Here are two ‘ribbons’ from Coalisland (Lineside, Dungannon Rd), one green, for the release of political prisoners, the other black, for the deceased.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Saoırse
Gaeilge
McGerrigan – Hughes
“Na bíodh amhras ar éınne cé bhéas ına mháıstır ar an tír seo nuaır a bhéas Éıre saor. ‘Sıad na daoıne féın a bhéas ı gceannas agus a rıalós [ = rıalú ?] an tír.” is a translation of a line from Padraig Pearse’s The Sovereign People: “Let no man be mistaken as to who will be lord in Ireland when Ireland is free. The people will be lord and master”. “Unveiled by Thomas McGleenan, OC Armagh Command, IRA, 7th April 1974” (close-up at CAIN).
The stone below reads: “In loving memory of all those from the greater Armagh area who gave their lives for the cause of Irish freedom. ‘While Ireland holds those graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.’ [Pearse] Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.”
“Peadar Séamus Mac Eıreagaın, óglach in Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, fıan Ard Mhacha Na Fıanna Éıreann, ball de Chumann Poblachtach An Phıarsaıgh cathaır Ard Mhacha. Maraíodh ag saıghdıúırí Brıotanacha ar an 7ú Aıbreann 1973 in aoıs a hocht mblıan deag.” “Peter James McGerrigan, volunteer Irish Republican Army, fian Armagh Na Fıanna Éıreann, member Pearse Republican Club Armagh City, shot dead by British troops 7th April 1973 aged 18 years.”
“Pobal Ard Mhacha agus comprádaithe Shéamus Mhic Eireagain agus Antoine Mhic Aoidh a thóg an leacht seo i gcuimhne na ndaoine uilig a thug a mbeatha ar son phoblacht na noibrí.” “This memorial was erected by the people of Armagh and comrades of Jim McGerrigan an Tony Hughes in memory of all who have made the supreme sacrifice in the struggle to achieve a workers republic.”
“Antoıne Seán Mac Aoıdh, ceathrú máıstır ceannas Ard Mhacha Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, ball de Chumann Poblachtach An Phıarsaıgh cathaır Ard Mhacha. Maraíodh ag saıghdıúırí Brıotanacha ar an 9ú Aıbreann 1973 in aoıs a naoı mblıan déag.” “Anthony John Hughes, quartermaster Armagh command, Irish Republican Army, member Pearse Republican Club, Armagh city, shot dead by British troops 9th April 1973 aged 19 years.”
Jake McGerrigan and Tony Hughes were both shot in the Windmill Hill area of Armagh in a 48-hour period in April 1973. There is an individual plaque to Hughes in the same location (behind Culdee Terrace) and a stone to McGerrigan in Windmill Avenue. Video of Jake McGerrigan’s funeral.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Twelve Hunger Strikers
“This stone was erected by the republican movement , south Armagh, in proud and loving memory of the twelve hunger strikers who laid down their lives during this phase of the struggle for Irish freedom.” “Fuaır sıad bás ar staılc ocraıs ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Go ndeana Dıa trócaıre ar a nanamacha.” “Beıdh an bua agaınn go fóıll [We will win yet] – Raymond McCreesh – two days before he died.”
Newry Street, Crossmaglen
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Glóıre
This is the republican memorial in the centre of Crossmaglen (in Cearnóg An Chaırdıneıl Ó Fıaıch). The monument was produced by Yann Goulet, the same sculptor who did the memorial at Ballyseedy, and like that work, this one depicts a young man striding forward in anger and anguish, though in this case he arises from a phoenix.
“Glóıre daoıḃse a laoċra uṁla cróga a d’ḟulaıng le fonn ar ṁéad ḃur ngrá fıal ar ṡaoırse na hÉıreann.” “Glory to you all praised and humble heroes who have willingly suffered for your unselfish and passionate love of Irish freedom.”
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Sınn Féın Offices
Four Sınn Féın offices (or co-opted buildings as in the first image), in Crossmaglen, Armagh, Coalisland (including an IRA Tyrone Brigade plaque), and Derry.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Óglach Réamann Mac Raoıs
“Déanann Poblachtánaıgh An Iúır cuımhne ar an óglach Réamann Mac Raoıs.” [Newry republicans remember volunteer Raymond McCreesh]
IRA volunteer Raymond McCreesh – born in Camlough – was arrested in the aftermath of an attack on a British Army observation post in 1976. He joined the blanket protest and then the hunger strike; he died after 61 days on May 21st, 1981.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Our Revenge Will Be The Laughter Of Our Children
These three images are from the grassy areas at the junctions of Dublin Road and Tullyree Road in Kilcoo, Co Down. There is a large memorial stone from the South Down Republican Graves Association “in loving memory of those who died on hungerstrike in the H Blocks of Long Kesh” along with Sands’s quote, ten crosses in the shape of an “H”, and “IRA” letters nailed to the electricity pole. “Fuaır sıad bas [bás] ag [ar] son saoırse hEıreann [na hÉıreann] .”
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Sean McCaughey
“I ndıl gcuımhne [sic] oglach [sic] Sean McCaughey, Gaelgoır [sic] agus muınteıor [sic] [Irish-speaker and teacher]. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.” “Formerly of Duneden Park, Ardoyne. Died on hunger and thirst strike after 23 days in Portlaoise gaol on May 11th 1946.” “For those who believe no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t believe no explanation is possible.” McCaughey was convicted of kidnapping and torturing IRA chief of staff Sean Hayes, who was suspected of treason. His hunger and thirst strike was preceded by five years on the blanket. “NBCS” = North Belfast Cultural Society.
Brompton Park, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Twinbrook & Poleglass IRA
“This monument has been re-dedicated by the people of Twinbrook and Poleglass in honour of those volunteers of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann who gave their lives for Irish freedom.” Gerard Fennell, John Rooney, Bobby Sands, Frankie Ryan. “Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann”. “[Like the lark,] I too have fought for my freedom not only in captivity [where I now languish] but also [while on the] outside where my country is held captive … I have the spirit of freedom that cannot be quenched.” (Bobby Sands, The Lark And The Freedom Fighter, 1979)
The final image is of the adjacent hunger strikers stone. It will later be moved and repositioned inside the (extended) fencing.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Cumann Na Fuıseoıge
Established in 2004, Cumann Na Fuıseoıge (The Lark) is “ag soláthar spórt Ghaelaıgh don phobal sa cheantar Coılın” [providing Gaelic games to the people in the Colin area]. The club is named after the image of the lark (and barbed wire) used by Bobby Sands in his 1979 article The Lark And The Freedom Fighter. The choice of emblem proved controversial – Slugger.
Previously: a fundraiser for the club.
Jasmine Corner, Belfast/Dunmurry
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 