Easter Rising

1916 – 2016

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The flag of the “Irish Republic” – the kind that was flown over over the GPO during the Easter Rising/Éırí Amach Na Cásca in 1916 – flies over Free Derry Corner (Visual History) ahead of the Rising’s centenary in 2016. The posters were added a few days later, announcing a commemoration on Monday the 28th; the parade advertised on the rear of Free Derry Corner is on the 27th, which is also the date of the march in Coalisland.

The graffiti is in the nearby Glenfada Park.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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His Name Was Connolly

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“Cuımhníonn An Srath Bán orthu go deo”. ICA leader James Connolly was executed by firing squad in the grounds of Kilmainham jail on the morning of May 12th, 1916. He was tied to a chair because a bullet-wound to the ankle that he received in the GPO had turned gangrenous.

Ballycolman Avenue, Strabane

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Poblacht Na hÉıreann

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On April 24th, 1916, Patrick Pearse stood on the steps of Dublin’s General Post Office and read out a proclamation declaring an Irish republic; the proclamation had been prepared by the military council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood – Thomas Clarke, Seán Mac Dıarmada, Patrick Pearse, James Connolly, Thomas MacDonagh, Eamonn Ceannt, Joseph Plunkett – and their (printed) signatures were included at its end.

Copies of the proclamation were handed out on O’Connell Street and perhaps as many as 2,500 were printed in total (NMI) but now only about fifty copies remain (Irish Central). This giant copy of the proclamation was mounted in Strabane for the centenary of the Rising, reproducing (as the note at the bottom says) “a reproduction of the poster”. (For a discussion of attempts to recreate the Proclamation, as well as images of originals, see Type Foundry.)

Melvin Road, Strabane

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Cuımhníonn An Srath Bán Orthu Go Deo

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“Strabane remembers them forever” – the dead of the “unfinished revolution, unfinished business” of the 1916 Easter Rising. The central image on the large tarp is a modified version of the 1941 stamp designed by Victor Brown showing an armed volunteer outside the GPO (stampboards).

The IRPWA (web) board reads, “Gavin Coyle – 4+ years in solitary confinement. End the isolation in MagHaberry.” Coyle is serving ten years for possession of arms and explosives and is now charged with the 2008 death of off-duty PSNI officer (Guardian | BBC).

The hand-made board reads, “End RUC-PSNI harassment”. For the small mural to the right, see Bobby & Che.

The board in the adjacent Townsend Street commemorates both the 1916 signatories – “We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland” – and Troubles-era volunteers Charles Breslin, Michael Devine, and David Devine.

Fountain Street and Townsend Street, Strabane

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Unfinished Business

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“IRA”, “God bless Óglach Vinnie Ryan”, “1916 – 2016 IRA Unfinished business”, “#JFTC2/Brits out”, “Kill all PSNI officers now!!”.

Vincent “Vinnie” Ryan, brother of Alan Ryan, was shot in Finglas, Dublin, on February 29th. In the graffiti above he is given the title “óglach” but his family denied that he was in the (Real) IRA (BBC). In 2019, two people were convicted for their roles in Ryan’s killing (Irish Times).

Graffiti on Lone Moor Road, Brandywell, Derry.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Reclaim The Republic

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The masthead of the 1916 proclamation declaring a “Provisional Government of the Irish Republic” to the “People of Ireland” is faithfully reproduced in this éırígí stencil, along with busts of Padraıg Pearse and Tom Clarke.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
Oct 9th: M12848 M12847
Aug 27th: M12822 [M12823] [M12824] [M12825] [M12826] [M12827]

Not A Bullet, Not An Ounce

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Here are various anti-Agreement messages, from Foyle Hill:

“Not a bullet, not an ounce – IRA” Iniscarn Crescent

“Free all POWs” – Tyrconnell Street

Easter Rising commemoration – Eastway

IRPWA “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything” – Iniscarn Road

ENU “End political policing” – Rathlin Drive

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Putting Ireland First

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“Sınn Féın – putting Ireland first / Éıre chun cınn. Vótáıl Mary McConville, Jim McVeigh, toghcheantar na Cuırte / Court”. Local elections will be held on May 22nd, for the newly amalgamated councils (11 rather than 26); the Court district has also changed somewhat – it now includes the [CNR] areas of Clonard and Falls as well as [PUL] Ballygomartin, Forth River, Shankill, and Woodvale (WP).

“Belfast Easter Commemoration 1916 – Sunday 20th April. Assemble Beechmount Ave 1pm, parade leave 1.30 pm sharp. Speaker: Martina Anderson MEP. Honour Ireland’s patriot dead, wear an Easter lily. Cumann Uaıgheann[a] Na Laochra Gael – National Graves Association”

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Easter Sunday Commemoration March

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“Easter Sunday commemoration march. Assemble 2.00 pm Westland Street. Tírghrá.” The sign is the same as in 2013 (M09214), which was a modified version of the 2011 board (M06631).

“Tírghrá” [patriotism] is perhaps a reference to the list (and profiles) of IRA dead.

At the rear of Free Derry Corner (Visual History).

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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