knot-work

Comms

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Two of the three comms (“communications”, messages by H-Block prisoners on tobacco paper or toilet paper and smuggled from wing to wing or to the outside) reproduced in this mural describe the decision to undertake the hunger strike (written by Bobby Sands) and the reaction to his death (from Ardoyne man Bik McFarlane to “Brownie” – Gerry Adams). The three describes a beating received by Ardoyne resident and blanket man Brendan McClenaghan.

Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01794 M01795

Part Of Our Heritage

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“Gaelic games – part of our heritage.” Athletes play hurling, football, and camogie and the local GAA club Ardoyne Kickhams (Fb) is celebrated. “Is treıse dúchas ná oılıuınt” means “heritage is stronger than upbringing”. “Fáılte go dtí Ard Eoın” (“Welcome to Ardoyne”)

Havana Way, Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01793

Érıu

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“Ardoyne Fleadh Cheoıl – meon an phobaıl a thógáıl tríd an chultúr” = “building community spirit through culture”.

“Eıre [Éire] (Éıru [Érıu]), a queen of the Tuatha Dé Danann, slain at the battle of Taıltean [Taılteann] (Telltown [Teltown], Co. Meath) 698 BC.” She is placed in a neolithic setting and is releasing a dove which flies off in a trail of stars.

Signed in the bottom right corner by “Ardoyne Focus Group”.

This is a repaint of the first Érıu mural; here is the previous Ard Eoın Fleadh Cheoıl mural in this location.

Brompton Park, Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01791

Markets Volunteers

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The portraits are of Tony Nolan, Joseph Downey, Frank Fitzsimons, Joey Surgenor, Paul Marlowe, Jim Templeton, and Brendan Davison, all of whom were IRA volunteers (Templeton, aged 15, was in the Fianna) and all of whom died in and around the Markets. (Their names would be added to the mural when it was repainted.) This mural replaces Firing Party and is based on the photograph included in Victory IRA.

Friendly Way, Markets, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01770 M01769

Murdered By SAS Cowards

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“David Devine, Michael Devine, Charles Breslin – murdered by SAS cowards.” The three IRA members, aged 16, 22, and 20, were shot by SAS soldiers while returning arms to a dump in a field outside Strabane on February 23rd, 1985. The incident prompted accusations of a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy, as there was no attempt at arrest.

Springhill Park, Strabane

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01722

Who Is The Real Freedomfighters Now!

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Here is a collection of six murals from Ballycolman, Strabane, all seen previously in 1989 and showing their age, and with some RIRA graffiti “Who is the real freedomfighters now! Real IRA” and “Strabane RUC station – 2001 RIRA”.

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01714 M01708 M01709 M01710 M01712 M01713

Éıre

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This Short Strand mural packs a lot in, beginning with both ancient Éıre and a celtic cross. Its main panels commemorate 25 years of resistance in east Belfast (probably dating to the Battle Of St Matthew’s in 1970) with portraits of 16 deceased locals (“I measc laochra na nGael go raıbh a naınmeacha”) and two verses from Bobby Sands’s poem Weeping Winds (see below). On the right (in the second image) is a quote from Bobby Sands: “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children”.

Oh, whistling winds why do you weep/When roaming free you are,
Oh! Is it that your poor heart’s broke/And scattered off afar?
Or is it that you bear the cries/Of people born unfree,
Who like your way have no control/Or sovereign destiny?

Oh! Lonely winds that walk the night/To haunt the sinner’s soul/
Pray pity me a wretched lad/Who never will grow old.
Pray pity those who lie in pain/The bondsman and the slave
And whisper sweet the breath of God/Upon my humble grave.

These verses are also used on a board in St James’s.

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01683 M01684