The Spirit Of Freedom

Extramural Activity3 Comments

There are a couple of interesting elements in this 30th anniversary hunger strikers mural in the Bogside. The frame is formed by chains (as seen previously on the Bobby Sands mural in Belfast) rather than knot-work, the names of Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are mixed into the list (rather than appearing together at the beginning or end), both the lark and the dove are included, and – most unusual and possibly unique – is the Irish translation of Bobby Sands’s saying “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children”: Baınfear ár ndíoltas amach leıs an gháıre dár bpáıstí. (And, as a super-extra bonus, the Irish has been – correctly – painted without tittles.)

“Derry remembers 1980-1981 hunger strikes. Re-dedication of mural 20th August 2011 on the 30th anniversary of Óglach Mickey Devine.”

Westland Street, Bogside, Derry

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Murdered By Britain

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The ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers are shown, each “murdered by Britain”, plus Michael Gaughan (“died on hungerstrike in Parkhurst Prison June 3rd 1974”) and Prıonsıas Stagg (usually Frank Stagg) (“died on hunger-strike February 12th 1976 Wakefield Prison”).

Republican Sınn Féın (web | old web | tw) board Chapel Road, Dungiven.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Save Brendan Lillis

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Two Brendan Lillis boards at the former site of the Andersonstown RUC barracks. The first is below No Bail For Murderers; the second is on top of On The One Road.

The accusation of “medical neglect” an appeal for compassionate release due to Lillis’s suffering from the arthritic condition, ankylosing spondylitis. For political background, see Release Brendan Lillis.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Ar Aghaıdh Lınn

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Cú Chulaınn stands dying. In addition to the four provinces in the corners, the four colours of man can be seen in the apex (as a background to Ireland). Tuan the hawk historian, who has seen all of the conquests of Ireland, flies overhead. (Both Tuan and the four colours are familiars of Mo Chara Kelly.)

“Ar aghaıdh lınn” [Onward! or Let’s go!]

Glenbawn Avenue, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Fáılte Go Gleann Bán

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A red-headed lass with a horn stands watch for others at a mass rock – a stone in a remote location for Catholic worship, made necessary by a Penal law of 1695 which forbade the religious practice of Catholicism and “dissenter” forms of Protestantism (that is, anything other than Anglicism) (source). The harp, with a “cap of liberty” rather than a crown (WP), together the slogan “Equality – It is new strung and it shall be heard” is the emblem of the Society of United Irishmen (WP). On the other side of the mural linen lies in the fields bleaching and a farmer and wife plough the land with a team of horses and distribute seed.

Glenbawn Avenue, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Transgenerational Trauma

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Relatives for justice (web) youth project holds an annual vigil for victims of plastic bullets and their families. This display places cut-out figures on the railings of the City Cemetery at the distances at which they were hit by a rubber or plastic bullet, between 1972 and 1989. (Previously done in mural form on Divis Street: Ban Plastic Bullets.)

From left to right, the victims are Keith White, Norah McCabe, John Downes, Tobias Molloy, Peter McGuinness, Stephen McConomy, Paul Whitters, Francis Rowntree, Julie Livingstone, Carol Ann Kelly, Seamus Duffy, Brian Stewart, Henry Duffy, Michael Donnelly, Thomas Friel, Peter Doherty.

The board on the far right contains an acrostic for “Plastic Bullets”: “Panic – Lethal – Age – Sorrow – Terror – Innocence – Children. Ban them – Unnecessary – Loss – Life – Extreme use – Transgenerational trauma – Stop using them”.

With support from Pobal, An tAontas Eorpach, and the Community Relations Council.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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