Patsy O’Hara was born in 1957 Bishop Street, Derry, and joined Na Fıanna in 1970 and the local Sınn Féın cumann in 1971 and, in August was shot in the leg by British soldiers. In 1972 he joined the Republican Clubs and in 1975 the IRSP. He was imprisoned multiple times, the final time being in January 1979 for possession of a hand grenade (Bobby Sands Trust). He went on hunger strike 41 years ago tomorrow (March 22nd) and was the first of the three INLA hunger strikers to die in 1981. The long-standing mural in Bishop Street was repainted for the 40th anniversary of his death. (For the previous version, see Let The Fight Go On.)
“Óglach Patsy O’Hara, INLA Derry Brigade, Irish hunger striker, who died after 61 days on 21st May 1981, age 23. Last words ‘Let the fight go on’.”
“After we are gone, what will you say you were doing? Will you say you were with us in our struggle or where you conforming to very system that drove us to our deaths?” – these words also appeared in the 2013 mural to O’Hara on Shaws Road, west Belfast.
Bishop Street, Derry
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X09795 X09796 X09797
“Factory Residents’ Rights – How could any play park be worse than this?” The playground in the Factory area of Larne (Ferris Park) was closed in early 2021 because the surface was deemed unsafe. The local residents held a protest in April aimed at getting the attention of Mid- & East-Antrim council (Fb) and in October the council voted to build a new park some time in 2022 or 2023 if funding is available (NI World). As of mid-February, 2022, the playground is still in disrepair but – as can be seen from these images – it is being used by children.
For the murals on the long wall in the background of the second image, see Ad Vera Petenda.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09342 X09340 X09384 X09341
Here are two IRSP pieces commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike. The first, above and immediately below, is from Ard Eoın/Ardoyne (Béal Feırste/Belfast) with colour (or at least, colour-ised) portraits of the ten who died on either side of an image from Keven Lynch’s funeral cortège. It is the same as the board seen on the lower Falls in For A Socialist Republic. At the bottom is a poster from Strabane calling people to gather in remembrance in Derry.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08443 X09031 X09032
“Jamie Dornan lost his virginity here”. Perhaps while a student at Methody? Dornan is originally from Holywood (WP). The painter of the orange lily is unknown.
Exchange Place, Belfast city centre. Next to RogueOner’s Minotaur.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09737 X09736
Five Belgian brigades trained in Northern Ireland towards the end of WWII, as the Belgian Army rebuilt itself after the liberation of Belgium in 1944 (WarTimeNI). The 3rd or ‘Rumbeke’ brigade was raised in March 1945 and trained in six south-east Antrim towns, including Carrickfergus, where they were stationed at Henly House. After training, it took part in the occupation of Germany for about six months (BE Brigades). The boots and plaque are beneath the arch of what was once Prospect House.
The text on the plaque reads in full: “Henly Gate. This portico is the only portion of the Henly Gate remaining. The gate was erected in the 1920s as a 21st birthday present to Gwen Henly who was the last owner of Prospect House Estate. Belgian 3rd Infantry Brigade “Rumbeke”. During WWII the Estate was commandeered for military purposes. Following the liberation in late 1944 it was agreed that Belgium would raise 5 Infantry Brigades which were to be trained in Northern Ireland. The 3rd Infantry Brigade “Rumbeke” was posted to Northern Ireland from March 1945. It was billeted around the Northern shore of Belfast Lough. The 2nd Battalion was located here at Prospect House. The Brigade trained for almost 6 months in this area before going on to take part in the occupation of Germany. Dedicated 5th November 2006 by the Borough of Carrickfergus.”
At the junction of Woodburn Road and Prospect Road, Carrickfergus.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X08922 X08923 [X08924] X08925
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased pressure on already-climbing energy prices (Irish News | News Letter). Since March 1st, petrol is up 17 pence/litre and diesel up 35 pence (Bel Tel). Home heating fuel has gone up 50% and more in the same period (Consumer Council | BelTel). The New Lodge graffiti in today’s post suggest that residents are choosing eating rather than heating, and want sanctions to end. As an alternative, to help people pay for the higher prices the SDLP proposed (on March 10th) emergency legislation that would allow 300 million pounds from the NI block grant to be distributed to funds that help people pay their energy bills (web); there have also been calls to delay or scrap the introduction of the new National Insurance levy, due to come into effect in April. Support in the UK for further sanctions against Russia that would increase costs to individuals is just under 50% (IPSOS | Sky News).
See also: You Are Now Entering Freeze Derry
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09777 X09778
The ‘bend in the road’ (Crumlin Road, just before Ligoniel) is the site of the Somme Memorial Cross. It’s not clear who erected or maintains it and indeed the Union flag flying behind it has been reduced to a stump.
A little further up the road, a new ‘cultural hub’ has been proposed for the site of the old Ligoniel Orange hall (Belfast Live) which was destroyed in a fire in 2000 (BBC).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09711 X09709 X09712 [X09713] [X09714] X09710
From the age of two-and-a-half George Best lived in Cregagh and played football on the pitch at the centre of the estate, where Cregagh Boys played their home games. After playing for Lisnasharragh Secondary he went to Manchester United at age fifteen – in 1961 – and from there to international stardom. When he died in 2005, he was remembered in the estate by a mural (that replaced a UFF mural). It stood for about ten years and now been updated with the mural shown in today’s images, along with the family home that has been returned to a 1960’s appearance – complete with George Best memorabilia – and is available to rent on AirBnb. The home and playing fields are also the starting part of the George Best Trail.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09771 [X09772] [X09775]
X09773 X09774 X09776
X09762 X09760 [X09761]
Chaplin’s first “talkie” was The Great Dictator in 1940, a satirical condemnation of Hitler (Adenoid Hynkel) and Mussolini (Benzino Napaloni). Towards the end, the Jewish barber impersonates Hynkel and gives a speech (youtube) in favour of liberty and democracy:
“To those who can hear me, I say, do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed. The bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people and so long as men die, liberty will never perish. [Soldiers, don’t give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder.] Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men with with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! [You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don’t hate. Only the unloved hate, the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers, don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines, the power to create happiness!] You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. [Then, in the name of democracy,] let us use that power. Let us all unite!”
India Street, Belfast, replacing the murals of George Michael and Prince.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X09735
Extramural Activity 