They Will Never Steal Our Culture

“They may have stole our banner but they will never steal our culture.” The banner in question was on the fencing in the street (see Welcome To Loyalist Linfield Road) but wound up on a CNR bonfire in Divis; the wider context is the on-going disputes over the routes established by the Parades Commission for Orange Order marches.

Linfield Gardens, south Belfast.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Free Otegi

This pro-Basque mural on the International Wall on Divis Street calls for the release of Arnaldo Otegi, one-time ETA member and leader of a pro-Basque party, along with other political prisoners. (More information on Otegi at ig and WP.) “Pake bidean” is the Basque for “The pathway to peace”. 

(The mural is at the eastern end of the wall; takes the place of the Ian Knox anti-racism mural featured in Never Actually Existed.)

Update: Otegi was released in March, 2016 (Irish Times)

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Gerard McDade

“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Gerard [Gerald] McDade, Belfast Brigade, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. Murdered by British Crown Forces 21st December 1971, aged 23 years. NÍ dhéanfaıdh muıd dearmad [gur] fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Remember Our Volunteers Committee, 17th December 2011.”

McDade was staff captain of 3rd battalion. He was stopped on foot in Ardoyne (where he is also remembered) and was shot while trying to run off (Belfast Child). This plaque, in Beechmount Road, was mounted for the fortieth anniversary of his death.

The plaque is on the whitewashed gable that was previously the site of a mural to volunteers Liam “Bulmer” McParland, Billy Carson, Liam Mulholland, and Sean Doyle – see Ballymurphy Resistance.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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An Eochaır

This eochaır/key replaces a plough-in-the-stars on the OIRA ex-prisoners support centre on the Falls Road at Clondara Terrace, seen in Official Republican Movement. The centre perhaps takes its name from the newspaper from the 1970s that was composed of articles written by prisoners and smuggled out of Long Kesh. Here is issue #3, from September, 1973.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Nó Chun Báıs A Fháıl

“Tıonaladh [tıonóladh] óglaıgh na hÉıreann ıns an halla seo seachtaın na Casca 1916 ullmhaıthe chun troda ar son saoırse tíre nó chun báıs a fháıl dá mba gá é. [Irish volunteers were assembled in this hall in Easter week 1916, and were readied for a fight for the country’s freedom, or to die, should it be necessary.] This plaque is erected to commemorate the assembly of Irish volunteers in this hall Easter 1916 prepared to give their lives for Irish freedom.”

For the story of the aborted role of the northern volunteers, see Treason Felony.

Barrack Street, Coalisland.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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¡No Pasarán!

“¡No pasarán! In memory of the International Brigades and the men from Derry, Donegal & Tyrone who served in the struggle against fascism in defence of the Spanish Republic 1936 – 38. I measc laochra lucht oıbre go raıbh a n-aınm – May their names [name] be among the heroes of labour. Erected by the North West Spanish Civil War Project, July 2013.”

The plaque is on the Unite building in Carlisle Road, Derry.

The IRSP board is in Fahan Street. It names Thomas Traynor, John Murphy, Benjamin Frederick Murray, Eamon McGrotty, George Gorman, Jack Flynn, James Donald, Peadar O’Donnell, James Campbell, Hugh O’Donnell, Paddy O’Daire, Joseph Kelly, Paddy Roe McLaughling, Francis William Vincent O’Donnell, Brian Goold-Verschoyle, Paddy Glacken, Phil Boyle, Hugh Bonner, Herbert Pollock, Charles McGuinness, William McChrystal, Joe Boyd.

For brief biographies of those named, see Ireland Spanish Civil War.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Convery & Mallon

“I ndıl chuımhne ar óglaıgh Brendan Convery [agus] Gerard Mallon, Irish National Liberation Army, a fuaır bás ar son saoırse 13ú Lúnasa 1983. Erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee.” The pair were shot during an attack on an RUC checkpoint in Dungannon (Sutton | IRSP).

Tamney Crescent, Maghera.

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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The Road To Freedom Is Paved With Suffering

“I ndıl chuımhne: fuaır sıad bás ag troıd ar son saoırse agus muıntır na hÉıreann. In proud memory of the volunteers of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann and dedicated friends of the republican movement from the greater Turf Lodge area who died fighting for the establishment of a socialist republic. … Go ndéanfar cuımhne orthú go deo. ‘Carry on. No matter what odds are against you, no matter what the enemy call you, no matter what torments are inflicted on you, the road to freedom is paved with suffering, hardships and torture, carry on, my gallant comrades, until that certain day’ – Tom Williams. We also remember the civilians who were murdered by British crown forces, loyalist extremists, and enemies of Ireland.”

The main panel, memorial plaque to Willie Rossini of Glasgow, and the dedication plaque – by Lily Fitzsimons, a local activist (dating back to the Relatives Action Committees) and SF councillor, were seen previously in 1999. The other three plaques are new. (“Neamhfholaıgh” seems to be a conjunction of translations of the English words “un” and “cover”; the Irish for the verb “to bare” (or as here,”unveil”) is “nocht”.)

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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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