This is a recent poster (this one on the Antrim Road near Carlisle Circus) featuring the “Éıre Nua” plan of the 70s and 80s (which remains policy of Republican Sınn Féın, which split from Sınn Féın in 1986) and one of its authors, Ruaırí Ó Bradaıgh (WP). The plan calls for four parliaments, one in each of the four provinces, with a capital in Athlone. A documentary, Unfinished Business, featuring Ó Bradaıgh, can be seen here.
Update: Ó Bradaıgh died on June 5th, 2013 (Irish Times)
This graffiti at the junction of Hawthorn Street/Sráıd na Sceıthe and Cavendish Road exulting in the death of Margaret Thatcher is just below a board memorialising the three IRA members killed in Gibraltar (one of whom, Dan McCann, lived in the street). (Previously: Ding Dong | Thatcherism | The Real Criminal | Rot In Hell | Rust In Peace)
Shown is a small memorial garden in Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close. There is no record at all, on-line at least, of a Marie Le Bonn. “Marrowbone” is sometimes thought to be a corruption of “Marie Le Bone” (and “Marylebone” in London is derived from the church of St Mary’s on the bourne (stream) (WP)) but a more likely derivation, given the location, is Machaıre Botháın, the plain of the (shepherd’s) hut. But Mary The Good is more in keeping with the shrine.
Two side of the same peace line, with new, near-identical street-art on each side. Above, the view from the Protestant (Woodvale/Shankill) side; below, the view from the Ardoyne side.
A broken-down car at the top of the Westlink in the shadow of Divis flats, beside a poster reading “Poverty capital of the six counties. Nearly half of all kids here live in poverty. Stormont isn’t working for them! Equal rights and equal opportunities … cherishing all the children of the nation equally – Proclamation of 1916”.
The anti-Thatcher slogan on Black Mountain above Ballymurphy was replaced with “Hunger Strikers Abú”. May 5th was the anniversary of Bobby Sands’ death in 1981 and a “white line” protest took place – marchers walk down the white line in the middle of road – with participants bearing Sands’ image and carrying a black flag.
Two memorial boards in Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close, one to volunteers and the other to victims of violence, from the surrounding areas, the Bone, Ballybone and Cliftonville.
The text on the first read, “In proud and loving memory of the brave volunteers of Óglaıgh na hÉıreann who unselfishly gave their lives for the cause of Irish freedom. Thug sıad gach rud, ní bheanfar dearmad orthu go beo.”
The second read, “In memory of our families, friends and neighbours murdered in the troubles. Dedicated to all the people from the Bone, Ballybone and greater Cliftonville area who lost their lives to the armed forces of Britain and Loyalism. They tried but failed to break their spirits and deny them their rights as equals. Ar dheıs Dé go raıbh a n-anam.”
The Clowney Street phoenix, which dates back to 1981 (see The Oldest Murals), has been repainted, and above, the blanketmen painting (see 1981-2011) has been replaced with a montage of photographs from the period, including prisoners on the blanket and dirty protest, the funeral of Sands and of McDonnell, and three pieces of graffiti: “Thirty thousands can’t be wrong” (Sands’s election to Westminster), “Bobby Sands murdered 1.17 am 5th May 1981”, and “My position is in total contrast to that of an ordinary prisoner. I am a political prisoner.”
“In Memory of the Belfast men who fought against fascism with the international brigade, Spanish civil war 1936 – 1939.” The colours of the international brigade (red, yellow and purple – here a lighter violet colour) serve as a background.
The board shows Belfast socialists walking at Bodenstown, 1934 as part of the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration, held each year in June. Tone, an Anglican and the founder of the United Irishmen, is buried in the Bodenstown graveyard. Sources report, however, that there was an attempt to exclude these marchers, from “Shankill Rd Belfast Branch”, from part of the 1934 commemoration. The reasons given vary: they were carrying a non-standard banner, they had communist leanings, and, they were Protestants. (See Paddy Byrne | WP1 – though a different banner is mentioned | WP2 – see “legacy” section | WP3 – see fn. 1).
The plaque to the right reads: “In memory of all those who fought in Spain against Fascism 1936-1939. This mural was erected by Teach Na Fáılte Republican Ex-Prisoners Support Group and Belfast City Council. It was unveiled on April 20th, 2013 (irsp.ie). Signed “[Fra] Maher 2013”.
Extramural Activity 