Viva Palestine

“Tıocfaıdh ár lá”, “يومنا قادم” [yeomna qadm, our day is coming] (and below, “Saoırse” and “حرية” [freedom].

The figure at the centre of the mural, with the PFLP emblem, is sky-jacker Leila Khaled – for background on her see the same stencil of her in Hugo Street.

Seen previously in better condition in 2015. AMCOMRI St (AMerican COMmittee [for] Relief [in] Ireland), Beechmount, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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James Connolly/Séamus Ó Conghaıle

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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Cuımhníonn An Srath Bán Orthu Go Deo

“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). (An identical board was also placed at the Melmount Road roundabout. See M12838.)

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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End Internment Now

“Cumann Thomáıs Uí Chléırıgh, An Lorgaın. End internment now. North Armagh supports republican POWs”.

Clarke grew up in nearby Dungannon and there is a cumann of the 1916 Societies in Dungannon (Fb) and, according to this board, in Lurgan. (A statue to Clarke was later mounted in Dungannon – see Gaırdín Thomaıs Uí Chléırıgh.)

Lake Street, Lurgan. The board was perhaps previously in Levin Rd – see The Lurgan Ambush.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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From The Graves Of Patriot Men And Women Spring Living Nations

This is a new info board at the bottom of the steps leading up to the IRA memorial dolmen first seen in 1999. It features portraits of 16 volunteers from Derry’s 1st battalion and a quotation from Pearse at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa in 1915: “Life springs from death, and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations. The Defenders of this Realm have worked well in secret and in the open. They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.”

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Clive Dutton

Englishman Clive Dutton was an urban planner who was best known for work in Birmingham, London (Newham), and Belfast. He produced “The Dutton Report” (pdf) in 2004 and “The Big Plan” (pdf) (the cover of which is pictured in the mural) in 2013. In them, he proposed and then updated a plan to tackle economic deprivation in west Belfast by the creation of a ‘Gaeltacht Quarter’ or ‘Ceathrú Gaeltachta’.  He died on June 8th at the age of 62 and the mural above has been painted in remembrance. 

The photograph of Durron reproduced here can be seen at The Guardian. Dutton’s “Big Plan” was celebrated with a mural featured previously.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Robert Allsopp

“Fıann [sic] Robert Allsopp lived at this address. Died on active service March 3rd 1975. Fuaır sé bás ar son na hÉıreann. 1959-1975” Allsopp died at the family home (on the New Lodge Road) from the accidental discharge of a gun. The O’Neill-Allsopp flute band is named in his honour (and in honour of Jim O’Neill) and the band has a mural in Donore Court.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Doıre Naofa

The Christian missionary Colm Cılle (in Latin, Columba), born in Donegal, founded a monastic settlement on the banks of the Foyle (then still part of Donegal) around 540 AD. The “Doıre” part of the name means “oak grove” and perhaps refers (as the information panel suggests) to “a sacred grove of trees, which may have pre-dated the monastery.” The mural above shows a reconstruction of the Derry monastery c. 700 AD. The name “Londonderry” dates to 1662.

Columba moved on to Scotland circa 563 and founded an abbey on the island of Iona. Among his reputed miracles is the banishment of a great water beast from the River Ness in 565.

“This is a reconstruction of the early Christian monastery at Derry around 700 AD which was founded by St Colum Cille around 546 AD. Colum Cille left his community in Derry in 563 AD with twelve companions to found the great monastery of Iona. He only subsequently returned to Ireland once and died in 593 AD. Although St Colum Cille founded a number of Irish monasteries, it would appear that Derry was his principal residence until he left Ireland. The name itself, Doıre, (sometimes Doıre Colum Cılle) means ‘the oakgrove of Colum Cille’ a sacred grove of trees, which may have pre-dated the monastery.”

“Is athchuthú é seo ar an mhainistir luath-Chríostaí i nDoıre thart ar 700 AD a bhunaigh Naomh Cholm Cıille thart ar 546 AD. D’fhág Colm Cille a phobal ı nDoıre thart ar 563 AD le dáréag eıle le mómhaınıstır oıleán Í a chur ar bun. Níor fhill sé go hÉıreann ach uaır amháın agus fuaır sé bás in AD 593. Cé gur bhunaigh Naomh Cholm Cille roınnt maınıstreacha eıle ı nÉırınn, shocrıgh sé ı nDoıre de réır cosúlachta go dtí gut ımıgh sé. Déanann an t-aınm ‘Doıre Cholmcılle’ tagaırt do dhoıre naofa, a bhí ann roımh an mhaınıstir.”

U Bennett Street, Derry, on the side wall of Tıgh Seoırse.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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