Draoıchláırseoırí An Chınn Bhaıle

In Táın Bó Cúaılnge, the “sweet-mouth harpers of Caın Bıle” are also “druids, men of great cunning and great power of augury and magic.” They come to Medb and Aılıll to entertain them, carrying mistletoe by which they sing, but are mistaken as Ulster spies; the harpers turn themselves into deer to escape their pursuers, near the Lıa Mór (Great Stone) (Death Of Lethan). 

The source for the image is unknown.

Springhill Avenue, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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Ireland’s Soldiers Of Freedom

IRA volunteers are superimposed upon the flags of the four provinces. In the top left (Ulster) and bottom right (Connacht) they are aiming weapons (one with a sniper’s scope), while in the top right (Leinster) they are firing a funeral volley, and in the bottom left (Munster) are reading a statement at a microphone; in the middle are a lark and a Tricolour.

South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast, replacing the even-more-heavily armed volunteers in Beıdh Ár Lá Lınn.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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“Dhá Chıne, Aon Choımhlint – Bi Herri, Borroka Bat

This is a long mural expressing solidarity between Ireland and the Basque Country on the wall of JB Kennedy’s bakery in Beechmount Grove. The bakery would close in 1998 (Belfast Live).

There are various slogans in Basque and in Irish. From top to bottom (left to right):

“Dhá chıne, aon choımhlint – Bi herri, borroka bat. Askatasuna – Saoırse”

“Emakumeen askatasunik gabe, ez daga herri askatasunik – Gan saoırse de mná, níl aon saoırse den tír.”

“[unknown Basque poem/song about overthrowing the capitalists]”

“Hemen euskaraz ez dakienak berak jakingo du zergatik ez dakien. Baina hemen euskaraz ez dakienak ez digu uzten euskaraz egiten. Baina eta hemen euskaraz jakin arren euskaraz mintzatzen ez denak ere ez digu uzten euskaraz egiten”

“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam”

“Sabotaia, errebeldia, desobeintzia, matxinada”

“Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí”

“Oure lurra defenda dezagun”

“Ní mhaırfidh an duıne, ach maırfıdh an domhaın má bhe[ı]r an duıne aıre dó”

Bietan jarrai” – the slogan of ETA

and, out of shot to the right, in English, “No repression”.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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Mythological Beechmount

This is a very long mural on Beechmount Avenue reproducing various pieces from Jim Fitzpatrick’s Book Of Conquests, including the central figure from the cover. The final panel shows Fitzpatrick’s Lough Derravaragh/Children Of Lear.

See the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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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
T00210

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
T00214

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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