Topper Thompson

“In memory of Topper Thompson, murdered by British death squads, 27th April 1994 aged 25. Deeply missed by never forgotten. Erected by his friends.” Paul Thompson was shot by a UDA gunman through a hole that had been cut in the security fence and about which the RUC had been notified earlier in the day (Relatives For Justice).

This is the second memorial to Thompson in Springfield Park, west Belfast. See the illustrations to chapter seven of Painting My Community for photos of the original memorial and of a march alleging collusion in Thompson’s killing.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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From The Graves Of Patriot Men And Women Spring Living Nations

This is a new info board at the bottom of the steps leading up to the IRA memorial dolmen first seen in 1999. It features portraits of 16 volunteers from Derry’s 1st battalion and a quotation from Pearse at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa in 1915: “Life springs from death, and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations. The Defenders of this Realm have worked well in secret and in the open. They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.”

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Clonard Martyrs

This is a replacement version of the gallery of “Clonard Martyrs” above the memorial garden, seen previously in 2011. The central phoenix is now in red (rather than green) and the background imagery has been removed but the roll of honour remains the same:

Left: Dan Duffin, Seán McCartney, Tom Williams, Gerard McAuley, Peter Blake, Seamus Simpson, Seán Johnston, Seán Gaynor, Pat Duffin, Gerard Ó Callaghan, Seamus Burns, Danny Ó Neill, Tom McCann.

Right: Gerard Crossan, Seán Ó Riordan, Martin McKenna, Liam Hannaway, Jim McKernan, Dan McCann, “dedicated to the memory of local republican, Billy Davidson”, Tony Lewis, Joe McKenna, Brian Dempsey, Finbarr McKenna, Seán Savage, Prıonsaıs Mac Áırt.

For many of the stones and plaques, see Clonard Martyrs, Who Have Resisted And Still Resist, and Deceased Republican Prisoners.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Join The Revolution

These images are from the front yard of Costello House, the Falls Road home of the IRSP. Top, “Belfast RSYM [Republican Socialist Youth Movement] – join the movement”. Immediately above, “In memory of the Irishmen who fought against fascism with the XV International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. No pasaran. ‘Through the mists of time they will never be forgotten.’ Erected by the Irish Republish Socialist Movement.”

See also the plaque to Seamus Costello.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Not A Bullet

These graffiti are on the building below Kildrum Gardens. “Not a bullet, not an ounce” is a comment on (Provisional) IRA disarmament and continued physical-force resistance; “End British internment” is a comment on the fate of prisoners from anti-Agreement organisation; “Free Gaza!!” and “Israel scum” are comments on the 2014 Gaza War (WP).

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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End British Internment

“End the torture in Maghaberry Gaol – Smash Stormont – www.irpwa.com – Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association – strip searching – isolation – controlled movement.”

IRPWA board on the rear of Free Derry Corner.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Britain’s Involvement In Torture In Prisons

“Cogús [Fb] presents ‘Britain’s Involvement In Torture In Prisons, Past And Present’. Speakers: Joe Clarke & Jim Auld, Gerry Brannigan, Moazzam Begg. Sat. 8th August, Conway Mill 7 pm – 10 pm. Free admiss[i]on”

Northumberland Street, west Belfast, taking the place of Leonard Peltier.

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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Oppose British Political Policing

A 32-County Sovereignty Movement (web) tarp reading “Oppose British political policing” has been added below and partly on top of some lettering reading “RIC – RUC – PSNI”, “RUC -> Collusion covered up by PSNI” on a whitewashed panel that sat empty for weeks. It would seem that the original plans for this piece did not materialise and the tarp is a substitute.

On the International Wall, Divis Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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