Tricolour

Not Spain, Not France

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“1650-2009: 350 years of occupation, 350 years of resistance. Catalan language has been spoken since VIII century. Nowadays, after 350 years of occupation and prohibition, there are 9 million Catalan speakers. The spirit of revolt against the Spanish kingdom and French state is still alive. The struggle of the Catalan people continues against the existing discriminations. Not Spain, not France.” “Saoırse na hÉıreann, Llibrtat Països Catalans”.

Clowney Street, Beechmount, west Belfast 

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05957

Is Fearr Gaeılge Bhrıste Ná Béarla Clıste

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Broken Irish is preferable to skilful English”, itself written in somewhat broken Irish. In each corner is a gold ring (fáınne óır), sometimes worn by fluent Irish-speakers. The top hat and the ?daisies? alongside the harp, shamrock, and ?flute? are unusual; if you can explain their appearance here, please comment or get in touch.

Iveagh Youth mural in Iveagh Drive/Céıde Uíbh Eachach

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05949

Live Free!

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Joe Cahill joined the Fianna in 1937 and was involved in the republican movement from then until his death in 2004, including being in Tom Williams’s company in 1942 and later a founder member and Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA. In the centre of the image he is at the end of the table at the August 13, 1971, press conference to comment on the introduction of internment (CAIN). He is honoured in the mural above alongside his brothers Tom and Frank Cahill. (Pat O’Hare is painted between Tom and Frank.)

In the top left are small boards with portraits of Ned Maguire Snr, Ned Maguire Jnr, Sam Holden, Dal Delaney, Rita McParland, Paddy Meenan, Paddy Corrigan, Sean Wallace, John Petticrew, Alex Crowe.

“Never will they label our liberation struggle as criminal – Bobby Sands [March 6th Diary].”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05939

Ní Thıg Leat

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Ballymurphy unbowed, unbroken” with images of Ballymurphy including the mural of McCrudden-O’Rawe–Jordan and memorial garden on Divismore Way (left) and Springhill (right). The male figures in the foreground are unnamed but the four in jackets are presumably Stone, McWilliams, McCracken, and Dougal after their mural in Springhill Drive was blanked; the female activists on the left of Cú Chulaınn are Mary Austin, Kathleen Clarke, Annie McWilliams. “This mural was unveiled by Gerry Adams MP 2nd May 2010.”

“Ní thıg leat Éıre a chloígh, ní thıg leat fonn saoırse mhuıntır na hÉıreann a mhúc[h]adh.” [“You cannot subdue Ireland; you cannot extinguish the desire for the freedom of the Irish people.”]

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00348

Castilla Nacion/Països Catalans

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

These two murals on the International Wall, Divis Street, urge freedom for Castile and Catalonia (and Ireland).

On the left, “Fuera fascistas de Castilla” (Out, fascists of Castile!) The protester on the right is waving the flag of the Castilian Left, a political party working for recognition of the Castle region of Spain, roughly the north-central portion of the country, including Madrid (WP).

On the right are the flags of Catalonia and Ireland. The ‘Catalan Countries’ include (in Spain) Catalonia, parts of Valencia, and the Balearic islands, Andorra, and (in France) the Roussillon region.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00105

Easter Lilies

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Easter lilies, starry plough (WP), Irish tricolour, black beret and gloves, commemorating dead IRA volunteers from the third battalion of the Belfast brigade.

The plaque on the stone in the corner thanks local residents for their contribution to the struggle. There’s a close-up of the stone in Peter Moloney’s collection (M02420).

“This mural is dedicated to the memory of those local republican activists [34 portraits of volunteers from “A, D, F foıreannacha, cathlann 3rú, Brıogáıd mBéal Feırste”] who devoted their lives to the cause of Irish freedom. Ar son na c[ú]ıse. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Unveiled by Sınn Féın councillors Martin Meehan and Margaret McClenaghan.”

“Many suffer so that some day future generations may live in justice and peace – Bobby Sands MP.”

“Dedicated to those friends and neighbours from Ardoyne, the Bone and Ligoniel whose contribution and support to our struggle was and remains invaluable. Aıthníonn muıd a gcrógacht. Óglaıgh na hÉıreann. Meán Fómhaır 2003.”

Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00059

Three Volunteers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“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.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00042 X00043c

Easter Rising

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
X00060 X00061