Joe Cahill Perpetual Cup

“Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí” – “youth responds to praise”, such as when playing in the annual Easter Gaelic games tournament, now in its eighth year. Joe Cahill (WP) holds the cup aloft.

The group in the bottom left corner are Pat O’Hare, Frank Cahill, Tom Cahill, (the three Cahills were featured in the previous mural) Ned Maguire, Jr., Ned Maguire, Sr., Alec Crowe, Paddy Meenan, Tommy Crowe, Dal Delaney, and Hugh Elliot.

In the crook of Cahill’s arm are Rita McParland, Sean Wallace, Paddy Corrigan, John Pettigrew, and John Stone. None of these adults is still alive; all were from the local area.

The chalet bungalows in the background on the left are gone, but you can see images of them on the Belfast Forum.

The plaque on the left names others in addition “who assisted, resourced and gave selflessly to the republican cause”: Billy Kelly, Alice Cush, Kate Campbell, John Mulligan, Mary Mulligan, David Mulhern, Margaret Mulhern, John Clarke, Margaret Farrelly, Marie Williams, Kevin Sullivan, Michael Rock, John McColgan, Bridget Maguire, Martin Maguire, Sally Corrigan, Sonny O’Reilly, Maggie McArdle, Jimmy McArdle, Kathleen Wallace, Maragret McGuinness, John Flanagan, Maisie McGuckian, Charlie McGuckian, Anthony Muldoon, Jim Logue, Ellen Weir, Liam Mackie, Oliver McParland, Sadie McMahon, Tommy Crowe, Maddie Holden, Sarah Doyle, Jimmy Doyle, Kathleen Pettigrew, Mary Cushnihan, Bell Cosgrove, Gerry Campbell.

The mural was painted by Lucas Quigley and unveiled on September 2nd by Annie Cahill. (Images of the unveiling from An Phoblacht.) 

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Mothers Of The Revolution

This painted board is by members of the Youth First (web) group in the Bogside. In the image above, a young mother sporting both a nappy pin and an Easter lily tends to her infant child while casting a look back at Free Derry corner, the silhouettes of marchers, and washing on a line.

Meenan Square, Derry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Blood Of An Irish Rebel

“Che Guevara – Blood of an Irish rebel.” Che’s father declared that the blood of Irish rebels ran through his son, in reference to their Irish ancestry. For genealogical information, see the previous entry on the Che Guevara Lynch mural in Derry.

The mural was painted for the anniversary of Che Guevara’s death, on October 9th, 1967. The mural features multiple copies of Korda’s iconic Guerillero Heroico (discussed in the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick), two quotes from Che – “When forces of oppression come to maintain themselves in power against established law, peace is considered already broken” and “If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine” – and the flags of (from left to right) the Basque Country, Palestine, Ireland, Cuba, Catalonia and Argentina (where Che was born; or perhaps Guatemala, where he was first active – the shield above contains no central icon, which would distinguish the flags).

The artist is Damian “DeeDee” Walker, of the Gaelforce group (Fb).

McQuillan Street, Falls Road, Belfast.

Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Political Hostage

“Release Martin Corey, political prisoner. End internment now” with an unusual use of a dove rather than a lark. For background, see Release Martin Corey. With various other anti-Agreement graffiti and stencils in the area, including a “Join RSF [Republican Sınn Féın] – Éıre Nua” stencil, “SF” in a cross-hairs, and a “CIRA” “RIRA” cross-word.

Levin Road, Deeny Drive, Drumnahoe Avenue, Lurgan

Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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The Lurgan Ambush

On the evening of November 21, 1982, the car in which IRA volunteers Eugene Toman, Sean Burns, and Gervais [here “Gervase”] McKerr were travelling was hit by 109 bullets and all three were killed.They were perhaps the first victims of the “shoot to kill” policy. The first of the five panels in this Kilwilkie mural shows the bullet-holes in the driver’s side of the car, pointing out an inconsistency with the RUC’s statement that the car had run an RUC checkpoint and was fired at only from behind. An Phoblacht.

“Lurgan town was rocked with sorrow/On that bleak November day/Hushed tones and tears were mingled/when great numbers stopped to pray” – these are the opening lines of Bo Loughran’s song ‘The Lurgan Ambush’ (youtube)

“Cumann Thomáis Uí Chléirigh, An Lorgain” – Clarke was raised in Dungannon, where is a cumann and GAA club in his name.

Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Free Kilwilkie

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

Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Prison First, Then President

“”In my country we go to prison first and then become President” – Madiba, Nelson Mandela, freedom lover, friend of Ireland.” The ailing Nelson Mandela’s turns 95 on July 18th, 2013 and to celebrate a new mural has been painted on Northumberland Street, Belfast, by Lucas Quigley (you can see a signature and a telephone number in the lower right). The mural features Mandela, the flags of Ireland and South Africa, and the Sinn Féin logo. 

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney

The Loyal People Of Loughmacrory

“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.”

“Comrádaithe 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 lui cré arsa Thír Eoghain go héadrom ar láthair scíthe ár laochra uaisle. [May the ancient Tyrone clay lie lightly on the resting place of our noble heroes.]”

Skeboy Road, Loughmacrory.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney