1798/1803/pike – Paddy Duffy Collection

The British Were Met With Their Own Weapons

2025-12-142025-12-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“[They said I was ruthless, daring, savage, blood thirsty, even heartless. The clergy called me and my comrades murderers; but] The British were met with their own weapons. They had gone down into the mire to destroy us and our nation and down after them we had to go. – Tom Barry, IRA volunteer.”

Tom Barry served in the British Army as a teenager and saw action in Mesopotamia and Egypt. The military training served him well when he joined the IRA and soon became commander of the West Cork brigade’s flying column. The quotation above offer a justification for the guerrilla tactics which helped drive the British to the negotiating table. In the Civil War, Barry was on the anti-Treaty side. (WP)

“In proud and loving memory of all those who contributed to the struggle for Irish freedom. Léana An Dúın. Beıdh sıad ınár gcuımhne choíche.”

The red board below is an old (2019) IRSP board, reading, “Join the IRSP. No to state harassment, to drug dealing, to loan sharks, to benefit cuts, to bedroom tax, to work schemes, to British rule. Yes to safer communities, to proper housing, to quality jobs, to freedom in Ireland, to republican socialism!, to a fair economy, to community empowerment. Join with us in promoting a new and fair Ireland and in building the campaign for a border poll. www.irsp.ie“

Horn Drive, Lenadoon, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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The Battle Of Lenadoon

2025-07-132025-07-22Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“On the 9th of July 1972, during the IRA ceasefire, local families began moving into their new homes in Lenadoon but were obstructed by British Occupation Forces who opened fire with rubber bullets and, using a “Sixer” Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier, rammed a McQuillan’s Quarry lorry carrying furniture and belongings as rioting took place across the district. Seamus Twomey, then the IRA Belfast Brigade OC, ended the ceasefire, ordering local IRA units to engage British Forces. Raging gun battles overwhelmed the British for several days, as the IRA liberated most of Lenadoon.”

The captions to the photographs along the top read (l-r): “British Forces fire projectiles at families moving into their new homes”, “A “Sixer” rams a McQuillan lorry, forcing it off the road”, “Seamus Twomey, IRA Belfast Brigade OC, ordered local units to engage the British”, “An IRA Volunteer takes up position in a nearby street”, “An armed IRA volunteer in Lenadoon in the 1970s, Carrigart flats”, “Local families evacuate Lenadoon as thousands march to Casement Park”, “Local homes bare [bear] the scars of war”.

For background, see this 24 minute Thames TV report (on youtube) about the dispute over houses in Lenadoon; RTÉ also has footage (one | two) of the evacuation.

“In proud & loving memory of all those who contributed to the struggle for Irish freedom – Léana An Dúın – Beıdh sıad ınár gcuımhne choíche”

Lenadoon Avenue, west Belfast, replacing the 1995 Gorta Mór mural. Launched Sunday July 12th.

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Mary Ann McCracken

2025-05-292025-06-21Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Mary Ann McCracken (1770-1866) Abolitionist, educator, social reformer and businesswoman. Sheas Mary Ann an fód ar son na mbocht, na mban, na bpáıstí agus ar son sıúd a bhí faoı dhaoırse. [Mary Ann stood up for the poor, women, children, and for those who were enslaved.]”

“Mary Ann McCracken’s feminist ideals and commitment to the principles of Equality, Liberty, Fraternity applying equally to the Rights of Woman defined her participation in the United Irish Movement.” For McCracken’s connection to the 1798 Rebellion, see These Are Times That Try Men’s Souls.

McCracken is shown handing out abolitionist leaflets that picture a pleading enslaved woman above the words “Am I not a woman and a sister?” The same supplicant image is on the medallion (perhaps made by Wedgwood for the Society For The Abolition Of The Slave Trade – WP) worn at her throat. See also: The Blots On The Page Are So Black and The World Affords No Enjoyment Equal To That Of Promoting The Happiness Of Others.

The statue was unveiled in the grounds of Belfast City hall together with a statue to Winifred Carney on International Women’s Day (March 8th) 2024; both statues were produced by Ralf and Naomi Sander (BCC).

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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New Lodge Volunteers

2024-03-302024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Twenty portraits in circular frames have replaced the twenty-one square portraits seen on the ‘Out Of The Ashes Of 1969’ mural in the New Lodge. From left to right, those portrayed are Michael P Neill, Seamus McCusker, Gerard Crossan, Colm Mulgrew, Francis Liggett, Brian Fox, John Kelly, Robert Allsopp, Louis Scullion, Billy Reid, Danny O’Hagan, Michael Kane, Sean McIlvenna, Jim O’Neill, Rosemary Bleakley, Martin McDonagh, James McCann, James Sloan, Dan McCann. Paddy McManus is no longer included, as compared with the earlier portraits.

For the mural without any portraits, at the time of its launch in 2012, see X00857.

New Lodge Road, north Belfast.

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Copyright © 2024 Paddy Duffy
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800 Years Of Irish Resistance

2023-09-242024-08-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

There is a memorial garden to the history of Irish resistance at the entrance to the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. From left to right, the images presented here show:

“More than 800 years of Irish resistence” – a sword for the Norman invasion under Strongbow, a pike for the 1798 and 1803 rebellions, a bolt-action rifle for the Easter Rising of 1916, and an assault rifle for the Troubles;

Cumann Na mBan, Mairéad Farrell and republican women who made “the supreme sacrifice”;

The Proclamation, Provisional IRA and Na Fianna;

The dying Cú Chulainn and a plaque “in proud and loving memory of all republican volunteers, ex-POWs and the unsung heroes from this area who fought, suffered and died in the cause of Ireland’s freedom, with a quote from James Connolly: ‘If you strike at, imprison or kill us, out of prisons or graves will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you and perhaps raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you England! Do your worst!”;

“Remember Ireland’s hunger strikers – 22 men” – the ten 1981 hunger strikers and Thomas Ashe, Terence MacSwiney, Michael Fitzgerald, Joe Murphy, Joseph Whitty, Andy O’Sullivan, Denny Barry, Tony D’Arcy, Jack McNeela, Seán McCaughey, Michael Gaughan, Frank Stagg;

A stone “in loving memory of men, women and children murdered by British forces in Ireland.”

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Joy’s Entry

2023-01-012026-02-20Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Henry Joy McCracken’s mother was Ann Joy, daughter of Francis Joy, linen manufacturer and founder of the Belfast Newsletter. They both have a “blue plaque” at the northern end of the entry – see the final image, below. Henry led the Antrim uprising of the United Irishmen in 1798 and was hanged for it in Corn Market at age 30. (WP)

The peacock piece – official title ‘Peripheral Palisading’ – is by James Earley (web). It is perhaps inspired by the blue plaque’s note that the News Letter was “first printed ‘at the sign of the peacock’ in Bridge Street”. For a better shot of it, see the Visual History page on the Belfast Entries.

Also in the Entry is a large wall-painting of Olaudah Equiano.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Aontacht Lenár Lınn

2022-09-132024-07-20Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Am le haontacht na hÉıreann” [Time for Irish unity]. Between stints in prison in 1976, Bobby Sands carried a green harp flag – symbol of Ireland and in particular of the United Irishmen – in an August march to protest the withdrawal of political status (Gérard Harlay/Bobby Sands Trust). He is shown here marching under the #TimeForUnity message on Slıabh Dubh in the campaign for a border poll and Irish unity “lenár lınn”/”in our time” (Fb | tw).

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Out Of The Ashes Of 1969

2012-01-012026-07-31Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Provisional IRA arose “Out of the ashes of 1969”, but the lineage is a long one and all but one of the organisations, events, and arms depicted here precede 1969: Cumann Na mBan, Na Fıanna Éıreann, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, a Celtic shield and sword, a pike (from the 1798 Rebellion), a Thompson gun, the Tricolour; only the assault rifle is modern and perhaps also is meant to indicate the “Belfast Brigade” Provisionals. “Fuaır sıad bás as son saoırse na hÉıreann.” Portraits of 21 locals appear along the roof-line.

For a PUL use of the phrase, see Out Of The Ashes.

New Lodge Road, north Belfast, replacing Laochra Na nGael

Cultúrlann Redevelopment

2010-01-252026-07-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Cultúrlann McAdam – Ó Fıaıch was renovated in 2010-2011 at a cost of 1.9 million pounds, with the addition of the Dillon Gallery. It would be reopened on September 19th by President Mary McAleese (WP). The images here show some of the paintings on the construction hoardings from left (Nansen St) to front (Falls Road) to right (Fallswater St).

Nansen St:

Falls Rd:

[doorway]

Fallswater St:

It Is New Strung And Shall Be Heard

2010-01-182026-07-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Andrea Redmond painted this mural in Andersonstown for the 200th anniversary of the 1798 rebellion by Na hÉıreannaıgh Aontaıthe (the United Irishmen), who used a harp – specifically a Maid Of Erin harp – as their emblem. To the right, out of shot, are the words Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

The mural is in decent shape despite being twelve years old, except for the graffiti at the bottom. The graffiti on the two boards to the side is more obscuring.

The first is devoted to the role of women in global struggles: “We too are strong. We too are a threat to the oppressive enemy. We are revolutionaries. We are the other half of our revolutionary men. We are their equal halves.” The IRA’s Maıréad Farrell is in the top left.

The second commemorates “Óglach Coımhín Mac Brádaıgh a fuaır bás agus é ag cosaınt a phobaıl.” [Volunteer Coımhín Mac Brádaıgh, who died while defending his people.] Mac Brádaıgh was killed pursuing loyalist gunman Michael Stone, who was attacking the funeral of the Gibraltar 3 (including Farrel), in Milltown Cemetery, on March 16th, 1988.

South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast