“RUC out” and “Demilitarise now” stencils next to graffiti in Welsh Street, the Markets, south Belfast.
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01344
PIRA 96 Undefeated!
Keep The Orange Order Out
Two boards in Welsh Street, south Belfast: “Vote Sınn Féın’s [Seán] Hayes. Keep the Orange Order out. May 21st No. 1” and “93% Protestant, 100% Unionist – Disband the RUC.” The figure on the left is a three-in-one RUC officer, Orange Order member, and loyalist paramilitary. Hayes was elected fourth from the Laganbank district, taking a seat from the SDLP.
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01345
Saoırse
A Christmas reminder about republicans in jail: “Saoırse – Release the POWs”. For the same candle in barbed wire and chained-up forearms, see Sınn Féın Action Monitor.
Market Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01343
Re-Route The Flute
“Here is a final image from lower Ormeau about Orange Order flute band marches through the area in the summer of 1997.
Cooke Street, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01342
RUC Ninja
This mural was never finished, so it’s not entirely clear what it was meant to represent. It shows two and a half RUC officers in riot gear, leaping like ninjas, presumably over the wishes of lower Ormeau residents.
Essex St/Sraid Conchúr Mhic Neasa, Belfast.
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01341
Release All POWs Now
Both male and female prisoners of war are represented in this mural: by the male and female faces — the male above the silhouette of Long Kesh, the female behind bars (presumably of Armagh prison) – and by the (formerly astrological) symbols for male (Mars) and female (Venus). “Saoırse” (“freedom”). The mural is signed (top left): “G[erard Mo Chara] Kelly 95 [© SF??]”.
Kinallen Court, Belfast
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01340
Approved Orange Route
The “approved Orange route” – approved by the “SS” RUC and the Parades Commission Chairman, is right over Catholics. The march was cancelled on July 11th after opposition to marches in many places, including the Drumcree march of July 6th. “June 20” (on the right of the mural) is the date Mo Mowlam (Beware!) is reported to have decided to force the Drumcree march down Garvaghy Road.
Dromara Street, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01338 M01339
Don’t Let Roısín McAliskey Die In Jail
“No peace without justice”. Róısín McAliskey (daughter of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey) was arrested in 1996 in connection with a mortar attack on a British Army base in Germany and held in Holloway prison (London) until March 1998.
Ormeau Road, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01337
Beware!
Mo Mowlam became (Labour) Secretary for Northern Ireland in May 1997, and made a contentious decision to allow the march down Garvaghy Road, though the decision was not revealed until several weeks later, just before the proposed date (Independent). The image above shows a mural in the style of a ‘wanted’ poster for Mowlam – “Have you seen this person? Wanted! For fraud and deception, for GBH on Garvaghy Road.”
Ormeau Road, south Belfast
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
M01336
Sandy Row 2nd Batt
Three panels in a row with Ulster First Flute, UVF/PAF/YCV (seen in 1995), and UDA insignia. In the middle, on either side of the UVF’s “for God and Ulster”, masked volunteers carry Uzis.
Albion Street, Belfast, just off Sandy Row.
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Copyright © 1997 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 