“UDA “A” batt. South Belfast. RSD [Roden Street Defenders (private Fb)] UFF”
This is the mural that greets travellers moving west along Donegall Road to the Village. The houses in Beit Street have been knocked down and their replacements, which face directly onto Roden Street, no longer reach all the way to Donegall Road, leaving this gable as a prime painting space.
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Copyright © 1988 Paddy Duffy
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These are murals from completing organisations, the UVF (above) represented by an Uzi above various flags and the emblem of the UVF, and the UDA (below) represented additionally by hooded volunteers on manoeuvres. They were together on the Crumlin Road, on waste-ground at the top of Queensland Street and at the top of Tasmania Street. On the gable next to the UVF flags large YCV and 36th Division emblems would be added – see the Peter Moloney Collection.
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Copyright © 1988 Paddy Duffy
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“In loving memory of Rev Robert Bradford.” Bradford was killed in 1981 (see To Bathe The Sharp Sword Of My Word In Heaven) and the mural dates back to (at least) 1983. It perhaps shows the Lindsay Street arch, which was first mounted in 1964. On either side of the arch are written “Honour all men, love the brethren” and “Fear God, honour the King”.
The King Billy mural survived until 1988 and was reproduced on the other side of Donegall Pass in 1989 – see the Peter Moloney Collection. King Billy is subtly coloured red-white-and-blue, while the dying Jacobite is in green-white-and-gold.
At the junction of Apsley Street and Howard Street South, at what is now the entrance to Reverend Robert Bradford Memorial Park.
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Copyright © 1988 Paddy Duffy
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“”I have always believed we had a legitimate right to take up arms …” from an interview by IRA volunteer Maıréad Farrell, executed with her gallant comrades Seán Savage & Dan McCann.”
Yann Goulet’s Ballyseedy Memorial sculpture was rendered in paint for the funeral procession of the Gibraltar Three on March 16th, 1988. The sculpture is a reflection on the killing of eight anti-Treaty prisoners at Ballyseedy Cross (Baıle Ó Síoda), Kerry, during the Irish Civil War. From left to right, we see the dead victim, the grieving widow and orphaned child, and a person (in the painted version wearing the same clothes as the victim) defiantly striding off to take his place and seek revenge.
In the wake of the killings in Gibraltar, six more people were killed in one of the most tense weeks in Troubles history – the IRA’s Kevin McCracken on the 14th, Thomas McErlean, John Murray, and IRA-member Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh by Michael Stone in the graveyard on the 16th, and British Army corporals Wood and Howes at Mac Brádaıgh’s funeral on the 19th.
Falls Road at Fallswater Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1988 Paddy Duffy
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Voting for Sınn Féın is seen as the way to address the social issues named on placards carried by protestors – culture, houses, Brits Out, jobs – in order to bring about “a new Ireland”.
Sınn Féın’s electoral strategy emerged from the 1981 hunger strike, during which Bobby Sands was elected as an MP and Paddy Agnew and Kieran Doherty were elected as TDs. In October of that year, Danny Morrison famously asked at the Ard Fheıs, “Will anyone here object if, with a ballot paper in this hand and an Armalite in the other, we take power in Ireland?”
In 1983, Alex Maskey stood for Belfast City Council in a by-election [after the resignation of … whom? – please get in touch] and was successful (WP) – there are a campaign graffito and posters to the right. Shortly afterward, Gerry Adams stood in the Westminster election and was successful (ARK).
Beechmount/RPG Avenue, Beechmount, west Belfast, replacing James Connolly in Let Us Rise and Cormac’s Notes.
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Copyright © 1983 Paddy Duffy
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“Solidarity between women in armed struggle” would be added in the bottom right (or is perhaps obscured by the burnt-out lorry. The imagery shows female members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Cumann Na mBan, and the Southwest African People’s Organisation (from Namibia) drawn within the symbol for woman (also the planet Venus in astrology).
Painted by Kes and “Improved by Sınn Féın Youth” (added to the bottom left) at the top of Fallswater Street. (Compare with the Peter Moloney Collection’s image from 1985.)
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Copyright © 1983 Paddy Duffy
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This mural celebrates the IRA (“Óglaigh Na hÉıreann” at the top) from 1919 (the army of the independent Dáıl Éıreann) to the “present” day of 1982. In the centre, a lark flies against a Tricolour, with the word “Saoırse” (“freedom”) beneath.
This is a repainted version of the original, which was one of several murals in Beechmount and the Rock streets that were paint-bombed by “marauding Coldstream Guards” (according to AP/RN of 1982-04-29) – for the damaged mural, see the Peter Moloney Collection. The “1919” date would be changed to “1916”.
Islandbawn Street, west Belfast, replacing The Right Hon. Bobby Sands.
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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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Masked soldiers from the PLO (left) and IRA (right) jointly hold aloft an RPG, while holding assault rifles in their off hands.
“Painted by the Irish republican youth movement” on “RPG Avenue” or Beechmount Avenue.
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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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“An Phoblacht/Republican News – official organ of the republican movement. Contents include war news, features, IRA statements, prison news from Ireland & England, news from throughout the 32 counties, solidarity news from abroad.”
Workers read the 1982-04-08 edition of the paper, the cover of which is reproduced behind them (and included below): a masked volunteer fires a funeral volley next to the 1916 Proclamation.
The Maid Of Erin harp, with a “cap of liberty” rather than a crown (WP), together the slogan “It is new strung and it shall be heard” is the emblem of the Society of United Irishmen (WP).
“Painted by Beechmount & Iveagh Sınn Féın youth.”
Sevastopol Street, west Belfast
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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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“The great only appear great because we are on our knees – let us rise”. The quote – also used by Jim Larkin – appeared in Connolly’s article on Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Ireland. His portrait is flanked by the tricolour and the starry plough.
“Sponsored by trade union group” and painted by Digger in Beechmount Avenue, next to a copy of a Cormac cartoon.
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Copyright © 1982 Paddy Duffy
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Paddy Duffy Collection 