physical force

Seán Mac Dıarmada

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“Seán Mac Dıarmada 1883-1916 a bhí ına chónaí ı Sráıd de Buıtléır sa bhlıaın 1905.” [who was living in Butler Street in the year 1905].

Seán Mac Dıarmada was born in Leitrim, left for Glasgow at age 15, but after two years returned to Belfast in 1905 (working on the trams) and – according to the new mural above – spoke from the back of a coal lorry in Clonard Street, outside the Clonard branch of the Ancient Order Of Hibernians. Mac Dıarmada was for a short time an AOH member, before moving on to the Irish Republican Brotherhood and Irish Volunteers, which led to his participation in the 1916 Easter Rising and execution on May 12th of that year.

Havana Way, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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People Of The Colin Area

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The damaged Final Salute mural in Twinbrook is replaced by a memorial to IRA volunteers Gerard Fennell (killed by a British Army sniper in 1974), John Rooney (a week after Fennell), Bobby Sands, and Frankie Ryan (killed by a premature bomb explosion in St Albans). “Always remembered by the people of the Colin area.”

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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The Undauntable Thought

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“Michael Ferguson Sınn Féın MLA 25-10-53–25-9-06. Sean Keenan Sınn Féın 9-5-50–31-7-06. “It lights the dark of this prison cell/it thunders forth its might/it is the undauntable thought, my friend/the thought that says ‘I’m right'” – Bobby Sands”. Keenan was son of Derry republican Seán Keenan.

“Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. Óglach Patricia Black 28-11-71–15-11-91. Óglach Frankie Ryan 23-9-66–15-11-91. Beırıgí bua.” The pair died near London when a bomb exploded prematurely.

On Pantridge Road, which runs into Michael Ferguson Roundabout at its eastern end. (See Teeling Family.)

Black and Ryan are also remembered by a plaque in nearby Woodside (M08902).

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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The Great Wars & The Recent Conflict

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“In remembrance of all those Ulstermen & women from the Greater Dunmurry area who died during the great wars 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. Also those men and women who died during the recent conflict. Lest we forget.” The “recent conflict” perhaps includes the Ulster Special Constabulary (the B Specials), formed in 1920 and replaced by the UDR in 1970 – as included in the plaque on the railings. Rowan Drive, Dunmurry. See previously: Their Loyalty Betrayed and the 2005 images of Freedom Corner.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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