“[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

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
T08130 [T08131] T08132 T08129 T08128