painted wall

The Mass Rock

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“Penal days in Ireland” – this mural commemorates the repression of Catholicism and use of mass rocks as secret locations in the days of Cromwellian conquest and the penal laws, c. 1650-1800. The 1652 Act Of Settlement (WP) banished Catholic priests from the island and services had to be held at short notice and in remote locations, with sentries posted to keep watch against soldiers from the New Model Army. Laws against the practice of Catholicism in Ireland were not lifted until the 1782 Roman Catholic Relief Act (PCUG).

See also: The Hedge Row School.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00186

Labhaır An Teanga Ghaeılge Lıom

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Catholic (and Presbyterian) education was prohibited by the penal laws (WP) and particularly the Education Act of 1695 (WP) – this is probably what’s on the notice on the left-hand tree. Schooling by Catholics (in Irish) nonetheless took place, in covert houses and outhouses, as well as in fields and hedge-rows. The Act was repealed in 1782, provided the teacher took an oath of allegiance to the Crown.

See also: The Mass Rock.

Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00185

Coffin Ship

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A million, and perhaps as many as 2 million – one in four Irish people – left Ireland between 1845 and 1855, many sailing on so-called “coffin ships” which had mortality rates of 30%. Another million died in the Great Hunger itself (Visual History), in most cases the proximate causes were fever and dysentery (WP | Irish Central).

Crocus Street, west Belfast. Perhaps by the same hand(s) that painted the Gorta Mór mural in Rossnareen.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00113

The Coming Of Lugh

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The main figure is from Jim Fitzpatrick’s The Coming Of Lugh and the two horsemen on the left are from Lugh The Il-Danna.

For more Jim Fitzpatrick drawings reproduced in murals, see the Visual History page.

The mural was perhaps painted for the Ardoyne Fleadh, and perhaps by Sean Doran, who worked on the Blind Piper in 1994 and produced posters for the Fleadh in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

Ardoyne Avenue, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00184

Trevor King

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Trevor “Kingso” King served time for his part in the Battle At Springmartin in 1972, in which seven people, including a British soldier, died. In 1994, having been shot by the INLA and paralysed from the neck down, King took the decision to remove his own life-support (WP).

The emblem of the PAF is out of shot to the left; the UVF emblem in the centre is flanked by the Ulster Banner and UVF flag. “1st Belfast battalion, ‘B’ company.”

Disraeli Street, Woodvale, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00235

Brian Robinson

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Brian Robinson was shot by the British Army in September, 1989, immediately after he had shot and killed a Catholic (Paddy McKenna) walking along Crumlin Road (WP). The mural features Robinson’s portrait in a wreath (“For God and Ulster – 1st Batt. B. Coy”) and the emblems of the UVF and PAF.

Disraeli Street, Woodvale, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00234

D Company, Ballysillan

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The writing on the stone reads, “In memory of Lt Col John Bingham, murdered 14th Sept 86” and “In memory of Major Thomas Stewart, murdered 29th Oct 96”. The volunteers in hoods are divided between active service and graveside memorial: two stand behind their downward-pointing rifles, two assume crouching positions with rifles pointed.

D company (Ballysillan), 1st battalion, UVF

Ballysillan Road, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00232

Gone But Not Forgotten

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“This mural is a memorial to the volunteers of A Coy 1st Batt who served the Shankill community so bravely during the years of conflict. Gone but not forgotten.” The flags being held on either side are of the Shankill Protestant Boys (1st battalion, Ulster Volunteers) and the USSF.

Canmore Street, Shankill, west Belfast. Paddy Duffy’s British Telecom van is parked on the Shankill, to the right of the image.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00223

Woodvale Defence Association

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“In proud and loving memory of our comrades who have sacrificed their lives. They gave their all so that we may live in freedom.” The Woodvale Defence Association (“WDA” along the bottom) was the largest of the local associations which merged together in 1971 to form the Ulster Defence Association (UDA/UFF) and the WDA became B company of 2nd battalion (WP).

Ohio Street, Woodvale, west Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00233 T00221