political

History Is Written By The Winners

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Queen’s University lecturer in economic history Miriam Daly took over as chairwoman of the IRSP (Irish Republican Socialist Party) after founder Seamus Costello was killed in a feud with the IRA. Daly was shot dead in 1980 by the UDA/UFF in her Andersonstown home in 1980. (Interview with husband Jim Daly.)

An IRSP (web) electoral board joins the Daly tribute, showing 2022 Assembly election (WP) candidate Dan Murphy campaigning on a platform focusing on housing: “Demand better! Housing – Equality – Community. Someone who stands up to landlords in Beechmount (e.g.), fighting for affordable rents, fighting for our community.”

The IRSP first painted on this Oakman Street gable in 1996. (Before that, in 1986, there was an IRA anti-touting message – see M00413). The long-standing and much-graffitied mural, History Is Written By The Winner (painted by son Donal Daly among others) was replaced in 2014 by a Joey Ramone mural for a U2 video competition (Murals Of Innocence). The board shown in today’s images was launched on Sunday 2016-12-04 to a crowd of about 200.

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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The People’s Queen Is Dead

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Upon news of Queen Elizabeth’s death, the platinum jubilee mural at the bottom of Crimea Street became a memorial, with hundreds of bouquets being laid before it and a “wall of condolences” set up. (For the mural itself, see The People’s Monarch.) In addition, to the right-hand side has been added a small commemoration of her passing, with a quote from her son, the newly acceded King Charles:

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world”; “Long live the king!”

The fifteen commonwealth “realms” (previously called “dominions”) share a monarch – formerly Elizabeth II and now Charles III – while the commonwealth comprises 41 additional nations, including some which are now republics: Barbados, for example, became a republic on November 30th last year (2021) but is still in the Commonwealth (WP). Additional countries might take the passing of Elizabeth as a suitable juncture at which to sever ties (Edinburgh News has a round-up | for the Bahamas see Caribbean National Weekly | for Canada see Toronto Star).

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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
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HM Queen Elizabeth II

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“HM Queen Elizabeth II 1952-2012”. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor acceded to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1952 (she was crowned in 1953). 2002 was her golden jubilee year. (See also Long To Reign Over Us.) The ‘sponsorship’ box read “This mural was commissioned by 1st batt A coy South East Antrim UDA UFF UYM.” but has been whited out and would later be painted over in black. It is undamaged in J1444.

Owenreagh Dr, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 2011/2012 Paddy Duffy
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The Heart Of The Empire

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“Belfast, Shankill Road the heart of the empire salutes her majesty on 60 glorious years.” [1952-2012]

This is a new three-part installation of boards on Crimea Street for Queen Elizabeth’s diamond (60th) jubilee. For “Ulster To England” see Ulster Girl. On the left (out of shot) are flags of the home nations along with the Royal Standard and Union Flag.

Crimea Street, Shankill, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2011/2012 Paddy Duffy
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The United Kingdom

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In 2004 the East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society sponsored a series of 14 murals in Thorndyke Street charting Protestant history from Cromwell to Cluan Place. From left to right, these are:

  • The Covenant
  • “The Folk Come Home. Lord Protector of the Commonwealth” (Cromwell)
  • “The City Is Saved” (Siege Of Derry)
  • “Civil And Religious Liberty For All.” “Dan Winter’s cottage, County Armagh. Dan Winter was one of the founders of the Orange Order”
  • “Better The Grave Than Slavery.” “How is freedom measured? By the effort which it costs to retain. Freedom!” (WW1)
  • “Their Sacrifice, Our Freedom.” “As we scrambled over the trench ladders, the YCV flag appeared. Jim Maultsaid” (WWI)
  • “United Kingdom”
  • “Hitler Attacks Belfast”
  • “Defending The Community” (Paramilitaries)
  • “Unity – Solidarity” (Sunningdale Agreement)
  • “Their Loyalty Betrayed” (UDR/B Specials)
  • “Out Of The Ashes, New Life.” “Annie Blair – Cluan Place. Her defiance against aggression will always be remembered – God bless”
  • Britannia. “The Union flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom and it is so called because it embodies the emblems of three countries united under one sovereign – the Kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland. The flag consists of three heraldic crosses, those of St Patrick, St George and St Andrew. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union flag. This is because when the first Union flag was created in 1606, Wales by that time was already united with England and was no longer a separate principality.”
  • Commonwealth/Sponsors

The murals were launched in 2004 and information panels were added in 2005.

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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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Hunger Strikers Mosaics

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For the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike, the mosaics of the Troubles-era hunger strikers were mounted around the blanket-men board and above the Phoenix in Clowney Street; for a few years they were previously at the Falls-Beechmount corner.

Clowney Street, Beechmount, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2012 Paddy Duffy
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Understand The Past

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“Understand the past – and build a better future le chéıle Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter.” “The past” in this case is the Battle Of St Matthew’s (“Chath Naomh Máıtıú”), one of the formative events of the Provisional IRA (“Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann”) (WP).

The “better future” is symbolised by the dove and the absence of a weapon in the arms of the central figures – compare to this Derry mural from 1985. The mural was unveiled as part of the commemorative events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle.

Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Paddy Duffy
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Mickey Devine

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The mural is to Mickey Devine, with a smaller (and much older) plaque to Patsy O’Hara (the plaque was previously information about Devine). Both were INLA volunteers and both died in the 1981 hunger strike, along with Kevin Lynch; Liam McCloskey was taken off the strike by his family after 55 days.

For the Patsy O’Hara plaque, see the Peter Moloney Collection.

Chemical Street, Short Strand, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Paddy Duffy
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The Woman’s Role Is In The Struggle

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“Forced to endure years of brutality, humiliation, degradation and torture, the prisoners embarked on hunger-strike.” The 1980 hunger strike involved Brendan Hughes, Raymond McCartney, Tommy McKearney, Tommy McFeely, Leo Green, Sean McKenna, and John Nixon. On December first, three women in Armagh prison also went on strike (newspaper/posters from left to right): Maıréad Farrell (on the dirty protest in her cell), Maıréad Nugent, Mary Doyle.

The Relatives’ Action Committee was a women-led movement founded in 1976 in Turf Lodge (but with local groups in many places) in order to support the prisoners’ campaign for political status and the Five Demands. For background, see the NVTv documentary on Tar Anall | chapter 5 of Shattering Silence | the documents collected at hungerstrikes.org.
See also the entries The Conveyor Belt | Do You Care?
If you can identify the three speakers (perhaps Geraldine McKee. Rosemary Lawlor, Mary Ferris?), please comment or send an e-mail.

On the right, Farrell reads An Phoblacht/Republican News reporting on the assassination of politician and hunger-strike activist John Turnley by the UDA (WP). The headline on the cover reads “Don’t let Thatcher fill these [coffins]”.

Initially without the quotation along the top. The mural was launched on the anniversary date: October 27th, 2010.

International Wall, Divis Street, Divis, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Paddy Duffy
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