One in four Irish people, more than 2 million people, left Ireland between 1845 and 1855, many sailing on so-called “coffin ships” which had mortality rates of 30%. Another million died in the Great Hunger itself, in most cases the proximate causes were fever and dysentery (WP | Irish Central).
Crocus Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01486
Kieran Doherty was elected TD (Teachta Dála) for Cavan-Monaghan three weeks into his 1981 hunger strike. He held the position for two months, until he died on August 2nd. The portraits, plaques, and mural of marchers are in his home area of Andersonstown. The words “It is not those who inflict the most, but those that can endure who shall conquer in the end” is an echo of Terence MacSwiney, whose hunger strike in 1920 lasted 74 days, one more than Doherty’s.
Painted by Lucas Quigley in Slemish Way, Andersonstown, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01474
In-progress shots of the St James community mural in Hugo Street, Belfast, including posters of 1981 hunger strikers Bernard Fox and Pat Sheehan. A blanketman would be added at the top and a funeral scene – with child leaning on coffin – to the left.
Click here for the completed mural.
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
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The mask of “revisionism” covers the face of “truth” reading the book of “Irish history”. Originally painted in 1996 by Ciaran McKeirnan, Brian O’Loan, and Donal Daly, son of IRSP leader Miriam Daly, who was killed by the UDA in 1980, and to whom the title quote is attributed.
There is an in-progress shot in the Paddy Duffy Collection and another by Sean Patrick Allen on his Facebook page.
Oakman Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01453
“This mural is dedicated to the Women of Cumann Na mBan, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann & Sınn Féın.” Image “from R[uth] Taillon’s book The Women Of 1916.” Taillon is a Canadian who moved to Belfast in 1980 and has been doing work with the women’s movement in the north and on women’s history – see NVTv.w
Hawthorn Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01451
“In memory of the taxi drivers who lost their lives.” The gates of Milltown cemetery and the Andersonstown RUC base flank a black taxi beneath a celtic cross. Shiels Street, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01450
Unfinished and damaged “No plastic bullets/No RUC” mural in Springhill Avenue.
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01438
In Táın Bó Cúaılnge, the “sweet-mouth harpers of Caın Bıle” are also “druids, men of great cunning and great power of augury and magic.” They come to Medb and Aılıll to entertain them, carrying mistletoe by which they sing, but are mistaken as Ulster spies; the harpers turn themselves into deer to escape their pursuers, near the Lıa Mór (Great Stone) (Death Of Lethan).
Springhill Avenue, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01437
“Having a wonderful time? How was your summer?” The nationalist community is locked in the dark while the Orange Order parades loudly on the streets of south Belfast. Postcards From The Edge was a successful 1990 Hollywood film starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine (WP).
Replaces the RUC Ninjas.
Essex Street, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
M01430
22,000 British soldiers were involved in retaking the “no-go” areas of Derry and Belfast in Operation Motorman, in July 1972. This is the seventh mural from the Bogside Artists in what would become The People’s Gallery. The plaque is from 2007.
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Copyright © 2001 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 