For the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the mural shown above was painted on Beechmount Avenue, Belfast (a.k.a. RPG Avenue). The mural reproduces a 1941 stamp designed by Victor Brown showing an armed volunteer outside the GPO. For more information and the postage stamp, see Raising The Flag.
“Dedicated to Vols Bobby McCrudden, Mundo O’Rawe, Pearse Jordan. In passing this mural pause a little while, pray for us and erin, then smile.” Ballymurphy mural to three local PIRA volunteers. O’Rawe’s pose (in the centre) perhaps owes something to the poster for the 1996 filmMichael Collins. The plaque reads “I ndíl [sic] chuímhne [sic] Oglach [sic] Edward ‘Mundo’ O’Rawe, Oglach [sic] Robert McCrudden, Oglach [sic] Pearse Jordan Who gave their lives for Ireland’s freedom.”
“This mural is dedicated to the memory of those local republican activists [34 portraits of volunteers from “A, D, F foıreannacha, cathlann 3rú, Brıogáıd mBéal Feırste”] who devoted their lives to the cause of Irish freedom. Ar son na c[ú]ıse. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Unveiled by Sınn Féın councillors Martin Meehan and Margaret McClenaghan.”
“Many suffer so that some day future generations may live in justice and peace – Bobby Sands MP.”
The plaque on the stone is “Dedicated to those friends and neighbours from Ardoyne, the Bone and Ligoniel whose contribution and support to our struggle was and remains invaluable. Aıthníonn muıd a gcrógacht. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Meán Fómhaır 2003.”
“Tabhaır onóır doıgh suíd a fuaır bás ar son na hÉıreann” [corrupted Irish with the general meaning “Honor … who died for Ireland”]. “Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal! – Bobby Sands Fri. 6th March 1981”. Another Éıre mural was previously further down the wall on Mountpottinger Road, Belfast.
Bouquets of tricoloured flowers are placed on the Free Ireland mural at the corner of Beechmount Avenue and Falls Road, Belfast. A hand clasping an Easter lily is manacled by bonds “Made in Britain”. The mural is now in its fifteenth year. For the plaque, see the original 1990 post.
“Freedom fighters outside the GPO – Easter Rising 1916”. Connolly, Pearse, and Markievicz lead the attack on the GPO. Markievicz was in fact at St Stephen’s Green.
Robert Emmet was hanged on September 20th, 1803, after his unsuccessful rebellion. At trial, he predicted that the struggle for Irish independence would continue, in his parting speech: “When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not till then, let my epitaph be written.” There is no direct link between the Irishmen and an army of the Irish Republic – after the execution of Emmet and Thomas Russell, the Society Of United Irishmen collapsed. The Maid Of Erin harp is the symbol of the Society.
These images are of the IRA memorial stone in Bingnian Drive, Belfast, honouring members of the B Company, 1st Battalion, Belfast Brigade and local Andersonstown residents. The stone bears an Easter lily, including a leaf of the plant.
“Togadh an leach chuımhneacháın seo ı ndíl [ndıl] chuımhne na nÓglach de chuıd complacht B an chéad chathlann Brıogáıd Bhéal Feırste, Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Moltoır, comh maıth, a gcuıd comradaıthe a sheas agust a throıd lena daıobh. Bíodh cuımhneadh, fosta, ar na daoıne ón cheantaır a chınmharaıodh ag arm na Breataıne agus a comhglacaıthe.”