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We Will Meet Force With Force

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1994 images of five (of six) adjacent panels in Ballycolman, Strabane. From left to right: We will meet force with force (1989 | 1990), Che Guevara – They may kill the revolutionary but never the revolution (1989 | 1990), Wear an Easter lily (1989 | 1990), James Connolly – Easter/Cáısc 1916 (1989), Óglaıgh na hÉıreann (1989), [out of shot: Stop Strip Searches (1989 | 1990)]. The set of six in 1990.

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Copyright © 1994 Peter Moloney
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End British Collusion

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A pair of hands with shirt-cuffs of the Union flag and Ulster Banner jointly point a pistol at a republican mother carrying a cross through a graveyard and field of bullets. A line of documents show the forces of the state (B-Specials, UDR, RUC) colluding with loyalist paramilitaries. Oakman Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 1994 Peter Moloney
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The Cause Stays The Same

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“The weaponry has changed …” from the rifles used by James Connolly’s ICA of 1916 to the AK-47 of the Bobby Sands-inspired IRA of 1991, “… but the cause stays the same.” Both weapons are crossed with the pike of Emmet’s 1798 against a Tricolour. Also present are a hat (see History Ireland) and a beret.

Beechmount Avenue, Belfast

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Copyright © 1993 Peter Moloney
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The Support Of Our People Is Obvious

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“The support of our people is obvious, in that we could not survive or increase our operations without it. With our support, our weaponry and the calibre of our volunteers and activists, we will win and are set firmly [on] the task of achieving victory.” With the lark as the ‘Spirit of freedom’ and a celebrating volunteer in the tri-colours. New Lodge Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 1993 Peter Moloney
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Defender Of Ulster From Irish Attacks

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Cú Chulaınn (Visual History) – the “ancient defender of Ulster from Irish attacks over 2000 years ago” with Ulster banner shield – is made a precursor of the UDA’s East Belfast Brigade – “Ulsters present day defenders”. The volunteer is – unusually – unmasked; it might be Ian Adamson (a civilian, but here given paramilitary gear) the UUP politician and proponent of the hypothesis that north-east Ulster was settled by settlers from Scotland – the Cruthin – who were at war with the Irish Gaels and that the Táın describes part of this conflict, with Cú Chulaınn the hero of Ulster single-handedly holding off the invaders from Connacht (WP).

Newtownards Road, Belfast.

This is the third gable on the so-called “Freedom Corner” (though it is not clear that it bore this name at the time of this image); here is the second gable (which in turn links to the first). A fourth gable was painted in 1993.

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Copyright © 1992 Alan Gallery, All rights reserved alan@alangallery.com
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Who Will Defend Ulster Now?

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In 1992 the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) – which itself replaced the B Specials in 1970 – was amalgamated with the Royal Irish Rangers to become the Royal Irish Regiment. Although seven battalions of the new RIR were permanently based in Northern Ireland, the mural above describes the two organisations as “Ulster’s Past Defenders” and asks “Who will defend Ulster now?”

This is the second gable on the so-called “Freedom Corner” (though it is not clear if it bore this name at the time of this image); here is the first gable | the low wall between the second and third gable can be seen in D00391 | here is the third gable.

Newtownards Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 1992 Alan Gallery, All rights reserved alan@alangallery.com
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