“Fıann [sic] Robert Allsopp lived at this address. Died on active service March 3rd 1975. Fuaır sé bás ar son na hÉıreann. 1959-1975” Allsopp died at the family home (on the New Lodge Road) from the accidental discharge of a gun. The O’Neill-Allsopp flute band is named in his honour (and in honour of Jim O’Neill) and the band has a mural in Donore Court.
“Purity in our hearts, strength in our arms, truth in our lips.” Here are images from the launch of the new Fıanna tarp at the top of Berwick Road (Paráıd An Ardghleanna) on Easter Saturday (April 19th). The tarp is an RNU tribute to four teenaged members of Na Fıanna Éıreann who died in 1972: Davy McAuley, Josh Campbell, Josie McComiskey and Bernard Fox – all four from Ardoyne/Ard Eoın. McAuley died of a gunshot wound, perhaps at a Louth training camp (Nelson McCausland). Campbell was shot in Eksdale Street in a gun battle with the British Army; McComiskey was shot in Flax Street in a gun battle with the British Army; Fox was shot by the British Army in Brompton Street. (Close-up of the plaque.)
“In proud and loving memory of Fiann [sic] Gerald Donaghey, murdered on Bloody Sunday, 30th January 1972. Beirigí bua.” Donaghey was killed by the same bullet that also killed Gerard McKinney. The plaque is at the (modern-day) spot where he died, on the outside of Glenfada Park (south).
“Strength in our hearts, strength of our limbs, consistency of our tongues.” “Na Fıanna Ard Eoın 1909-2009 – one hundred years of resistance. In proud memory Fıan Davy McAuley … Josh Campbell … Josie McComiskey … Bernard Fox. ‘You may kill the revolutionary, but never the revolution.’ Dedicated by the Republican Network for Unity.” The four deceased are portrayed on four small boards, along with standing figures of Fianna from both centuries.
“I ndıl chuımhne Fıan John Dempsey killed in action 8th July 1981. Unveiled by his family 5th May 2003. Proudly remembered by his comrades and friends from Turf Lodge. Mol na nóıge [mol an óige] agus tıocfaıdh sí.” The sixteen-year-old Dempsey was shot by a British Army sniper during an attack on the Falls bus depot. Gerry Adams wrote a memorial in An Phoblacht.
The scroll reads “Out of the ashes of 1969” arose the Provisional IRA, but the lineage is a long one and all but one of the organisations, events, and arms depicted here precede 1969: Cumann Na mBan, Na Fıanna Éıreann, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, a Celtic shield and sword, a pike (from the 1798 Rebellion), a Thompson gun, the Tricolour; only the assault rifle is modern and perhaps also is meant to indicate the Provisionals, Belfast Brigade. “Fuaır sıad bás as son saoırse na hÉıreann.”
“In memory of Fıan Gerald McAuley (aged 15) killed while defending the people of Clonard on the 15th August 1969. Erected by the Greater Clonard Ex-Prisoners Association.” McAuley was killed during the riots in August 1969 that mark the start of “the Troubles” (An Phoblacht). The plaque is near the spot where he was killed. His portrait was above the No Decommision mural and then in the Never Again mural in Bombay Street.
Commemorating “one hundred years of resistance” (1909-2009) in Berwick Road, Ardoyne: a plaque to Fıanna Davy McAuley, Josh Campbell, Josie McComiskey, and Bernard Fox, all of whom died in 1972. “You may kill the revolutionary, but never the revolution.” “Dedicated by the Republican Network For Unity.”
“Na Fıanna Éıreann. 1909-2009. In this centenary year of the formation of Na Fıannan [sic] Éıreann by Countess Markievicz we celebrate and commemorate our fallen youth from the Ballymurphy area. Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.” Doyle, McCormack. Campbell, Dougal, Sloand, Magee, McWilliams, Dempsey also Cumann Na gCaılíní Mackin and McGartland. “The Fianna saw themselves as a youth organsiation dedicated to establishing Ireland’s independence. This plaque was unveiled by Seán Adams & Martin Dudley 8th August 2009.”