“In loving memory of all the innocent people and volunteers in the greater Newington area who have lost their lives in the ongoing struggle for Irish freedom. Rest in peace our dear family, friends & comrades. ‘From death springs life and from graves of great patriots springs a great nation’ – Padraıg Pearse” (from the oration at the funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, 1915).
“End internment – Free Marian Price”. August 2012 and Marian Price has been moved from Maghaberry to Hydebank (in February – BBC) and the charges against her for her part in the 2011 Easter Rising commemoration in Derry have been dropped (in May – BBC).
On the flats and in Queen’s Parade, New Lodge, north Belfast.
“Níl aon rud acu ına n-armlann ımpırıul [ımpırıúıl] a bhrısfidh meon an Éıreannaigh [Éıreannach] nar mhaın [mhıan] leıs a bheıth brıste – They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of an Irishman who does want to be broken”
“Damn your concessions, England – it’s our freedom we want.” [– Seán Mac Dıarmada]
“Maghaberry concentration camp – End forced strip searches – End controlled movement.”
Here are three republican boards, framed: on the left, “Belfast Brigade ONH”; above right, “Until all are free we are all imprisoned – support all republican POWs – RNU (Fb)/Cogús (Fb); below right, the deceased 1981 hunger strikers. The lettering on the left reads “Join the Republican Network For Unity”, and below everything there is a Bobby Sands quote: “We all know the reason that we are being tortured – because we are political dissidents, POWs, and we won’t bend the knee or conform” (from Thoughts From The Shadows).
The scroll reads “Out of the ashes of 1969” arose the Provisional IRA, but the lineage is a long one and all but one of the organisations, events, and arms depicted here precede 1969: Cumann Na mBan, Na Fıanna Éıreann, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, a Celtic shield and sword, a pike (from the 1798 Rebellion), a Thompson gun, the Tricolour; only the assault rifle is modern and perhaps also is meant to indicate the Provisionals, Belfast Brigade. “Fuaır sıad bás as son saoırse na hÉıreann.”
“Community Inquiry Report: There was a clear breach of Article 2 of the European Convention On Human Rights, the right to life. The jury was deeply moved by the integrity and honesty of the evidence they heard. We have been deeply shocked by the state’s total failure to investigate killings and woundings. The evidence is unequivocal regarding the innocence of the deceased and wounded. There is no evidence whatsoever that they were armed or acted in a manner that could be perceived as a threat to the security services.”
Two of the New Lodge Six (James Sloan, James McCann) were killed by the UDA outside a bar and four (Tony ‘TC’ Campbell, Ambrose Hardy, Brendan Maguire, John Loughran) were among the crowd that gathered, killed by British Army snipers from their positions on top of the flats, using night-vision sights, February 3rd-4th, 1973. Sınn Féın politician Gerry Kelly spoke at the launch (image in the Seosamh Mac Coılle collection).
Jim O’Neill was killed in February 1976 during an IRA arson attack on a furniture warehouse on the Antrim Road near the New Lodge – Gerry Fitt’s house next door might have been the ultimate target (Belfast Child); Robert Allsopp appears to have accidentally shot himself in March 1975 (Irish Peace Process). Both were members of Na Fıanna. The flute band (Fb) is named in their memory.
Below the portraits of Jim O’Neill and Robert Allsopp is written “Glaıne ınár cgroí, neart ınár ngéaga, beart de reír [réır] ar [ár] mbrıathar.” [Purity in our hearts, strength in our limbs, action consistent with our words]
“I ndıl chuımhne ar Mhıcheál Ó hAodha, Óglach na hÉıreann, a dunmharaíodh anseo ag Arm na Breataıne ar 18 Deıreadh Fómhaır 1974. I meas laochra na nGael go raıbh sé. In proud and loving memory of Vol. Michael Hughes, Irish Republican Army, who was murdered at this spot by The British Army on the 18th October 1974.” According to Sutton, Hughes was shot while attempting to hijack a bus.
“If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organization of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain. England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist institutions she has planted in this country and watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs. – James Connolly” in the 1897 piece “Socialism And Nationalism“. Connolly’s thought is that – even in a self-governing republic – nationalism is not enough to establish an authentically Irish state; socialism is also required.
“This plaque is dedicated to the men and women of the socialist republican movement, many of whom lost their lives and many more their freedom whilst incarcerated during the war of liberation. Their sacrifices and selflessness will forever be remembered. Erected by Newry Socialist Republicans.”
Here are two republican plaques/stones at the Culloville/Cullaville crossroads. First, a memorial to the deceased 1918 hunger strikers. Second, a memorial to IRA volunteer Keith Rogers.
“During the Long Kesh hunger strike protests in 1980 and 1981, the Culloville Anti H Block Committee held their meetings in this hall, where they organised many events to highlight the plight of republican prisoners. This plaque is in memory of the ten men who died so unselfishly during the protest so that the republican struggle would not be criminalised. ‘Our revenge will be the laughter of our children’ – Bobby Sands. Unveiled on the 12th August 2011 by former political prisoners Paddy Quinn and PJ Traynor.”
“In proud and loving memory of Vol. Keith Rogers, South Armagh Brigade, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, murdered by criminals at this spot on the 12th March, 2003. Fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.” Rogers, from Louth, was not an active duty when he was killed (An Phoblacht).