For Easter 2025, an “Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann roll of honour 1981” board was added to the wall at the top of Bingnian Drive in Andersonstown, with the names of the ten who died in the second hunger strike. “Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann” here obscures the difference between the IRA and the INLA (O’Hara, Lynch, Devine), and between the Provisional IRA and the anti-Agreement IRA factions. It’s not clear to what extent the (2009 onward) ONH is currently operating, after a split in 2024 (BelTel 2024 | BelTel 2025).
For the RNU piece on the left (in the wide shot) see The Rising Of The Moon. Like the piece on the right, it features Kieran Doherty and Joe McDonnell, two of hunger strikers who were local to the area. For background information, see the board formerly on the wall: To Whom Do We Owe Our Allegiance Today?
“West Tyrone Brigade, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. Vol. Charles Breslin, Vol, David Devine, Vol. Michael Devine”. The three were killed on February 23rd, 1985, in a hail of 100-200 SAS bullets, as they returned arms for an aborted mission to a dump near the Fountain area of Strabane; their families were later (2002) awarded compensation. (An Phoblacht | WP | UTv)
The board shown above is in the Fountain Street memorial garden, which centrally features a stone-wall enclosure to the trio. Individual stones have also been added to the garden, to Danny McCauley (TPQ | An Phoblacht), Tobias Molloy (An Phoblacht), and Eugene Devlin (An Phoblacht) (shown below). The local SF cumann is named after Molloy/Devlin/McCauley (Fb).
“The Spirit Of Freedom RFB remember with great pride our late comrade and friend drum sergeant Michael (Micky) Friel on his 20th anniversary. Always remembered and sorely missed by your family and your comrades in the Spirit Of Freedom RFB.” The band does not appear to have an on-line presence but there are references to the band going back to 1997 (An Phoblacht). Friel died in 2004 at age 24 (FindAGrave).
North Armagh remembers both the centenary of the Easter Rising – in black and white in the background are (above) the seven signatories of the Proclamation, (bottom left) Cumann Na mBan (see the 2014 west Belfast mural) and (bottom right) the Irish Citizen Army (depicted by the painting The Birth Of The Irish Republic) – but also nineteen local volunteers and activists from the Troubles era: (anti-clockwise from left) Thomas Harte, Michael Crossey, Charles Agnew, Julie Dougan, John Francis Green, Terry Brady, David Kennedy, Peter Corrigan, Sheena Campbell, Sam Marshall, Eamonn McCann, Harry McCartney, JB O’Hagan, Sean McIlvenna, Eddie Dynes, Eugene Toman, Garvase McKerr, Sean Burns.
The emblems in the upper corners of those of Na Fıanna Éıreann and the Irish National Volunteers. The inclusion of the National Volunteers is unusual and perhaps a mistake: they were formed in 1914, when the Irish Volunteers split after Redmond urged Irishmen to join the British Army in the Great War; about 24,000 National Volunteers joined the 10th and 16th (alongside roughly 180,000 other Irishmen) (WP). The intended emblem might instead be that of the Irish Volunteers, which kept the name of the pre-WWI organisation but only a fraction of the volunteers, some of whom participated in the Easter Rising; their emblem is also a harp but with “IV” or “Irish Volunteers” or (for the Dublin brigade) the Fıanna Fáıl sunburst. (If you can clarify, please comment/get in touch.)
“Stop the war on Gaza! Pray for peace!” There are doves in the upper corners but the central imagery is of a clenched fist and the background shows a republican volunteer (perhaps from the INLA) comforting a Palestinian.
For the mural that this framed image has been added to, see Clós Ard An Lao.
Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close, in the Bone, north Belfast
“I ndıl chuımhne ar Mhıcheál Ó hAodha, Óglaıgh na hÉıreann, a dhúnmharaıgh Arm na Breataıne anseo ar 18 Deıreadh Fómhaır 1974, aoıs 16. In proud and loving memory of Volunteer Michael Hughes, Irish Republican Army, who was murdered by the British Army at this spot on the 18th October 1974 aged 16. I measc laochra na nGael go raıbh sé.”
Hughes was shot when he and several other youths attempted to hijack a bus at the stop at the entrance to the area which was under observation by a Royal Marine unit; the soldier who fired the shot claimed that Hughes had pointed a pistol at him, but no weapon or forensic evidence was recovered (Lost Lives 1208).
This is an enlarged memorial to Hughes at the upper entrance to Derrybeg. For the previous memorial, see M08521); Peter also photographed the bus shelters (in 2002).
From the printed info board: “Michael Hughes was born in Banbridge, Co. Down on 28th June 1958. He was the oldest of seven children born to Patrick and Teresa. He had one brother called John and five sisters, Kate, Elizabeth, Angela, Lorraine and Patricia. Michael began his academic career at St. Peter’s Primary School Bessbrook. He did well at school and moved on to the Abbey CBS Newry and then to St. Joseph’s. His teenage years were thrown into turmoil when he had to come to terms with the death of his father Patsy, who was killed in a premature explosion on the Dublin Road. His father’s death had a big impact on the teenage Michael. From an early age Michael was active on the streets against the British forces and he then decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the ranks of Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann. He became heavily involved with republican activity in the Derrybeg area and his leadership qualities soon impressed all those around him. He was a close friend and comrade of Eddie Grant who also died in action as a result of a premature explosion on Christmas Eve 1973. Apart from his active involvement in the IRA, Michael also enjoyed his social life. Nicknamed “Sticky” by his friends, he liked nothing better in his free time than frequenting the local Community Centre. With his ginger hair, he was instantly recognisable to everyone. He enjoyed football and reading books about Irish history. Realising the hardships faced by large families, Michael decided to look for a full time job to help alleviate his mother’s difficulties. He secured employment at the Nylon factory on the Armagh Road but alas had only completed two weeks work when his young life was cruelly ended. On Friday 18th October 1974, Michael was on active service when he was shot dead on an Ulsterbus by the British Army. He was only 16 years of age. On the day of his burial, his comrades marched along Main Avenue, Derrybeg in military formation in a fitting tribute to a fellow soldier. Michael will always be remembered with pride by his family and friends. Ar dheıs láımh Dé go raıbh a anam.”
Nine people died in the 1972 blast that killed Patsy Hughes, at the customs station in Newry – two lorry-drivers, four customs officials, and three IRA volunteers (Lost Lives 551).
On March 25th, Israel declared that it would no longer work with UNRWA to deliver aid into Gaza (Reuters | Guardian). On March 28th, Foreign Minister Micheál Martin announced that Ireland plans to “intervene” in South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel, asserting that the Genocide Convention includes blocking humanitarian aid (BBC | Guardian | RTÉ).
The support for Palestine by Ireland and South Africa is illustrated here by Irish, Palestinian, and South African children standing hand-in-hand. The same type of image was also used, with younger children, in the Painting For Palestine project on the International Wall – see The International Court Of Justice, which also gives details of South Africa’s initial case against Israel.
“I measc laochra na nGael go raıbh sıad.” Profiles of Patricia Black, Frankie Ryan, Michael Ferguson, and Sean Keenan were added in late 2021 (video of launch) to the pair of existing monuments that memorialise them in Colin/Poleglass (for which see The Undauntable Thought on Peter’s site).
Black and Ryan were IRA volunteers killed by in a premature bomb explosion near London (An Phoblacht).
Michael Ferguson and Seán Keenan were activists and Sınn Féın councillors. Both died in 2006 of cancer (Irish Times | Bel Tel).
On Pantridge Road, which runs down to Michael Ferguson roundabout (An Phoblacht).
“No sovereignty = no control”. Great Britain and the European Union combine to push Ireland through the grinder for American profit. This mural is a cartoon by Carlos Latuff (ig) reproduced by 32CSM (web) on Divis Street, Belfast.
“United in struggle for freedom and sovereignty. Beir bua! #BDS #FreePalestine. www.32csm.org” — Palestinian and Irish fists raised together in solidarity.
Divis Street, west Belfast, perhaps using the same stencil in Free Palestine on Beechmount Avenue and in Springhill in 2014 reproducing a Latuff cartoon.
Paddy Duffy Collection 