In 2004, Sınn Féın took the third European parliament seat from the SDLP. This election board for candidate Baırbe de Brún – with support from Gerry Adams – is on the Whiterock Road, Belfast.
These images are of the IRA memorial stone in Bingnian Drive, Belfast, honouring members of the B Company, 1st Battalion, Belfast Brigade and local Andersonstown residents. The stone bears an Easter lily, including a leaf of the plant.
“Togadh an leach chuımhneacháın seo ı ndíl [ndıl] chuımhne na nÓglach de chuıd complacht B an chéad chathlann Brıogáıd Bhéal Feırste, Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Moltoır, comh maıth, a gcuıd comradaıthe a sheas agust a throıd lena daıobh. Bíodh cuımhneadh, fosta, ar na daoıne ón cheantaır a chınmharaıodh ag arm na Breataıne agus a comhglacaıthe.”
“I ndıl chuımhne – this plaque is dedicated to the memory of all those from the Falls and Clonard areas who lost their lives as a result of the conflict in our country – A Mhuıre banríon na nGael guıgh orthu.” There was previously a Tom Williams board just to the left of the plaque.
20th anniversary tarp on the side of the Falls Road Library, Belfast. Originally an 8 x 8 canvas, from which a 30 x 30 tarp was printed and hung in Harlem (see J0886) and this 20 x 20 version printed and brought to Belfast. For info on the faces in the corners, see the 2002 post.
“Fuera fascistas de Castilla” (Out fascists of Castile!) The protester on the right is waving the flag of the Castilian Left, a political party working for recognition of the Castle region of Spain, roughly the north-central portion of the country, including Madrid (WP). Signed and dated “Juventades Castellanas Revolucionarias – Septiembre 2003”.
Seven years after it was originally painted in 1997, the pro-Catalan mural in Beechmount Avenue is showing its age. “Not Spain, not France. Free Catalonia. Since 1714 the Catalan nation is military [sic] occupied for the Spanish and French states. Catalonia has their own culture, language, and history. Our country have [sic] more than 1000 years of history as a nation. The Catalan flag is the first European flag. Our fight flag is the “Estalada”. The white star means the freedom, and the blue triangle stands for the sky of humanity. Free Catalonia! United Ireland! El nostre dia arribarà! Tıócfaıdh [sic] ár lá. 11/8/97”
25 pounds is offered as the bounty for a priest, the same as for a wolf. The priest is conducting a Catholic mass but clergy were banned from Ireland under the 1652 Act Of Settlement, the Penal Laws (Na Péındlíthe).