This gallery of portraits of the hunger strikers of the Troubles era includes Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan. This is the third such gallery of portraits – the first is here; the second can be seen in Google StreetView.
Rockmore Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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“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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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
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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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“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
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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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The “blanket” (Gaeilge: pluıd) protest (not wearing prison uniforms) was a response to the removal of political (Special Category) status in 1976 (WP). The “no wash” or “dirty” protest (not using toilet facilities) followed in 1978 (WP). Both forms of protest are illustrated in the board shown above: three unshaven men wear blankets and go barefoot in a cell with excrement smeared on the walls.
An information plaque was added below, on the Phoenix mural (not shown – see M04941).
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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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This is a mural by Mo Chara Kelly (with DD Walker, Michael Kelly, and Ta Heath) commemorating the deaths of five people shot by British Army snipers in 1972: Paddy Butler (39), David McCafferty (15), Margaret Gargan (13), John Dougal (16), Fr Noel Fitzpatrick (40). The snipers fired from JP Corry’s timber yard (shown on the right) and at the time the Westrock bungalows were still standing (shown lower left).
“Belfast’s Bloody Sunday. On the 9th July 1972 the British Army murdered 5 Irish citizens and severely wounded 2 others. It’s time for the truth.”
Springfield Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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“Ballymurphy Massacre – August 1971 – We demand the truth” with portraits of the 11 dead – Quinn, Mullan, Connolly, Teggart, Philips, Murphy, McCarthy, Doherty, Laverty, Corr, McKerr.
The painting (by Rıstead Ó Murchú) on the board shows the killing (from the direction of Springmartin) of Father Hugh Mullan in waste ground near Springfield Park. It was previously on the Whiterock Road but has now been moved onto the Springfield Road to join the murals on the low wall calling for justice. Two of the panels are also included. More can be seen in in Peter Moloney’s collection.
Springfield Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
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This mural shows Orange Order marchers in front of a banner depicting previous gatherings in Malvern St. The text on the side wall reads “This mural depicts Malvern St arch which was where the local community gathered to celebrate the traditional 12th of July commemoration.”
By Blaze FX in Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
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“Time for the truth”. Two of the New Lodge Six (James Sloan, James McCann) were killed by the UDA outside a bar and four (Tony Campbell, Ambrose Hardy, Brendan Maguire, John Loughran) among the crowd that gathered by British Army snipers from their positions on top of the flats, using night-vision sights, February 3rd-4th, 1973.
Donore Court, New Lodge, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
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One RIC member was killed and another wounded outside the Beehive Bar in a shoot-out with IRA men in September 1920. In reprisal, County Inspector Harrison and his men killed Vol. Ned Trodden, Vol. Sean Gaynor, and Sean McFadden (Rısteard Ó Murchú). The gang, under Detective Inspector Nixon, would go on to kill more Catholics in 1921 and in 1922 commit the McMahon killings and the Arnon Street killings, in each of which 6 people died.
Northumberland Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 