28 February, 1985, 9 RUC officers were killed in an IRA mortar attack on a Newry station (WP). Their deaths are celebrated in the graffiti above from Bligh’s Gardens, Derry, which reports the deaths as though a score from the (then) Bass Irish Cup.
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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Graffiti in City Cemetery, Derry, including “Victory to the Provos”, “IRA (P)”, “UTP”, “FTH” and an unknown one: “RUTS” — get in touch if you know what it means.
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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“Provos”, “IRA” and “FTH” in an unknown street, Belfast. Please e-mail/comment if you know the location.
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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Four images from Divis Flats, Belfast, in 1985. First and second, the two murals in the middle of the complex, both from 1981, one to INLA volunteers Matt McLarnon (killed in action on 12 May, 1981) and Danny Loughran (killed by the OIRA on 5 April, 1975) and the other (on the left) a street scene from yesteryear, part of the City Council’s Community Services programme from 1977 to 1981 (see chapter 2 of Bill Rolston’s Politics & Painting). Third, “Touts beware”. Fourth, “Stop the strip searches” on the top of the flats (to the right of faded “Divis Flats supports the hunger strikers”).
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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Four pieces of graffiti from Unity Flats. “1971 No Trials, 1984 Show Trials” (referring to the Supergrass system) along with “IRSP” (Irish Republican Socialist Party) and “FSLN” (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional), a red star and a sickle; “If you want the RUC in Newry, ring 999 and ask for 9” (referring to a February 1985 mortar attack that killed 9 officers); “Kirkpatrick Paid Informer” (referring to the INLA’s Harry Kirkpatrick (WP); and “INLA-Freedom”.
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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1985 version of the graffiti shown in Brit Thugs Out.
Eastway, Derry
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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1985 version of Fianna Éireann and Derry Not Londonderry (with “Vote Republican – Mitchel McLaughlin” sticker).
Rossville Street, Derry
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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There’s lot going on in this image of Kells Walk, Derry. On the left-hand wall there’s “Maggie [Thatcher] lured [Northern Ireland secretary Douglas] Hurd to be a turd” on top of an old “Smash H Block” graffito and next to what appears to be a (whitewashed) appeal for confidential tips about terrorist activity (see previously Incomplete Confidence). On the right we have both “Basques OK” and “E.T.A. OK”, and finally “IRA got [UUP M.P. Robert] Bradford Ha Ha”.
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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“There is an inner thing in every man. Do you know this thing my friend? It has withstood the blows of a million years, and will do so till the end.” From The Rhythm Of Time by “Vol. Bobby Sands.”
Blucher Street, Derry.
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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A line from Padraig Pearse’s oration at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa: “The fools, the the fools, they [have] left us our fenian dead. Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.”
Fahan Street, Derry
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Copyright © 1985 Peter Moloney
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