London-/Derry – Paddy Duffy Collection

McBrearty

2026-06-282026-07-26Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Bridie McBrearty (née Murphy) 1929 to 2024. A woman of devotion to God, family and country. Her light shines on within us.”

Bridie McBrearty passed away at home in Rathowen Park in June 2024 (Derry Now) and a plaque in her memory has been added below the mural to her son George, who was shot by the SAS on May 28th, 1981 along with Charles “Pop” Maguire, both of the IRA. On patrol in Creggan with two other IRA men, McBrearty and Maguire pursued and a car whose driver they suspected of being an SAS soldier and eventually stopped it at the bottom of Couch Road/Southway at the edge of the Brandywell. The driver shot McBrearty as he approached the car and Maguire was shot by the driver and/or by other undercover soldiers from 14th Intelligence who emerged from two other cars. A third volunteer was injured. (Lost Lives 2330)

The “Crann Na Poblachta”/”Tree Of The Republic” – a silver birch – was originally planted in front of the previous mural to George McBrearty mural in Rathkeele Way (see Freedom Fighter For The Republic) (Derry Journal). Both that mural and this one were painted by ‘Bogside Artist‘ Kevin Hasson.

There is a plaque to McBrearty & Maguire near the spot where they were killed on Coach Road/Southway (see M01544).

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Our Present Fight

2026-06-282026-07-23Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“[Scaoıl] saor Niall Sheerin anoıs”, “Republican prisoners still exist”. Niall Sheerin was imprisoned for seven years for possession of the weapon that police believe was used by the New IRA to shoot Lyra McKee in April, 2019 (BBC). The calls for his release have been prompted by Sheerin reaching the 50% mark of his stretch and becoming eligible for parole. (RN | Fb video of a protest | a Newry billboard (BBC) (previously used for Don’t Forget The Palestinian Children). There is also a large board supporting Sheering in Creggan.

“We must see our present fight right through to the very end – Bobby Sands IRA volunteer”. The quote does appear to be genuine, though its source is unknown, suggesting it was in a Marcella column in AP/RN. An extended version reads, “We must see our present fight right through to the very end. Generations will continue to meet the same fate unless the perennial oppressor – Britain – is removed, for she will unashamedly and mercilessly continue to maintain her occupation and economic exploitation of Ireland to judgment day, if she is not halted and ejected.” (Leave a comment/send an e-mail is you can provide the source.)

The ‘barbed wire’ emblem is from the IRPWA (web) and the ‘sunburst’ from Saoradh (web). The ‘green ribbon’ is a generic symbol of republican political prisoners going back to the ceasefire era (see the Peter Moloney Collection) and the ‘Easter lily’ of Irish republicanism. (There is a small Sheela-Na-Gig/Síle-Na-Gıgh plaque next to the lily, possibly part of Project Sheela (web).) The ‘clenched fist’ is the same fist as appeared in the old (1994) Battle Of The Bogside mural.

Lecky Road, Bogside, Derry

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Derry Volunteers Commemoration March

2026-06-282026-07-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Derry volunteers commemoration march, Sunday 28th June 2026, assembling at Central Drive, Creggan at 1 pm.”

On the railings in front is a hand-made placard reading “End occupation, end the genocide, end Zionism, saoırse don Phalaıstín. ÓSF Doıre [Fb].”

Also included is another image of the nearby RSYM [Fb] board: “The “crisis” is capitalism”.

Lecky Road, Derry, on the rear of Free Derry Corner.

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We Rise!

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The same slogan – “We exist! We resist! We rise!” – has been used by Saoradh (web) in connection with Palestinian prisoners in west Belfast (see Springfield | Andersonstown) but here the accompanying image shows the sun rising on a native American in full headdress holding a spear, mirroring the Gal Gréıne and the pike that are part of the Saoradh emblem. It’s not clear if there is a current campaign around Native rights; in the past Saoradh has expressed support for Leonard Peltier.

Lone Moor Road, Brandywell, Derry

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Support Republican Political Prisoners

2026-06-272026-07-26Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are two anti-Agreement boards in Creggan, Derry.

On the east side of Central Drive, along with the boards seen in Stand Up And Speak Out, is a new IRPWA (web) board in support of Niall Sheerin. For background, see Our Present Fight.

The ‘Republican Solidarity With Palestine’ board was previously next to the waste-ground created when the Bogside shops were knocked down. The ‘No RUC’ circle goes back to 2022.

Defending The Community

2026-06-272026-07-02Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

A UVF roll of honour has been added in the apex above the small memorial garden (now reduced to a single stone) in the Caw, Londonderry: “In proud remembrance of our volunteers who defended this community with courage, dignity & pride: Billy Kirkwood, Noel Burke, Davy Moore, Raymond Miller, Jock Henderson, Gary Simpson, Willie Gurney, Davy Mills, Tommy Henderson, Sam Dickson”. None of these appear to have died during the Troubles itself. There was previously a plaque to four volunteers who died in 1975.

The large 36th (Ulster) Division board shows (on the left) various battalion insignia in three rows:
8th Royal Irish Rifles – East Belfast; 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers – Armagh, Cavan, Monaghan; 9th RIR – West Belfast; 8/9th RIR – Amalgamated 1917; 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Tyrone;
10th RIR – South Belfast; 10th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Londonderry; 11th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Donegal, Fermanagh; 11th RIR – South Antrim; 11/13th RIR – Amalgamated 1917;
12th RIR – Central Antrim; 13th RIR – 1st Co Down; 14th RIR – Young Citizen Volunteers; 15th RIR – North Belfast; 16th RIR (Pioneers) – 2nd Co Down.

And Wilfrid Spender’s report on the 36th Division on the first day of the battle at the Somme (July 1st, 1916) is on the right – for the text, see Their Amazing Attack.

Sperrin Park, Caw, Londonderry, replacing Undefeated.

Love, Loyalty, Friendship

2026-06-272026-07-26Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This emerald claddagh, flanked by two robins, was painted by Peaball (web) in Central Drive, Creggan, between two other pieces of street art (by Friz and emic) and so removing the last blank wall for graffiti at the entrance to the Bishop’s Field sports centre – see previously Victory To The PFLP. A gallery of anti-Agreement boards is still on the main exterior wall of the centre – see Stand Up And Speak Out and Support Republican Political Prisoners.