knot-work

Sean McCaughey

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“I ndıl gcuımhne [sic] oglach [sic] Sean McCaughey, Gaelgoır [sic] agus muınteıor [sic] [Irish-speaker and teacher]. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.” “Formerly of Duneden Park, Ardoyne. Died on hunger and thirst strike after 23 days in Portlaoise gaol on May 11th 1946.” “For those who believe no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t believe no explanation is possible.” McCaughey was convicted of kidnapping and torturing IRA chief of staff Sean Hayes, who was suspected of treason. His hunger and thirst strike was preceded by five years on the blanket. “NBCS” = North Belfast Cultural Society.

Brompton Park, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Remember The Hunger Strike

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For the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, images from the period are reproduced in a mural sponsored by the “Ardoyne, Bone, Ligoniel 80/81 Commemoration Committee”: the funeral volley over Bobby Sands’s coffin, Derry women protesting conditions in Long Kesh by wearing blankets, women banging bin lids (see United Irishwomen) and protestors outside a polling station.

The frame is from the previous Érıu mural.

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Cumann Na Fuıseoıge

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Established in 2004, Cumann Na Fuıseoıge (The Lark) is “ag soláthar spórt Ghaelaıgh don phobal sa cheantar Coılın” [providing Gaelic games to the people in the Colin area]. The club is named after the image of the lark (and barbed wire) used by Bobby Sands in his 1979 article The Lark And The Freedom Fighter. The choice of emblem proved controversial – Slugger.

Previously: a fundraiser for the club.

Jasmine Corner, Belfast/Dunmurry

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Dedicated To All The Unsung Heroes

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The scale of the Ballymurphy memorial garden can be seen in the final image. The central panels (images 1 and 2) are to IRA volunteers. Jimmy Steele was OC of the IRA’s Belfast battalion and founding editor of Republican News. “The seed which on Cave Hill was sown/O’er Belfast town its fruit has grown/And they who served, suffered and died/Their blood, our cause has sanctified//Be proud of them our martyred dead/And in their footsteps let us tread/They died for us that we might see/Ireland, united, Gaelic, and free.” To the left and right are lists of civilian dead and on the far right is a brief list of activists who survived the Troubles but have died since.

For the mural, see this 2005 image.

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Neamhcromtha, Neamhbhrıste

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“Unbowed, unbroken.” This is a version of the earlier Éıre/Ireland mural (depicted as a female in the centre of the mural) seen in 2005.  Portraits of 18 local republicans are included, beginning with Charlie Monahan and Murtagh McAstocker. This mural is similar to the earlier one on the shop gable (which had 16 portraits).

The plaque to the left reads “Dedicated to the memory of the volunteers of B company 3rd battalion Belfast brigade Óglaıgh na hÉıreann who died fighting for an Irish socialist republic. Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.”

Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Charlie Monahan

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Charlie Monahan (Cathal Ó Monacháın/Ó Muıneacháın) died along with Con Keating and Daniel Sheehan in a motor accident in Kerry, when their car was driven off a pier on the way to help guide Roger Casement (shown in the top left) land a ship full of weapons. “T’was on Good Friday morning before the break of day/A German ship was signaling way out there in the bay/With 20,000 rifles already for to land/But no answering signal did come from the lonely Banna Strand … And the wild wind sings their requiem on the lonely Banna Strand.” “This mural was sponsored by the Brehon Law Society USA.”

Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Councillor Liam MacCarthy

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The Liam MacCarthy cup is awarded each year to the All-Ireland hurling champions. It was commissioned by and is named after London Irish-speaker Liam MacCarthy. He was elected a councillor for Peckham North and chaired the London GAA board, of which Michael Collins and Sam Maguire were also members (WP) – the All-Ireland champion footballers are awarded the Sam Maguire Cup. “Gael, patriot – Ireland’s forgotten son.”

Divis Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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