A “freedom flotilla” of six ships attempted to end the blockade of Gaza but were stopped by Israeli forces, with activists dying in the resulting struggle (WP).
Previously: End The Siege Of Gaza
New Barnsley Parade, Top Of The Rock, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05936
The painting (by Rıstead Ó Murchú) on the board shows the killing (from the direction of Springmartin) of Father Hugh Mullan in waste ground near Springfield Park. It was previously on the Whiterock Road but has now been moved onto the Springfield Road to join the murals calling for justice. (Out of frame to the right are more panels, including one about the children left behind and one of locals protesting.)
“Ballymurphy Massacre – August 1971 – We demand the truth” with portraits of the 11 dead – Quinn, Mullan, Connolly, Teggart, Philips, Murphy, McCarthy, Doherty, Laverty, Corr, McKerr.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05935 we demand the truth
“Freedom for the Basque political prisoners.” “Askatasuna” is Basque for “freedom”. In January 2010, all 742 Basque political prisoners went on hunger strike to protest the policy of dispersing them to prisons all over Spain and France.
Glen Road, Andersonstown, west Belfast – former site of the Andersonstown RUC barracks.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05934
This mural of an eagle is particularly striking because it is a piece of street art (by TMN members Raser and Akin/Aken) in Andersonstown (specifically Glen Parade, opposite the Kennedy Centre). Its presence so close to sectarian murals is perhaps explained by the fact that it is on the side of a business – Vogue hair stylists.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00349
Above and below are images from the August 15th (feast of the assumption) march of the Ancient Order Of Hibernians, taken at Milltown Cemetery where AOH leader Joe Devlin is buried. The first two show banners of the Gortrighey division (387) – the first includes an image of a priest celebrating the nativity on Christmas morning at a mass rock in the penal days which is also reproduced in an Ardoyne mural. The Glassdrummand banner shown next includes a very similar image.
We then have two showing the assumption of our lady, the first from the first Derry division and the second from Rosnashane.
The final banner, from Randalstown, shows ‘Our Lady Queen Of Ireland”.
The final two images are of the lapels of a well-traveled Newry member, with badges from Michigan and Pennsylvania alongside a pike (1798), an easter lily (1916) and commemorations of Bloody Sunday and the hunger strikers, and of the side entrance to the local Clonard AOH lodge, division 58, which hosted the gathering.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02417 X07262 X07259 X02413 X07261 X07260 X02412 X02419 [X02411] [X02414] [X02415] [X02416] [X02418] rasharkin ıuır cınn tra yellow jack donohue montco hatfield bloody sunday 72 an gorta mor 284 1905-2005 celtic supporters club hunger strike 25 1981-2006 claddagh 1798 pike stand united or hang alone national convention philadelphia notre dame montgomery county friendhsip unity & true christian charity cromwell 1695
Na Fıanna Éıreann emblem (Sunburst and pike) with “Ógra Shınn Féın”, alongside some wild-style writing and ads for tyres and taxis.
At the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00350
Twelve hunger strikers prior to the 1981 strike are included in this Shaws Road board: on the left: Thomas Ashe, Mountjoy 1917; Michael Fitzgerald, Cork 1920; Terence McSwiney, Brixton 1920; Joseph Murphy, Cork 1920; Joseph Witty, Curragh 1923; Denis Barry, Newbridge 1923; Andrew Sullivan, Newbridge 1923; Tony D’Arcy, Arbour Hill 1940; Jack McNeela, Arbour Hill 1940; Seán McCaughey, Portlaoise 1946; Michael Gaughan, Parkhurst 1974; plus on the right: Frank Stagg, Wakefield 1976.
For the mural in better condition, see M04541.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05923
“IRA Hunger Striker Óglach Joe McDonnell 1951-1981.” McDonnell was the fifth striker to die, on July 8th, after 61 days.
Shaws Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05919
“Our rulers will stop at nothing to attain their ends. They will continue to rule and rob until confronted by men who will stop at nothing to overthrow them.” The quote is from James Connolly on Conscription in 1915. Local volunteer Joe McDonnell is portrayed between the names of the ten deceased 1981 hunger strikers. Lenadoon Avenue, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05920
“Nature sent the potato blight, government & landlords created the famine.” A woman kneeling between two gravestones inspects a rotten potato during the Great Hunger (Visual History).
Lenadoon Avenue, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05918
Seosamh Mac Coille Collection 