Free Ireland

Bouquets of tricoloured flowers are placed on the Free Ireland mural at the corner of Beechmount Avenue and Falls Road, Belfast. A hand clasping an Easter lily is manacled by bonds “Made in Britain”. The mural is now in its fifteenth year. For the plaque, see the original 1990 post.

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Copyright © 2005 Peter Moloney
M02284

“Kidso” Reilly

Thomas “Kidso” Reilly was brother of Jim Reilly of Stiff Little Fingers and working as road manager for Bananarama when killed on the Springfield Road on August 9, 1983. Ian Thain, of the Light Infantry regiment, was convicted of his murder. Thain served less than three years before being released and rejoining the army (like Lee Clegg). (Guardian) “Always remembered by his friends – Trinity Lodge Celtic Supporters Club.” “Our love is on the wing/We had dreams and songs to sing” is from the song The Fields Of AthenryArdmonagh Gardens, Belfast. Previously seen in 2001.

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
M02245

Vol. Kieran Doherty TD

Kieran Doherty was elected TD (Teachta Dála) for Cavan-Monaghan three weeks into his 1981 hunger strike. He held the position for two months, until he died on August 2nd. The portraits, plaques, and mural of marchers are in his home area of Andersonstown. The words “It is not those who inflict the most, but those that can endure who shall conquer in the end” are an echo of Terence MacSwiney, whose hunger strike in 1920 lasted 74 days, one more than Doherty’s.

(2004 images of 2001 M01476)

Slemish Way, Andersonstown, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
M02192

They Were Faithful And They Fought

Two images from the memorial garden in South Link, Andersonstown, Belfast to volunteers from the First Belfast Brigade (céad cathlán den Briogáid Bheal Feirste), members of the “republican movement” and “the civilians who died at the hands of the British Army, RUC, UDR, and loyalist extremists”.

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
M02186 M02185

Survivor

This is a 2004 image of the North’s longest-lasting mural. It was painted in 1981 and survives to the present day. It was painted before the custom took hold of putting flags on pikes in order to include the 1798 rebellion. Anne St/Glenanne, Derry. Seen previously in 1982.

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Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
M02176

While Ireland Holds These Graves

Headstones in (roughly) reverse order: the Gibraltar Three (1988); the 1981 Hunger Strikers; Terence O’Neill (July 1, 1980); Gaughan and Stagg (1970s); the Antrim cross; Caffney, Perry, Burns (1940s); Tom Williams; McKelvery and McCartney (1920s); volunteers  1867-1922 (including “Roger Casement, Ballymena”); the United Irishmen of 1798 and 1803.

Milltown Cemetery, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2003 Peter Moloney
M01967 M01972 M01968 M01966 M01956 (dates back to at least 1988) M01970 M01971 M01969 M01964 M01957 M01963 M01959 M01960 M01958 M01960 M01961 M01962 M01965

Freedom Grows

This is a 20′ x 20′ tarp of an 8′ x 8′ painting done by Mo Chara, shipped over from New York and placed on the side of the Falls library, Belfast. It honours the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers with a verse from a Bobby Sands poem and a border of celtic knotwork, the crests of the four provinces, and other revolutionary and civil rights heroes, include Gandhi, MLK, Gaughan & Stagg, Leonard Peltier/the AIM, Nelson Mandela, Maıréad Farrell, and Nora Connolly.

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M03966 M03965

Leana An Dúın Unbowed Unbroken

The dying Cú Chulaınn (as portrayed in bronze by Oliver Sheppard, in a statue installed in the GPO in 1935) is used as a symbol for the locals from Lenadoon area of west Belfast who fought for freedom (“saoırse”): Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie O’Neill (subsequently changed to Bridie Quinn).

See also the Cú Chulaınn Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01934