painted wall

The Names, The Stories, The Tales, The Sacrifices

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“When the story of the Belfast Brigade of the IRA is told, when the war is over, is ended, among that story the names, the stories, the tales, the sacrifices, the actions of the volunteers from the Greater Ballymurphy area will be written large.” “This monument was erected by the republican people of Greater Ballymurphy in proud and loving memory of all those volunteers from the area who their lives in the fight for Irish freedom.” “Unveiled by Gerry Adams 12th May 1985.” “I ndıl cuımhne [chuimhne] ı gcónaı ag na poblachtánaıgh ón cheantar Barr Cluanaı.” “Also in memory of the civilians who died at the hands of the British Army, RUC, UDR and loyalist extremists.” The plaque was featured previously but the surrounding mural, with phoenix and volunteers with lowered rifles, is new. Ballymurphy Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2002, 2004 Peter Moloney
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You Can Kill The Revolutionary

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” … but not the revolution”. Images of a modern IRA volunteer, hero of the 1916 Rising James Connolly (both painted by Mo Chara), Zapata, and a member of the United Farm Workers (both painted by Rubén Ortiz-Torres from the University of California, San Diego). Also, a phoenix and a Mexican eagle, and the colours of Ireland and Mexico. Dedicated to the San Patricios, an Irish battalion in the Mexican-American war. 

Ballymurphy Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01647

Talk Of Us As Though We Were Beside You

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“Grieve not nor speak of us with tears but laugh and talk of us as though we were beside you”. Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, Belfast brigade, 2nd battalion, B company volunteers Kevin Delaney, Patrick Campbell, Michael Clarke, Anne Parker, and Michael Sloan are shown on patrol in Ballymurphy Parade, the street just to the left of this mural. Campbell was 16 when killed by friendly fire; the oldest at time of death was Delaney, at 26.

Also named on the plaque are “republican activists” Esther Valelly, Theresa Campbell, and Maggie Campbell.

Glenalina Road, Ballymurphy, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
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Copyright © 2012 Peter Moloney
[M07996] [M07997] [M07998] M07999 [X00070]

Our Laughter Will Be The Joy Of Victory

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“Our laughter will be the joy of our victory + [the] joy of the people; our revenge will be the liberation of all.” This is perhaps the only appearance of this quote from Bobby Sands’s hunger strike diary, from Thursday March 12th. In the background are the towers of Long Kesh; in the foreground is Sands’s funeral procession.

Gardenmore Road, Dunmurry/Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01637

Out Of The Ashes of 1969

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“In Ireland’s darkest hour her sons and daughters have always rallied to her cause” and “out of the ashes of 1969 arose the Provisionals”. Different generations of Irish rebellion are portrayed: there is a 1798/1803 pikeman in the background, an early IRA man on the left, and female and male volunteers from the Troubles in the foreground.

Jasmine Corner/Gardenmore Road, Twinbrook, Dunmurry/Belfast

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01635

Carol Ann Kelly

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12-year-old Carol Ann Kelly was shot by the British Army on May 22nd, 1981, and died three days later. Eight other children are remembered in this mural: Tobias Molloy, Frances Rowntree, Seamus Duffy, Paul Whitters, Stephen McConomy, Brian Stewart, Stephan Geddis, and Julie Livingstone. Molloy and Rowntree were killed by rubber bullets, the rest by plastic bullets. The mural, by Andrea Redmond, is in Twinbrook Road, Dunmurry, near where Kelly was shot.

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Copyright © 2002 Peter Moloney
M01630