Lisburn/Dunmurry – Page 3 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Seymour Hill In WWII

2022-11-252024-08-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

US forces were still segregated racially during WWII; “colored” soldiers (as they were then called) were housed in a camp at Ballybog Road (WW2NI) where Seymour Hill PS now is and just below Seymour Hill House which was used to house evacuees from Belfast after the blitz and which was formerly owned by the Charley family (Lisburn.com | Lord Belmont) – it is now administered by Radius (formerly the BIH Association).

The “framed” portrait on the left is of William “Billy” Harbinson, a member of the Royal Ulster Rifles who was a POW at Colditz (Lisburn.com | WW2NI); the photograph can be seen in the RUR museum.

There used to be a plaque on the wall which read, “This mural was dedicated by Col. Robin Charley on 1st July 2009 to the people from this area who contributed to the to the effort during World War II. Also our American allies who were based here and later contributed to the conflict.”

Painted by Tim McCarthy (“Verz” ig) for the Re-Imaging Programme; it replaced a UDA mural.

Hornbeam Walk, Dunmurry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T01524

For Twinbrook

2022-11-252025-08-16Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

In 2019, images of Bobby Sands before his (second and final) arrest and imprisonment were rediscovered in the collection of French photographer Gérard Harlay. Sands was serving as a flag-bearer in an August 1976 march from the Busy Bee to Dunville Park to protest the withdrawal of political status. (For some of Harlay’s images, see Bobby Sands Trust.) This new mural in his home area of Twinbrook copies one of the images (though presents him as carrying a Tricolour rather than a harp) along with protesters protesting for “Public transport for Twinbrook now” and “Social housing for Twinbrook now”.

Twinbrook Road, Dunmurry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T01513 T01514 T01515 [T01516]

That We May Live In Freedom

2022-11-252024-08-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The old C Batt mural further up Hornbeam Road has long been painted over. It used the same line – “They gave their lives that we may live in freedom” – to remember Wesley Nicholl and Brian Morton. A plaque to Morton is now included on top of the new mural. “Brian Morton (Morty) killed in action 07/07/1997, a true Ulster patriot who gave his life in defence of his country. Feriens tego.” As with republican memorials, “active service” means that Morton was killed by a premature bomb exploding.

Previously on this wall: Queensway Flute Band.

Hornbeam Drive, Dunmurry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T01523 [T01522]

Remember The Hunger Strikers

2010-01-222026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are included alongside the deceased 1981 hunger strikers in a gallery of portraits that has been updated annually since (at least) 2006. The large panel shows blanket-men Hugh Rooney and Freddie Toal, and Bobby Sands, the first to die in 1981.

Twinbrook Road, Twinbrook

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
T00540 T00541

Colin Area Remembers

2010-01-172026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Colin area remembers with pride and honour, [IRA] Vol. Maıréad Farrell, Vol. Sean Savage, Vol. Dan McCann.” The Gibraltar 3 were killed by SAS soldiers in 1988.

There was originally a board below the portraits with a quote from Farrell “Everyone tells me I’m a feminist. All I know is that I’m just as good as others, and that especially means men. I am definitely a socialist and I’m definitely a Republican. I believe in a united socialist country, definitely socialist. Capitalism can offer our people nothing and yet that’s the main interest of the British in Ireland – Oglach [sic] Maıréad Farrell.”

Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.

Jasmine Corner, Twinbrook

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
T00532

Saoırse

2000-01-012025-11-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

There was originally a memorial to Bobby Sands and painted crests of the four provinces below this phoenix emerging from the flames – see M01001 from 1991. It was originally painted by Mo Chara Kelly in 1987.

Jasmine Way, Dunmurry

Bobby Sands

2000-01-012025-11-08Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Our laughter will be the joy of our victory + [the] joy of the people; our revenge will be the liberation of all.” This is perhaps the only appearance of this quote from Bobby Sands’s hunger strike diary, from Thursday March 12th. In the background are the towers of Long Kesh; in the foreground is Sands’s funeral procession (RTÉ | youtube).

Jasmine Corner, Twinbrook, Dunmurry

Carol Ann Kelly

2000-01-012025-11-06Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

12-year-old Carol Ann Kelly was shot by the British Army on May 22nd, 1981, and died three days later. Eight other children are remembered in this mural: Tobias Molloy, Frances Rowntree, Seamus Duffy, Paul Whitters, Stephen McConomy, Brian Stewart, Stephan Geddis, and Julie Livingstone. Molloy and Rowntree were killed by rubber bullets, the rest by plastic bullets.

The mural, by Andrea Redmond, is in Twinbrook Road, Dunmurry, near where Kelly was shot.

War Or Peace?

1996-09-012025-10-08Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“War or peace, north or south.” A hooded gunman from “Seymour Hill UFF” stands with his back to an explosion on O’Connell Street, Dublin.

“To the politicians: words are not enough for the peace and freedom of the children and the people of Ulster – “deeds and actions”. To our freedom-fighters: the supreme sacrifice is to lay down your life for your country. Some have given everything, others have yet to give.” The same wording (with “volunteers” instead of “freedom-fighters”) appears in a UVF mural in east Belfast.