four provinces – Page 3 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Pride Of Glencolin

2022-11-252024-08-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Glencolin estate was built next to Moyard House (which in 1984 became home to the Roddy’s (web)) on the Glen Road in 1979 (Belfast Forums). For the fortieth anniversary of “eastát Ghleann Collaınn” the mural at the entrance to the estate was (belatedly) repainted. The composition of the mural remains as in the previous version, with the Roddy’s and Oliver Plunkett church in the shadow of Dubhaıs and Slıabh Dubh; they are now joined by images of Gaelic games. The Bobby Sands quote has been removed.

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The Joy Of Our Hearts

2022-11-162024-08-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Newington tribute to Bobby Sands and the other deceased hunger strikers of the 1970s and 80s (see previously: Mol An Óıge Agus Tıocfaıdh Sí) has been augmented with four plaques to republicans from the area who died in the Troubles: (l-r) Martin McDonagh, Rosemary Bleakley, Colm Mulgrew, and Sean ‘Maxi’ McIvenna.

Unbeknowst to her parents (Lost Lives), Bleakley had joined Cumann Na mBan at 18 and was four days short of her nineteenth birthday when she and McDonagh were killed in a premature bomb explosion in the North Street arcade (Victor Patterson image of the blast), along with civilians Ian Gallagher and Mary Dornan (Sutton); 20 others were injured (Fortnight). Bleakley was not buried in the republican plot (in Milltown) but coincidentally in the plot adjacent to Dornan (BBC).

Bleakley was portrayed in the old New Lodge Volunteers mural.

Newington Avenue, north Belfast

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Volunteers From The Greater New Barnsley Area

2022-11-062024-08-05Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Sheas sıad le chéıle” [They stood together] – the New Barnsley memorial garden commemorates (on the large plaque) “Volunteers From The Greater New Barnsley Area” and (on the smaller one) commemorating support from the community.

The wrought-iron gates depict a phoenix and “Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann”.

The garden was originally a single plaque in 2005.

Moyard Park, New Barnsley

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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Ard Eoın Kickhams

2022-11-042024-08-04Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Kickhams is the local Cumann Luthchleas Gael (GAA club) (Fb | tw), founded 1907, named for republican writer Charles Kickham. The mural shows a football, hurleys and sliotar, and a handball.

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Mac Dıarmada

2022-10-192024-08-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This board to Seán Mac Dıarmada in Ardoyne details his exploits leading up to and including the 1916 uprising and his earlier connection with the local area.

Painted by Rısteard ÓMurchú.

Previously: Mac Dıarmada also appears in the Bone Staır Na Gaeılge mural.

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Pearse Jordan

2022-10-162024-08-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Pearse Jordan was unarmed when he was killed by the RUC on November 25th, 1992 but in this new Éıre Nua Flute Band board he leaves his prints on an assault rifle. (previous Éıre Nua board) His killing was ruled unlawful, and subsequent inquest insufficient, by the European Court Of Human Rights in 2001. The campaign for an inquest continues (An Phoblacht).

The words on the board – “Slan [sic] go foıll [sic] moh [sic] chara, just for a while/We’ll not have your craic, your jokes, or your smiles/But in years to come, your memory’s still true/A brave son of Ireland, we will not forget you” – are the chorus of The Ballad Of Pearse Jordan (words | sung by The Irish Brigade).

The board is in Hugo Street, which is also the site of his memorial plaque, just above the Evolution Of Our Revolution.

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O’Neill-Allsopp Memorial Flute Band

2022-10-072024-07-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Jim O’Neill was killed in February 1976 during an IRA arson attack on a furniture warehouse on the Antrim Road near the New Lodge – Gerry Fitt’s house next door might have been the ultimate target (Belfast Child); Robert Allsopp appears to have accidentally shot himself in March 1975 (Irish Peace Process). Both were members of Na Fıanna. The flute band (Fb) is named in their memory. The emblem in the centre of the mural was previously a pair of crossed Sunburst flags (see X05242).

For the main mural, see M08532.

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Her Old Tradition Of Nationhood

2022-10-052024-07-24Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Saoradh salute the men and women of violence,” namely the signatories to the 1916 Proclamation, the women of the 1970s IRA, and modern “dissidents” with home-made weapons.

The plaque on the left is to the IRA’s Pearse Jordan, next to the centenary celebration of the Proclamation, Ag Fíorú Na Poblachta. The board was been moved to this Falls Road location from Ardoyne; it replaces an anti-RUC/PSNI mural.

Hugo Street, west Belfast

They Were Faithful And They Fought

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

This is the first spot on the International Wall, Divis Street. Brendan Hughes has been included since the 2008 version (compare 2005 with 2008) but Crumlin Road hunger-striker Billy McKee is included for the first time. McKee was the first OC of the PIRA’s Belfast Brigade and arrested for possession of a handgun. The hunger strike was to secure political status for prisoners who had been convicted of crimes (WP).

“This mural is dedicated to the lives of: Billy McKee, Hunger-striker, Crumlin Road Gaol, achieved political status, 1972; Kieran Nugent, Blanketman, H-Blocks Long Kesh, fought the loss of political status, 1976; Brendan Hughes, Blanketman, Hunger-striker, H-Blocks Long Kesh, 1980.”

Unrepentant Republicans

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

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).