Live Free!

Joe Cahill joined the Fianna in 1937 and was involved in the republican movement from then until his death in 2004, including being in Tom Williams’s company in 1942 and later a founder member and Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA. In the centre of the image he is at the end of the table at the August 13, 1971, press conference to comment on the introduction of internment (CAIN). He is honoured in the mural above alongside his brothers Tom and Frank Cahill. (Pat O’Hare is painted between Tom and Frank.)

In the top left are small boards with portraits of Ned Maguire Snr, Ned Maguire Jnr, Sam Holden, Dal Delaney, Rita McParland, Paddy Meenan, Paddy Corrigan, Sean Wallace, John Petticrew, Alex Crowe.

“Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal – Bobby Sands [March 6th Diary].”

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
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Castilla Nacion

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“Fuera fascistas de Castilla” (Out fascists of Castile!) The protester on the right is waving the flag of the Castilian Left, a political party working for recognition of the Castle region of Spain, roughly the north-central portion of the country, including Madrid (WP). Signed and dated “Juventades Castellanas Revolucionarias – Septiembre 2003”.

Divis Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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Llibertat Països Catalans

Freedom for the Catalan Countries, Freedom for Ireland (Saoırse d’Éırınn). The ‘Catalan Countries’ include (in Spain) Catalonia, parts of Valencia, and the Balearic islands, Andorra, and (in France) the Roussillon region.

For a similar pairing (llibertat-saoırse) with portraits of international heroes, see Llibertat.

the International Wall, Divis, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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Tommy Crossan For Political Status

The word “candidate” has been blanked out from this Tommy Crossan board in Divis Street, west Belfast, perhaps because he urged voters to spoil their votes rather than actually voting for him or anyone else in 2001, or perhaps because although he was not standing in 2004 (for the European Parliament), he was still in need of support in Maghaberry, where he was serving time for conspiracy to murder.

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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Ireland – Catalonia

Seven years after it was originally painted in 1997, the pro-Catalan mural in Beechmount Avenue is showing its age. “Not Spain, not France. Free Catalonia. Since 1714 the Catalan nation is military [sic] occupied for the Spanish and French states. Catalonia has their own culture, language, and history. Our country have [sic] more than 1000 years of history as a nation. The Catalan flag is the first European flag. Our fight flag is the “Estalada”. The white star means the freedom, and the blue triangle stands for the sky of humanity. Free Catalonia! United Ireland! El nostre dia arribarà! Tıócfaıdh [sic] ár lá. 11/8/97”

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
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