Paddy Duffy Collection

Fır Na Pluıde

2010-01-112026-07-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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
T00521

Not Spain, Not France

2010-01-102026-07-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“1650-2009: 350 years of occupation, 350 years of resistance. Catalan language has been spoken since VIII century. Nowadays, after 350 years of occupation and prohibition, there are 9 million Catalan speakers. The spirit of revolt against the Spanish kingdom and French state is still alive. The struggle of the Catalan people continues against the existing discriminations. Not Spain, not France.” “Saoırse na hÉıreann, Llibertat Països Catalans.”

Clowney Street, Beechmount, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
T00520

Venceremos

2010-01-082026-07-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here is a gallery of panels from the International Wall in Divis Street and Northumberland Street, updating the entry from 2008.

Northumberland Street:

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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
T00510 T00511 T00516 T00509 T00508 T00506 T00505 T00503 [T00504] T00507
T00512 T00515 T00518 [T00519] T00513 T00514

C Coy, 2nd Battalion, Belfast Brigade

2010-01-072026-07-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The back wall of Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden – that is, the so-called “peace” line – is decorated with portraits of twenty-five local óglaıgh and fıanna who died from 1920 to 1992 (though an Easter lily takes the place of Sean Gaynor on the far left).

Left: Dan Duffin, Seán McCartney, Tom Williams, Gerard McAuley, Peter Blake, Seamus Simpson, Seán Johnston, Seán Gaynor, Pat Duffin, Gerard Ó Callaghan, Seamus Burns, Danny Ó Neill, Tom McCann.

Right: Gerard Crossan, Seán Ó Riordan, Martin McKenna, Liam Hannaway, Jim McKernan, Dan McCann, “dedicated to the memory of local republican, Billy Davidson”, Tony Lewis, Joe McKenna, Brian Dempsey, Finbarr McKenna, Seán Savage, Prionsais Mac Áirt.

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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
T09501 T09502

Never Again

2010-01-062026-07-28Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Fian Gerald McAuley was shot on Waterville Street by loyalists while helping residents move out of their burned-out homes on Bombay Street during the commencement of the Troubles in 1969 (An Phoblacht). This new board replaces a similar one on the other side of the street.

Bombay Street, Clonard, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Paddy Duffy
T09500

Springhill-Westrock Massacre

2010-01-052026-05-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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
T00495

We Demand The Truth

2010-01-042026-05-01Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“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

State-Sponsored Killings

2010-01-032026-04-30Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The victims of the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971 and of plastic and rubber bullets throughout the troubles receive particular attention among galleries of “murdered” people.

“11 people in west Belfast from the Greater Ballymurphy neighbourhood were murdered by the British Army as internment without trial was violently carried out on August 9th, 1971. Proper police investigations were never undertaken and no one has served a day in prison for causing these deaths. The familys [sic] of those murdered deserve and demand the truth be told by the state about its policies and actions of those who carried them out.” The 11 are (clockwise) Eddie Docherty, Joseph Corr, John McKerr, John Laverty, Joan Connolly, Fr Hugh Mullan, Danny Teggart, Joseph Murphy, Paddy McCarthy, Frank Quinn, Noel Philips.

“This mural is dedicated to the memory of those killed and maimed by rubber & plastic bullets fired by the police & British Army. Not one member of the security forces ever served a day in jail for the deaths, many of them children, despite the courts ruling on the innocence of the victims. Plastic bullets are still being used on the streets of the north of Ireland today.”