On October 18th, 1922, the third Dáıl/second Provisional Government Of Southern Ireland approved – in the absence of anti-Treaty members – a bill entitled the “Army Emergency Powers Resolution” which introduced martial law, including martial courts with the death penalty for anyone found in possession of an illegal firearm – “illegal” meaning not sanctioned by the nascent pro-Treaty Free State. Under these powers, seven IRA volunteers were executed on November 17th and 19th, followed on the 24th by Erskine Childers (a member of the team that negotiated the Treaty but subsequently against it). In response, the IRA declared that TDs who had voted for the bill were fair game, and on December 7th Seán Hales of Cork was shot and killed. In reprisal, the government ordered the execution of four more volunteers, one from each province: Liam Mellows, Joe McKelvey, Dick Barnett, Rory O’Connor. The four had been arrested five months earlier, on June 30th, 1922, at the start of the Civil War, after surrendering the Four Courts. By the end of the war, 81 executions had taken place. (An Phoblacht | Irish Times | The Irish Story | WP | WP)
For the left-hand side of the wall, on the shipyard clearings and the McMahon murders, see Belfast Butchery.
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T00803 [T00802]
“Keep it clean.” “Tidy Tanya” in pink stands guard over the nature on the right side of the riverbank, protecting it from “Messy Mutt” who lies sleeping amongst rubbish on the left bank.
This environmentally-themed art goes back at least to 2011.
Springfield Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T00835
Red Hand Commando volunteer Stevie McCrea was sentenced to 16 years for the murder of James Kerr in 1972 (Behind The Mask) and was subsequently “murdered by the enemies of Ulster” on February 18th, 1989 in an IPLO attack on the Orange Cross (see M00560 | WP). “For he shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary him nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him.”
This is a repaint of the mural seen in 2007, which is itself a repainting of the original mural to McCrea – see T00152.
McCrea is included on murals in south Belfast’s Frenchpark Street and Broadway (dating back to at least 1993).
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00472
The mural shows people being hanged, speared, and drawn behind a horse, and houses in flames.” The persecution of the Protestant people by the church of Rome, 1600 [probably the Irish Rebellion of 1641 (WP)] – the ethnic cleansing still goes on today.”
Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00474
This is a 2008 image of a mural seen previously in 2000.
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00477
This lower Shankill mural commemorates prisoners kept in the Long Kesh cages and the H-Blocks during the Troubles (and prior to the Agreement).
Previously, the left flank bore the letters “UDA” and the right flank “UFF”, with “LPOW” at the bottom of each.
Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00469
“There are many legends telling the origins of the Red Hand Of Ulster. This mural depicts only one of those.” In this case, the myth is that Ulster was offered as a prize to whoever could reach it first and was won by throwing a severed hand onto the shore. The flag of Northern Ireland (the Ulster Banner) is in the apex.
Replaces the Lower Shankill UFF mural (M02478).
Shankill Parade, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00669 [T00668]
The mythological hero Cuchulainn, defender of Ulster against the forces of Queen Medb of Connacht, is placed below the flag of Northern Ireland. “Here we stand, here we remain. We simply want to take our God ordained place as indigenous Ulster people, understanding and living out our calling. We assume our identity without shame, retaliation or indignation against those who have caused harm to our past and tried to castrate our culture, our identity and our place on this island.”
Cú Chulaınn has his own Visual History page. This is the most active depiction of the hero; he is usually depicted in his death throes.
Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy
T00437 T00467
Talavera De La Reina is southwest of Madrid, Spain. The French, who had invaded Portugal but been driven out by British forces under Wellesley, fought the combined forces of the Spanish (previously allies of the French in the Peninsular War) and British armies. Writing on the side-wall would later be added (see X00327).
By Blaze FX in Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2008 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T00465 T00468 T00466
Paddy Duffy Collection 