Black taxis were first brought from England to Belfast in 1970 by locals who wanted to provide an alternative, and locally-based, transport system to augment the Citybuses which were sometimes cancelled and sometimes burned out. The board above commemorates eight drivers who were killed during the troubles: Michael Duggan, Jim Green, Harry Muldoon, Paddy McAllister, Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh, Thomas Hughes, Hugh Magee, and Paddy Clarke. “Providing Belfast with a public transport system for over 40 years.” “A Dhıa deán [sic] trocaıre [sic] ar a n-anamacha.” “Murdered in the service of their community.”
Staır na Gaeılge in Ard Eoın ‘s Machaıre Bhotháın. [The history of Irish in Ardoyne and Marrowbone]
The three figures at the top are from left to right – Seán Mac Dıarmada (who was from Leitrim but was a boarder for a time in Butler Street), Pól De Léıgh, Seán McCaughey; the mini-bus driver is Brendan Bradley. The green-and-yellow uniforms are from Coláıste Feırste. Signed “M Doc 2011” (Michael Dochartaıgh).
The simple Celtic cross that served as a memorial below the plaque of the to the five killed in a UDA attack on a Sean Graham shop on the Ormeau Road on February 5th, 1992, has been upgraded with a large plaque bearing portraits of the five victims – James Kennedy, Willie McManus, Jack Duffin, Peter Magee, Christy Doherty.
“This memorial serves as a reminder of the suffering that was caused, the collusion that lay behind it and our determination that truth and justice will ultimately prevail.”
“Erected on the 20th anniversary in loving memory of those that were murdered for their faith. 1992-2012”
“Over a third of all children, are growing up in poor households. About 185,000 of households are in poverty, representatin about 502,000 people. Over 148,000 of these are children.” This is in contradiction with the aims of both the Proclamation of Éırí Amach Na Cásca, 1916 – “… cherishing all of the children of the nation equally and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past” – and the Democratic Programme of An Chéad Dáıl, 1919 “… to secure that no child shall suffer hunger or cold from lack of food, clothing or shelter, but that all shall be provided with the means and facilities requisite for their proper education and training as citizens of a free and Gaelic Ireland.” The other images are of Béal Feırste 1969, Léana An Dúın 1972, and Na Staılceanna Ocraıs, 1981.
This looks very much like a Rıstead Ó Murchú creation.
“I dtreo poblacht nua – towards a new republic – conference. Millennium Forum Derry. Speakers include Pearse Doherty TD, George Quigley, Michael McLoone, Martin McGuinness, MLA amongst others. Ag aontú Éıreann – uniting Ireland.” The conference was organised by Sınn Féın. Basil McCrea of the UUP also spoke (Jude Collins).
This is a new version of the Derry brigade board in Westland Street – everything remains as before (see 2010) except for a new picture of the dolmen memorial in Lecky Road.
The scroll in the bottom right reads “I gcuımhne dhíl orthu sıud a fuaır bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann – In fond & loving memory of those who died in the cause for Ireland’s freedom”.
“Welcome to west Belfast”. West Belfast is portrayed as a place of music, sport, and dancing, whose landmark buildings and streets are under the watchful eye (and sword) of the goddess Érıu.
The image of the little boy with the “I [heart] Belfast” stickers and a bag of sweets, standing in the waste ground of Divis flats, is a photograph from the early days of Féıle An Phobaıl/West Belfast Festival.
On the Divis Street side, characters in the style of cartoonist Cormac (see e.g. Notes) are “Promoting west Belfast tourism” for “Fáılte Feırste Thıar”, “www.visitwestbelfast.com“. The attractions touted are: “Bop at the August “fleadh”. “Craıc agus ceol” (for Robert Ballagh’s dove coming out of the concrete block, see Féile An Phobail 2008), “The only thing you have here is “choice”. Tar ısteach agus (lıg do scíth)”. “Baın sult as. Tá mé ag éısteacht le Raıdıó Fáilte 107.1 FM”, “For more ideas on things to do, visit Oıfıg Fáılte at An Chultúrlann. There’s really nice food there too! at Caıfe Feırste”, “If it’s history you want go on a cemetery tour “City or Milltown””, “Enjoy a walk on ‘Slıabh Dubh’ (The black … … mountain)”, “Make sure you visit the “Irish republican history museum” at Conway Mill” (with ‘Long Kesh University Of Freedom’ sweater; “Sinn Féin touts” is not a sweater but graffiti.)
Peter Moloney Collection 