Brave Sons Of Ireland

Three plaques have been added to the two seen previously, the McDade and Donnelly-Montgomery plaques.

“Óglach James McDade 24 July 1946 – 14 Nov 1974 died on active service, England; Óglach Gerard McDade 22 Nov 1950 – 21 Dec 1971 murdered by British Crown Forces. A Mháthaır na hÉıreann, fáısc do bhéırt mhac, Séamus agus Geraóıd, le do chroí. Throıd sıad agus fuaır sıad bás. Mother Ireland, hold your sons, James and Gerard, close to your heart. They fought and they died.”

“Óglach James Reid born 23 May 1945 killed on active service 14 July 1972. Óglach Terry Toolan born 7 May 1936 killed on active service 14 July 1972. Óglach Brian Smyth born 23 Oct 1941 died on active service 17 April 1973. You will never be forgotten, brave sons of Ireland. Nuaır a bhí Éıreann agus a daoıne ı gcontúırt, sheas sıbh sa bhearna bhaoıl leó [sic leo].”

“Ireland and her people called on you, you answered unselfishlessly. Óglach Paddy McAdorey 22 Feb 1947 – 9 Aug 1971 died on active service. Nuaır a bhí Éıreann agus a daoıne ı gcontúırt, sheas sıbh sa bhearna bhaoıl leó.”

“Óglach Denis Brown born 13 May 1950, Óglach Jim Mulvenna born 26 Jan 1950, Óglach Jackie Mailey born 19 Sept 1947 – killed on active service, 21st June 1978. You lived, you fought, you died for Ireland. Fad ıs a bhí sibh beo, throıd sıbh agus fuaır bás ar son Éıreann ní bheidh dearmad déanta go deo ar íobaırd s’agaıbhse, a mhıc cróga na hÉıreann.”

“Óglach Frankie Donnelly 26 Aug 1954 – 5 Jan 1979 died on active service; Óglach Laurence Montgomery 12 June 1954 – 5 Jan 1979 died on active service. Níl sa saol seo ach tréımhse gaırıd ar an bhóthaır fada chun na saoırse – life is but a short part on the long journey to freedom.”

Herbert Street, Ardoyne

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M12450a M13055 [M13055a] M13054 M13056 [M13056a] M12451a
M13053

End Internment Now

“Cumann Thomáıs Uí Chléırıgh, An Lorgaın. End internment now. North Armagh supports republican POWs”.

Clarke grew up in nearby Dungannon and there is a cumann of the 1916 Societies in Dungannon (Fb) and, according to this board, in Lurgan. (A statue to Clarke was later mounted in Dungannon – see Gaırdín Thomaıs Uí Chléırıgh.)

Lake Street, Lurgan. The board was perhaps previously in Levin Rd – see The Lurgan Ambush.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12778 M12777 [M12779]

Cogús

“Cogús” (Fb) or “conscience” is the prisoners’ welfare arm of the Republican Network For Unity (RNU).

The RNU web address along the bottom of both pieces no longer appears to function (Wayback); the organisation does have a Facebook page.

Rossville Street, Derry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11703 M11707

Ardoyne’s Fallen Fıanna

“Purity in our hearts, strength in our arms, truth in our lips.” Here are images from the launch of the new Fıanna tarp at the top of Berwick Road (Paráıd An Ardghleanna) on Easter Saturday (April 19th). The tarp is an RNU tribute to four teenaged members of Na Fıanna Éıreann who died in 1972: Davy McAuley, Josh Campbell, Josie McComiskey and Bernard Fox – all four from Ardoyne/Ard Eoın. McAuley died of a gunshot wound, perhaps at a Louth training camp (Nelson McCausland). Campbell was shot in Eksdale Street in a gun battle with the British Army; McComiskey was shot in Flax Street in a gun battle with the British Army; Fox was shot by the British Army in Brompton Street. (Close-up of the plaque.)

The tricoloured gal gréıne is in the far-left bottom corner – see the wide shot in the Seosamh Mac Coille collection.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10906 M10905 M10904 M10903 [M10907] [M10908] [M10909] [M10910] [M10911] [M10912] [M10913]
Copyright © 2016 Peter Moloney
M13084

The Only Secure Community Is An Organised one

“RNU in west Belfast are today leading the way in combating anti-social behavior [sic], reclaiming republican values, fighting the benefits cuts, tackling the increased drug problem, exposing the slum landlords, rebuilding community pride.”  RNU [Republican Network for Unity (Xitter)] stencil on Northumberland Street. Tommy Doherty (leaflet) is running in the local council elections taking place on May 22nd.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10862 [M10863] [M10864]

Joe Cahill Perpetual Cup

“Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí” – “youth responds to praise”, such as when playing in the annual Easter Gaelic games tournament, now in its eighth year. Joe Cahill (WP) holds the cup aloft.

The group in the bottom left corner are Pat O’Hare, Frank Cahill, Tom Cahill, (the three Cahills were featured in the previous mural) Ned Maguire, Jr., Ned Maguire, Sr., Alec Crowe, Paddy Meenan, Tommy Crowe, Dal Delaney, and Hugh Elliot.

In the crook of Cahill’s arm are Rita McParland, Sean Wallace, Paddy Corrigan, John Pettigrew, and John Stone. None of these adults is still alive; all were from the local area.

The chalet bungalows in the background on the left are gone, but you can see images of them on the Belfast Forum.

The plaque on the left names others in addition “who assisted, resourced and gave selflessly to the republican cause”: Billy Kelly, Alice Cush, Kate Campbell, John Mulligan, Mary Mulligan, David Mulhern, Margaret Mulhern, John Clarke, Margaret Farrelly, Marie Williams, Kevin Sullivan, Michael Rock, John McColgan, Bridget Maguire, Martin Maguire, Sally Corrigan, Sonny O’Reilly, Maggie McArdle, Jimmy McArdle, Kathleen Wallace, Maragret McGuinness, John Flanagan, Maisie McGuckian, Charlie McGuckian, Anthony Muldoon, Jim Logue, Ellen Weir, Liam Mackie, Oliver McParland, Sadie McMahon, Tommy Crowe, Maddie Holden, Sarah Doyle, Jimmy Doyle, Kathleen Pettigrew, Mary Cushnihan, Bell Cosgrove, Gerry Campbell.

The mural was painted by Lucas Quigley and unveiled on September 2nd by Annie Cahill. (Images of the unveiling from An Phoblacht.) 

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10523 [M10524] [M10525] [M10526] M10527
[M12613] [M12614]

The Lurgan Ambush

On the evening of November 21, 1982, the car in which IRA volunteers Eugene Toman, Sean Burns, and Gervaise [also spelled “Gervase” and “Gervais”] McKerr were travelling was hit by 109 bullets and all three were killed. They were perhaps the first victims of the “shoot to kill” policy. The first of the five panels in this Kilwilkie mural shows the bullet-holes in the driver’s side of the car, pointing out an inconsistency with the RUC’s statement that the car had run an RUC checkpoint and was fired at only from behind. (An Phoblacht)

“Lurgan town was rocked with sorrow/On that bleak November day/Hushed tones and tears were mingled/When great numbers stopped to pray” – these are the opening lines of Ida Green’s poem ‘The Lurgan Ambush’ (sung by Bo Loughran on youtube)

“Cumann Thomáıs Uí Chléırıgh, An Lorgaın” – Clarke was raised in Dungannon, where is a cumann and GAA club in his name.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10335
M10352
M10349 [M10350] [M10351]
M10346 [M10347] [M10348]
M10343 [M10344] [M10345]
M10340 [M10341] [M10342]
M10336 [M10339] [M10337] [M10338]

The Loyal People Of Loughmacrory

“Dedicated to the memory of those who died, their families, and indeed all the loyal people of Loughmacrory and surrounding areas, who despite all, remained faithful to Ireland and the republican ideal. ‘I have no prouder boast than to say I am Irish and have been privileged to fight for the Irish people and for Ireland. If I have a duty, I will perform it to the full in the unshakeable belief that we are a noble race and that chains and bonds have no part in us.’ Vol. Francis Hughes.”

“Comrádaıthe na n-arm. This plaque is dedicated to IRA volunteers Gerard Harte, Martin Harte, Brian Mullin who were killed in action at Drumnakilty on Tuesday 30th August 1988. Go luı cré arsa Thír Eoghaın go héadrom ar láthaır scíthe ár laochra uaısle. [May the ancient Tyrone clay lie lightly on the resting place of our noble heroes]”

Skeboy Road, Loughmacrory.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10063 [M10064] M10065 [M10066] [M10067] [M10068] [M10069] M10070 [M10071] [M10072] [M10073] [M10074]

To The People Of Ireland

Bobby Sands has been replaced at the centre of this Enniskillen board by a copy of the 1916 Proclamation flanked by Easter lilies. (See the previous version.) The rest of the board remains the same: graveside mourners surrounded by the four provinces and Celtic knotwork. The sunburst and starry plough have been painted in the corners of the out-building.

Corban Avenue sports facility, Loughview Road, Enniskillen

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09966 [M09968] [M09969] [M09970] [M09971] [M09972]
2015: [M12462] [M12463] [M12464]

Na Fıanna Ard Eoın

“Strength in our hearts, strength of our limbs, consistency of our tongues.” “Na Fıanna Ard Eoın 1909-2009 – one hundred years of resistance. In proud memory Fıan Davy McAuley … Josh Campbell … Josie McComiskey … Bernard Fox. ‘You may kill the revolutionary, but never the revolution.’ Dedicated by the Republican Network for Unity.” The four deceased are portrayed on four small boards, along with standing figures of Fianna from both centuries.

The plaque (alone) was seen in 2011.

Berwick Road, Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M09401 M09402 [M09403] [M09404] [M09405] [M09406] [M09407] [M09408] [M09409]