James Connolly

Revolution 1916

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The ‘Revolution 1916’ exhibition commemorating the Easter Rising opened on February 27th at the Ambassador theatre in Dublin, “the city that fought an empire”. Images of some of the pieces on display can be seen in this An Phoblacht article.

In addition to the artefacts and recreated locations, two murals were painted by three Belfast artists depicting Irish culture and the republican struggle throughout the ages, from Nuada to the blanket protest. (Here is video of DD talking about the murals – youtube.)

A mural was also painted in the PD, west Belfast, for the travelling version of the exhibition.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Ní Saoırse Go Saoırse Luċt Oıbre

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Three sides of Liberty Hall have been covered with images commemorating the 1916 Rising. The banners include six images by Robert Ballagh, such as the scene in the GPO (see Revolution 1916 and the Visual History page on The Birth Of The Irish Republic), Connolly’s execution, and Frongoch internment camp in Wales, which held 1,800 republicans, who were afforded POW status and thus became a de facto education and training ground for republicanism. It was closed in December, 1916. (WP)

The text on the three banners is as follows:

1916 – 2016 SIPTU: ‘Ní saoırse go saoırse luċt oıbre’. ‘There is no freedom without the freedom of the working class.’ ‘The Citizen Army is open to all who accept the principle of equal rights and opportunities.’ ‘The first and last principle of the Citizen Army is the avowal that the ownership of Ireland, moral and material, is vested of right in the people of Ireland.’

1916 – 2016 SIPTU: ‘Organising for fairness at work and justice in society.’ ‘Organising for decent work, decent lives.’

1916 – 2016 SIPTU: ‘The struggle for workers’ rights continues.’ ‘”The cause of labour is the cause of Ireland. The cause of Ireland is the cause of labour. They cannot be dissevered.” James Connolly.’ ‘Laoċra Na Cásca 1916: Unfinished revolution of labour and feminism: recruits welcome.’ ‘Frongoch: internment camp becomes university of revolution.’

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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James Connolly/Séamus Ó Conghaıle

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A statue of James Connolly was unveiled in the grounds of Comhaırle Phobaıl Na bhFál on March 25th (An Phoblacht). The statue is part of Slí Na Gaeltachta.

A little further long the road, tarps announce plans for a “James Connolly Interpretive Centre” (eventually opened in 2019 as “James Connolly Visitor Centre”).

“Eagraí ceardchumaınn, Sóısıalaí, Idırnáısıúnaí agus duıne de cheannaırí Éırí Amach na Cásca 1916. Bhí cónaí ar Ó Conghaıle agus ar a theaghlach ı measc lucht oıbre Bhéal Feırste agus chuıdıgh sé le Caıtıicıgh, Protastúnaıgh agus easaontóırí troıd ar mhaıthe le suımeanna na gnáthaıcme. Rugadh ı nDún Éıdeann ar 5 Meıtheamh 1868 é, mharaıgh scuad lámhaıgh Brıotanach é ı bPríosún Chıll Mhaıghneann, Baıle Átha Clıath ar 12 Bealtaıne 1916 as an pháırt a ghlac sé ın Éırí Amach na Cásca. / Trade union organiser, Socialist, Internationalist and one of the leaders of the Easter Rising 1916. Connolly along with his family lived among the working people of Belfast and helped organise, Catholics, Protestants and dissenters to fight together for the common class interests. Born in Edinburgh 5 June 1868, he was executed by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, 12 May 1916 for his part in the Easter Rising.”

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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.

Also included is an RNU (Fb) stencil reading, “End British political policing, end internment of Irish citizens. Join RNU”.

Ballycolman Avenue, Strabane

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Cherish All The Children Of The Nation Equally

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The 1916 Proclamation Of Irish Republic includes the sentence “The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.”

At the time, it had a political meaning, but it has since been pressed into service by advocates of children’s right and now, in the board above, by supporters of gay rights. James Connolly (leader of the Irish Citizen Army) and the text of the declaration are shown against a backdrop of the gay pride rainbow flag.

Launched 2015-07-31 at the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks (Visual History)

For the trio of boards to the right, see Ceartas Anoıs/Time For Justice.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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You Cannot Kill Ideas

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A week before he was assassinated and his government overthrown, Burkina Faso president Thomas Sankara asserted: “While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.” Sankara gained power of Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta) in a 1983 coup and launched an ambitious programme of literacy, feminism, public health, and agricultural self-sufficiency, in addition to launching a drive against corruption and of nationalizing natural resources. He attempted this all without the assistance of foreign aid or the IMF or World Bank. However, he wielded power outside the jurisdiction of the courts and controlled the press. He and twelve colleagues were killed in October 1987.

Beechmount Avenue, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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A Word Of Conjure With

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“‘The Irish republic must be made a word of conjure with – a rallying point for the disaffected, a haven for the oppressed.’ – James Connolly 5th June 1868 – 12th May 1916.”

James Connolly was concerned not just with the political independence of Ireland but its economic independence: both political and economic liberty were required in order for the human being to live freely. The quote in the image above comes from Connolly’s 1897 essay “Socialism & Nationalism”. The economic context is clear when we read a little more broadly:

“To the tenant farmer, ground between landlordism on the one hand and American competition on the other, as between the upper and the nether millstone; to the wage-workers in the towns, suffering from the exactions of the slave-driving capitalist to the agricultural labourer, toiling away his life for a wage barely sufficient to keep body and soul together; in fact to every one of the toiling millions upon whose misery the outwardly-splendid fabric of our modern civilisation is reared, the Irish Republic might be made a word to conjure with – a rallying point for the disaffected, a haven for the oppressed, a point of departure for the Socialist, enthusiastic in the cause of human freedom.” (marxists.org)

Takes the place of Padraig Pearse’s “The fools, the fools …” (after some IRPWA stencils) in Brompton Park, Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Say “No” To Racism

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A new mural on the International Wall combines two current events. One is the furore surrounding the recent description of Islam as “satanic” by Belfast pastor James McConnell (Tele) (and a ‘Rally Against Racism’ to take place today (Saturday, May 31st) – Tele). The middle of the mural reads “Respect and defend our Muslim brothers + sisters – kardeslik azadi”.

The other is the death of Maya Angelou (WP), who died this past Wednesday (May 28th). Angelou is pictured in the top half of the mural, with Muhammad Ali, along with an Angelou quote: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the past inaccessible.”

In the bottom half appear Padraig Pearse and James Connolly and a line from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic: “Cherish all the children of the nation equally.”

Takes the place of the Miami Five.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Free Kilwilkie

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The 1916 Societies board is on top of a long-standing “H” (going back to 2009, if not before).

Perpendicular to the road are small boards calling for the release of Martin Corey and political status, and a large board commemorating the hunger strikers: “H-Block martyrs – remember them always – the struggle for political status – Republican Sınn Féın”

The small framed board to the left of “Free Kilwilkie” gives a line from James Connolly’s Last Statement prior to his execution in 1916: “The British government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland, never can have any right in Ireland”.

Levin Road, Lurgan

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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