“On fame’s Eternal camping ground, the silent tents are spread, and glory keeps the solemn round, the bivouac of the dead.” Theodore O’Hara’s 1847 poem in memory of Kentucky soldiers who died in the Mexican War is use to commemorate “our brave fallen volunteers of the 36th (Ulster) Division, North Antrim Battalion (Ballymena).”
Drumtara, Ballymena
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03575
“This plaque commemorates IRA vol. Joe McDonnell who lived in this house prior to his capture on 14th Oct 1976. Joe later died at 5.11 am on 8th July 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike in the h blocks Long Kesh. ‘Let us swear by Joe’s martyred blood never to waver of fail til the true united Irish socialist republic stands forth before the nations, a testimony to the worthiness of our case.’ Óglach calma dobhrıste. [A strong, unbreakable volunteer]”
Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03539
“I ndíl [ndıl] chuımhne Máıre Drumm, Vice President of Sınn Féın, assassinated by loyalists 28th Oct. 1976. ‘We must take no steps backward, our steps must be onward, for if we don’t, the martyrs that died for you, for me, for this country, will haunt us forever.'” Máıre Drumm was Vice President from 1972 until her death, killed in the Mater hospital by RHC volunteers dressed as doctors.
Falls Road, Belfast
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03526
“15th August 1998. The Omagh Bomb. To honour and remembered 31 people murdered and hundreds injured from three nations, by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb.”
The bomb was the work of the Real IRA and came three months after the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
The plaque – “presented by the Omagh Support And Self Help Group to honour the European Day Of Remembrance For Victims Of Terrorism, 11th March 2005, and at our wish unveiled by Dr. W.W. Foster” – is in Spanish (as well as English and Irish) because two of the victims were Spanish holiday-makers.
The memorials shown were temporary, being replaced in 2008 (for the tenth anniversary) by a reflecting pool, mirrors, and engraved stones, one of which repeated the wording included here (BBC-NI).
Drumragh Avenue, Omagh
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03486 [M03485] M03484
“I ndıl chuımhne. In proud and loving memory of Óglach Dermot Crowley, Óglach Patrick Carty, Óglach Sean Loughran, Tyrone Brigade Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann who died on active service outside Omagh 25th June 1973. Fuaır sıad bás ar son shaoırse na hÉıreann. ‘If you strike at, or imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and perhaps, raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you! Do your worst’ – James Connolly.” The three died from a premature bomb explosion. For brief biographies, see An Phoblacht.
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Copyright © 2007 Peter Moloney
M03452 [M03451] [M05168]
“Wheresoever, howsoever or whenever we are called upon to make our exit, we shall do so as free men. – UVF East Belfast.” Three hooded gunmen frame a verse from Laurence Binyon’s For The Fallen.
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03378 [M03379] [M03380] [M03381] M03382 [M03383] [M03491] [M03541] [M03542]
From left to right, here are the murals and memorial garden in Kenbaan Street, Belfast, to the UFF/UDA/UYM, and LPA [Loyalist Prisoners Association]. The plaques include a few names of volunteers who died after the peace (as recently as 2002).
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03376 M03377 M03775 [M03774] [M03773] [M03772] [M03768] M03770 M03769 M03771Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
M04856 (wide shot)
2013 LPA close-up [M10649]
The 14th battalion was known as the “Young Citizens” battalion as it was formed from the youth battalion of the Ulster Volunteers.
Walnut Street, Donegall Pass, south Belfast
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
[M03341] M03342 [M03343]
A gated Celtic cross is added below the plaque to the victims of the 1992 attack on Sean Graham’s bookmakers shop in Ormeau Road.
Hatfield Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03338 [M03339] [M03340]
“In loving memory of Gerard Gibson, died 11-7-1972 [aged 16 years, OIRA], Michael Kearney, died 18-2-1987 [aged 21 years, IRA], Kevin McCracken, died 14-3-1988 [aged 31 years, IRA, shot in Norglen Crescent]. A thug a mbeatha de chrógacht ar son saoırse na hÉıreann [who bravely gave their lives for Irish freedom] Always remembered by the neighbours and friends of Lower Norglen Parade.”
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Copyright © 2006 Peter Moloney
M03244
Peter Moloney Collection 