“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.
“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).
The memorial gallery on the right-hand side of Ardilea Close has been expanded from three panels to five (compared to last year/2013) and the first new face is “Charlie Wilson – age 66”.
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.
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.
“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.
“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Robert McCrudden, Belfast Brigade, murdered by British Crown Forces, 3rd August 1972, aged 19 years. Ní dhéanfaıdh muıd dearmad [gur] fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Remember Our Volunteers Committee 19th August 2012”
“I don’t mind being called a dissenter, I’ve been a dissenter all my life.” An anti-Agreement tribute to “The Dark” (Brendan Hughes), IRA commander, blanketman, and 1980 hunger striker, on the Springfield Road.
“They may have stole our banner but they will never steal our culture.” The banner in question was on the fencing in the street (see Welcome To Loyalist Linfield Road) but wound up on a CNR bonfire in Divis; the wider context is the on-going disputes over the routes established by the Parades Commission for Orange Order marches.
“Che Guevara – Blood of an Irish rebel.” Che’s father declared that the blood of Irish rebels ran through his son, in reference to their Irish ancestry. For genealogical information, see the previous entry on the Che Guevara Lynch mural in Derry.
The mural was painted for the anniversary of Che Guevara’s death, on October 9th, 1967. The mural features multiple copies of Korda’s iconic Guerillero Heroico (discussed in the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick), two quotes from Che – “When forces of oppression come to maintain themselves in power against established law, peace is considered already broken” and “If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine” – and the flags of (from left to right) the Basque Country, Palestine, Ireland, Cuba, Catalonia and Argentina (where Che was born; or perhaps Guatemala, where he was first active – the shield above contains no central icon, which would distinguish the flags).
“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Gerard [Gerald] McDade, Belfast Brigade, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. Murdered by British Crown Forces 21st December 1971, aged 23 years. NÍ dhéanfaıdh muıd dearmad [gur] fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Remember Our Volunteers Committee, 17th December 2011.”
McDade was staff captain of 3rd battalion. He was stopped on foot in Ardoyne (where he is also remembered) and was shot while trying to run off (Belfast Child). This plaque, in Beechmount Road, was mounted for the fortieth anniversary of his death.
The plaque is on the whitewashed gable that was previously the site of a mural to volunteers Liam “Bulmer” McParland, Billy Carson, Liam Mulholland, and Sean Doyle – see Ballymurphy Resistance.
