knot-work

H-Block Martyrs

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The large board on the left commemorates the 10 dead hunger strikers (WP) and two blanketmen. “No greater love” echoes John 15:13.

There are also two smaller boards on the right: first, “Same old mural, same old force” with the three-in-one figure of RUC, Orange Order, and loyalist paramilitary under a traffic “No” symbol; second, an interesting board alleging collusion between the RUC and the UDA and UVF in north and east Belfast.

Oldpark Road, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00063 h-block martyrs 1981

Lady In Red

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Volunteers in Cumann Na mBan (or youth wing Cumann Na gCaılíní) from Ballymurphy and Springhill are remembered in a 2002 mural in Ballymurphy.

Anti-clockwise, they are Maura Meehan, Anne Marie Pettigrew, Dorothy Maguire, Eileen Mackin, Catherine (Cathy) McGartland, Anne Parker. All but Mackin are included in the Greater Ballymurphy plaque.

The volunteer on the right dates back (at least) to the 1982 poster below; the parade is perhaps based on a picture of Mao’s China?

Information from CAIN on four of the women shown.

Ballymurphy Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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1982 IntWomensDay

Bryson-Mulvenna

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2001 mural to IRA volunteers Jim Bryson and Patrick Mulvenna in Ballymurphy, both holding serious weaponry.

“In memory of [IRA] volunteers Jim Bryson and Patrick Mulvenna. Died on active service 1973”. The pair were killed by undercover British Army soldiers firing from above the Ballymurphy shops (Broken Elbow). Mulvenna died immediately (August 30th), Bryson three days later.

For the plaque, see M01657. Another plaque would later be added to the centre of the mural.

Ballymurphy Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Three Volunteers

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“In passing this mural, pause a little while, pray for us and Erin, then smile.” This is a Ballymurphy mural dedicated to three local PIRA volunteers: Bobby McCrudden, Mundo O’Rawe, and Pearse Jordan. McCrudden was shot in Ardoyne in 1972 (Sutton). O’Rawe was shot on the lower Falls in 1973 (Sutton). The circumstances of Jordan’s death in 1992 at the hands of an undercover RUC unit were controversial; his case went to the European Court Of Human Rights (WP).

From a photo in the Peter Moloney Collection, the plaque reads “I ndíl [ndıl] chuímhne [chuımhne] Oglach [Óglach] Edward ‘Mundo’ O’Rawe, Oglach Robert McCrudden, Oglach Pearse Jordan – who gave their lives for Ireland’s freedom.”

This is one of the murals in the Ballymurphy Mural Project.

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Belfast Graves

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“And all around are monuments that bear a martyr’s name/True patriots who fought and died to kindle freedoms flame/Jimmy Quigley, McCormick and O’Neill/Remember them, they died for us and found a martyr’s grave.” The words of Ray McAreavey’s song are modified to include four Ballymurphy IRA/Fıanna volunteers.

This Ballymurphy mural uses symbols of ancient Ireland and the pikes of 1798/1803 to commemorate four modern volunteers — Jimmy Quigley, Eamonn McCormick, Teddy O’Neill, Michael Magee – and two other deaths – Alice Franklin, Mary Fegan.

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00048 Belfast Graves with brave, I ndıl cuımhne [chuımhne] volunteers

Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann

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“Grieve not nor speak of us with tears but laugh and talk of us as though we were beside you.” This mural is on the gable wall at the end of the street which is depicted in it, namely Ballymurphy Parade, which is to the left of the mural. It reproduces a photograph of IRA volunteers (Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann Belfast brigade B. Coy 2nd Batt) on patrol taken by Gerard ‘Mo Chara’ Kelly in An Phoblacht ?1979?.

For a close-up of the plaque, see M07999.

Glenalina Road, Ballymurphy, west Belfast

Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Easter Rising

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This Easter Rising (1916) mural shows Countess Markievicz (WP) outside the Dublin GPO, accompanied by Connolly and Pearse, though they would end up inside.

It’s difficult to get the whole mural without the fence and light-post. Below is a shot of the whole. (Also shown, in 2014, in the foreground of Yes Yes Catalonia.)

Whiterock Road, Ballymurphy, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Robert Emmet

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“Emmet to hang!” The launch of a new 200th-anniversary Robert Emmet board in Ard Eoın/Ardoyne (“Comóradh Ard Eoın – Roıbeard Emmet 1803-2003”) included a re-enactment of Emmet’s execution on 20th September, 1803, for his role as the leader of the 1803 rising of the United Irishmen (WP). The words along the bottom of the board – “Let no man write my epitaph until my country takes her place among the nations of the world” – come from Emmet’s Speech From The Dock, given after the ‘guilty’ verdict was announced.

In the medallions in the corners are (clockwise) three United Irish republicans Michael Dwyer, (cousin) Anne Devlin and Thomas Russell, and Emmet’s fiancée Sarah Curran.

A mural to Emmet was one of the very few CNR mural painted before the Troubles, in 1953 for the sesquicentennial – see Visual History 02.

Havana Way, Ard Eoın/Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2003 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02969 X02968 X00004 michael dwyer anne devlin sarah curran thomas russell comóradh ard eoın roıbeard emmet 1803-2003