Here are three pieces of republican graffiti from Creggan, in various states of legibility: “Join IRA now!!!”, “End political policing now. INLA”, and “Hood’s [sic] will be shot”.
IRA volunteer George McBrearty was shot, together with Charles “Pop” Maguire, by the SAS on May 28th, 1981. This new mural was painted by Bogside Artist Kevin Hasson and unveiled on the 36th anniversary of his death. McBrearty is wearing an Easter lily on his lapel and the proclamation of independence backgrounds his portrait. (Video of the launch.)
The “Unfinished revolution – unfinished business” board at the top of Westland Street (recorded in a 2016 entry) has been updated in various ways: the year has been changed to “2017” and “Join the IRA” added in stencil. Around the board “IRA” and “Smash Stormont” graffiti has been added.
A bleeding poppy, representing the conquests of the British Empire, is added to the PSNI officers in riot gear, part of a Saoradh protest of political policing at Creggan shops. “End PSNI/MI5 abuse.”
“Seize victory”. This is the third in a small series of nail-ups in Derry/Doıre using “classic” imagery, in this case, the phoenix. (Here is a representative mural from 1989: Out of the ashes arose the Provisionals).
Here is a final small board from Derry/Doıre reproducing or at least hearkening back classic images of the armed republican campaign. This one shows a hooded volunteer brandishing an assault rifle. Previously: Sniper At Work | Join The People’s Army | Beır Bua | Behind Bars | éıstıgí | IRA
In the background is an “End British Internment” IRPWA (prisoner welfare) board – a straight shot can be found in the Peter Moloney Collection.
Four people were killed in the course of The Falls Curfew, the 36 hours from July 3rd to 5th in 1970 during which 3,000 houses on the lower Falls were cordoned off after a weapons search of the area devolved into a riot. The curfew ended with a march of women and children from Andersonstown bearing relief (represented in Falls Curfew 1970).
Graffiti against both the IRA (“Your [You’re] a scumbag Martin McGuinness” and “Provo bastards”) and the police (“PSNI scum”) in the Village, south Belfast.
Here, from left to right, are all of the metalworks in the memorial garden on Ascaıll Ard Na bhFeá by sculptor and painter Hugh Clawson. On the stone (above) an IRA volunteer – with the emblem of the Easter lily on his beret – rests in the arms of Mother Ireland and her harp. Then two featuring the lark as the ‘spirit of freedom’ (from The Lark And The Freedom Fighter). In the first, the lark breaks through the bars of a prison cell, and in the image below, it flies in front of an “H” made of bricks, carrying a bin lid. (For a lark carrying a rifle, see Lark Of War and Armed Resistance.) Clawson’s name can be seen on the bars. In the second, a lark carries a binlid, used by locals to signal the presence of British Army troops. “In memory of all Irish martyrs who have died on hunger strike in the fight for Irish freedom. Their inspiration and courage will always be remembered by the republican movement and republican family (mid Falls).” One female and one male volunteer stand with bowed heads. A pair of hands joined in prayer in the Beechmount memorial garden: “in memory of those innocent people from this area who have died in this struggle for Irish freedom”. Finally, a scene of protest, in front of the Free Ireland mural at the bottom of the street. “In memory of the all the unsung heroes off [sic] this area who’s [sic] hardship, sacrifice and support during this struggle for Irish freedom will never be forgotten by the Belfast Brigade óglaıgh na h-éıreann.” The plaque depicts the work of print-makers (“Smash H-Block Armagh”), marchers carrying portraits of hunger strikers (“Mid Falls supports the women of Armagh”), bin-lid rattlers, and muralists. The tarp above reads “Cuımhníonn Lár na bhFál – Mid Falls remembers” Out of picture to the right of the wide shot is Bobby Sands’s quote “Our revenge will be the laughter of our children.” See M04415.