lily – Easter

Ever Idolised When Dead

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The PD/Cumann Sóısıalta Bhaıle Andarsan/Andersonstown Social Club was one of the early stops for the travelling version of the ‘Revolution 1916’ exhibition that was hosted by the Ambassador theatre – see Revolution 1916.

The mural immediately above was painted to accompany the exhibition, reproducing the left-hand grouping from Walter Paget’s Birth Of The Irish Republic and putting the proclamation in the background. For Paget’s original oil painting and other versions of it, see the painting’s Visual History page.

The new plaque (added to the memorial garden) reads, “1916 – 2026. We serve neither king nor kaiser, but Ireland. This plaque was erected to the memory of the men and women who give their lives in the fight for Irish freedom. “Apostles of freedom are ever idolised when dead but crucified when alive.” – James Connolly.” [from 1898’s The Men We Honour]

Also featured are Roger Casement and Winifred Carney, and a long-standing plaque to Danny Burke and Jack McCartan, former managers of the club who were “murdered by the British Army on these premises” (An Phoblacht).

PD, South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Republican Coalisland

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“We salute the memory of all those who have given their lives for the cause of Irish freedom.” Both pro-Agreement (Sinn Féin) and anti-Agreement (IRPWA/Saoradh/New IRA) groups are marking the centenary of the Easter Rising. Also included is a commemoration of the (1981) Hunger Strike and support expressed for Gaza: “#FreeGaza #BoycottIsreal [sic]”

Lineside, Barrack Street, and Mourne Road, Coalisland

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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The Cause Of Irish Freedom

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“1916 – 2016. We salute the memory of all those who have given their lives in the cause of Irish freedom.” This is an extension by the RNU (web), on the centenary of the Easter Rising, to the large tarp seen in Ardoyne’s Fallen Fıanna. The plaque was recorded in 2011.

Berwick Road, Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Free Tony Taylor

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Derry republican and RNU (web) spokesperson Tony Taylor was released under the conditions of the Good Friday agreement. He was jailed for three years in 2011 for possession of a rifle. His license was revoked in March (2016) and he was returned to prison on the grounds that he poses a danger to the public. Both RNU/Cogús and Sınn Féın have called for his release. (Irish News)

Berwick Road, Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Na Fıanna Éıreann

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Here is a Na Fıanna Éıreann mural in Ardoyne with Easter lilies on each side of the Fıanna’s ‘sunburst’ (gal gréıne) emblem (which also includes a pike or bill).

For a history of sunburst flags, with lots of images, see An Sıonnach Fıonn. A banner sporting an early version of the emblem, owned by Countess Markievicz during the Rising, was recently returned from London to Dublin (Irish Times).

Like the name “Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann”, “Na Fıanna Éıreann” has been used by many organisations for their youth division; this one is associated with the RNU (web).

Berwick Road, Ardoyne, across the street from Ardoyne’s Fallen Fıanna.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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In Commemoration Of Easter 1916

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“In commemoration of Easter 1916 – 2016. Ardoyne – Bone – Ligoniel. Unbowed – unbroken.”

Tom Clarke is at the head of his fellow signatories as he looks down over a printed tarp reproducing photographs of events surrounding the Easter Rising of 1916, including soldiers from the Irish Citizen Army on a rooftop (see the original in this Spectator article) and members of Cumann Na mBan on parade. For the photo of the building in the top left, see this Irish Times article.

The previous Ardoyne – Bone – Ligoniel mural fell down almost as soon as it was completed, leaving only the boards with portraits of locals killed during the troubles. The stone and plaque (in the final images) go back to the mural before that.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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The Evolution Of Our Revolution

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A history of nationalism/republicanism from left to right: a pair of Easter lilies, four generations of rifles, and then a switch to a ballot paper with a check in favour of “unity” and a road named “Unity Way”: “From bullet to ballot: the evolution of our revolution. 1916 – 2016”

The mural was painted by Con on the north side of Hugo Street – the south side remains exclusively éırígí.

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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Mná Na hÉıreann

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Érıu/Éıre of the Tuatha Dé Danann, queen of Ireland, (as depicted by Richard J King) is at the centre of various representations of republican women.

Along the top are Ann Devlin, Betsy Gray, Mary Ann McCracken, Countess Markievicz, Nora Connolly?, and Winifred Carney. Suffragettes, the modern IRA, and Cumman Na mBan are depicted, as are Máıre Drumm at the Falls Curfew, Tom McElwee’s sisters carrying his coffin, and Molly Childers and Mary Spring Rice running guns on the Asgard. There is also an unusual ‘four provinces’ in the corners.

The wide shot (below) shows a 1916 centenary (“céad blıaın”) board: “Ag fíorú na poblachta”.

Rockmount Street, above the James Connolly trade-unions mural

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Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
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We Want The Freedom Of Our Country

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repainted knot-work on the right in front, form July 8th, 2016:

detail shots, from August 9th, 2025, December 15th, 2025, and March 26th, 2016:

December 15th, 2025, portraits on small boards being added to either side of the (temporarily removed) proclamation:

July 31st, 2025:

July 14th, 2025:

May 5th, 2025:

Arrayed against the forces of the British Army (which are shown laying siege to the Dublin GPO during the Easter Rising in armoured cars and in sniping positions in the foreground of the mural, along the whole length of the wall) are various symbols of Irish nationalism: 

Oliver Sheppard‘s 1911 statue of Cú Chulaınn dying (see the Visual History page);
the pikemen of the 1798 Rebellion;
the four provinces of Ireland;
Érıu the mythological queen of Ireland/Éıre as designed by Richard J King/Rísteard Ó Cíonga;
Easter lilies;
the emblems of Na Fıanna Éıreann and Cumann Na mBan on either side of a quote from (The Mainspring) Seán Mac Dıarmada, “We bleed that the nation may live; I die that the nation may live. Damn your concessions, England: we want our country”; 
a phoenix rising from the flames of the burning Dublin GPO (inspired by Norman Teeling’s 1998 painting The GPO Burns In Dublin);
the GPO flying an ‘Irish Republic’ flag;
portraits of signatories and other rebels — (left) Padraig H. Pearse, Thomas J Clarke, Eamonn Ceannt, Thomas MacDonagh, (right) Countess Markievicz, James Connolly, Sean MacDiarmada, Thomas Plunkett; 
the declaration of independence, placed over the advertising box of AA Accountants – see the in-progress shot below.

At the very bottom is a quote from the mother of painted Gerard ‘Mo Chara’ Kelly, Harriet Kelly: “We want the freedom of our country and your soldiers out.”

McQuillan Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2015/2016 Peter Moloney
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details
Sig M13842
Cú M12906 [M12627] [M12587]
1798 M12907 [M12707]
Ireland M12709 [M12628]
Érıu M12708 [M12586]
Fianna M12905 [M12706]
Phoenix M12908 [M12705] [M12704] [M12703] [M12589] [M12588]
Proclamation M13007
Dec 15th: Portraits M12904 [M12702] [M12701] wide M12903
July 31th: M12629 M12626
July 14th: M12580 [M12581] [M12582] [M12583] M12584 [M12585]
May 5th: M12551