Ernie “Duke” Elliott came from the Woodvale area and was a founder member of the Woodvale Defence Association in 1971, which was later folded into the UDA. He was also a Marxist. He was killed in a pub brawl in December 1972 in a dispute over weapons (WP | Tele | Watching The Door)
“Remembering six sons of the New Lodge: Jim Sloan, Jim McCann, Brendan Maguire, Tony ‘TC’ Campbell, John Loughran, Ambrose Hardy. Murdered by British state forces as part of the occupation of our country on the night of the 3rd and 4th February 1973”. Two of the Six (James Sloan, James McCann) were killed by the UDA outside a bar and four (Tony Campbell, Ambrose Hardy, Brendan Maguire, John Loughran) among the crowd that gathered by British Army snipers from their positions on top of the flats, using night-vision sights. Previously seen in 2002.
INLA plaque in Friendly Street, Belfast. In proud memory of our fallen comrades: brothers James ‘Jim’ and Thomas ‘Ta’ Power – the former killed by a premature explosion in Friendly Street, site of this plaque, the latter killed alongside John O’Reilly in Dublin by the IPLO, and Emanuel Gargan, who was also killed in the feud. “When the freedom of our country and class has been won let us guard it well remembering it was paid for by the blood and lives of those now dead. Erected by the Irish Republican Socialist Ex-Prisoners Memorial Committee.”
“I ndılchuımhne ar óglaıgh chomplacht B an trıú cathlan brıogáıd Bhéal Feırste Óglaıgh na hÉıreann a fuaır bás ar son saoırse na hÉıreann and all others who died as a result of British occupation of our country.” Roll of honour for IRA volunteers (up to 1978) in and from east Belfast, beginning with Charlie Monaghan/Monahan who died in 1916 the day before the Rising and who would get a mural in 2006 (and another in the Markets in 2017), as would Sean Martin who died in 1940.
“C Coy lost volunteers,” “In memory of the volunteers who made the supreme sacrifice” and “In memory of all loyalists who gave their lives – lest we forget.” Red Hand Commando mural and plaques in Hunt Street, just off the Newtownards Road, Belfast.
The 36th Division East Belfast regimental flag and the flag of the YCV, rather than of the Ulster Volunteers, flank a modified crest of the Division – the letters “EBPB” have replaced a harp and crown. “Our message is simple: Where our music is welcome we will play it loud; where our music is challenged we will play it louder.” “In memory of John Boyd Richard Cowan Steven Hamill. Always remembers by East Belfast Protestant Boys FB.” (Fb | tw)
Bouquets of tricoloured flowers are placed on the Free Ireland mural at the corner of Beechmount Avenue and Falls Road, Belfast. A hand clasping an Easter lily is manacled by bonds “Made in Britain”. The mural is now in its fifteenth year. For the plaque, see the original 1990 post.
Joe Cahill joined the Fianna in 1937 and was involved in the republican movement from then until his death in 2004, including being in Tom Williams’s company in 1942 and later a founder member and Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA. In the centre of the image he is at the end of the table at the August 13, 1971, press conference to comment on the introduction of internment (CAIN). He is honoured in the mural above alongside his brothers Tom and Frank Cahill. (Pat O’Hare is painted between Tom and Frank.)
In the top left are small boards with portraits of Ned Maguire Snr, Ned Maguire Jnr, Sam Holden, Dal Delaney, Rita McParland, Paddy Meenan, Paddy Corrigan, Sean Wallace, John Petticrew, Alex Crowe.
“Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal – Bobby Sands [March 6th Diary].”
British Army snipers ensconced into Corry’s timber yard shot dead five people, including three teenagers, from Springhill and Westrock on the summer night of July 9th, 1972. All were unarmed. These images are from the Westrock-Whiterock memorial gardens (“gairdíní cuimhneacháin”) in Westrock Drive, west Belfast.
“This plaque marks the spot where Kellys Bar once stood and where on 13th May 1972 a no warning loyalist car bomb exploded. As a result 66 people were injured and three innocent members of staff of Kellys Bar lost their lives. They were Tommy McIlroy Died 13th May 1972; John Moran Died from his injuries 23rd May 1972; Gerard Clarke Died from his injuries 6th September 1989. Ar dheıs De [sic] go raıbh a namacha [sic].” Punters were watching a World Cup match between England and West Germany when the bomb went off. McIlroy was not killed in the explosion but in the gunfire from Springmartin which followed. More died in the gun battles that followed over the next two days – see the Battle At Springmartin (WP),