James Connolly

Our Struggle Continues

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Óglach Charlie Hughes was O.C. of PIRA D Company (“the dogs”) in west Belfast. He was killed in March 1971 as part of the feud between the OIRA and the Provisionals. PIRA volunteers, including Charlie and cousin Brendan Hughes (“The Dark”), had burned down OIRA drinking den The Burning Embers, across from Charlie’s house on Balkan Street, and were moving on to The Cracked Cup on Leeson Street, but were met with gunfire. Hughes was killed later that night, after a ceasefire had been agreed, by a single shot (WP | a 2002 account by The Dark). The mural replaces the small ‘1921’ tarp (see Do Not Touch).

The other figure shown (on the right) is Palestinian skyjacker Leila Khaled (see also Oppression Breeds Resistance).

Below is James Connolly in a Lasaır Dhearg stencil: “Empires and tyranny perish. We will rise again.”

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Unrepentant Republicans

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Here is a gallery of the republican boards along the low wall just east of the Falls garden of remembrance. From right to left: James Connolly and Seamus Costello; Divis 81; anti-PSNI; “web of corruption”; Charlie Hughes (killed in 1971 the feud with the OIRA); the Falls Curfew featuring Máıre Drumm; Billy McKee, Alec Murphy, and Brendan Hughes; the Falls Road Massacre 1920; Kieran Abram – Abram was knocked to the ground in the early hours of July 5th, 1992, and kicked to death by loyalists in running battles with nationalists on North Howard Street, near the old British Army sangar. Four people were convicted of manslaughter in the case (Judiciary NI).

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Friends And Fellow-Dockers

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“Remembered with pride and affection our friends and fellow-dockers who were killed at work or suffered pain and premature death from unsafe and unhealthy working conditions in the port of Belfast. ‘On a ship’s dark deck a man is dead/wives, sisters, brothers, parents, shake heads and cry/as they knew not who to blame./An injustice has arrived/pain and anguish begins.’ Memories are everlasting. Ar dheıs Dé go raıbh siad. Erected by the Dockers Club and SHIP [Shared Heritage Interpretive Project] on International Workers Day, April 2007.” The plaque is on an exterior wall of the Dockers Club, adjacent to the mural. Above are portraits of Jim Larkin, James Connolly, Winifred Carney, with the emblem of the IGWU/OBU [One Big Union]. Larkin founded the ITGWU in 1909. It was led by Connolly from 1914 to 1916. Carney, from Bangor, founded the Irish Textile Workers’ Union in Belfast in 1912

See also: Dockers And Carters Strike 1907.

Pilot Street, Sailortown, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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Our Demands Most Moderate Are

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The sixteen-year old Sınn Féın Trade Union Dept mural has been replaced (though the plaque remains in the top right-hand corner) with another mural featuring James Connolly but with a new quote, from his 1907 poem: “Our demands most moderate are/We only want the earth.” The Irish Worker headline reads “Belfast ITGWU organiser Connolly gets 905 votes municipal elections” referring to the municipal elections of 1913 – Connolly stood in the Dock Ward (SIPTU). At Connolly’s right hand are books by James Fintan Lalor (Clearing The Decks), William Thompson (Labour [Labor] Rewarded) and Karl Marx.

Above the mural is a painted board celebrating “women in struggle – generations shall remember them and call them blessed.” With images of female activists including Máıre Drumm, Maıréad Farrell, and Countess Markievicz.

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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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No Right In Ireland

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“The British government has no right in Ireland, never had any right in Ireland, and never can have any right in Ireland.” (Last Statement, 1916)

“James Connolly 1868-1916 James Connolly was born in June 5th 1868. In 1810 he became organiser for the Irish Transport And General Workers Union in Belfast. In 1913 he co-founded the Irish Citizen Army. He was one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation and commanded HQ in the GPO during the 1916 Rising. He was executed by the British on May 12th 1916.”

“Nora Connolly O’Brien 1893-1981 Nora Connolly was the 2nd daughter of James Connolly. Nora was a member of Cumann Na mBan and the Gaelic League in Belfast. She played an organisational role in the ICA in the run up to the 1916 Rising. She was a trade unionist and remained so throughout her life.”

The mural was launched on May 3rd, 2012.

For the gallery above the mural, see On The Brink Of Sectarian Disaster.

Clondara St, west Belfast

For close-ups of the upper banners and boards, see the Peter Moloney Collection.

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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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Out Of The Ashes Of 1798

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“I ndıl chuımhne – this plaque is dedicated to all those from the greater Newington area who lost their lives as a result of the conflict in this country.” Pikemen from the 1798 uprising stand on either side of a phoenix, with portraits above of Wolfe Tone, James Connolly, Henry Joy McCracken, and Mary Ann McCracken.

Newington Avenue, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1999 Paddy Duffy
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Let Us Rise

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“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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