1798/1803/pikes

William Drennan

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William Drennan, 1754-1820, was a doctor, poet, Presbyterian, one of the founders of the Society of United Irishmen, and the first person to refer to Ireland as “the Emerald Isle”, in his poem When Erin First Rose. The words in this mural are the epitaph on his stone in Clifton Street Cemetery: “Pure, just, benign. Thus filial love would trace the virtues, hollowing [sic] this narrow space. The Emerald Isle may grant a wider claim and link the patriot with his country’s name.”

Ludlow Square, New Lodge, north Belfast.

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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01349

On Again

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A mural of traditional republican symbols – armed and masked volunteers with celtic cross, phoenix, pikes, Tricolour and Sunburst flags – but unusual for 1997. Perhaps it dates to the period before the second/renewed ceasefire, on July 19th. Stanfield Place, Belfast. M01346

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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01346

The Cause Stays The Same

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m01067

“The weaponry has changed …” from the rifles used by James Connolly’s ICA of 1916 to the AK-47 of the Bobby Sands-inspired IRA of 1991, “… but the cause stays the same.” Both weapons are crossed with the pike of Emmet’s 1798 against a Tricolour. Also present are a hat (see History Ireland) and a beret.

Beechmount Avenue, Belfast

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Copyright © 1993 Peter Moloney
M01067

Foreign Funds

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m01054-lecky-rd-1993

On the left are pike-men from 1798 and in front is a crowd of people carrying torches. Their common enemy(?) is a wad of ten pound notes, apparently from the European Social Fund, American Fund For Ireland and the Ireland Fund.

Lecky Road, Derry, on the rear of Free Derry Corner (Visual History)

Get in touch if you know what the issue is and what the event from 12-18 December 1992 was.

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Copyright © 1993 Peter Moloney
M01054

Use Arms When Arms Are Needed

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m00873

m00874

m00875

m00876

Four in a row in Springhill Park, Strabane. (1) The ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers are shown on an H, but they have all had their eyes covered in blue paint. (2) You can kill the revolutionary but not the revolution (seen previously in Innisfree Gardens and also in 1981 in Rockdale St, Belfast and in Derry in 1981.) (3) Use arms when arms are needed. (4) A “West Tyrone command” roll of honour.

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Copyright © 1990 Peter Moloney
M00873 M00874 M00875 M00876

Freedom

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m00861

“Freedom: For freedom you fasted & died/For the five rights you were denied/For the evil we know to blame/For England shrouded in shame/For the deaths of young Irish lives/For the oath of a country that cried/For the murder of a lark in the sky.” This poem seems to be unique in Irish muraling – if you know anything about it, please leave a comment. The sword with wings appears to be the insignia of the SAS, but its presence in this is inexplicable; the harp might be taking a poke at it. Fountain Street, Strabane.

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Copyright © 1990 Peter Moloney
M00861