This two-part mural in Forest Street features (left) Sunburst and Starry Plough flags on pikes, on either side of two volunteers who are watching the sun rise/set and (right) “Struggle for freedom” below an outline of the island against the green-white-and-gold stripes of the tricolour.
Forest St, west Belfast. For images from 1985, see the Peter Moloney Collection.
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Copyright © 1981 Paddy Duffy
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Imagery of the devil was an occasional theme in 1980s muraling, perhaps because of the popularity of the English soccer club, Manchester United, who were known as the “red devils” and who re-introduced (Fabrik Brands) the red devil on its badge in 1973 (Sporting News). The team was popular with both CNR and PUL communities. The red devil was used by the UVF in Rathcoole in the late 70s (see D00375 and DS1 plate 38) and perhaps influenced this mural in CNR Springfield Road.
As far as we know, this is the only image of this mural (available on-line, at least).
Iris Drive, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1981 Paddy Duffy
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“The people arose in ’69, they will do it again at any time”, “Maggie Thatcher think again, don’t let our brave men die in vain.” “Done by Beechmount youth against H Block & Armagh.”
The two tones of black suggest that the mural was painted using household paints contributed by local residents.
The Clowney Street phoenix is the oldest continually-existing mural in Belfast. This photo of it is from July, 1981, at the height of the (1981) hunger strike.
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Copyright © 1981 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 