First Person To Die In The Troubles

2009 was the fortieth anniversary of the beginning of the Troubles and of the “first person to be killed in the Troubles – murdered by the RUC at this spot [Main Street, Dungiven] on 14th July 1969”: Francie (Pól Beag) McCloskey. McCloskey was a 67 year-old farmer standing in a shop doorway on the 12th (BelTel) or 13th (An Phoblacht) when the RUC charged nationalist rioters attacking the Orange lodge. He would die of a brain haemorrhage on the 14th. “Ar dheıs Dé go raıbh a anam.”

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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50 Aniversario Cuban Revolution

“50 aniversario Cuban Revolution 1959-2009. Comhgaırdeas a mhuıntır Chúba! [Congratulations, people of Cuba!] Caoga blıaın den réabhlóıd. [Fifty years of the revolution.] ‘We have no right to believe that freedom can be won without struggle’ – Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara Lynch. Ógra Shınn Féın.” International board in Meetinghouse Street, Strabane, with portraits of Fidel Castro and (Jim Fitzpatrick’s) Che.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Jim McKernan

“I ndıl cuimhne [chuimhne] Óglach Jim McKernan executed by the British Army near this spot 14th September 1986. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. [He died for the cause of Ireland’s freedom]” McKernan was killed in a gun battle between an IRA unit and a British Army foot patrol. Andersonstown Road at Ballyowen.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Óglach Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh

Óglach Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh was killed by the UDA’s Michael Stone during the latter’s attack on mourners in Milltown cemetery at the funerals of the Gibraltar 3 in March 1988. The board was originally on the main Andersonstown Road (see M04031).

South Link, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Léana An Dúın – Unbowed, Unbroken

Cú Chulaınn stands dying, an inspiration to republicans fighting against the British (rather than Queen Medb), including those Lenadoon locals whose portraits adorn the apex: Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Tony Jordan, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn (Bridie O’Neill in the previous version of this mural).

Repainted, with a plaque on the right that reads, “This mural, dedicated to the patriot dead of Lenadoon, was unveiled by Gerard O’Neill, Easter 2009.”

See also the Cú Chulaınn Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Léana An Dúın

Local female IRA volunteers Laura Crawford, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn, Maıréad Farrell and a generic female volunteer with assault rifle on manoeuvres in an Irish landscape strewn with standing stones. “Lenadoon Youth 2000”

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05129 [M05123] [M05124] [M05125] [M05126] [M05127] [M05128]

Building An Ireland Of Equals

“Ag aontú Caıtlıceach, Protastúnach agus Easaontóırí.” – “Uniting Catholic, Protestant, and Dissenter.” In An Argument On Behalf Of The Catholics Of Ireland (1791), Wolfe Tone of the United Irishmen wrote, “To subvert the tyranny of our execrable government, to break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils, and to assert the independence of my country, these were my objects. To unite the whole people of Ireland, to abolish the memory of past dissensions, and to substitute the common name of Irishman, in place of the denominations of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter, these were my means.”

With portraits of Bobby Sands, Wolfe Tone, and in the centre, Winifred Carney.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M05070 [M05069] [M05068] [M05067] [M05066] [M05065] [M05064]

Fıanna Éıreann 1909-2009

“Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann” [they died for the freedom of Ireland]. Na Fıanna Éıreann [warriors of Ireland; IRA youth] were begun in 1909 by Countess Markievicz and Belfast man Bulmer Hobson (WP). They took part in the Easter Rising of 1916. The role of honour lists deaths from 1969 to 1984 – the Troubles. After the Agreement, the Fıanna are affiliated with Republican Sınn Féın and the Continuity IRA. At the corner of Beechmount Avenue and the Falls Road – see the Visual History of this wall.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04950 [M04945] M04946 [M04947] [M04948] [M04949]

Éırí Amach Na Cásca

The Éırí Amach Na Cásca 1916 [Easter Rising 1916] mural in Beechmount Avenue/Ascaıll Ard Na bhFeá/RPG Avenue is repainted (by DD and Seany McVeigh) due to the new doorway. Compare to the previous version. (See also the IRA plaque.)

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04944