painted wall

Ulster’s Finest

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There are two unusual features of this UVF mural in Monkstown: the six volunteers are unmasked – so, this is not a “hooded gunman” mural – and two of the volunteers – the pair in the centre carrying, though not aiming, Uzis – are female. As far as we know, this is the only PUL mural showing armed females. (See the Visual History page on women in murals and muraling.)

The records of this mural are contradictory – this image in the Paddy Duffy Collection is dated April, 1997; other, less reliable, sources give 1999 as the date of its creation and say it was plastered over in 1996 (Xitter). All of this confusion, and its limited appearance in the various collections, suggests that this was a short-lived mural, perhaps because the Uzis, assault rifles, and RPG were being brandished next to Hollybank primary school.

Hollybank Park, Monkstown, Newtownabbey

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00230

“Dhá Chıne, Aon Choımhlint – Bi Herri, Borroka Bat

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This is a long mural expressing solidarity between Ireland and the Basque Country on the wall of JB Kennedy’s bakery in Beechmount Grove. The bakery would close in 1998 (Belfast Live).

There are various slogans in Basque and in Irish. From top to bottom (left to right):

“Dhá chıne, aon choımhlint – Bi herri, borroka bat. Askatasuna – Saoırse”

“Emakumeen askatasunik gabe, ez daga herri askatasunik – Gan saoırse de mná, níl aon saoırse den tír.”

“[unknown Basque poem/song about overthrowing the capitalists]”

“Hemen euskaraz ez dakienak berak jakingo du zergatik ez dakien. Baina hemen euskaraz ez dakienak ez digu uzten euskaraz egiten. Baina eta hemen euskaraz jakin arren euskaraz mintzatzen ez denak ere ez digu uzten euskaraz egiten”

“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam”

“Sabotaia, errebeldia, desobeintzia, matxinada”

“Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí”

“Oure lurra defenda dezagun”

“Ní mhaırfidh an duıne, ach maırfıdh an domhaın má bhe[ı]r an duıne aıre dó”

“Bietan jarrai” – the slogan of ETA

and, out of shot to the right, in English, “No repression”.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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Mythological Beechmount

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This is a very long mural on Beechmount Avenue reproducing various pieces from Jim Fitzpatrick’s Book Of Conquests, including the central figure from the cover. The final panel shows Fitzpatrick’s Lough Derravaragh/Children Of Lear.

See the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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New Life

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There is no text to accompany these images of sun/moon, day/night, and religious-icon-style figures in the branches and trunk of the central tree, but this is probably a mural from New Life church (web), between the security gates on Northumberland Street, west Belfast. The church is associated with Elim Pentecostal (web) and was founded in 1993 (old site).

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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UN Day For The Eradication Of Poverty

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“To be free of poverty is a human right.” October 17th, each year, is the United Nations’ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The mural shown above states that “12 of the 16 most deprived wards in Belfast are in W. Belfast”. 

Mural by Andrea Redmond and Margaret McCann sponsored by W. Belfast Economic Forum and the Falls Women’s Centre, showing children of the world under a rainbow and between a dolmen and a ?parrot?.

Dunlewey Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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A New Opportunity For Peace

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This high wall is in front of the Sınn Féın offices (Connolly House) on the Andersonstown Road, west Belfast. Along the top is a list of concerns being pressed in the on-going peace process: “Roısín McAliskey, preconditions, Drumcree 95-96-?, Dunloy, Ormeau Rd, Garvaghy, Loyalists no ceasefire, Lee Clegg, RUC – no change. A new opportunity for peace – Bóthar Bhaıle Andarsan for all inclusive talks.”

Gerry Adams stood for Sınn Féın in Belfast West in the 1997 UK general election, regaining the seat from the SDLP’s Joe Hendron with 56% of the poll (WP). He is wearing a green ribbon, emblem of the campaign to release republican POWs.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00210

Private William McFadzean VC

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William McFadzean was awarded the VC medal for throwing himself on a fallen box of grenades on the first day of the Battle Of The Somme. The battles listed to either side are: “Ypres, Fricourt, Cambrai, Thiepval, Messines, Beaucourt, Rossieres, Beaumonthamel, Langemarck,” and, “Somme, Albert, Flanders, St Quentin, Bailleul, Grandcourt, Courtrai, Passchendaele, Schwaben Redoubt”.

The gates are decorated with modern assault rifles.

Mount Vernon Park, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1998/1997 Paddy Duffy
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Sandy Row UDA

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“Sandy Row South Belfast” UDA/UFF volunteers in balaclavas and camo gear fire a funeral volley “in proud memory of our fallen comrades. We forget them not – at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

Boyne Court, Sandy Row, south Belfast

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00252

Benson Kingsberry

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The orange lily makes a rare appearance in a paramilitary mural. The hooded gunmen are from the UFF/UDA. Volunteer Stephen “Benson” Kingsberry is remembered in the panel on the left of the house. He died from consuming tainted ecstasy (perhaps distributed by the UVF). 

Kilburn Street, south Belfast

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
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