painted wall

The Sagart

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A tribute to Father Alec Reid, who died on November 22nd, 2013, and buried on the 27th, has been added to the international wall on Divis Street. Reid was a priest in the nearby Clonard monastery and helped negotiate between Sinn Féin and the SDLP and between nationalists and the government of the Republic. He is perhaps best known for attempting to save Corporals Wood and Howe and administering the last rites to them, in 1988 (WP).

This piece takes the place of a ‘Free Marian Price” mural on the International Wall (Divis St); Price was freed on May 30th, 2013.

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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
M10656

Years Of Sacrifice

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This mural was originally intended to have two hooded gunmen firing a funeral volley (see X01436 for the draft), but because of protest by locals (see, e.g. NewsLetter) this was changed to two unmasked men, one of whom is clearly of the WWI era. Most of the mural refers to the modern UVF: the Nissen huts and towers are from Long Kesh, UVF members Robert Seymour, James Cordner, Joe Long, and Robert Bennett are listed on the left-hand side.

Carlingford Street, east Belfast. The “UVF 1st batt B. coy” graffiti is in Omeath Street.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10635 [M10636] [M10637] [M10638] [M10639] [M10640]
M10641

East Belfast Volunteers

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This is a repainted version of the mural of ‘insignia’ of units of the eighth battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles. This new mural includes a background of silhouetted soldiers and additional poppies on the right of the main gable and along the bottom of the side wall; the units included remain the same as before.

The plaques on the side wall have changed slightly: the information plaque remains from before but the plaque of VC winners now includes photographs, and the words of Moina Michael’s ‘We Shall Keep The Faith’ are now included in addition to McCrae’s ‘In Flanders Fields’.

Canada Street, east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10633 [M10634] [M10626] M10627 M10628 [M10629] M10630

The Untold Story

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This is a repainted version of the Canada Street mural about Protestant refugees to Liverpool in 1971. The text on the right of the previous version began “In August 1971 many Protestants fled their homes as the IRA launched a bitter sectarian attack on Protestant communities throughout Belfast” but now does not mention the IRA.

To the mural has been added a laminated letter of thanks to Elsie (Allen) Doyle, one of the organisers in Liverpool

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10631 [M10616] [M10617] [M10618] [M10619] [M10620] [M10621] M10622 [M10623] [M10624] [M10625] [M10632]
in august 1971 many protestants fled their homes as the scale of violence erupted throughout belfast the loyal people of liverpool held out the hand of friendship in our hour of need up to 2000 terrified women and children escaped from burning homes to live in the safety of liverpool that act of friendship by the people of liverpool will never be forgotten a bond never broken no surrender telegraph the big flight of fear is on refugee problem is still growing number of homeless running into several thousand moving out of riot areas echo city gets ready northern ireland steamship ulster queen princes dock just after 6.30 am tired and strained hastily packed suitcases told of there anguish elsie allen doyle the debt of gratitude owed to this lady cannot be measured sitting in liverpool she seen the plight of the protestant families having to flee their home some of them burning as a member of lily of north ladies l.o.l. 79 she decided something had to be done her husband & father-in-law traveled to belfast in august 1971 what she saw motivated her to think that people could come and stay these needed a break away from mayhem that was going on in the name of the republican cause started to make plans and phoned friends including the orange order the hand of friendship was being extended across the irish sea they would not be found wanting took over 900 no mean feat seen they were all housed and cared for god bless you grandchildren loyalist stretched out to us

Peace Bridge

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In this Caw mural the Peace Bridge is shown spanning the Foyle between (the former) Ebrington barracks and the Guildhall, with a film-strip of images, many depicting naval and military scenes, above and below. Second from left in the upper ribbon, a poster encourages people to “Join the Wrens [and free a man for the fleet]” (the Women’s Royal Naval Service; see the poster at IWM); there are also soldiers playing ping-pong in their barracks, and the ship’s bell of the HMS Londonderry (which served as a training ship during the Falkland War — WP).

Sperrin Park, Caw, Londonderry

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10541 [M10541a]

The Derrys

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“In proud memory of our fallen comrades from the Nelson Drive flute band. Glorious on the graves of heroes, kindly upon all those who have suffered for the cause. Thus will shine the dawn. They gave their tomorrow for our today.” The words in italics are from a Winston Churchill radio broadcast on October 21, 1940, entitled Dieu Protège La France. The final, more familiar, phrase is John Maxwell Edmonds’s memorial epitaph. The 10th battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, in the 109th brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division, was called “The Derrys” (web).

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10534 [M10535] [M10536] [M10537] M10538 [M10539] [M10540]

West Bank Estate

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The red hand in Fountain Street – seen previously with “PSNI scum” and “IRA” graffiti – is somewhat repaired – “PSNI scum” is still faintly visible across the top and the “IRA” at the base of the hand has been blacked out. “WBE” has been added; the “E” in “WBE” is unknown – compare with WBLY.

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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney
M10481