The Price Of Peace Is Eternal Vigilance

“”The Troubles” – During the “Troubles” there were several thousand people killed and many thousands injured. In order to justify the carnage and hurt caused republicans through their propaganda machine attempt to make out to the world that they were the victims, but the truth is somewhat different. The simple fact is that it was PIRA who murdered and maimed the vast majority of people[.] [N]umerous Sinn Fein-IRA members have blood on their hands[.] It is they  who created many of the victims. Northern Ireland remains British. The democratic wish of the people is for peace. However[,] it is vital that as society moves forward to a new terror[-]free future that those who were murdered or injured are not forgotten. This mural recalls some of the misery inflicted[,] in order that the victims of republican terror are not forgotten. “Lest we forget.”” “We owe it to the future and the victims never to forget the past.” Individual panels recount the deaths at Hyde Park, Claudy, La Mon House, Ballymacarrett, Kingsmills [Kingsmill], and Birmingham. Derwent Street, Belfast. Sponsored by the East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society – see Visual History 10.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Ulster’s Present Day Defenders

“The UDA was formed in 1971 as an umbrella for loyalist vigilante groups which claimed to defend the Protestant community from IRA violence. They remain today. The UFF was formed in 1973 as the mil[i]tary group for the UDA to defend Protestants from acts of Irish republican violence over 30 years of conflict.” It’s not clear what was “formed 1972”.

Previous versions of this mural put the UDA in parallel with an ancient “defender of Ulster from Irish attacks”, Cuchulainn.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Young Newton

The refreshed Young Newton mural at the end of “Freedom Corner” switches from mention of the UYM (UDA youth) to the 1893 UDU. “Our civil and religious liberties we will maintain” is a slogan from the anti-Home Rule protests. Inclusion of Northern Ireland nationalism is retained (the crest in the bottom right) alongside the crests of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Union. “Who will separate us.” There are three flowers around the Union flag – the Welsh daffodil is absent.

Newtownards Road, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Arkansas ’57 – Ardoyne ’01 – South Belfast ’09

“Everyone has the right to live free from sectarian/racist harassment!!!” Arkansas ’57 – Ardoyne 2001 – South Belfast ’09. This is a smaller and updated (and cruder) version of the ‘It’s black and white‘ mural in Ardoyne. That original put the abuse of the Little Rock Nine after Brown v. Board Of Education (‘Arkansas ’57’) in parallel with the abuse of students attempting to get to Holy Cross primary (‘Ardoyne 2001’). This update adds the treatment of residents in lower Ormeau during the Orange marching season, a controversy that began in 1992: see Postcard From The Edge | Trade Off?

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Markets Volunteers

Names are added to the (repainted or at least restored) IRA/Fianna mural in Friendly Street in the Markets. See previously 2002 and the paint-bombed 2006. The seven portraits are of Tony Nolan, Joseph Downey, Frank Fitzsimons, Joey Surgenor, Paul Marlowe, Jim Templeton, and Brendan Davison.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Those From the Ligoniel Area

The large stone in the corner is to Declan McCluskey but does not give a date or manner of death. It is perhaps the Declan McCluskey who died by suicide in 2005 (BBC-NI); his father Francie is included on the central plaque – he was killed by the UFF in 1982.

“This memorial is dedicated to the memory of all those form the Ligoniel area who lost their lives as a result of the conflict in our country. Mary, queen of the Gael, pray for them”; “This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Óglach Declan McCluskey, Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. ‘I love my God overall,’ he said, ‘And then I loved my land. Oh mother dear I was true, to God, to Ireland and to you.'”

The two central plaques read, “I ndıl chuımhne. This plaque is dedicated to the memory of all those from Ligoniel who lost their lives as a result of the conflict in our country. A Mhuıre banríon na nGael guıgh orthu.” and “In loving memory of Terry McCafferty, Michelle Osborne, Vol. Jackie Mooney, Danny O’Neill, Jim Sullivan, Alac Greer, Mary Sloan, Rosemary Brown, Mrs Sloan, Letta Younger, William Younger, Francie McCluskey, John O’Neill, Colm McCallum, Brian McKimm, Leo Scullion, Sammy Bell, Kevin Flood, Brian Duffy, John Todd, Maurice O’Kane. May they rest in peace.”

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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