barbed wire

The Proclamation

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Robert Ballagh’s 1916 Proclamation was first painted as a mural by Mo Chara Kelly and Rısteard Ó Mhurchú in 1991 for the 75th anniversary of the Easter Rising (see Cáısc 1916 which also contains the Ballagh piece). That version stood for ten years on the Whiterock Road. It has reproduced again in Ard An Lao above the hunger strikers, after the removal of several plaques (see All Our Dead). “With special thanks to Hugo Óg Wilkinson”.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06110 our revenge will be let there be no bitterness

Beır Bua

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In the background of this board can be seen the old Divis flats. The flats were built to replace the tightly-packed streets of the lower Falls. After the first three blocks were completed in 1969, there was a plan to have a mixture of flats all the way up to Dunville Park (“Phase 2” in this 30-minute BBC video on the flats, which also includes the story of its eventual demise.

On top are the words “saoırse [freedom]” and “beır bua [seize victory]”, along with imagery of the four provinces and a lark in barbed wire.

This board has been added to the “D company” corner at Northumberland and Divis streets (see Our Struggle Continues), in the (blacked out) spot of the Orlando nightclub shooting mural.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Behind Bars

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IRPWA is the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association (web | Fb), a body working to support republican prisoners and their families in Maghaberry, Portlaoise, and Hydebank. Barbed wire has long been the symbol of political prisoners, both republican (1981) and loyalist (1988). Previously in this series of boards: éıstıgí | Sniper At Work | IRA | Beır Bua

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Repatriate Michael Campbell

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There is a campaign under way to repatriate south Armagh man Michael Campbell from Lithuania on humanitarian grounds (Newry Times). Campbell was given 12 years in 2012 for attempting to purchase weapons (An Phoblacht).

The “Tıocfaidh Ár Lá 32” is out on Camlough Road at the Cloughreagh estate.

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Copyright © 2013 Extramural Activity
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Until All Are Free We Are All Imprisoned

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Here are three republican boards, framed – Belfast Brigade ONH, Cogús (POWs), 1981 hunger strikers – encouraging New Lodge residents to “Join the Republican Network For Uni[ty]” (web), above a Bobby Sands quote: “We all know the reason that we are being tortured – because we are political dissidents, POWs, and we won’t bend the knee or conform” (from Thoughts From The Shadows).

Duncairn Parade, New Lodge, north Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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