Joe McCann

“Joe McCann Staff Capt. [Official] IRA. Murdered by British paratroopers 15th April 1972.” Joe McCann was (Official) IRA OC in the Markets area of south Belfast, where he was shot by paratroopers in 1972. The graven image to the left reproduces a famous photograph which shows McCann, with MI, during the occupation of the Inglis bakery in the Markets on August 9th, 1971 – Internment Day (see RN).

Joy Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Bryson-Mulvenna

A second plaque has been added to the mural of Patrick Mulvenna and Jim Bryson and the mural itself has been refreshed: the lark in the apex has been replaced by funeral trappings and the knot-work frame has been painted over.

“In proud and loving memory of Óglach Patrick Mulvenna, shot dead by British crown forces near this spot while an active service, 31st August 1973, and of his comrade Óglach Jim Bryson, also shot and died of his wounds, 22nd September 1973. Belfast Brigade Óglaigh na hÉıreann. I measc laoachra na nGael go raıbh sıad.”

Ballymurphy Road, Belfast

For the other, original, plaque and the original mural, see Bryson-Mulvenna.

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Copyright © 2013/2011 Peter Moloney
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Lisburn UDR Memorial

“In memory of the men and women who served in the ranks of the Ulster Defence Regiment 1970-1992”. The statue is by sculptor John Sherlock and was unveiled on June 17th, 2011 (NI World).

Market Square South, Lisburn

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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The Elementary Right

“We seek nothing but the elementary right implanted in every man: the right if you are attacked, to defend yourself.” The mural shows two East Belfast UVF volunteers on manoeuvres.

Together with the We Are The Pilgrims mural that was painted at the same time across the street (both by Dee Craig), this mural can be taken as a good marker of the beginning of re-re-imaging, (that is, of new PUL ‘hooded gunmen’ murals) – see Visual History 11. In particular, this mural, unlike its counterpart, replaced a non-paramilitary mural – the Glentoran Community Trust mural.

At the old Bright Street on the Newtownards Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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We Are The Pilgrims, Master

“We are the pilgrims, master; we shall go always a little further.” Three hooded gunmen from East Belfast UVF . The line comes from a 1913 poem by James Flecker. This mural was painted at the same time as the ‘self-defense’ mural across the street, and together they can be taken as a good marker of the beginning of re-re-imaging, (that is, of new PUL ‘hooded gunmen’ murals) – see Visual History 11. The design is a popular one: it was used for murals in Mersey Street, in Tamar Street and on the Newtownards Road prior to re-imaging. Painted by Dee Craig.

Newtownards Road, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Struggling For Liberty, Equality And Fraternity

“Fuaır sıad bás ar son na hÉıreann. To the memory of all members and friends of the Official IRA who gave their lives in pursuit of the establishment of a democratic socialist republic in Ireland, in common cause with men and women of all nations struggling for liberty, equality and fraternity between all the peoples of the world.” Joe McCann beneath the Plough In The Stars is shown in the bottom left.

Springfield Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Loyalist Bloomfield

These are images from 2011 of UVF/RHC murals and small boards in Bloomfield, Bangor, many seen previously in 2007 (North Down RHC | Red Hand Commando | UVF For God And Ulster | Simply The Best | UFF Quis Separabit). (The UDA mural in North Down UFF also remains.)

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Changing Faces

“The Changing Faces artwork is a project that has been undertaken by a group of young people from Impact Training. They looked to their surrounding area where they explored and documented how it appears in 2010. What is the Shankill? What does it look like and what does it mean to youth culture now? Murals have been something that has been prevalent in the community for many years. Times change, opinions soften and people can begin to build a changing face.” On the left is a selection of details from murals with familiar subjects: King Billy, hooded gunmen, the red hand of Ulster, Carson, the Queen Mother; on the right are four panels on the theme of the red hand of Ulster in youth culture (clockwise from left): with wild-style writing from the Cupar Way “peace” line and soccer, with pop music, with It’s All Good by Dublin artist Maser, and with a (two-handed) warrior. “Don’t push away our culture … learn it and embrace it.”

For more on the attempt to put community art on the Cupar Way “peace” line, see Visual History 10.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Cuımhníonn Muıntır Dhoıre Ar Na Staılceorí Ocraıs

[The people of Derry remember the hunger strikers] Scenes from the rally for the 2010 National Hunger Strike Commemoration, August 15th, 2010, in Hunters Park, Bellaghy. The left-hand painting is signed by a Short Strand artist and Marty Lyons; the right-hand painting is of the capture of native son Francis Hughes.

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Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
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Joint Manoeuvres

Wide shot of two Castlemara murals – one UDA, one UVF – previously seen in 2008. The fourth flag in the UFF mural is the flag of Ulster Nationalism (WP). Similarly, on the lamp-post fly both the UDA emblem and a flag commemorating the Ulster Volunteers in the 36th Division.

The Union Flag board is on North Road.

Castlemara Drive, Carrickfergus

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Copyright © 2010 Peter Moloney
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