The stencil might be crude but the intent is clear: to suggest that the anti-Agreement IRA (probably the Continuity IRA, specifically) intend to continue the physical fight against British occupation.
Durrow Park, Derry
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12521
“Sınn Féın protects paedophiles – ask Gerry”. The reference is perhaps to Brendan Curran’s allegations about the party covering up abuse by a Catholic priest (Indo) and the “ask Gerry” part a reference to Liam Adams’s 2013 conviction and the investigation into whether his brother, Gerry Adams, had withheld information about it (Guardian).
Stanley’s Walk, Derry
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12520
The Craigavon Two – John-Paul Wootton and Brendan McConville – were convicted in 2012 of the 2009 murder of PSNI Constable Steven Carroll (BBC) and sentenced to 18- and 25-year minimums, respectively. The case is under review (Guardian) and a campaign for their release – using the hashtag “#JFTC2” – is under way (Fb).
This supportive graffiti is in Bligh’s Lane, Derry
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12519 M12518
April 1st:
The Bobby Sands mural in Sevastopol Street has been given a facelift, including the blocking-up of a vent on Sands’s left cheek. Kieran Doherty and Joe McDonnell have been added in place of the 1798 medallions on each side. On the side-wall are Sean McCaughey, ten doves representing the 1981 hunger-strikers, and Long Kesh. Aerosol‘s accordion-player stencil has been also been retained, on the right.
For a full history of the wall, see the Bobby Sands (Sevastopol Street) Visual History page.
The ‘Slí Na Gaeltachta’ plaque off to the left reads:
Ag sráıd Sevastopol cuımhnıtear ar Bobby Sands ı múrmhaısıú a aithnıtear ar fud an domhaın. Ba scrıbhneoır, file, réabhlóıdí agus díograıseoır Gaeılge é Sands. Fuaır sé bas 5 Bealtaıne 1981 tar éıs 66 lá ar stailc ocraıs. As ucht na dıograıse a thaıspeáın Sands agus a chomhchımí ı leıth fhoglaım na teanga faoı choınníollacha uafásacha Bhlocanna H na Ceıse Fada, spreagadh glúın úr chun dul ı mbun athghabháıl na Gaeılge.
Here at Sevastopol Street Bobby Sands is remembered in a mural which has become world-renowned. Sands, a writer, poet, revolutionary and Gaelic enthusiast, died on May 5th 1981 after 66 days on hunger strike. Sands and his fellow prisoners inspired a new generation to reclaim the Irish language enthusing them by the huge efforts they put into learning Irish in the horrendous conditions on the H Blocks of Long Kesh.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12515 M12502 M12503 [M12504] [M12505] [M12506] [M12507] [M12508] M12509
Slí: M11752 [M12516] [M12517]
in prog: M11749 [M11750] [M11751]
“He had the courage to climb out of the traditional trenches, meet the enemy in no man’s land and play ball with him.” David Ervine was a UVF member, arrested in 1974 and served six years in the Maze before turning to politics: he first ran for office in 1985 and represented East Belfast in the NI Assembly from 1998 until his death in 2007. The board shows Ervine’s silhouette in a wreath of poppies along with pictures of and information about his life, including a photograph of Ervine with Gusty Spence, who is shown holding a pipe.
Ervine’s own pipe is included among the items on the “Memory Chair” sculpture by Ross Wilson, along with a ticket for the Titanic and a little (prayer?) book with a poppy on the cover. The prayer book would be for Protestantism, the poppy for loyalism and service in WWI, and the ticket for the shipyard. The boots like the pipe are personal effects of Ervine’s.
“David Ervine 21st July 1953 – 8th January 2007 David Ervine was born in nearby Chamberlain Street, the youngest of five children. A lifelong supporter of Glentoran Football Club he was a true son of East Belfast. David attended Avoniel Primary School and Orangefield Boys High School. Leaving school before his fifteenth birthday he began his working life in an atmosphere of tension and violent confrontation. At nineteen he joined the UF. He was arrested in 1974 and served five years in Long Kesh, a wasteland that he and other prisoners transformed into a place of personal and political growth and development. A founding member of the Progressive Unionist Party and its most articulate spokesperson, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum, Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Assembly. David Ervine was a truly inspirational leader. With vision and courage he led his community from violence to peace, winning the respect of friend and foe alike. He gave voice to the common man and woman acting always in the interest of peace and his beloved Ulster.”
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11780 [M11781] M11782 M11783 M11784 [M11785] M11786 [M11787] [M11788] [M11789] M11790
“John Bunting MI5 tout”. This Tiger’s Bay placard is an indicator of the continued tensions within the North Belfast UDA that first came to public attention in December 2013. John Bunting was arrested in September (2014) and charged with the attempted murder of John Borland and Andre Shoukri, from the opposing faction.
(See Split for links to articles from 2013; for the latest, see Belfast Daily and Belfast Live.)
Mervue Street, north Belfast
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11771
This is the post-launch version of the Whiterock flute band’s history wall (as compared to the partially completed wall from last year, before the launch). At the top, we now have a gold disc and orange lily, and, around the doorway on the far right, a list of members, photographs from years gone by, and an account of the launch, which took place on June 14th, 2014.
The final image is from July, by which time “Whiterock F.B.” in bold, white, lettering along the top right had been added.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11725
M11930 [M11931] [M11932] M11933 M11934 M11935 M11936 M11937
M11929
This is the new plaque to “William Morgan (Big Willie). Will always be remembered and sadly missed by all his mates in Tiger’s Bay. Murdered by cowards 11th July 2002. You will never be forgotten ‘big man’.”
Morgan was struck by a hit-and-run car on July 6th, 2002 and died in hospital five days later. The car is reported to have deliberately mounted the kerb where he was walking on North Queen Street and the attack was thought to have been sectarian, as the alleged driver and passenger were republicans and the car was found burned out in the New Lodge (NewsLetter | IndyMedia).
For the old plaque, see William Morgan.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11770
Two IRA memorial plaques have been mounted on a wall in Herbert Street, Ardoyne, close to the Sammy McLarnon plaque:
“Óglach James McDade 24 July 1946 – 14 Nov 1974 died on active service, England; Óglach Gerard McDade 22 Nov 1950 – 21 Dec 1971 murdered by British Crown Forces. A Mháthaır na hÉıreann, fáısc [strain, draw tight] do bhéırt mhac, Séamus agus Geraóıd, le do chroí. Throıd sıad agus fuaır sıad bás. Mother Ireland, hold your sons, James and Gerard, close to your heart. They fought and they died.”
The McDade family lived in Ardoyne. James died while planting a bomb in Birmingham, England; Gerard was shot by a British Army soldier – there is a plaque to his memory in Beechmount. (Sutton)
“Óglach Frankie Donnelly 26 Aug 1954 – 5 Jan 1979 died on active service; Óglach Laurence Montgomery 12 June 1954 – 5 Jan 1979 died on active service. Níl sa saol seo ach tréımhse gaırıd ar an bhóthaır fada chun na saoırse [in this life there is only a short period on the long road to freedom] – life is but a short part on the long journey to freedom”
Donnelly and Montgomery were killed in Northwick Drive, Ardoyne, by the premature detonation of a car-bomb. (Sutton)
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12450 M12451
Anti-Agreement stencilling in Meenan Square, Bogside, Derry: “Ireland unfree shall never be at peace – P. Pearse. PSNI-RUC not welcome. Tıocfaıdh Ár Lá” and “CIRA – RUC/PSNI scum beware”
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12457 [M12458] [M12459]
M12460
Peter Moloney Collection 