100 Years Of Revolution

A Sınn Féın centenary (1905-2005) mural is added to the Éıre Nua Flute Band board (seen in 2004). Above them is a Sınn Féın board with Mao’s statement that “If there is to be a revolution, there must be a revolutionary party.” Both the flute band and Sınn Féın have internet addresses.

Whiterock Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Where’s The Joy?

Three year-old Tyler Watson survived the crash in which both of his parents were killed by a “death driver” (rather than “joyrider”) near Ballymoney (BBC). For the original photograph, see the Extramural post on the version of this board on the Shankill, where the Watsons were from.

Three versions of the mural were painted, part of the campaign by Families Bereaved Through Car Crime (Fb). This one is on the Springfield Road, near where Debbie McComb was run over in 2000 (see Death Driving), and is dedicated by artist Frank (Lucas) Quigley to son Rossa Quigley who was struck by dangerous driver in April 2003 on the Cliftonville Road. Another was placed in north Belfast just below Cliftonville Road.

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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The Usual Suspects

The 1995 film The Usual Suspects (which takes its title from Casablanca‘s “Round up the usual suspects”) was such a hit that – even nine years later – it (and its “line-up” scene – youtube) could be used as the basis for this “Collusion = state murder” mural on the Springfield Road, Belfast.

The spider in the bottom left was the central image in an Andersonstown Road mural. “Murder = murder = murder” (at the bottom) imitates Margaret Thatcher’s statement on the 1981 hunger strike: “Crime is crime is crime” (youtube).

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Now That I’m Free

Anti-drugs board in the Markets, Belfast, covering all the bases: “Goodbye marijuana, cocaine and crack/I’ve finally got my life on track/I don’t need you, you don’t need me/I feel good now that I’m free.” “1 out of every 4 people who die sniffing solvents are first time sniffers!” “LSD can make you very confused and scared. Some people never recover from the experience of having ‘a trip’.”5 tabs can damage your body by poisoning your liver. They can also lead to coma and even death.” “Cannabis can make you paranoid, sick and forgetful. Some people end up not being able to stop using it.”

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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PUP East Belfast Branch

The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) is a left-leaning unionist party founded in 1979 by Hugh Smyth, who served as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1994. His successor as leader of the party (in 2002) was former UVF member David Ervine, who had been elected to the NI Assembly in 1998 but would die in January 2007.

Newtownards Road, Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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We Are The Pilgrims

“We are the pilgrims, master; we shall always go a little further.” Copy of a UVF Tamar Street mural (perhaps after that area was redeveloped) above Cheepers on the Newtownards Road, Belfast. Below that is the view from Chamberlain Street in 2008, looking out over the red-white-and-blue kerbstones.

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Neamhcromtha, Neamhbhrıste

“Unbowed, unbroken.” This is a version of the earlier Éıre/Ireland mural (depicted as a female in the centre of the mural) seen in 2005.  Portraits of 18 local republicans are included, beginning with Charlie Monahan and Murtagh McAstocker. This mural is similar to the earlier one on the shop gable (which had 16 portraits).

The plaque to the left reads “Dedicated to the memory of the volunteers of B company 3rd battalion Belfast brigade Óglaıgh na hÉıreann who died fighting for an Irish socialist republic. Fuaır sıad bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann.”

Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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My Hope Lies In The Ultimate Victory Of My People

“I have hope, indeed. All must have hope and never lose heart. My hope lies in the ultimate victory of my people [for my poor people] – Bobby Sands, March 5th, 1981.” Robert Ballagh was commissioned by Sınn Féın to produce a piece for the 20th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike and came up with the ten doves escaping an H Block (see the Visual History of “Hawks” & Doves).

Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Comhıonannas Don Ghaeılge

“Equality for Irish”. At the 2006 Sınn Féın Slógadh, MEP Baırbe De Brún called for an Irish Language Act (Sinn Féin press release). The protesters in the mural carry placards reading “Is Gael mıse – teastaıonn Gaeılge uaım [I am Irish, I need Irish]”, “Naıre oraınn a Chomaırle [Shame on you, [Belfast City] Council]”, “Cearta teanga – cearta daonna [not “daonne”]” – “language rights, human rights”. “We demand respect for our culture.”

The same trio of Pádraıg Mac Pıaraıs, Winifred Carney, and Roıbéard Ó Seachnasaıgh appears in Cláraıgh Le Sınn Féın. Sands’s famous saying (“the laughter of our children …”) is translated into Irish: Is é gáıre ár gcuıd páıstí a bheas mar dhıoltas again.

Shiels Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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Councillor Liam MacCarthy

The Liam MacCarthy cup is awarded each year to the All-Ireland hurling champions. It was commissioned by and is named after London Irish-speaker Liam MacCarthy. He was elected a councillor for Peckham North and chaired the London GAA board, of which Michael Collins and Sam Maguire were also members (WP) – the All-Ireland champion footballers are awarded the Sam Maguire Cup. “Gael, patriot – Ireland’s forgotten son.”

Divis Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
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