“Charles J. Kickham 1828 – 1882. Patron of Ardoyne GAA [Cumann Lúth Chleas Gael].” Poet and columnist for the Irish People, Kickham was arrested in 1865 after the offices of the paper were raided upon suspicion of organising an IRB rebellion. The local club has had a mural at the top of the street since 1993.
Volunteers from the IRA’s 3rd battalion, Belfast Brigade, Billy Reid, Sean McIlvenna, Rosemary Bleakley, and Michael Kane are shown walking down New Lodge Road. Gibraltar victim Dan McCann is included in the 16 faces in the apex. The main image is on boards while the knotwork and dedication are on brick. “I measc laochra na nGael go raıbh a nanamacha.”
INLA plaque in Friendly Street, Belfast. In proud memory of our fallen comrades: brothers James ‘Jim’ and Thomas ‘Ta’ Power – the former killed by a premature explosion in Friendly Street, site of this plaque, the latter killed alongside John O’Reilly in Dublin by the IPLO, and Emanuel Gargan, who was also killed in the feud. “When the freedom of our country and class has been won let us guard it well remembering it was paid for by the blood and lives of those now dead. Erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee.”
Joe Cahill joined the Fianna in 1937 and was involved in the republican movement from then until his death in 2004, including being in Tom Williams’s company in 1942 and later a founder member and Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA. In the centre of the image he is at the end of the table at the August 13, 1971, press conference to comment on the introduction of internment (CAIN). He is honoured in the mural above alongside his brothers Tom and Frank Cahill. (Pat O’Hare is painted between Tom and Frank.)
In the top left are small boards with portraits of Ned Maguire Snr, Ned Maguire Jnr, Sam Holden, Dal Delaney, Rita McParland, Paddy Meenan, Paddy Corrigan, Sean Wallace, John Petticrew, Alex Crowe.
“Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal – Bobby Sands [March 6th Diary].”
British Army snipers ensconced into Corry’s timber yard shot dead five people, including three teenagers, from Springhill and Westrock on the summer night of July 9th, 1972. All were unarmed. These images are from the Westrock-Whiterock memorial gardens (“gairdíní cuimhneacháin”) in Westrock Drive, west Belfast.
“Freedom fighters outside the GPO – Easter Rising 1916”. Connolly, Pearse, and Markievicz lead the attack on the GPO. Markievicz was in fact at St Stephen’s Green.
“In memory of IRA Volunteer Finbarr McKenna who died on active service in Crocus St. 2nd May 1987. Erected by the Greater Clonard Ex-Prisoners Association.” McKenna was killed by a bomb going off prematurely.
20th anniversary tarp on the side of the Falls Road Library, Belfast. Originally an 8 x 8 canvas, from which a 30 x 30 tarp was printed and hung in Harlem (see J0886) and this 20 x 20 version printed and brought to Belfast. For info on the faces in the corners, see the 2002 post.
Érıu cherishes the children of all races. “Teens for justice Summer School 2004”, “Relatives for justice”. Clonard and Divis are portrayed in the background.