CNR

Ard Eoın Kickhams

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Kickhams is the local Cumann Luthchleas Gael (GAA club) (Fb | tw), founded 1907, named for republican writer Charles Kickham. The mural shows football, hurling, and handball. At the bottom there are three generations of toddler hurlers, from barefoot and cloth-cap to boots and braces to baseball cap and tracksuit.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04317

Local Republican Activists

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“This mural is dedicated to the memory of those local republican activists who devoted their lives to the cause of Irish freedom. Ar son na cıse [sic]. Oglaıgh [sic] na hÉıreann. Unveiled by Sınn Féın councillors Martin Meehan and Margaret McClenaghan.”

“A, D, F foıreannacha, cathlann 3ru [sic], brıogaıd [sic] mBeal [sic] Feırste.

“‘Many suffer so that some day future generations may live in justice and peace’ – Vol Bobby Sands.”

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Weary People, What Reap Ye?

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“Weary people, what reap ye? Golden corn for the stranger.
What sow ye? human corpses that wait for the avenger.
Fainting forms, hunger–stricken, what see you in the offing?
Stately ships to bear our food away, [amid the stranger’s scoffing].
There’s a proud array of soldiers — what do they round your door?
They guard our masters’ granaries from the thin hands of the poor. – Speranza”

The poetry is the first few lines of The Famine Year by “Speranza”, i.e. Lady Jane Wilde, mother of Oscar.

In the centre an aboriginal figure holds the flags of Ireland and of the Native Australians.

This is one of about nine murals painted in 1995 on the Great Hunger (Visual History).

“Painted by Síle Na Gıg & St James Youth Aug 95” in St James’s Crescent/Donegall Road, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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[M01893] Copyright © 2000 Sınn Féın

Saoırse

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The frame of this mural in St James’s was originally painted in 1994 for a mural showing local pensioners remonstrating with a British Army soldier, under the title “The Spirit Of Freedom”. The central circle was repainted (again by Andrea Redmond) for the 1995 “green ribbon” campaign: the dove holds the keys that will set free the republican prisoners (symbolised by the barbed wire and a lark in the apex that cannot be seen).

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
M04221 [M04225]

Stop The Sell-Off

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The Andersonstown RUC barracks at the junction of the Glen and Falls roads was demolished in early 2005. Plans to develop the site with residential housing involving private company Carvill were opposed by locals, who launched the ‘Stop The Sell-Off’ campaign, aimed in particular at then-minister for Social Development (DSD) Margaret Ritchie of the SDLP. By October, Carvill had withdrawn their plans.

Brendan McNamee was shot by the PIRA after he defected to the INLA. Miriam Daly was shot by the UDA (or SAS). There is a plaque to the pair on the Andersonstown Road.

“Belfast IRSP. Brendan McNamee and Miriam Daly – murdered by British agents”; “DSD – Stop the spin”; “Public land for public use”; “Dear Santa, please get Minister [Margeret] Ritchie to give us back our land. Signed, West Belfast Residents”; “Justice for Harry [Holland] – No bail for his killers”; “Stop the sell-off campaign”; “Cuır deıreadh leis an díoladh”.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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