New Life

There is no text to accompany these images of sun/moon, day/night, and religious-icon-style figures in the branches and trunk of the central tree, but this is probably a mural from New Life church (web), between the security gates on Northumberland Street, west Belfast. The church is associated with Elim Pentecostal (web) and was founded in 1993 (old site).

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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UN Day For The Eradication Of Poverty

“To be free of poverty is a human right.” October 17th, each year, is the United Nations’ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The mural shown above states that “12 of the 16 most deprived wards in Belfast are in W. Belfast”. 

Mural by Andrea Redmond and Margaret McCann sponsored by W. Belfast Economic Forum and the Falls Women’s Centre, showing children of the world under a rainbow and between a dolmen and a ?parrot?.

Dunlewey Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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A New Opportunity For Peace

This high wall is in front of the Sınn Féın offices (Connolly House) on the Andersonstown Road, west Belfast. Along the top is a list of concerns being pressed in the on-going peace process: “Roısín McAliskey, preconditions, Drumcree 95-96-?, Dunloy, Ormeau Rd, Garvaghy, Loyalists no ceasefire, Lee Clegg, RUC – no change. A new opportunity for peace – Bóthar Bhaıle Andarsan for all inclusive talks.”

Gerry Adams stood for Sınn Féın in Belfast West in the 1997 UK general election, regaining the seat from the SDLP’s Joe Hendron with 56% of the poll (WP). He is wearing a green ribbon, emblem of the campaign to release republican POWs.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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No 5 Platoon

“No 5 platoon, A company, 1st battalion, Shankill, west Belfast”. Hooded gunmen crouch in front of a St Andrew’s Saltire and an Ulster Banner, with a UVF flag on top.

A plaque “in memory of a true soldier, Big Bill Campbell” was later added (see the Peter Moloney Collection).

Northland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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Free Catalonia, United Ireland

The Catalan Countries include (in Spain) Catalonia, parts of Valencia, and the Balearic islands, plus Andorra, and (in France) the Roussillon region. In the separatist flag – the “Estelada” – the white star stands for freedom and the blue triangle stands for the sky of humanity (Vexillology), on top of the four red bars of the Senyera (WP). 

Rossnareen, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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The Women Of 1916

Text would later be added along the bottom reading, “This mural is dedicated to the Women of Cumann Na mBan, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann & Sınn Féın.” Image “from R[uth] Taillon’s book The Women Of 1916.” Taillon is a Canadian who moved to Belfast in 1980 and has been doing work with the women’s movement in the north and on women’s history – see NVTv.

Hawthorn Street, west Belfast. There was also a mural on the low wall to the left – see The Soldiers Of Cumann Na mBan.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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Upper Springfield Development Trust

This is an in-progress image of a mural sponsored by and for the Upper Springfield Development Trust (web | until 1993 the Upper Springfield Development Forum) focusing on young people: “Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí.” (Praise youth/the young and it will flourish.”/”Youth responds to praise.”)

For a finished version, see the Peter Moloney Collection.

Signed by “Mo Chara” (Gerard “Mo Chara” Kelly) and “Spud” in the bottom right corner.

Whiterock Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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The Battle Of Moy Tura

“Nuadha, rí Tuatha Dé Danann, buaıteor chath Magh Tuıreadh Conga, Éıre/King Nuadha of the Tuatha De Dannan, victorious at the battle of Moy Tura [at Cong, the first battle], Ireland.”

“Mo Chara” Kelly’s mural reproduces the cover of Jim Fitzpatrick’s The Book Of Conquests in the middle and adds various other elements (Visual History).

Upper Whiterock Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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Coffin Ship

A million, and perhaps as many as 2 million – one in four Irish people – left Ireland between 1845 and 1855, many sailing on so-called “coffin ships” which had mortality rates of 30%. Another million died in the Great Hunger itself (Visual History), in most cases the proximate causes were fever and dysentery (WP | Irish Central).

Crocus Street, west Belfast. Perhaps by the same hand(s) that painted the Gorta Mór mural in Rossnareen.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
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