“Tıocfaıdh ár lá”, “يومنا قادم” [yeomna qadm, our day is coming] (and below, “Saoırse” and “حرية” [freedom].
The figure at the centre of the mural, with the PFLP emblem, is sky-jacker Leila Khaled – for background on her see the same stencil of her in Hugo Street.
Seen previously in better condition in 2015. AMCOMRI St (AMerican COMmittee [for] Relief [in] Ireland), Beechmount, west Belfast
“Republican socialist movement, IRSP/INLA, remembers and salutes all those who gave their lives and liberty in the struggle for national liberation and socialism in Ireland 1916 – 2016.”
The Easter Lily on a red, five-pointed, star ties together the centenary of the Easter Rising with republican socialism. These are IRSP/INLA stencilled murals commemorating the centenary of the Rising. The first is in Beechmount, the second in Divis.
A statue of James Connolly was unveiled in the grounds of Comhaırle Phobaıl Na bhFál on March 25th (An Phoblacht). The statue is part of Slí Na Gaeltachta.
A little further long the road, tarps announce plans for a “James Connolly Interpretive Centre” (eventually opened in 2019 as “James Connolly Visitor Centre”).
“Eagraí ceardchumaınn, Sóısıalaí, Idırnáısıúnaí agus duıne de cheannaırí Éırí Amach na Cásca 1916. Bhí cónaí ar Ó Conghaıle agus ar a theaghlach ı measc lucht oıbre Bhéal Feırste agus chuıdıgh sé le Caıtıicıgh, Protastúnaıgh agus easaontóırí troıd ar mhaıthe le suımeanna na gnáthaıcme. Rugadh ı nDún Éıdeann ar 5 Meıtheamh 1868 é, mharaıgh scuad lámhaıgh Brıotanach é ı bPríosún Chıll Mhaıghneann, Baıle Átha Clıath ar 12 Bealtaıne 1916 as an pháırt a ghlac sé ın Éırí Amach na Cásca. / Trade union organiser, Socialist, Internationalist and one of the leaders of the Easter Rising 1916. Connolly along with his family lived among the working people of Belfast and helped organise, Catholics, Protestants and dissenters to fight together for the common class interests. Born in Edinburgh 5 June 1868, he was executed by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, 12 May 1916 for his part in the Easter Rising.”
Six photographs tell the story of Bloody Sunday (January 30th, 1972) and its aftermath:
“30 January 1972. A huge crowd gathers at Central Drive and Bishop’s Field in Creggan to attend an anti-internment march.” “The marchers make their way from Creggan to the Bogside. The peaceful march, destined for the city’s Guildhall, was blocked by security forces creating agitation in the crowd and some rioting broke out.” “British soldiers pursue fleeing marchers into the Bogside.” “The British Army begin firing indiscriminately at the crowd, in the Rossville Street area of the Bogside, killing 13 and wounding 18 (one of whom later dies of his injuries.” “2 February 1972. A city in shock attends the funerals of the Bloody Sunday dead at St Mary’s chapel in Creggan. Six of the dead were from the Creggan area.” “Thousands line the streets to pay their respects to the families of the Bloody Sunday victims, as the funeral procession makes its way to the city cemetery.”
There are currently three uses of the “Unfinished revolution, unfinished business” slogan in Derry.
First, a new mural is currently in progress in Creggan. On the right, a soldier raises the Irish Tricolour while trampling on Britain’s Union Flag and the “unfinished revolution” of 1916’s Easter Rising (reproducing a postcard of the era). The modern-day figure on the left is wielding a home-made rocket-launcher used in a 2014 attack on police. It also appears in the board immediately above, and in 2015’s Resistance in Ardoyne, north Belfast.
(The finished piece can be seen in the Seosamh Mac Coılle collection, with verbiage above and below reading, “Unfinished revolution, unfinished business” and “Resistance!”)
Central Drive, Eastway, and Westland Street, Derry.
“Cuımhníonn An Srath Bán orthu go deo”. ICA leader James Connolly was executed by firing squad in the grounds of Kilmainham jail on the morning of May 12th, 1916. He was tied to a chair because a bullet-wound to the ankle that he received in the GPO had turned gangrenous.
Also included is an RNU (Fb) stencil reading, “End British political policing, end internment of Irish citizens. Join RNU”.
“To protect partition! And to serve capitalism!” The Royal Ulster Constabulary, Police Service of ‘Northern Ireland’, and An Garda Síochána are branded as agents of the status quo, enforcing the partition of Ireland and the capitalist system. “Know your enemy – reject political policing”.
“End forced isolation, end controlled movement, end forced strip searches”.
This is a new panel – perhaps the fourth in 2015 – in the RNU (Fb)/Cogús (Fb) mural on Northumberland Street. If you can identify the image or the style, please get in touch.