For the anniversary of his death, a poster of Volunteer Eamonn Lafferty is placed alongside the ogham stone and dolmen to the 1st battalion, Derry Brigade, IRA. Lafferty was killed on August 18th, 1971 – there are both a mural and a headstone to his memory in Kildrum Gardens.
“Forever the town hereafter be and shall be named and called the city of Londonderry”, with the motto “Life, Truth, Victory”.
The city’s coat of arms is featured in the centre – there are various interpretations of its elements, including the skeleton (WP). In the top right is the coat of arms of the city of London (whose flag is the top part of the coat of arms) – “Domine dirige nos” [Lord, Direct Us].
St. Columb’s cathedral (WP) is top left and a map of the walls bottom right. For the dedication stone from St Columb’s (bottom left), see If Stones Could Speak.
“Vol. Kevin Lynch, born Park 25rg May 1956, died – Long Kesh 1st August 1981 after 71 days on hunger strike “I’ll wear no convicts uniform” Go ndéana Dıa trócaıre ar a anam uasal.”
“Erected by Counties Derry & Antrim Commemorative Committee. Unveiled by Raymond McCartney MLA on 24th May 2009.”
Anti-Agreement republican graffiti and heavily-vandalised board listing the faults of the PSNI. “End British policing in Ireland – intimidation, sectarianism, 28 day detention, corruption, child assaults, evidence tampering. http://www.32csm.info [now 32csm.org]”
“Community Inquiry Report: There was a clear breach of Article 2 of the European Convention On Human Rights, the right to life. The jury was deeply moved by the integrity and honesty of the evidence they heard. We have been deeply shocked by the state’s total failure to investigate killings and woundings. The evidence is unequivocal regarding the innocence of the deceased and wounded. There is no evidence whatsoever that they were armed or acted in a manner that could be perceived as a threat to the security services.”
Two of the New Lodge Six (James Sloan, James McCann) were killed by the UDA outside a bar and four (Tony ‘TC’ Campbell, Ambrose Hardy, Brendan Maguire, John Loughran) were among the crowd that gathered, killed by British Army snipers from their positions on top of the flats, using night-vision sights, February 3rd-4th, 1973. Sınn Féın politician Gerry Kelly spoke at the launch (image in the Seosamh Mac Coılle collection).
These republican boards are probably all post-Agreement placards in Derrybeg, Newry, even though the 3-in-1 figure combining the RUC, Orange Order and paramilitary is a design that goes back to the ceasefire period (e.g. M01166) and was seen previously in 2001.
Here are two republican plaques/stones at the Culloville/Cullaville crossroads. First, a memorial to the deceased 1918 hunger strikers. Second, a memorial to IRA volunteer Keith Rogers.
“During the Long Kesh hunger strike protests in 1980 and 1981, the Culloville Anti H Block Committee held their meetings in this hall, where they organised many events to highlight the plight of republican prisoners. This plaque is in memory of the ten men who died so unselfishly during the protest so that the republican struggle would not be criminalised. ‘Our revenge will be the laughter of our children’ – Bobby Sands. Unveiled on the 12th August 2011 by former political prisoners Paddy Quinn and PJ Traynor.”
“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Keith Rogers, South Armagh Brigade, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, murdered by criminals at this spot on the 12th March, 2003. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.” Rogers, from Louth, was not an active duty when he was killed (An Phoblacht).
Two piece of graffiti along Central Drive, Creggan, Derry. The first – painted by the anti-Agreement group ONH/Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann – is of the closing words of Pearse’s oration at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa on August 1st, 1915: “Ireland unfree shall never be at peace”; the second is from Luke Kelly’s poem For What Died The Sons Of Róısín? (youtube | mudcat)