These two boards from the Armagh True Blues flute band (Fb) in Barrack Hill commemorate the Ulster Volunteers of 1912 who went on to join the 9th (County Armagh) battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Wartime Memories).
The “1st batt” emblem (in the third image) applies to both the Ulster Volunteers of the Home-Rule era and the Troubles-era Mid-Ulster UVF.
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Quotations from Pádraıg Mac Pıaraıs [Patrick Pearse] and Séamus Ó Conghaıle [James Connolly] are super-imposed upon an Irish-language version of the 1916 Proclamation. From Mac Pıaraıs: Ní [h]amháın saor ach Gaelach chomh maıth; ní [h]amháın Gaelach ach saor chomh maıth [not merely free but Gaelic too; not merely Gaelic but free too]; from Ó Conghaıle: “The cause of labour is the cause of Ireland, the cause of Ireland is the cause of labour’ (from ‘The Irish Flag’ 1916).
The portraits might well be by, or based on, prints by Jim Fitzpatrick (Revolutionaries).
Dalton Park/Irish Street, Armagh
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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In the apex of the gable are the seven signatories to the 1916 Proclamation — all of whom were executed after the rising — and to the left and right of the text of the Proclamation are IRA dead from 1973 to 1990.
Left, top to bottom: Jake McGerrigan, Peadar McElvanna, Peter Corrigan, Roddy Carroll, Sean McIlvanna [McIlvenna], and Dessie Grew.
Right: Tony Hughes, Tony McClelland, Seamus Grew, Martin Corrigan, and Gerard Mallon.
See also: 50th Anniversary board to McGerrigan and Hughes.
Culdee Terrace, Armagh
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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This mural to Armagh GAA and its Orchard Academy/Acadamh An Úlloırd (web) was painted by local (Laurelvale) artist Visual Waste (ig) at the Callanbridge practice facility.
Armagh I has a gallery of the mural in progress.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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There is a memorial garden to the history of Irish resistance at the entrance to the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. From left to right, the images presented here show:
“More than 800 years of Irish resistence” – a sword for the Norman invasion under Strongbow, a pike for the 1798 and 1803 rebellions, a bolt-action rifle for the Easter Rising of 1916, and an assault rifle for the Troubles;
Cumann Na mBan, Mairéad Farrell and republican women who made “the supreme sacrifice”;
The Proclamation, Provisional IRA and Na Fianna;
The dying Cú Chulainn and a plaque “in proud and loving memory of all republican volunteers, ex-POWs and the unsung heroes from this area who fought, suffered and died in the cause of Ireland’s freedom, with a quote from James Connolly: ‘If you strike at, imprison or kill us, out of prisons or graves will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you and perhaps raise a force that will destroy you! We defy you England! Do your worst!”;
“Remember Ireland’s hunger strikers – 22 men” – the ten 1981 hunger strikers and Thomas Ashe, Terence MacSwiney, Michael Fitzgerald, Joe Murphy, Joseph Whitty, Andy O’Sullivan, Denny Barry, Tony D’Arcy, Jack McNeela, Seán McCaughey, Michael Gaughan, Frank Stagg;
A stone “in loving memory of men, women and children murdered by British forces in Ireland.”
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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“Carrickfergus congratulates Rangers FC on their 55th title” on “Champions Row” (that is, Irish Quarter West) Carrickfergus.
As Chairman Dave King appointed Steven Gerrard as the new manager of Rangers in 2018, he predicted that a single league win for Rangers would cause Celtic to “fold like a pack of cards” (Sky Sport). Under Gerrard, Rangers clinched their 55th Scottish championship in spring of 2021. Celtic, however, won in 2022 and 2023 (WP).
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T03361 we welcome the chase back where we belong kings of scotland we are the people
Saoradh (web) took over this wall from graffiti artists (see Visual History 11) and painted their largest piece in support of Palestinian rights, compared to e.g. Resistance Is Not Terrorism | Ireland Stands With Palestine, but after nearly five years on the wall it is beginning to peel badly. The now-destroyed placards to the right don’t help either – see Palestinian Solidarity.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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A new “fáılte” [“welcome”] mural was painted at the Roddy’s in anticipation of the official opening of the new republican heritage centre/ıonad oıdhreachta poblachtaí (web) which took place on September 28th. Construction of the museum and the adjacent restaurant began in May 2021 with an investment of 1.35 million pounds (Belfast Live). The museum’s exhibits cover republican history from 1798 to the present, and items on display from the Society’s collection include vintage uniforms and artefacts, historic maps and documents, and prison handicrafts.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 and after 70 years as monarch of the UK. She was succeeded by Charles III.
“1926-2022 ERII. “Thank you” from the residents of Ballee [Ballymena]”.
The mural is by Craig “Chilli” Gilmore on Ballee Way, above UDR Checkpoint and The Lion Wears The Crown. The in-progress shot is from April.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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The Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival began in 2013 (Rathlin360) and continues this year (2023 programme). The mural dates back to at least 2019.
Ballycastle harbour.
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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 