Ballymurphy Cumann Na mBan

Volunteers in Cumann Na mBan (or youth wing Cumann Na gCaılíní) from Ballymurphy and Springhill are remembered in a mural in Ballymurphy Road, Belfast. Anti-clockwise, they are Maura Meehan, Anne Marie Pettigrew, Dorothy Maguire, Eileen Mackin, Catherine (Cathy) McGartland, Anne Parker. All but Mackin are included in the Greater Ballymurphy plaque.

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01660

Who Gave Their Lives For Irish Freedom

“In loving memory of volunters [sic] John Stone, Jason McWilliams, Kevin McCracken, and John Dougal.” The four IRA members are shown in front of the Springhill shops, with a Sınn Féın banner above the windows. With additional portraits of local activists Annie McWilliams, Mary Austin, Kathleen Clarke.

Springhill Drive, Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01658 M01659

Bryson-Mulvenna

“In memory of [IRA] volunteers Jim Bryson and Patrick Mulvenna. Died on active service 1973”. The pair were killed by undercover British Army soldiers firing from above the Ballymurphy shops (Broken Elbow). Mulvenna died immediately (August 30th), Bryson three days later. Another plaque will later be added to the centre of the mural.

Ballymurphy Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01656 M01657

The Names, The Stories, The Tales, The Sacrifices

“When the story of the Belfast Brigade of the IRA is told, when the war is over, is ended, among that story the names, the stories, the tales, the sacrifices, the actions of the volunteers from the Greater Ballymurphy area will be written large.” “This monument was erected by the republican people of Greater Ballymurphy in proud and loving memory of all those volunteers from the area who their lives in the fight for Irish freedom.” “Unveiled by Gerry Adams 12th May 1985.” “I ndıl cuımhne [chuimhne] ı gcónaı ag na poblachtánaıgh ón cheantar Barr Cluanaı.” “Also in memory of the civilians who died at the hands of the British Army, RUC, UDR and loyalist extremists.” The plaque was featured previously but the surrounding mural, with phoenix and volunteers with lowered rifles, is new. Ballymurphy Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2002, 2004 Peter Moloney
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Pat ‘Beag’ McGeown

“Comrade, councillor, cara [friend].” Pat McGeown was a 1981 IRA hunger striker whose family intervened when he lapsed into a coma. After his release in 1985 he also worked for Sınn Féın and was elected to Belfast City Council in 1993. He died in 1996 of a heart attack. He is also remembered by a plaque on the Sınn Féın office on Falls Road.

Ballymurphy Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01652

Safe House

Four IRA volunteers “who gave their lives for Irish freedom”, John Stone, Jim McGrillen, Tommy Tolan, and Michael Kane, eat in the kitchen of a Ballymurphy house, perhaps belonging to one of the “republican activists Kathleen McCullough, Elizabeth McGovern.” The large image of Tolan would later be changed to show him in a brown suit and without the assault rifle – see X05055.

Ballymurphy Crescent, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01649 M01650 M01651

Belfast Graves

“And all around are monuments that bear a martyr’s name/True patriots who fought and died to kindle freedoms flame/Jimmy Quigley, [Eamonn] McCormick and [Teddy] O’Neill with [Michael] Magee brave/Remember them, they died for us and found a martyr’s grave.” The words of Ray McAreavey’s song are modified to include four Ballymurphy IRA/Fıanna volunteers. With additional portraits of local stalwarts Alice Franklin and Mary Fegan.

Divismore Way, Ballymurphy, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01648
Copyright © 2004 Peter Moloney
M02239 M02240

Ballymurphy Resistance

“In proud and loving memory of Volunteers Liam “Bulmer” McParland, Billy Carson, Liam Mulholland, Sean Doyle”. Mulholland – fluent Irish speaker and the oldest person to be arrested during the initial internment sweep – is shown in the background while the other three are in fatigues, (all four in front of Ballymurphy shops). There are four additional portraits, of Rosaleen Russell, Annie Adams, Kathleen Moore, and Frankie Toner.

Ballymurphy Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01646

Talk Of Us As Though We Were Beside You

“Grieve not nor speak of us with tears but laugh and talk of us as though we were beside you”. Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, Belfast brigade, 2nd battalion, B company volunteers Kevin Delaney, Patrick Campbell, Michael Clarke, Anne Parker, and Michael Sloan are shown on patrol in Ballymurphy Parade, the street just to the left of this mural. Campbell was 16 when killed by friendly fire; the oldest at time of death was Delaney, at 26.

Also named on the plaque are “republican activists” Esther Valelly, Theresa Campbell, and Maggie Campbell.

Glenalina Road, Ballymurphy, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01644 [M01645]
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
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