Neither King Nor Nato

“Est 1913 Irish Citizen Army / Irish National Liberation Army Est. 1974”. The Irish Citizen Army was founded in Dublin in 1913 to protect striking workers from police violence. After taking part in the Easter Rising of 1916, however, the ICA did not participate in the War Of Independence and the Civil War. In 1974, some founding members considered reviving the “ICA” name to reflect the organisation’s “allegiance to the working class” while Costello (pictured on the right) suggested “National Liberation Army”, which was then amended to include “Irish” (History Ireland | WP | WP). MNI includes an “ICA-INLA” Starry Plough on the stairs into the New Lodge from 1989 (C00105).

The banner raised over the Liberty Hall headquarters of the ICA read “We serve neither king nor kaiser but Ireland” – the famous photograph is included in the post of the same name – but this has been updated. The Belfast version of the board, above, reads “nor Nato”, while the Derry version, below reads “nor quisling”.

The Derry mural in the background is The Runner, part of The People’s Gallery.

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Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy

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Copyright © 2023 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f2.4, 1/649, ISO 16, full size 2800 x 2442

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Copyright © 2023 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
Camera Settings: f8, 1/1000, ISO 500, full size 3456 x 5184

Click and click again to enlarge (to 1200 x 800)
Copyright © 2023 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
Camera Settings: f8, 1/1000, ISO 500, full size 5184 x 3456
T02781 [X12381] X12380 X12406 X12405 Northumberland St Fahan St james connolly

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