In Defence Of The Nation

This is a new mural from the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (web) on the international wall, Divis Street, (Visual History) with symbols of nationalism (the crests of the four provinces, the harp, the Tricolour), socialism (the plough in the stars) and support for republican POWs (the barbed wire).

For an earlier version see 100% British.

July 31st:

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Short Strand Supports Republican POWs

A number of stencils were added last year (2014) in the corner of the wall at the top of Mountpottinger Road, in the Short Strand, to the right of the Charlie Monahan mural (seen before in 2006).

From left to right: an IRPWA (web) mural with the crests of the four provinces; an IRPWA mural with a prisoner being abused; “Short Strand supports Maghaberry Portlaoise Hydebank republican POWs; “Justice for the Craigavon 2 John-Paul Wootton and Brendan McConville”

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Óglach Joe McDonnell

“Óglach Joe McDonnell died on hunger strike in the H Blocks of Long Kesh July/ 8th/ 1981. ‘You dare to call me a terrorist while you look down your gun.’ [youtube]”

This is a new (July 2014) version of the McDonnell mural, painted by Gerard “Mo Chara” Kelly, on the Suffolk Road, Andersonstown, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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I Have The Spirit Of Freedom

Four deaths have been added to the memorial plaque in St James’s Road, west Belfast, which commemorates locals from the area who died at the hands of the police and army.

The plaque dates back to (at least) 1986, and originally named Rooney (civilian), Liggett (IRA), Waterson, McDonald (civilian), McGrady (civilian), Larmour (civilian), Burns (IRA), and Brady (SF).

To these have been added McAllister (civilian), Devine (civilian), O’Dwyer (civilian), and Burns (IRA).

See also: The area’s main memorial garden also includes O’Callaghan (d. 1977 IRA) and Lenaghan (d. 1991 civilian). Next to it is a mural to Liggett And Brady.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Oppression Breeds Resistance

“Oppression breeds resistance”, in the form of Leila Khaled and an IRA gunman, and a clenched fist in the colours of the Palestinian flag. This is a new pro-Gaza mural in the middle Falls with Irish “Tıocfaıdh ár lá” [our day will come] and Arabic “يومنا قادم” [our day is coming] (and in the shields “Saoırse” and “حرية”[freedom]).

The artist is DD Walker (“Rebel Rebel”), who painted the Blood Of An Irish Rebel Che Guevara mural last (2013) October which this replaces.

McQuillan Street, Falls Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Léana An Dúın Unbowed Unbroken

“Cuımhnímıs [we remember].” The mural to the “patriot dead” of Lenadoon who died for the freedom (“saoırse”) of Ireland has been repainted.

The design and central figure remain as before, but the tricoloured border is new, as are the photographic portraits of nine local IRA volunteers in the apex. On the scrolls to each side, their names are given as (left) Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Tony Jordan, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, (right) Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn.

The dedication plaque is from the launch of the 2009 version of the mural; it was originally painted in 1996 (seen here in 2002 with all of the (painted) portraits missing and c. 1999 with three of the nine portraits).

See also the Cú Chulaınn Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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1ú Caṫlán Oırṫear Tıreoın Óglaıġ Na hÉıreann

1ú Caṫlán Oırṫear Tıreoın Óglaıġ Na hÉıreann [more typically “Tír Eoghaın”; 1st battalion east Tyrone IRA]

“Beannaımıs spıorad do-ċlaoıte na laoċra atá ına luı ıns na huıgheanna seo.” [We bless the indomitable spirit of the heroes who are buried in these graves.] “do-ċlaoıte” appears to be a Connacht form of “do-ċloíte”, meaning “indomitable”, “indefatigable” (Focaıl Fholaıthe).

The volunteers named on the various stones are Patrick Kelly, Patrick Vincent, Kevin Murray, Patrick Quinn, Patrick Carty, Seán Loughan, Patrick McDonald.

Kelly was killed in the Loughgall ambush – see the Loch gCál/Loughgall tribute mural in west Belfast (also a smaller mural in north Belfast).

Vincent was the driver of the lorry in the Clonoe Ambush.

Murray and McDonald were “killed in action” in 1974 (Fb).

Quinn was “killed in action” in 1973, along with Daniel McAnallen (Fb).

Loughan and Carty were “killed in action”, along with Dermot Crowley, in June 1973 (An Phoblacht).

The flat stone with the phoenix reads: “Romantic Ireland never dies!/O’Leary lies in fertile ground./And songs and spears throughout the years/Rise up where patriot graves are found.”

St Malachy’s churchyard, Coalisland Road, Edendork.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Fight To A Finish

“Éamonn Ceannt quote, Kilmainham Jail 1916. “I leave for the guidance of other revolutionaries, who may tread the path which I have trod, this advice: never treat with the enemy, never to surrender to his mercy but to fight to a finish.” East Tyrone remembers.”

This is a 1916 Societies (.ie) placard on the disused barracks in Plater’s Hill/Lineside Coalisland Plater’s Hill, Coalisland. See previously: Never Treat With The Enemy.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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