Author: Extramural Activity

Shore Crescent Bonfire

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Shore Crescent prepares for Eleventh Night with a bonfire and a large sign explaining the positive impact of the tradition:

“Shore Crescent bonfire – a proud loyalist tradition. Standing firm in our heritage, our loyalty & our values. Faith – loyalty – respect – heritage. [The bonfire …] Celebrates our heritage – honours our history, culture and the sacrifices made by those who went before us; strengthens our community – brings families, friends and neighbours together, building unity, pride and a sense of belonging; affirms our loyalty – a clear and proud expression of our loyalty to the Crown and the United Kingdom; educates & remembers – teaches future generations the importance of our traditions and the true meaning behind them; promotes respect & pride – shows respect for our values and beliefs and promotes pride in being Loyalist; supports local [groups] & raises funds – helps support local groups, charities and initiatives that make a real difference; secures our future – by standing together today, we protect our identity, freedom and way of life for tomorrow. One tradition. One community. One loyal people. Shore Crescent loyal.”

Next to Loughside Playground, Shore Road, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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McBrearty

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“Bridie McBrearty (née Murphy) 1929 to 2024. A woman of devotion to God, family and country. Her light shines on within us.”

Bridie McBrearty passed away at home in Rathowen Park in June 2024 (Derry Now) and a plaque in her memory has been added below the mural to her son George, who was shot by the SAS on May 28th, 1981 along with Charles “Pop” Maguire, both of the IRA. On patrol in Creggan with two other IRA men, McBrearty and Maguire pursued and a car whose driver they suspected of being an SAS soldier and eventually stopped it at the bottom of Couch Road/Southway at the edge of the Brandywell. The driver shot McBrearty as he approached the car and Maguire was shot by the driver and/or by other undercover soldiers from 14th Intelligence who emerged from two other cars. A third volunteer was injured. (Lost Lives 2330)

The “Crann Na Poblachta”/”Tree Of The Republic” – a silver birch – was originally planted in front of the previous mural to George McBrearty mural in Rathkeele Way (see Freedom Fighter For The Republic) (Derry Journal). Both that mural and this one were painted by ‘Bogside Artist‘ Kevin Hasson.

There is a plaque to McBrearty & Maguire near the spot where they were killed on Coach Road/Southway (see M01544).

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Our Present Fight

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“[Scaoıl] saor Niall Sheerin anoıs”, “Republican prisoners still exist”. Niall Sheerin was imprisoned for seven years for possession of the weapon that police believe was used by the New IRA to shoot Lyra McKee in April, 2019 (BBC). The calls for his release have been prompted by Sheerin reaching the 50% mark of his stretch and becoming eligible for parole. (RN | Fb video of a protest | a Newry billboard (BBC) (previously used for Don’t Forget The Palestinian Children). There is also a large board supporting Sheering in Creggan.

“We must see our present fight right through to the very end – Bobby Sands IRA volunteer”. The quote does appear to be genuine, though its source is unknown, suggesting it was in a Marcella column in AP/RN. An extended version reads, “We must see our present fight right through to the very end. Generations will continue to meet the same fate unless the perennial oppressor – Britain – is removed, for she will unashamedly and mercilessly continue to maintain her occupation and economic exploitation of Ireland to judgment day, if she is not halted and ejected.” (Leave a comment/send an e-mail is you can provide the source.)

The ‘barbed wire’ emblem is from the IRPWA (web) and the ‘sunburst’ from Saoradh (web). The ‘green ribbon’ is a generic symbol of republican political prisoners going back to the ceasefire era (see the Peter Moloney Collection) and the ‘Easter lily’ of Irish republicanism. (There is a small Sheela-Na-Gig/Síle-Na-Gıgh plaque next to the lily, possibly part of Project Sheela (web).) The ‘clenched fist’ is the same fist as appeared in the old (1994) Battle Of The Bogside mural.

Lecky Road, Bogside, Derry

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Sister Clare Crockett

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This is the new mural to Sister Clare Crockett, replacing the previous mural seen in All Or Nothing!! The new mural was dedicated on April 16th, on the tenth anniversary of her death, and a mass was said in the nearby Long Tower church (Derry Diocese | Derry Journal).

Crockett was born in Derry in 1982 and died in Ecuador in 2016. This mural does not have the information board (and “Sister Clare’s Prayer”) that the previous one did; for information, see the previous mural or the other Sister Clare mural, in Shantallow.

Painted by UV Arts (specifically Ray Bonner) (web) in Deanery Street, Brandywell, Derry.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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End Violence Against Women And Girls

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“Consent matters”, “Stop killing our sister”, “Lads, let’s be the generation that stops it”, “Enough is enough”, “Real men respect women”, “No means no”, “Silence is violence”.

Painted by Peaball (web) and boys from the Hillcrest Trust Youth Club (Fb), in conjunction with the Foyle Women’s Information Network (web) and their “End violence against women and girls” initiative (described at FWIN) and with support from the Executive and Strabane District Council.

Fountain Hill, Gobnscale, Derry

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Derry Volunteers Commemoration March

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“Derry volunteers commemoration march, Sunday 28th June 2026, assembling at Central Drive, Creggan at 1 pm.”

On the railings in front is a hand-made placard reading “End occupation, end the genocide, end Zionism, saoırse don Phalaıstín. ÓSF Doıre [Fb].”

Also included is another image of the nearby RSYM [Fb] board: “The “crisis” is capitalism”.

Lecky Road, Derry, on the rear of Free Derry Corner.

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Nurture Your Roots

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Here is a gallery of painted flowers and birds found on the street furniture (electrical sub-stations, a bus shelter, the gate-posts to Gort An Easpaıg) in Creggan, with a variety of positive messages: “Grow with the flow”, “Bloom bright”, “Nurture your roots”.

The paintings are by Peaball (web). The sparrowhawk and falcon at Bishop’s Field were painted for last year’s (2025) Féıle (Derry Journal) and the bird on the bus shelter for Féıle 2026.

Iniscarn Crescent/Fanad Drive/Linsfort Drive, Creggan, Derry

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We Rise!

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The same slogan – “We exist! We resist! We rise!” – has been used by Saoradh (web) in connection with Palestinian prisoners in west Belfast (see Springfield | Andersonstown) but here the accompanying image shows the sun rising on a native American in full headdress holding a spear, mirroring the Gal Gréıne and the pike that are part of the Saoradh emblem. It’s not clear if there is a current campaign around Native rights; in the past Saoradh has expressed support for Leonard Peltier.

Lone Moor Road, Brandywell, Derry

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