25th Anniversary

The events of March 1988 are remembered 25 years on: the IRA’s Seán Savage, Daniel McCann, Mairéad Farrell were killed by the SAS in Gibraltar on March 6th; Kevin McCracken (IRA) was killed by British solders in Turf Lodge on the night of March 14th, after the corpses had returned to Belfast; John Murray, Thomas McErlean, and Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh (IRA) were killed by Michael Stone on March 16th in Milltown cemetery at the burial of the three. (Two British soldiers, Derek Wood and David Howes, were killed at Mac Brádaigh’s funeral procession on March 19th.)

Events include a plaque to “women in struggle” in the Roddy’s and a murals in Twinbrook (X02322 | M09378) and on the “International Wall” Divis Street (X00979).

Beechmount Street, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09234

Easter Commemoration

Competing Sinn Féin and IRSP Easter commemorations on the site of the former RUC barracks, and from éirígí in Beechmount Avenue, for Easter Monday.

“Belfast Easter Commemoration, Sunday 31st March. Assemble Beechmount Ave 1pm, parade leaves 1.30pm sharp. Speaker: Mary Lou McDonald, Vice President Sinn Féin/TD. Honour Ireland’s patriot dead – wear an Easter lily. Cumann Uaigheann na Laochra Gael – National Graves Association.”

“Belfast IRSP commemoration parade, Easter Sunday, Dunville Pk 11 am.”

“1916 Rising Commemoration, Easter Monday 1pm. Assemble St James Road.”

Falls Road, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09232 M09233

Shankill Star

“Shankill Star [flute band Fb] in memory of Brian Robinson”. A brand new piece (unveiled March 2, 2013) to Brian Robinson and/sponsored by the Shankill Star Flute Band, in Disraeli Street – where Robinson grew up – replete with images from the first World War such as soldiers (both British and German), trenches and poppies. Robinson was killed on 2 Sept., 1989 by an army undercover unit moments after he had shot and killed a Catholic named Patrick McKenna (WP). This is the second mural on the street to Robinson – see M08248. The piece is not paint, but printed boards, and the image has been generated by computer.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09225 [M09226] [M09227] [M09228] [M09229]

Matt Baggott RIP

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott (here “Baggot”, with only one “T”) in January announced that he would retire from the force in September of this year (2014), after heading the organisation for five years (Guardian). He, and the PSNI generally, will not be missed in Bray Street (first three) and Rathlin Street (final four), Woodvale, west Belfast.

(Update: The date was moved up – Baggott quit at the end of June. BBC)

“PSNI stay out”, “PSNI no go zone”, “PSNI keep out!!!”, “Fuck the Pope”, “PSNI targets”, “KAT”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10795 M10796 M10797 M10798 M10799 M10800 M10801

Lenadoon Women In Struggle

“Strong is what we make each other until we are strong together.” Women in struggle, (clockwise) banging binlids, undergoing strip searches, protesting internment, victims of plastic bullets (Julie Livingstone), fighting in Cumann Na mBan. On the right are the astrological symbol for woman and the republican symbol of “Saoırse” with the green star and fist

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M07620 [M09137] [M09138] [M09139] [M09140] [M09141] [M09142]

Name Change, No Change

“RUC – PSNI. Name change – no change. No political policing. No special powers. No daily armed raids. No daily harassment. No PSNI in our schools. No MI5. No £10 touts. No interment [sic]. Republican Network.ie.” (The web address no longer functions but there is a Fb page.)

Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M09134 [M09135] [M09136]

Freedom First

Five small éirígí (web) pieces of graffiti and stenciling from Creeslough Park (at the corner with Lenadoon Avenue), Belfast. The stencils are of James Connolly (“We defy you! Do your worst!”) and the 3-in-1 figure combining police (“RUC-PSNI – different name, same aim”), Orange Order, and paramilitary.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M09129 M09130 M09131 M09132 M09133

Killed On The Streets Where They Were Born

“In memory of óglach James Quigley, died 29th Sept. 1972 [and] óglach Patricia McKay, died 30th Sept. 1972. Killed on the streets where they were born by the British Army.” Quigley was shot while waiting to ambush a British Army patrol in Albert Street; McKay (of the OIRA) (and Ian Burt of the Royal Anglicans) was killed in Ross Street in a subsequent gun battle. (Lost Lives 614-616.)

There is a Quigley plaque in Whiterock.

Ross Road, Belfast.

M09127 [M09126]

Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney

A Democratic Secular Socialist Republic

“The Workers Party National Commemoration Committee. Erected in memory of all those comrades who dedicated their lives for establishment of a democratic, secular, socialist, republic. ‘I have given whatever I had to give for the party, for the people of Ireland, and for a better world, but others have given more, much more. Comrades have given their lives.’ – Tomás Mac Gıolla TD. For the unity of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter.”

Servia Street, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M09124 [M09125] [M10104] [M10105] [M10106] [M10107]

The Lions Of Ulster

“100 years of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant. ‘We will not have home rule.’ The lions of Ulster.”

“West Belfast Athletic & Cultural Society – breaking down barriers through sport and cultural exchange. This mural was dedicated by Alderman Hugh Smyth O.B.E. on Friday the 21st September 2012 to commemorate the centenary of the signing of Ulster’s Solemn League and Covenant.”

The eight plaques (from left to right) are to Major Fredrick H Crawford, Volunteer Robert J Adgey, James Craig, the Ulster Covenant, Sir Edward Henry Carson, Sir George Lloyd Reilly Richardson, Captain Wilfrid Spender, Ulster Volunteer Force.

N. Howard Street, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M08958 [M08959] [M08960] [M08961] [M08962] [M08963] [M08964] [M08965] [M08966] [M08967] [M08968] [M08969] [M08970] [M08971] [M08972] [M08973]