St Malachy’s GAC

“Saint Malachy’s G.A.C. is more than a club. It’s our club. To participate is to represent your community and an expression of your cultural identity.”

This is the 2021 repaint of the mural celebrating Gaelic games in the parish of St. Malachy/Naomh Maolmhaodhóg, in the Markets area of Belfast. The parish church – featured in the top centre – has a celebrated fan-vaulted ceiling (WP). This mural, on the other hand, features a bay window.

A plaque to “Gerard “Jock” Davison” has been added in the top right corner.

“Conaíonn [Cónaíonn] muid ı scath dá chéıle” is a straightforward rendering of the epigrammatic “Ar scáth a cheıle a mhaıreann na daoıne”, which was included in the previous version – see Cultural Identity.

Welsh Street, Markets, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Fáılte Feırste Thıar

“Welcome to West Belfast.” The sights of nationalist west Belfast are depicted in (part of) a new mural by Mickey Doherty and Marty Lyons on the side wall of the tourist office. From left to right: The (2015) Bobby Sands mural in Sevastopol Street, tourists being introduced to the IRA D Company memorial garden on the lower Falls by Peadar Whelan, Conway Mill, Divis tower, RISE at the bottom of Broadway (better known as the “Balls on the Falls”), the Falls library, the “international wall” in 2012 (with marchers in support of a nondescript international cause, crocodiles for the Irish language, and gay rights), St Peter’s pro-cathedral, a black taxi, the Connolly statue outside Comhaırle Phobaıl an bhFál, and the model for the new Casement Park stadium.

Below: Michael Conlan (tw | ig) won his first title and tenth professional bout on Saturday night (December 22nd), in Manchester, by defeating Englishman Jason Cunningham (BBC). He is featured here alongside the traditional Gaelic games of hurling, camogie, football, and handball.

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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The International Wall 2008

Here is a complete set of images of the International Wall (Visual History) some time in the first half of 2008 (the Nugent mural and the WBTA mural had been changed by July). From left to right:

“The first blanketman” Kieran ‘Header’ Nugent
Solidarity with Palestine “the largest concentration camp in the world!!! 33 million innocent people tortured, denied their freedom!
Maghaberry POWs “Not forgotten – segregation for Irish POWs”
Frederick Douglass
Guernica
The Manchester Martyrs
American’s Greatest Failure, with a “British support hook”
Taxi Trax, with a central image of the GPO, and with an internet address for the first time
Martin Meehan “A leader is gone, the legend forever lives on” + Askatasuna “not Spain, not France – self-determination for the Basque country”
Stop Plan Bush “Stop the crazy son of a Bush” 
Liam MacCarthy “Ireland’s forgotten son”

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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
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Part Of Our Heritage

“Gaelic games – part of our heritage.” Athletes play hurling, football, and camogie and the local GAA club Ardoyne Kickhams (Fb) is celebrated. “Is treıse dúchas ná oılıuınt” means “heritage is stronger than upbringing”. “Fáılte go dtí Ard Eoın” [“Welcome to Ardoyne”] appears in the apex.

Havana way, Ardoyne, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1994 Paddy Duffy (undated image)
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