“Damn your concessions England, we want our country.” Board to Seán Mac Dıarmada in Ardoyne, detailing his exploits leading up to and including the 1916 uprising and his earlier connection with the local area. “Seán lived at 106 Butler Street, Ardoyne in 1906-08.”
Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.
Butler Walk, Ardoyne, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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“Tógtha ar an 90ú comóradh de luíochán na hÁırse Éıgıptıgh/Erected on the 90th anniversary of the Epytian Arch Ambush. I gcuımhne [ar] Óglaıgh/In memory of Óglaıgh William Canning, John Francis O’Hare, Peter Shields, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. A maríodh iad, agus ıad sa tóır ar Phoblacht na hÉıreann, ag Forsaí Choróın na Breataıne/Who were killed by the British Crown Forces in the pursuit of an Irish Republic. “The republic stands for truth and honour. For that is the noblest in our race. By truth and honour, principle and sacrifice alone will Ireland be free.” – Liam Mellows.”
The ambush was on the night of December 12/13th, 1920; Canning died at that time, Shields on the 25th, and O’Hare the following July. Here is an account from Republican News; testimony can be found in the Military Archives.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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“Strength in our hearts, strength of our limbs, consistency of our tongues.” “Na Fıanna Ard Eoın 1909-2009 – one hundred years of resistance. In proud memory Fıan Davy McAuley … Josh Campbell … Josie McComiskey … Bernard Fox. ‘You may kill the revolutionary, but never the revolution.’ Dedicated by the Republican Network for Unity.” The four deceased are portrayed on four small boards, along with standing figures of Fianna from both centuries.
The plaque (alone) was seen in 2011.
Berwick Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Cogús [conscience] is the POW-support organisation of the RNU (tw). On the left is a blanketman, on the right is a contemporary POW being beaten by a prison guard in riot gear. “Make a difference – Join RNU – Be committed, stand as one – Implement 12th August Agreement – End strip searches – End controlled movement.”
Berwick Road, Ard Eoın
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09400
“In memory of our friends and comrades. This Memorial is dedicated to all those Irish Republicans who fought in the Struggle for Irish Freedom, and in the defence of this community in our Time of Need. This Memorial honours their Courage and Dedication to the cause of Irish Freedom. Ar dheıs Dé go raıbh a n-anam.” Hugo Wilkinson, Terry Murphy, Paul Watson, Jim McLaughlin, Richard McIlkenny, Jake McGowan, Patsy Quinn, Liam Mulholland, Francis O’Neill, Sean Delaney, Carmel Cahoon, Christine Beattie, Geraldine Rice, Anthony McIlkenny, Joey Saunders, Danny Mullan, Tony Molloy, Seamus Rice, Eamon McAllister, Gerry McAllister, John Bateson, John Barnes, Jim Floyd. With images of the prisons Armagh, Long Kesh H-Blocks, Magilligan, Long Kesh cages, HMS Maidstone, Portlaoise, Wormwood Scubs, Crumlin Road.
“We would like to thank all our friends from Wexford, Limerick & Fermanagh who kindly donated to this memorial. Go raıbh maıth agaıbh.”
Ardilea Close, Belfast
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Hand-painted “BRY” [Bogside Republican Youth], “No RUC” and “Support our POWs” boards but also computer-designed and -printed stickers in the Bogside, Derry. The boards are probably local productions, while the stickers probably come from the same German store responsible for the anti-fascist, “Irish republican solidarity” and “Good night, loyalist pride” stickers (see Northern Ireland World). The Facebook sticker is presumably for the store or for antifa; as far as we know, BRY has never had a Facebook page or internet presence; the web address “www.irishrepublicansolidarity.info/” is defunct.
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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“I ndıl chuımhne ar óglaıgh Brendan Convery [agus] Gerard Mallon, Irish National Liberation Army, a fuaır bás ar son saoırse 13ú Lúnasa 1983. Erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee.” The pair were shot during an attack on an RUC checkpoint in Dungannon (Sutton | IRSP).
Tamney Crescent, Maghera.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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“I ndıl chuımhne: fuaır sıad bás ag troıd ar son saoırse agus muıntır na hÉıreann. In proud memory of the volunteers of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann and dedicated friends of the republican movement from the greater Turf Lodge area who died fighting for the establishment of a socialist republic. … Go ndéanfar cuımhne orthú go deo. ‘Carry on. No matter what odds are against you, no matter what the enemy call you, no matter what torments are inflicted on you, the road to freedom is paved with suffering, hardships and torture, carry on, my gallant comrades, until that certain day’ – Tom Williams. We also remember the civilians who were murdered by British crown forces, loyalist extremists, and enemies of Ireland.”
The main panel, memorial plaque to Willie Rossini of Glasgow, and the dedication plaque – by Lily Fitzsimons, a local activist (dating back to the Relatives Action Committees) and SF councillor, were seen previously in 1999. The other three plaques are new. (“Neamhfholaıgh” seems to be a conjunction of translations of the English words “un” and “cover”; the Irish for the verb “to bare” (or as here,”unveil”) is “nocht”.)
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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“In proud and loving memory of our fallen comrades. Arm saoirse náısunta [náısıúnta] ná hÉıreann. Vol Ronnie Bunting, assassinated 15 Oct. 1980, Vol Noel Little, assassinated 15 Oct. 1980. Through the mist of time they will never be forgotten. Erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee.” Bunting and Little of the INLA were shot and killed at Bunting’s Downfine Gardens home by the UDA. Bunting’s wife was shot in the face but survived. (WP)
Downfine Gardens, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M08908
“I ndıl chuımhne Fıan John Dempsey killed in action 8th July 1981. Unveiled by his family 5th May 2003. Proudly remembered by his comrades and friends from Turf Lodge. Mol na nóıge [mol an óige] agus tıocfaıdh sí.” The sixteen-year-old Dempsey was shot by a British Army sniper during an attack on the Falls bus depot. Gerry Adams wrote a memorial in An Phoblacht.
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 