Here is a gallery of images from the village of Stoneyford, ten miles north of Lisburn. The view in the final image is from the cross-roads at north end of the village, with the brazier next to the WWI memorial visible on the right, and the nameplate on the fence on the left. The Orange Hall is in the middle of the village. The village was a centre for the small anti-Agreement organisation the “Orange Volunteers” (WP).
Here are a number of republican pieces from Roslea/Rosslea, Co Fermanagh:
“In proud memory of Vol. Bobby Sands MP Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. Elected by the people of this constituency 9th April 1981. Died after 66 days on hungerstrike 5th May 1981. ‘I’ll wear no convict’s uniform/Nor meekly serve my time/That Britain might brand Ireland’s fight/Eight hundred years of crime’. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse muıntır na hÉıreann.”
Sands’s poem The Rhythm Of Time is at the centre of portraits of the twelve dead hunger strikers in the Troubles era; the board was mounted in 2011 for the thirtieth anniversary of the 1981 strike. The text at the bottom includes this line: “The use of the hunger-strike by Irish republicans began when James Connolly, while imprisoned during the 1913 ‘lock-out’, went on hunger strike.”
“This monument was erected on the bicentenary of the 1798 rebellion in memory of John Treanor 24-4-1797, Bernard McMahon 12-10-1797, Patrick Smyth 12-19-1797, John Connolly 12-10-1797, Connie Green 26-11-1955, Tony Ahern 10-5-1973, Seamus McElwain 26-4-1986. Suaımhneas síorraí dóıbh. [eternal rest [be] upon them] ‘To break the connection with England the never failing source of all our political evils, and to assert the independence of my country’ – Wolfe Tone, August 1796 [‘An Argument on Behalf of the Catholics of Ireland by a Northern Whig’, September, 1791]”
This pair of boards in Irvine Crescent, Enniskillen, is notable for their construction out of pieces of board that have been cut/carved before being layered onto a background board.
They both present the Ulster Volunteers/YCV of 1912 and WWI – in the first, two soldiers are placed alongside the Ulster Tower at Thiepval, France.
“In memory of the unforgotten comrades who died on hungerstrike in the H-Blocks for the cause of Irish freedom. Síochá[ı]n Dé orthu. [Our] revenge will be the laughter of our children – Bobby Sands”.
Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg, who died in English prisons in the 1970s, are included below the ten deceased 1981 hunger-strikers.
Boards of the Rising Sons Of The Valley (Fb), Mourne Young Defenders (Fb), and Pride Of Ballinran (Fb) flute bands in Kilkeel, County Down.
The left part of the RSV board shows the numeral “II” on a “1912” Ulster Volunteers flag. The 2nd County Down battalion of the 1912 Ulster Volunteers became (in 1914) the 16th RIR, the pioneer (engineering) battalion for the 36th Division (Long Long Trail).
The motto on the Ballinran board is “Secundus ad nullam”, which is a word-for-word mis-translation of “second to none”; properly it would simply be “nulli secundus”.
1ú Caṫlán Oırṫear Tıreoın Óglaıġ Na hÉıreann [more typically “Tír Eoghaın”; 1st battalion east Tyrone IRA]
“Beannaımıs spıorad do-ċlaoıte na laoċra atá ına luı ıns na huıgheanna seo.” [We bless the indomitable spirit of the heroes who are buried in these graves.] “do-ċlaoıte” appears to be a Connacht form of “do-ċloíte”, meaning “indomitable”, “indefatigable” (Focaıl Fholaıthe).
The volunteers named on the various stones are Patrick Kelly, Patrick Vincent, Kevin Murray, Patrick Quinn, Patrick Carty, Seán Loughan, Patrick McDonald.
Murray and McDonald were “killed in action” in 1974 (Fb).
Quinn was “killed in action” in 1973, along with Daniel McAnallen (Fb).
Loughan and Carty were “killed in action”, along with Dermot Crowley, in June 1973 (An Phoblacht).
The flat stone with the phoenix reads: “Romantic Ireland never dies!/O’Leary lies in fertile ground./And songs and spears throughout the years/Rise up where patriot graves are found.”
St Malachy’s churchyard, Coalisland Road, Edendork.
A faded “IRA” board hangs on in the Main Street of Coalisland (at the back of the Canal End bar), perhaps of the same vintage as this PIRA gunman and these PIRA rifles.
“Dedicated to the memory of those who died, their families, and indeed all the loyal people of Loughmacrory and surrounding areas, who despite all, remained faithful to Ireland and the republican ideal. ‘I have no prouder boast than to say I am Irish and have been privileged to fight for the Irish people and for Ireland. If I have a duty, I will perform it to the full in the unshakeable belief that we are a noble race and that chains and bonds have no part in us.’ Vol. Francis Hughes.”
“Comrádaıthe na n-arm. This plaque is dedicated to IRA volunteers Gerard Harte, Martin Harte, Brian Mullin who were killed in action at Drumnakilty on Tuesday 30th August 1988. Go luı cré arsa Thír Eoghaın go héadrom ar láthaır scíthe ár laochra uaısle. [May the ancient Tyrone clay lie lightly on the resting place of our noble heroes]”
The fence of the disused barracks in Plater’s Hill/Lineside Coalisland, makes for an impromptu notice-board. Alongside ads for “youth day” and a “fitness club” we say an international women’s day placard featuring Marian Price and a 1916 Societies tarp using an Éamonn Ceannt quote from Kilmainham jail 1916: “I leave for the guidance of other revolutionaries, who may tread the path which I have trod, this advice, never treat with the enemy, never to surrender to his mercy, but to fight to a finish.”
“Free Marian Price”, “End controlled movement”, “End forced strip searches”, “Support republican POWs” and “End British internment”.
Peter Moloney Collection 