IRA

On The Brink Of Sectarian Disaster

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Dissatisfaction with Billy McMillen’s leadership of the Belfast OIRA led to the Provisionals splitting off in 1969, after the outbreak of the Troubles in August. The PIRA made two attempts on his life. He was killed, however, by a member of the INLA – the result of the second (1974) split from the Officials – in 1975. Here is a pamphlet of his writings, including the 1973 Bodenstown speech from which the quotation comes. The board features a famous image of Markets OIRA leader Joe McCann.

Clondara St, Belfast

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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
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Na Cımí Poblachtánacha

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“I ndıl chuımhne na gcımí poblachtanacha a fuaır bas ı ngéıbheann ı rıth na coımhlınte reatha seo.” A lark bursts through prison bars of Long Kesh, Portlaoise, and prisons in England, in which republicans have died from the 70s to 90s.

Beechmount Avenue, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01459

The Gibraltar Three

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The Gibraltar Three (Maıréad Farrell, Sean Savage, Dan McCann) – “executed by British crown forces in Gibraltar 6th March 1988” – are memorialised with a plaque and the last three verses of Bobby Sands’s Rhythm Of Time: “It is found in every light of hope/It knows no bounds nor space/It has risen in red and black and white/It is there in every race.//It lies in the hearts of heroes dead/It screams in tyrants’ eyes/It has reached the peak of mountains high/It comes searing ‘cross the skies.//It lights the dark of this prison cell/It thunders forth its might/It is the undauntable thought, my friend/That thought that says ‘I’m right!'”

Hawthorn Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01455

1st Ballation Derry Brigade Dolmen

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A dolmen (neolithic tomb) and standing stone (with Ogham inscription) in Lecky Road, Derry, in honour of IRA volunteers.

“This plaque was presented by the republican movement, Derry, on 22nd October 1999 in recognition of those who erected and maintain the monument. Buíoch ó ghluaıseacht na poblachta.”

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Copyright © 1999 Peter Moloney
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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Bua Nó Bás

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Three boards on the Falls Road, Belfast. The first pays homage to Óglaigh na hÉireann (IRA) by mixing ornate knotwork and Celtic imagery of a dolmen and warrior with sword with a volley of pistol and rifle; the second is a list of “local republican POWs”, almost identical to the list in Beechmount POWs (for a list of names see, 1995 Disband RUC); the third links the revolutionaries of 1916 with the armed struggle “1916-1997”.

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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
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