Sınn Féın hoardings in Andersonstown, first at the former Andersonstown RUC barracks supporting Martin McGuinness as Sınn Féın candidate for “The people’s president” and then two at Connolly House, again supporting McGuinness and announcing the (now passed) Sınn Féın Ard Fheıs: ı dtreo poblacht nua – towards a new republic.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Stencil in Marcus Street, Newry. With “As Gaeılge! anoıs” sticker.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Mention of BRAG dates back to a 2009 threat made against traffic wardens and TV license inspectors (RN | BBC). The graffiti read “Bogside Republican Action Group”, “Beır bua”, “End sectarian marches now!” (with a petrol bomb “PB”). The last is perhaps a reference to the on-going contention over marches past the Ardoyne shops in Belfast (Guardian).
See previously: BRY-IRA
Bogside shops, Lecky Road/Meenan Square, Derry
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“Tógadh an leacht cuımhneacháın seo ag muıntır an cheantar ı gcuımhne an Óglaıgh [Óglach] Réamonn Mac Raoıs a fuaır bás ar an 21 Bealtaıne 1981 ı ndıaıdh lá agus seasca ar staılc ocraıs sna H-Blocanna. Rugadh Réamonn ar an 15 Feabhra 1957 ag Páırc Naomh Maolmhaodhóg. … Seasann an deıch gcrann atá curtha taobh thıar den leacht chuımhneacháın do na fıréın [fíréın].”
“This monument was erected by the people of the area in memory of IRA Volunteer Raymond McCreesh who died on May 21st 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike in the British H-Block prison at Long Kesh. Raymond McCreesh was born on February 25th 1957 at St Malachy’s Park, Camloch. … The ten trees planted behind the monument represent the ten men who died in the H-Blocks in 1981.”
There is a mural to McCreesh on the gable of Teach Réamoınn Mhıc Raoıs – see Keep On Marching.
Newry Rd, Camlough
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“In loving memory of Vol. Tom Williams “C. Coy” 2nd Battalion Belfast Brigade IRA who lived here [46 Bombay Street, where Williams lived with his grandmother Fay] and was executed in Belfast Gaol [Crumlin Road] 2nd Sept 1942, aged 19 years. Ar dheıs Dé go ra[ı]bh a anam. Erected by National Graves Association, Belfast 1992.”
Williams, the unit’s leader, took sole responsibility for the killing of RUC Constable Patrick Murphy, hoping that it would save the lives of the other seven (including two women) who had taken part in the ambush. The six men were jointly convicted of the killing but only Williams was ultimately hanged, after appeals from Ireland (not yet officially ‘The Republic Of’), the Vatican, and the US State Department (RN).
There is a portrait of Williams at the bottom of Clonard Street, and a mural in Kashmir Street in the 1990s.
Bombay Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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There are a couple of interesting elements in this 30th anniversary hunger strikers mural in the Bogside. The frame is formed by chains (as seen previously on the Bobby Sands mural in Belfast) rather than knot-work, the names of Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are mixed into the list (rather than appearing together at the beginning or end), both the lark and the dove are included, and – most unusual and possibly unique – is the Irish translation of Bobby Sands’s saying “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children”: Baınfear ár ndíoltas amach leıs an gháıre dár bpáıstí. (And, as a super-extra bonus, the Irish has been – correctly – painted without tittles.)
“Derry remembers 1980-1981 hunger strikes. Re-dedication of mural 20th August 2011 on the 30th anniversary of Óglach Mickey Devine.”
Westland Street, Bogside, Derry
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Kevin Lynch, the seventh of the 1981 hunger strikers to die, is buried in Dungiven Cemetery. He is commemorated annually in the town. These images were taken on the day of the 30th anniversary commemoration.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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“Leadership across Ireland/Ceannasaíocht Across Ireland. Vótáıl Paul Maskey”. Sınn Féın boards in the grounds of Connolly House.
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Cú Chulaınn stands dying. In addition to the four provinces in the corners, the four colours of man can be seen in the apex (as a background to Ireland). Tuan the hawk historian, who has seen all of the conquests of Ireland, flies overhead. (Both Tuan and the four colours are familiars of Mo Chara Kelly.)
“Ar aghaıdh lınn” [Onward! or Let’s go!]
Glenbawn Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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A red-headed lass with a horn stands watch for others at a mass rock – a stone in a remote location for Catholic worship, made necessary by a Penal law of 1695 which forbade the religious practice of Catholicism and “dissenter” forms of Protestantism (that is, anything other than Anglicism) (source). The harp, with a “cap of liberty” rather than a crown (WP), together the slogan “Equality – It is new strung and it shall be heard” is the emblem of the Society of United Irishmen (WP). On the other side of the mural linen lies in the fields bleaching and a farmer and wife plough the land with a team of horses and distribute seed.
Glenbawn Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 