painted board

Colin Area Remembers

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“Everyone tells me I’m a feminist. All I know is that I’m just as good as others, and that especially means men. I am definitely a socialist and I’m definitely a Republican. I believe in a united socialist country, definitely socialist. Capitalism can offer our people nothing and yet that’s the main interest of the British in Ireland – Oglach [sic] Maıréad Farrell.” Farrell was one of the Gibraltar 3 (along with Sean Savage and Dan McCann), killed by SAS soldiers in 1988. Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.

Jasmine Corner, Twinbrook

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The RIC Murder Gang

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One RIC member was killed and another wounded outside the Beehive Bar in a shoot-out with IRA men in September 1920. In reprisal, County Inspector Harrison and his men killed Vol. Ned Trodden, Vol. Sean Gaynor, and Sean McFadden (Rısteard Ó Murchú). The gang, under Detective Inspector Nixon, would go on to kill more Catholics in 1921 and in 1922 commit the McMahon killings and the Arnon Street killings, in each of which 6 people died.

On the right is a small board on “political policing”: “Agents exposed. Shoot-to-kill. Spying. Cover-ups. Collusion. Plastic Bullets. Sectarian policing. Poisoning peace process.”

Northumberland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Belfast Dockers And Carters Strike 1907

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“Not as Catholics or Protestants, not as nationalists or unionists, but as Belfast workers standing together.” For the 100th anniversary of the strike by dockers and carters in Belfast, this large board was painted by Fra Maher and Rısteard Ó Murchú. It was launched without the title across the top (youtube | M03786).

Leaders Boyd and Larkin are portrayed in the middle. The second panel shows speakers (including Larkin) on a platform (O’Hare); the third shows an RIC guard of blackleg workers – about 70% of the force mutinied and the fifth panel shows dismissed RIC constable William Barrett being carried through Belfast; the sixth shows the Cameron Highlanders being stoned by picketers (History Ireland). Margaret Lennon and Charles McMullan, two Catholic victims of British soldiers, shot during protests, are portrayed in the bottom right.

Northumberland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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One Big Union

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The red hand of Ulster serves as the emblem of the Irish Transport & General Workers Union, founded by Jim Larkin in 1909. It was led by James Connolly from 1914 to 1916. Winifred Carney, from Bangor, founded the Irish Textile Workers’ Union in Belfast in 1912 and was personal secretary to Connolly. A border of rope frames the main image of carters working on the docks, above.

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Rights Of Every Child

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“Whoever we are, wherever we live, these rights belong to all children under the sun and the moon and the stars, whether we live in cities or towns or villages or in the mountains or valleys or deserts or forests or jungles. Anywhere and everywhere in the big wide world these are the rights of every child.” No war, poverty, or spoils. Signposts mark the way to Ofer Prison Camp in the West Bank and Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

Islandbawn Street, middle Falls, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Support The Prisoner

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In 2004 neither the first nor the last spots on the International Wall had been formally painted. The last spot, shown here, contained a variety of pieces (which can be seen in close-up at Peter Moloney’s site): a Fıanna Éıreann recruitment board (with internet address!); an IRPWA board calling for political status; “Support the prisoner”, formerly “Support the prisoner candidate” Tommy Crossan; an ETA mural; a mural in support of the Turkish hunger strikers.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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