knot-work

No Right In Ireland

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“The British government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland, and never can have any right in Ireland.” (Last Statement, 1916) 

“James Connolly 1868-1916 James Connolly was born in June 5th 1868. In 1810 he became organiser for the Irish Transport And General Workers Union in Belfast. In 1913 he co-founded the Irish Citizen Army. He was one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation and commanded HQ in the GPO during the 1916 Rising. He was executed by the British on May 12th 1916.” 

“Nora Connolly O’Brien 1893-1981 Nora Connolly was the 2nd daughter of James Connolly. Nora was a member of Cumann Na mBan and the Gaelic League in Belfast. She played an organisational role in the ICA in the run up to the 1916 Rising. She was a trade unionist and remained so throughout her life.”

The mural was launched on May 3rd.

Clondara Street, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M08463 [M08463a] [M08464] [M08465] [M08466] [M08467] [M08468] [M08469] [M08470]

Colin Area Roll Of Remembrance

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Local IRA volunteers are commemorated in multiple stones in the Twinbrook memorial garden. On the main wall – which is a new addition – are listed Sean Keenan, Michael Ferguson, Lily Campbell, Mary Keenan, Eddie Keenan, Mary McKee, Hugh McKee. On the obelisk on the left (see previously Twinbrook & Poleglass IRA) are Gerard Fennell, John Rooney, Bobby Sands, Frankie Ryan. On the stone to the right – which was previously outside the railings (see M03008) – are the twelve deceased Troubles-era hunger strikers.

“The day will dawn when the people of Ireland will show this desire for freedom. It’s then we will see the rising of the moon. [– Bobby Sands’s prison diary]”

“I have sacrificed for the republic all that man holds dear – my wife, my children, my liberty, my life. – Wolfe Tone”

“The road for suffering is paved with suffering, hardships and torture, carry on my gallant and brave comrades until that certain day. – Tom Williams”

“I too have fought for my freedom not only in captivity but also outside where my country is held captive. I have the spirit of freedom that cannot be quenched. [– Bobby Sands]”

“This monument has been re-dedicated by the people of Twinbrook and Poleglass in honour of those volunteers of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann who gave their lives for Irish freedom.”

Gardenmore Road, Twinbrook, Dunmurry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M08450 M08446 M08447 M08448 M08449 [M08451] [M08452] [M08453] [M08454] M08455 [M08456] [M08457]

Ideals

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A tarp is added to the Ardoyne memorial garden putting the 12 deceased hunger strikers from the modern Troubles alongside those who were executed for their part in the Easter Rising. “The ideals behind the Proclamation, the Easter Rising and the hunger strikes are the ideals which drive Sınn Féın today, social equality, economic and political freedom and the believe [sic] that all the people of the island should benefit from the labour of the island. It is for this reason that this signatories, the hunger strikers and the thousands of others gave their lives.”

For the cross, see 2002.

Berwick Road, north Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M08258 M08259 M08257

St Malachy’s GAC

Extramural Activity1 Comment

St Malachy’s (tw | Fb) is a junior (i.e. 2nd division/B-tier) GAA club established 1936 in the Markets area of south Belfast and also drawing from Ormeau and Short Strand.

It is not known who the four portraits are of (perhaps Sean Flynn bottom left) or who the four players are. Get in touch if you have any information. 

With support from Lorag (the Shaftesbury recreational and leisure centre) and sponsorship (along the bottom) from Pulse, Belfast City Council, New Belfast Community Arts Initiative, the Housing Executive, and Brighter Belfast.

Shaftesbury Avenue, south Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
M08137

Fáılte Go Dtí West Belfast

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Welcome to west Belfast”. West Belfast is portrayed as a place of music, sport, and dancing, whose landmark buildings and streets are under the watchful eye (and sword) of the goddess Érıu.

The image of the little boy with the “I [heart] Belfast” stickers and a bag of sweets, standing in the waste ground of Divis flats, is a photograph from the early days of Féıle An Phobaıl/West Belfast Festival. 

On the Divis Street side, characters in the style of cartoonist Cormac (see e.g. Notes) are “Promoting west Belfast tourism” for “Fáılte Feırste Thıar”, “www.visitwestbelfast.com“. The attractions touted are: “Bop at the August “fleadh”. “Craıc agus ceol” (for Robert Ballagh’s dove coming out of the concrete block, see Féile An Phobail 2008), “The only thing you have here is “choice”. Tar ısteach agus (lıg do scíth)”. “Baın sult as. Tá mé ag éısteacht le Raıdıó Fáilte 107.1 FM”, “For more ideas on things to do, visit Oıfıg Fáılte at An Chultúrlann. There’s really nice food there too! at Caıfe Feırste”, “If it’s history you want go on a cemetery tour “City or Milltown””, “Enjoy a walk on ‘Slıabh Dubh’ (The black … … mountain)”, “Make sure you visit the “Irish republican history museum” at Conway Mill” (with ‘Long Kesh University Of Freedom’ sweater; “Sinn Féin touts” is not a sweater but graffiti.)

Some in-progress shots from May and July can be seen in the Seosamh Mac Coılle collection.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M07533 [M07534] M07535 M07528 [M07529] [M07530] [M07531] [M07532]

I’m Not A Criminal

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Vol. Kieran Nugent – the first blanketman. ‘I’m not a criminal – the Brits will have to nail prison clothes to my back.'”

This mural was originally launched in February surrounded by a selection of posters from the era (see The First Blanketman and for close-ups see the post at Extramural). These have all now been stripped away and the red background (which was present for the previous mural – see Ciarán Nugent) has been repainted.

Rockville Street, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M07516

Kieran Doherty TD

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Vol. Kieran Doherty, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, age 25, commenced his hunger strike on May 22 and tragically died on Sunday afternoon 2nd Aug 1981. Kieran was elected TD by the people of Cavan and Monaghan in their support of the prisoners’ campaign for political status.” “It is not those who inflict the most but those who endure the most who shall conquer in the end – this [paraphrase of 1920 hunger-striker Terence MacSwiney] was one of the last messages sent out of the H-Blocks by Vol Kieran Doherty TD.”

The mural on the stairs has been removed – compare with 2004, which also has close-ups.

This portrait and plaque to Doherty are at the bottom of Slemish Way at the junction with the Andersonstown Road; there is a memorial stone at the top of Slemish Way on Commedagh Drive.

Click an image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M05145

Gerald McAuley

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“In memory of Fıan Gerald McAuley (aged 15) killed while defending the people of Clonard on the 15th August 1969. Erected by the Greater Clonard Ex-Prisoners Association.” McAuley was killed during the riots in August 1969 that mark the start of “the Troubles” (An Phoblacht). The plaque is near the spot where he was killed. His portrait was above the No Decommision mural and then in the Never Again mural in Bombay Street.

Waterville Street, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
M07288