Fır Na Pluıde/Blanket Men

“Fır na Pluıde: ı ndıaıdh do Rıaltas na Breataıne stadás polaıtıúıl a tharraıngt sıar ı 1976 mar chuıd dá straıtéıs le Cuma coırpeach a chur ar an streachaılt poblachtach. Dhıúltaıgh cımí poblachtacha cloí de rıalacha príosıún, a chur ıallach orthu obaır phríosúın a dhéaneamh agus éıde phríosúın a chaıtheamh. Ar an ábhar sın, séanach éadach ar bıth ar na cımí dıomaıte de phluıd agus dıútaíodh cead dul amach as a gcıllıní nó caıdreamh a dhéanamh le cımí eıle. Ó 1978-1981 b’éıgean daofa gabhal ar staılc folchta agus mar gheall aır sın séanadh aıseanna folctha agus leıthreas orthu. D’fhulaıng sıad córas mıllteanach brúıdıulachta a mhaır ó 1976-1981 a raıbh d’aıdhm aıge toıl na gcımí – cımí óga a bhformhór – a chloí. D’fhag an tréımhse brúıdıúıl sın a lorg ar chuıd mhaıth de na cımí agus bíonn an tráma acu go fóıll.”

“The Blanket Men: When political status was withdrawn by the British Government in 1976 as part of their strategy to criminalise the republican struggle, Republican prisoners refused to conform with prison rules which demanded that they wear prison uniform and carry out prison work. They were denied any clothing with the exception of a blanket and denied exercise or to associate with any other prisoners. From 1978-1981 prisoners were forced onto a no wash protest, as a result of which they were denied washing and toilet facilities. They were subjected to a regime of brutality that lasted from 1976-1981 aimed at forcing the mainly young protesters to confirm [sic] with prison rules. Many of the prisoners were scarred and brutalised by their experiences and live with the trauma of that time.”

Clowney Street, above the Phoenix.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04943 M04941 [M04942]

2nd Battalion B Company Village

“In proud and loving memory of our fallen comrades 2nd battalion south Belfast will always be remembered by the officers and volunteers ‘B’ company Village. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them. For God and Ulster.” Combined Ulster Volunteers (on the left, with Thiepval Tower and insignia) and UVF (on the right) memorial garden in Moltke Street, Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
[M04926] [M04927] [M04928] M04930 M04929

HMS Belfast

“HMS Belfast – built in Belfast to protect Britain’s future. Pro tanto quid retribuamus. [What shall we give in return for so much? – the motto of Belfast city]”. The mural shows HMS Belfast being launched on March 17, 1938. Tower Street, Belfast. After serving in WWI and Korea, the ship is now a tourist attraction in London.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04869 [M04688]

An Gorta Mór

2009 image of the (second – see C05209) Great Hunger mural on Ardoyne Avenue (see previously the mural in 2002) with the correct spelling of “emigration” restored (see 2004).

“They buried us without shroud or coffin” is a line from an unrelated Seamus Heaney poem Requiem For The Croppies. Produced by “Ardoyne Art & Environment Project”.

The plaque on the left is to Larry Marley.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04781

Seán Mac Dıarmada

“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

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04780

People Of The Colin Area

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.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04763 [M04764] [M04765] [M04766]

The One Stop Ulster Shop

Fulfilling all your marching band and Orange Order needs: the One Stop Ulster Shop in its former location half-way down Sandy Row (before becoming Living Tradition and then Sandy Row Marching Band Supplies). The Royal Banner of Scotland is included alongside St Andrew’s Saltire. Bands included along the awning for the shutters are Clydevalley Volunteers Glasgow, Millar Memorial Belfast, Ballynahinch Young Loyalists, MYC Newtownards, Skeogh Flute Band, ? Liverpool, Clydevalley Volunteers Larne, Crumlin Young Loyalists, Steeple Defenders Antrim, Ballee Blues And Royals, Pride of the Shore North Belfast, Ballysillan Volunteers, Pride of Shankill, Somme Volunteers Flute Band, Glenhugh Flute Band Ahoghill, Bridgeton Loyalists, Lower Ards Volunteers, Rising Sons East Belfast, Rising Sons Of The Somme Carrickfergus.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04748 [M04753] [M04752] [M04751] [M04750] [M04749]