physical force – Page 36 – Paddy Duffy Collection

Francis Hughes

2011-01-102026-07-31Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can endure the most who will conquer.” 1981 hunger-striker Francis Hughes is flanked by blanketmen Hugh Rooney and Freddie Toal and surrounded by a host of other republican faces in this 2011 mural commemorating the 30th anniversary of the strikes. Painted by Seany McVeigh.

Top 1. Wolfe Tone 2. Mairead Farrell 3. Thomas Ashe 4. Kevin Lynch 5. Michael Gaughan 6. Padraig Pearse, [FH] 7. Thomas McElwee 8. Constance Markievicz 9. Joe McDonnell 10. Terence MacSwiney 11. Frank Stagg 12. fuiseog

Middle 1. Hugh Rooney, 2. Kevin Barry 3. Patsy O’Hara 4. Máire Drumm 5. James Connolly, [FH] 6. Denis Barry 7. James O’Donovan Rossa 8. Bobby Sands 9. Mickey Devine 10. ? 11. Freddie Toal

Bottom 1. Roger Casement 2. Kieran Doherty 3. Michael Fitzgerald 4. Seán McNeela 5. Tony D’Arcy 6. Ray McCreesh, [FH] 7. Joseph Murphy 8. Andrew Sullivan 9. Seán McCaughey 10. Martin Hurson 11. Anne Devlin

Northumberland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Paddy Duffy
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Andersonstown Barracks

2011-01-012026-07-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The RUC barracks at the junction of the Falls Road and Glen Road was demolished in 2005. Since then, it has become a small park and since 2008 the back wall has been full of republican messages and imagery. The metal-work commemorating the hunger strikers pre-dates the painted and printed works, dating back to 2006.

(There is a complete Visual History at Extramural Activity.)

Also included (last) is a mobile board, parked on the Glen Road side, commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the second hunger strike (“Stailc Ocrais Tríocha Bliain”), in which ten IRA and INLA prisoners died.

Falls Road/Glen Rd, Andersonstown, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Paddy Duffy
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Remember The Hunger Strikers

2010-01-222026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan are included alongside the deceased 1981 hunger strikers in a gallery of portraits that has been updated annually since (at least) 2006. The large panel shows blanket-men Hugh Rooney and Freddie Toal, and Bobby Sands, the first to die in 1981.

Twinbrook Road, Twinbrook

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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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Lenadoon Women In Struggle

2010-01-202026-07-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Strong is what we make each other until we are strong together.” Women in struggle, (clockwise) banging binlids, undergoing strip searches, protesting internment, victims of plastic bullets (Julie Livingstone), fighting in Cumann Na mBan.

On the right are the astrological symbol for woman and the republican symbol of “Saoirse” with the green star and fist.

Dungloe Crescent, Lenadoon, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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Léana An Dúın – Unbowed Unbroken

2010-01-192026-07-29Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The main Lenadoon mural is refreshed and more portraits and a plaque added (on the right). The dying Cú Chulaınn (as portrayed in bronze by Oliver Sheppard, in a statue installed in the GPO in 1935) is used as a symbol for the locals from Lenadoon (including IRA volunteers) who fought for freedom (“saoırse”). They are listed on the scrolls to each side and in the portraits in the apex: Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn (previously listed as Bridie O’Neill).

For the previous version (though without the three faces it initially had, of O’Callaghan, McDonnell, and Farrell) see M01934.

Lenadoon Avenue, Lenadoon, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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It Is New Strung And Shall Be Heard

2010-01-182026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Andrea Redmond painted this mural in Andersonstown for the 200th anniversary of the 1798 rebellion by Na hÉıreannaıgh Aontaıthe (the United Irishmen), who used a harp – specifically a Maid Of Erin harp – as their emblem. To the right, out of shot, are the words Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

The mural is in decent shape despite being twelve years old, except for the graffiti at the bottom. The graffiti on the two boards to the side is more obscuring.

The first is devoted to the role of women in global struggles: “We too are strong. We too are a threat to the oppressive enemy. We are revolutionaries. We are the other half of our revolutionary men. We are their equal halves.” The IRA’s Maıréad Farrell is in the top left.

The second commemorates “Óglach Coımhín Mac Brádaıgh a fuaır bás agus é ag cosaınt a phobaıl.” [Volunteer Coımhín Mac Brádaıgh, who died while defending his people.] Mac Brádaıgh was killed pursuing loyalist gunman Michael Stone, who was attacking the funeral of the Gibraltar 3 (including Farrel), in Milltown Cemetery, on March 16th, 1988.

South Link, Andersonstown, west Belfast

Colin Area Remembers

2010-01-172026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Colin area remembers with pride and honour, [IRA] Vol. Maıréad Farrell, Vol. Sean Savage, Vol. Dan McCann.” The Gibraltar 3 were killed by SAS soldiers in 1988.

There was originally a board below the portraits with a quote from Farrell “Everyone tells me I’m a feminist. All I know is that I’m just as good as others, and that especially means men. I am definitely a socialist and I’m definitely a Republican. I believe in a united socialist country, definitely socialist. Capitalism can offer our people nothing and yet that’s the main interest of the British in Ireland – Oglach [sic] Maıréad Farrell.”

Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.

Jasmine Corner, Twinbrook

Éırí Amach Na Casca

2010-01-142026-07-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Éırí Amach Na Cásca 1916 [Easter Rising 1916] mural is repainted (by DD and Seany McVeigh) due to the new doorway. Compare to the previous version. (See also the IRA plaque.)

Beechmount Avenue/Ascaıll Ard Na bhFeá/RPG Avenue, Beechmount, west Belfast

Building An Ireland Of Equals

2010-01-132026-08-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The aspect of Cave Hill commonly known as Napoleon’s Nose is shown sheltering the people of Newington, surrounded by heroes and emblems of the past – Bobby Sands, Wolfe Tone, and in the centre, Winifred Carney. This republican mural is both internally directed (at Newington and the New Lodge) and externally, being on the main Antrim Road (Oceanic avenue, on the side of the Sinn Féin office) which is a main artery between the city and points north.

“Ag aontú Caıtlıceach, Protastúnach agus Easaontóırí.” – “Uniting Catholic, Protestant, and Dissenter.” In An Argument On Behalf Of The Catholics Of Ireland (1791), Wolfe Tone of the United Irishmen wrote, “To subvert the tyranny of our execrable government, to break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils, and to assert the independence of my country, these were my objects. To unite the whole people of Ireland, to abolish the memory of past dissensions, and to substitute the common name of Irishman, in place of the denominations of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter, these were my means.”

Fıanna 100

2010-01-122026-07-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Na Fıanna Éıreann was founded by Constance Markievicz – shown on the left of the mural – and Bulmer Hobson in 1909 as a scouting organisation for boys. When they reached 17, they were recruited into the IRB.

Falls-Beechmount Corner