Gaeilge

Pat Finucane

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“Targeted by British Establishment; Executed by Loyalist killer gang.” Solicitor and “human rights activist” Pat Finucane was shot in 1989 at his home in north Belfast by loyalist paramilitaries aided by MI5. Collusion in the killing was admitted in 2011 by then-Prime Minister David Cameron. Ten years after Finucane’s death, Rosemary Nelson was also assassinated. “If you don’t defend human rights lawyers, who will defend human rights? – Rosemary Nelson”. The plaque was “unveiled by his family Sunday 11th February 2007”.

The board in Beechmount Drive was originally black.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Santa Is A British Agent

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Above: “Cáısc [Easter] 1916”, dating back to at least 1990. Below: “Santa is a British agent” (perhaps because of spying concerns or perhaps because of the blizzard that dropped 15 cm of snow in early January, 2008 – get in touch if you know what prompted this graffiti) with “Join Sınn Féın” stencils underneath.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Acht Na Gaeılge TÉ

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Campaigning for an Irish Language Act, begun with the Belfast Agreement (see the 2002 mural in this location which calls for “language rights”) and reinforced by the St Andrew’s Agreement in 2006, continues. “The Irish Language Act NI – needed more now than ever before.” “Acht na Gaeılge T[uaıscaırt] É[ıreann] – de dhíth níos mó anoıs ná rıamh roımhe!” Pobal is a non-profit community development organisation and umbrella group for Irish-language efforts.

Brighton Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Beechmount Óglaıgh

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The memorial garden in Beechmount Avenue, Belfast, goes beyond commemoration of IRA volunteers. Moving clockwise: dying volunteer, “local men and women and POWs”, hunger strikers, comhaltaí Shınn Féın, proclamation, na hÓglaıgh, “innocent people from the area”, “the unsung heroes off [sic] this area”, Sands quote.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Saoırse

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The frame of this mural in St James’s was originally painted in 1994 for a mural showing local pensioners remonstrating with a British Army soldier, under the title “The Spirit Of Freedom”. The central circle was repainted (again by Andrea Redmond) for the 1995 “green ribbon” campaign: the dove holds the keys that will set free the republican prisoners (symbolised by the barbed wire and a lark in the apex that cannot be seen).

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Stop The Sell-Off

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The Andersonstown RUC barracks at the junction of the Glen and Falls roads was demolished in early 2005. Plans to develop the site with residential housing involving private company Carvill were opposed by locals, who launched the ‘Stop The Sell-Off’ campaign, aimed in particular at then-minister for Social Development (DSD) Margaret Ritchie of the SDLP. By October, Carvill had withdrawn their plans.

Brendan McNamee was shot by the PIRA after he defected to the INLA. Miriam Daly was shot by the UDA (or SAS). There is a plaque to the pair on the Andersonstown Road.

“Belfast IRSP. Brendan McNamee and Miriam Daly – murdered by British agents”; “DSD – Stop the spin”; “Public land for public use”; “Dear Santa, please get Minister [Margeret] Ritchie to give us back our land. Signed, West Belfast Residents”; “Justice for Harry [Holland] – No bail for his killers”; “Stop the sell-off campaign”; “Cuır deıreadh leis an díoladh”.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Labhaır Cıbé Gaeılge Atá Agat!!!

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“Labhaır cıbé Gaeılge atá agat” (“speak whatever Irish you have”; “Is fearr Gaeılge bhrıste ná Béarla clıste” (“Broken Irish is better than clever English”; “Rally for Irish Language Act this Saturday June 9th @ Cultúrlann 1 pm”.

The mural in the background is No Plastic Bullets – see 1995 and 2004.

Whiterock Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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