knot-work

Gabh Gaelach

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“Gabh Gaelach” [Go Gaelic]. “Is fearr Gaeılge bhrıste ná Béarla clıste” [Broken Irish is preferable to clever English]. “Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam” [A land without a language is a land without a soul]. “Sí athghabháıl na Gaeilge athghabháıl na hÉıreann” [The repossession of Irish is the repossession of Ireland] – based on a quote by Máırtín Ó Cadhaın. Bunscoıl An tSléıbhe Dhuıbh [Black Mountain Primary School]. The mural on the gable celebrates 125 of the GAA, particularly local teams Cumman [sic] Spóırt An Phobaıl, Cardinal O’Donnell’s, Gort Na Móna, and Cumann Naomh Eoın.

Video of the Gabh Gaelach murals launch on August 3rd. Funding from the Re-Imaging Communities project with help from USDT and Glór Na Móna. Artists Lucas Quigley (gable), Fra Maher (left), Rıstead Ó Murchú (right).

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Nuada Reborn

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M04505 2008+

Gerard ‘Mo Chara’ Kelly first painted a mural of King Nuada in 1987, a year after being released from Long Kesh. He reproduced an illustration by Jim Fitzpatrick on a gable wall in Springhill (see images from 1987 | 1988 | 1989). This post-peace version is on the side-wall of the Whiterock Road Spar and was painted as statement of Kelly’s own rebirth after ceasing to work with funding agencies such as the Upper Springfield Development Trust. The third and fourth images are from 2008 and show the mural in an early state; the mural as shown above in 2009 is in fact still not complete – the bottom and left-hand side are unfinished. See these 2010 images for the full effect.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Let Not Their Memory Die

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Presbyterian Roddy McCorley was executed on 28 February, 1800, and his name is famous due to a ballad written by Ethna Carbery (sung here by Tommy Makem).

“In memory of Rody McCorley who was hanged here for his part in the Rising of 1798. Those who died for Ireland, let not their memory die.” “I gcuımhne Ruaırí Mhıc Thoırdheallıagh a crochadh annseo as a bheıth páırteach ı nÉırghe Amach 1798. Iad sıúd a dhéag ar son na hÉıreann go mhaırıdh a gchú go deo.”

Moneynick Road, Toome

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Coıste Chontae Aontroma CLG

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“Coıste Chontae Aontroma CLG 125 Blıaın. Cluıchí, cultúr agus teanga.” [County Antrim GAA Committee, 125th anniversary]

Casement Park, named after Roger Casement (depicted in the lower right knotwork WP), was opened in 1953, blessed by Cardinal D’Alton, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland (shown in the medallion towards the bottom right). The central figure is from Jim Fitzpatrick’s ‘Hurling Match‘ and is presumably intended to show Setanta, who became Cú Chulaınn by (in one version) killing Culann’s hound with a slıotar.

(Victor Patterson has an image of a British Army post being constructed on the pitch.)

Andersonstown Road, west Belfast. (The same image would later be used on the bookies at bottom of Whiterock Road. See X00549)

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Léana An Dúın – Unbowed, Unbroken

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Cú Chulaınn stands dying, an inspiration to republicans fighting against the British (rather than Queen Medb), including those Lenadoon locals whose portraits adorn the apex: Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Tony Jordan, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn (Bridie O’Neill in the previous version of this mural).

Repainted, with a plaque on the right that reads, “This mural, dedicated to the patriot dead of Lenadoon, was unveiled by Gerard O’Neill, Easter 2009.”

See also the Cú Chulaınn Visual History page.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Deceased Members From St Matthew’s Parish

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“This memorial cross is dedicated to the memory of all the deceased members from St Matthew’s Parish especially those who died as a result of the conflict in our country. Always remembered with love and respect by their families, friends and parishioners. Mary, queen of peace, pray for us. Dóıbh sıad uılıg as Paraıste Mhaıtıú Naofa atá anoıs ar shlí na fırınne go mórmhór dóıbh sıad a d’éag da bharr na comhlınte in ár dtír, a thıomnaıntear an chros seo. Beıdh dılchuımhne ag a muıntır féın, ag a gcaırde agus ag a gcomhrarsana orthu go brách agus is le grá agus meas a chuımhneofar orthu. A Mhuıre, banríon na Síochána, guıgh oraınn. May they all rest in peace. Suımhneas síoraí othru uılıg.”

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Gateway To West Belfast

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The power station below Divis tower, rather than the so-called International Wall a little further up the road, is becoming the starting point for (republican) west Belfast. Visitors from around the world are greeted in a variety of languages. The board is sponsored by Gort Na Móna Historical Society. Above it is a Fáılte Feırste Thıar [Welcome To West Belfast] tarp: “Promoting west Belfast tourism”.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Those From the Ligoniel Area

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The large stone in the corner is to Declan McCluskey but does not give a date or manner of death. It is perhaps the Declan McCluskey who died by suicide in 2005 (BBC-NI); his father Francie is included on the central plaque – he was killed by the UFF in 1982.

“This memorial is dedicated to the memory of all those form the Ligoniel area who lost their lives as a result of the conflict in our country. Mary, queen of the Gael, pray for them”; “This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Óglach Declan McCluskey, Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. ‘I love my God overall,’ he said, ‘And then I loved my land. Oh mother dear I was true, to God, to Ireland and to you.'”

The two central plaques read, “I ndıl chuımhne. This plaque is dedicated to the memory of all those from Ligoniel who lost their lives as a result of the conflict in our country. A Mhuıre banríon na nGael guıgh orthu.” and “In loving memory of Terry McCafferty, Michelle Osborne, Vol. Jackie Mooney, Danny O’Neill, Jim Sullivan, Alac Greer, Mary Sloan, Rosemary Brown, Mrs Sloan, Letta Younger, William Younger, Francie McCluskey, John O’Neill, Colm McCallum, Brian McKimm, Leo Scullion, Sammy Bell, Kevin Flood, Brian Duffy, John Todd, Maurice O’Kane. May they rest in peace.”

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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