No More

A boy in blue and girl in green, from opposite communities in east Belfast, shake hands against the backdrop of the Harland & Wolff cranes. The poem “No More” in the middle of the mural is by community worker Jim Wilson, whose grandson Dylan is shown on the left. A smaller version of this mural, without the poem, is in Short Strand’s Edgar Street – see No More.

“No more bombing, no more murder
No more killing of our sons
No more standing at the grave side
Having to bury our loved ones
No more waking up every hour
Hoping our children, they come home
No more maimed or wounded people
Who have suffered all alone
No more minutes to leave a building
No more fear of just parked cars
No more looking over our shoulders
No more killing in our bars
No more hatred from our children
No more. No more. No more!”

By Dee Craig in Kenilworth Place, Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Ship Of Dreams

“Built in Belfast”. The White Star Line ship Titanic sank in the Atlantic in the early morning of April 15th, 1912, a thousand miles from New York (the co-ordinates are given in the top right), having been launched from Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, which is near this mural just off the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. The portraits are of Captain Edward Smith, architect Thomas Andrews, Jack Phillips (wireless officer), and paperboy Ned Parfett.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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To Those Who Gave Their All For The Great War

The portraits are of Edward Henry Carson and Private William McFadzean VC; the stone is a “Sydenham Roll Of Honour”. The insignia of various British Army units are shown over the hills around Thiepval and a sea of poppies. Seen previously from a distance in 2010.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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From The Greater Bone, Ballybone, Rosapenna

A mural of hands releasing doves is added to the memorial garden in Clós Ard An Lao, in Ardoyne (and a lower plaque is removed). In the middle is a plaque in remembrance of 38 local people (“from the greater Bone, Ballybone, Rosapenna area”) who died during the troubles, on the left, next to the pikemen, is a celtic cross with an Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann roll of honour; on the right is a statue of Jesus with a sacred heart.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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All Our Dead

In addition to three plaques, a wrought-iron head-piece, multiple flag-pole holders and railings fencing in a small area, this mural in Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close in Ardoyne uses painted discs for each of the twelve hunger strikers (the ten in Long Kesh 1981 and two from the 70s in English prisons, Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg – the twelve also featured in Derry’s Spirit Of Freedom mural), rather than painting their likenesses directly onto the wall. The two quotes are from Bobby Sands “Let our revenge by the laughter of our children” and Michael Gaughan “Let there be no bitterness on my behalf to achieve a united Ireland”.

The items above the mural are new, compared to 2010. The plaque on the left is to people who died “in defence of the area” and on the right to those who died “of natural causes” who endured discrimination, hardship, suffering, imprisonment.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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The Black Taximen’s Association

This is the new black taxi mural in Ardoyne Avenue, replacing the original painted in 2001. “‘The black Taximen’s Assoc. continued to provide a Service despite the spontaneous rioting which followed news of Frank Stagg‘s murder. Ulsterbus had cancelled all services in Nationalist areas immediately on hearing of Frank’s death’ – Newspaper editorial Feb. 1976. Dedicated to those who died in the service of their community: Michael Duggan, Jim Green, Harry Muldoon, Paddy McAllister, Caoımhın Mac Bradaıgh, Thomas Hughes, Hugh Magee, Padraıg Ó Cleırıgh. [on the side wall:] In memory of all taxi drivers – public and private – who were murdered by loyalists/British crown forces during the conflict serving their community through transport.”

The “photos” in the lower left and right include various Ardoyne murals that can be seen as part of a black taxi tour (taxitrax.com): Ard Eoın Kickhams, It’s Black And White, GPO 1916, The Blind Piper, The Mass Rock. This mural uses the same device as It’s Black And White, of painting in black and white with occasional use of red (originally for the sweaters of the children, à la Schindler’s List).

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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Larry Kennedy

“In proud and loving memory of Larry Kennedy, independent Belfast City councillor, anti-H-Block and Armagh Committee. Gunned down by pro-British forces on the steps of the Shamrock club, 8th October, 1981.” According to the Andersonstown News, Kennedy was killed by the UFF. The plaque is on the Ardoyne Avenue side of the club.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney
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