Belfast west – Page 52 – Paddy Duffy Collection

An Phoblacht/Republican News

1982-07-012025-07-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“An Phoblacht/Republican News – official organ of the republican movement. Contents include war news, features, IRA statements, prison news from Ireland & England, news from throughout the 32 counties, solidarity news from abroad.”

Workers read the 1982-04-08 edition of the paper, the cover of which is reproduced behind them (and included below): a masked volunteer fires a funeral volley next to the 1916 Proclamation.

The Maid Of Erin harp, with a “cap of liberty” rather than a crown (WP), together the slogan “It is new strung and it shall be heard” is the emblem of the Society of United Irishmen (WP).

“Painted by Beechmount & Iveagh Sınn Féın youth.”

Sevastopol Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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Let Us Rise

1982-04-012025-07-25Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“The great only appear great because we are on our knees – let us rise”. The quote – also used by Jim Larkin – appeared in Connolly’s article on Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Ireland. His portrait is flanked by the tricolour and the starry plough.

“Sponsored by trade union group” and painted by Digger in Beechmount Avenue, next to a copy of a Cormac cartoon.

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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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Venceremos

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“Venceremos” is a Spanish Civil War slogan meaning “we will win (or: overcome)”, here alongside two Irish revolutionaries armed with a rifle and a machine gun, against a background of the Tricolour and sunburst flags.

Slemish Way, Andersonstown, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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Living Nations

1982-04-012025-07-25Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“‘From the graves of patriot men and women spring … living nations’ – Pádraıg Mac Pıaraıs”. The quote is from Pearse’s oration at the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa on August 1st, 1915 (Wikisource).

The mural is in progress for the 1982 anniversary of the Easter Rising. This image is from “April 1982” which perhaps gives it enough time to be completed by Easter Monday, which fell on the 19th.

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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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A Nation Once Again

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A phoenix rises from a pair of disembodied hands tearing apart an “H” made of brick, illustrating the lines (out of view to the right) “… and then I prayed I yet might see/our fetters rent in twain/and Ireland long a province be/a nation once again”. Also on the right are the names of six hunger strikers: Bobby Sands MP, Francis Hughes, Ray McCreesh, Patsy O’Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson. On the left are the lark in barbed wire, and the shields of the four provinces.

A complete view is available in the Peter Moloney Collection.

Falls Road in Andersonstown, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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We Must Grow Tough

1982-03-052025-07-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Three female activists, one with a rifle, proclaim “Resistance” on the Falls Road, Belfast. The phrase is attributed to Che Guevara. The mural was commissioned by Sınn Féın’s Department Of Women’s Affairs for International Women’s Day, 1982 (March 6th). This is probably a work-in-progress image, as the words “We must grow tough, but without ever losing our tenderness” are missing from the top part of the wall and a signature – “painted by Sınn Féın Youth” – in the bottom left. Compare to the images in the Peter Moloney Collection.

This is the second mural on this wall – the first was a tribute to the first four hunger strikers to die in 1981 (see the Peter Moloney Collection). That mural was only head-high, whereas this one attempts to cover the entire wall, all the way up to the chimney – for the development of CNR muraling at this time, see Visual History 03.

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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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Long Kesh 1981

1981-10-012025-07-23Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

In the shadow of Long Kesh watch-towers, a blanketman draped in an Irish Tricolour is held in the arms of his father, with mother looking on, reminiscent of Michelangelo’s pietà (“pity”) in which Mary holds the body of her dead son after he has been taken down from the cross (and so it also echoes Oliver Sheppard’s statue of Cúchulaınn).

Painted by Con at the top of Donegall Road, west Belfast.

Sacred Heart Blanketman

1981-10-012025-07-23Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The image of a blanketman on all fours was also seen in Ballymurphy, Ardoyne, and Finaghy (see the 1981 CNR Murals) but in this Beechmount version, the ‘sacred heart of Jesus’ appears above the prisoner, similar to the angel on the Whiterock Road and the ‘blessed virgin Mary’ in the Rock streets.

Beechmount Drive, west Belfast

They May Kill The Revolutionary

1981-10-012025-07-23Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

An armed republican (IRA) volunteer with camo-jacket opened at the throat stands against an Irish tricolour attached to a poleaxe (pike).

Rockdale Street, west Belfast

Victory To The IRA

1981-10-012025-12-12Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Victory [to the] IRA”. Volunteers with RPGs and armalites in Rossnareen, kneeling over an outline of Ireland in green, white, and gold. The central trio comes from an IRA publicity photograph, included below.

Rossnareen Avenue, west Belfast