women

Derry Women

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“Derry women made more than shirts – they made communities”.

Here is a Derry mural celebrating the role of women in society, both locally and world-wide.

On the left of the main panel, women march out of one of the city’s gates. The information sheet reads as follows: “On International Women’s Day, March 8th [1991, not 1981 as the hand-written addition suggests], the first ever women’s mural in Derry was unveiled on the back of Free Derry Wall. It was designed and painted by Patricia Hegarty and Joe Coyle, and helpers, both men and women. The mural takes its inspiration from a march in November 1968, after Minister for Home Affairs Bill Craig banned all civil rights marches in the walled city. Women factory workers walked out and spent the afternoon marching in and out of every gate in the city, deliberately “breaking the ban”. Men marched in from DuPont to join them, and a rally was held in the Diamond. In the mural you can find the faces of some of those marching on that historic day, as well as other women who played their part in the ongoing struggle for justice. Civil rights workers Bridget Bond and Women’s Aid refuge founder Cathy Harkin march alongside republicans such as Ethel Lynch, Bridget Sheils, Peggy Derry, prisoners’ rights activists Susie Coyle, and many others. You may find images of your granny, sister or aunt. The mural is dedicated to all those women whose energy and determination have changed their lives and the world about them.”

The board on FDC can be seen in Woods’s Seeing Is Believing?, plate 19.

In the centre of the main panel, a tapestry of images and posters is being sewn by a woman at a sewing-machine in one of Derry’s large shirt- and collar-making factories (one of which, attached to “Fabric World”, is shown on the right).

The tapestry includes flyers/posters of local women banging bin lids at the death of Tom McElwee, marching past the ‘Free Derry’ slogan on Free Derry corner, striking, and protesting; there are also posters supporting Palestine and gay rights, celebrating femininity, and one of Wonder Woman. 

Lecky Road, Brandywell, Derry

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Moygashel Neighbourhood Watch

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This is an interesting set of images from Main Road, Moygashel.

The first three employ familiar imagery of the UVF and the 36th Division (the Home-Rule era “Deserted! Well – I Can Stand Alone” is less familiar but goes back to at least 1988; the UVF flag also references the anti-Home Rule movement in the “1912” date of the founding of the Ulster Volunteers).

The stencil (“It is not racist to protect your own community”) and hand-painted board (“Don’t be DUPed”) indicate a recent change in attitudes.

In the May elections for the European Parliament, UKIP received the most votes and the most seats (24), campaigning on an anti-immigrant and Euro-skeptical message; this is its best electoral performance to date (WP). Perhaps in response to UKIP’s increasing popularity, Conservative leader David Cameron last year (2013) promised (gov.uk) a referendum on EU membership, should the Conservatives be elected in next year’s (2015) general election.

The source of dissatisfaction with the DUP is less clear. The party won the largest number of seats in the local elections in May (WP).

These are perhaps the first appearance in the Peter Moloney Collection of both sentiments.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Just As Good As Others

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RNU (Republican Network For Unity) mural at the top of Berwick Road (Paráıd An Ardghleanna) featuring the words of Maıréad Farrell, one of the PIRA members shot on Gibraltar.

“Everyone tells me I’m a feminist. All I know is that I’m just as good as others … and that especially means men. I am definitely a socialist and I am definitely a Republican. I believe in a united socialist country, definitely socialist. Capitalism can offer our people nothing and yet that’s the main interest of the British in Ireland.”

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Cumann Na mBan

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Cumann Na mBan was founded on April 2nd, 1914, and it is being commemorated in various ways, including a mural on Ascaıll Ard na bhFeá/Beechmount Avenue.

Cumann Na mBan was the women’s division of the Irish Volunteers and is best remembered for its role in the Easter Rising of 1916. Its members were involved in the occupation of many locations. Some, including (non-combatant) Winifred Carney, were in the GPO, while Countess Markievicz, the main figure of the mural, was in St. Stephen’s Green. (Here is an RTÉ gallery of vintage photographs, including one of Markievicz surrendering.)

The letters “Cnamb” on a rifle formed the badge of Cumann Na mBan. The Irish “Ní saoırse go saoırse na mban” means “[There is] No freedom until the freedom of women”. 

Replaces the Fıanna Éıreann centenary, 1909-2009, in which Countess Markievicz was also featured.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Céad Blıaın Ag Streachaılt

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“100 years of struggle” – Cumann Na mBan was formed in Dublin in April 1914 and celebrates its centenary in 2014.

The Countess Markievicz (pictured on the left) was a member of both Cumann Na mBan and the Irish Citizen Army.

The photograph on the right, of Troubles-era Cumann Na mBan (including Máıre Drumm on the right), can be seen at An Phoblacht.

The rear of Free Derry Corner has its own Visual History page.

See also: mural for 2014 International Women’s Day.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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For Me There Will Be No More War

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Here are three of twenty new panels on the Donegall Road bridge over the railway.

The post on the mural to James Magennis in Tullycarnet provides background information on him.

A letter home from the Somme: “How I love you all. I wonder what you are doing at home. I must not do that. It is hard enough sitting waiting. We may move at any minute. When this reaches you for me there will be no more war, only eternal peace and waiting for you.” July 1st, 1916 saw the start of the Battle Of The Somme. The 36th (Ulster) division lost over 5,000 men in an initial successful attack near Thiepval Wood, but were driven back that evening.

Ulster suffragettes: “Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.” (Bella Abzug). The board shows a picture of women drumming up an audience for a suffragette meeting in the Ulster Hall in November 1912. The image in the bottom right is of Emmeline Pankhurst being arrested in London in 1914; the top image is of Pankhurst on tour in the US in 1913 (LoC; see Pieces Of History for a description of the tour; she gave a speech entitled ‘Freedom Or Death’). Pankhurst spoke in Belfast at the 1912 meeting, though the speakers advertised on the placards are “Mrs Charlotte Despard, Miss Irene Miller, Mrs Edith How-Martyn, Miss Alison Neilans“. The first suffrage group in Ireland was the North Of Ireland Women’s Suffrage Society, founded in Belfast in 1872 by Isabella Tod. See also Belfast’s Infamous Prison for information about suffragettes held in Crumlin Road Gaol.

For a complete set of panels, see north side and south side.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Cumann Pobaıl Mhachaıre Botháın

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These plaques are on the front of Cumann Pobaıl Mhachaıre Botháın/Marrowbone Community Association, in memory of two long-time community-workers.

“Teach Christine. Erected in memory of Christine (Bap) Beattie, a dedicated friend and community worker to all in this area.”

“Máırtın Ó Dochartaıgh 1968-2011. Is cuma mura mbím beo ach lá agus oíche amháın fad agus go mbíonn lomrá [ıomrá] ar mo chuıd eachtraí ı mo dhıadh. [It is of no matter whether I live only a single day and night so long as my endeavours gain repute after I am gone.] Máırtín will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues in the youth and community organisations in the Marrowbone and across Belfast.”

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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Another Victim Of British Injustice

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“Free Marian Price – another victim of British injustice.” For background, see the initial post of Marian Price slogans, from June 2011.

For the painted “Free Marian Price” posters added to most of the Divis Street murals in 2012, see Scaoıl Saor Marian Price.

On the International Wall, Divis St.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
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