Belfast west

Colin Area Remembers

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“Everyone tells me I’m a feminist. All I know is that I’m just as good as others, and that especially means men. I am definitely a socialist and I’m definitely a Republican. I believe in a united socialist country, definitely socialist. Capitalism can offer our people nothing and yet that’s the main interest of the British in Ireland – Oglach [sic] Maıréad Farrell.” Farrell was one of the Gibraltar 3 (along with Sean Savage and Dan McCann), killed by SAS soldiers in 1988. Painted by Rısteard Ó Murchú.

Jasmine Corner, Twinbrook

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Remember The Milltown Martyrs

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John Murray, Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh/Kevin Brady and Thomas McErlean were killed by Michael Stone as they pursued him in Milltown Cemetery after he had attacked the funeral of the Gibraltar 3 on March 16th, 1988.

Springfield Road/Monagh Road, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Belfast Dockers And Carters Strike 1907

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“Not as Catholics or Protestants, not as nationalists or unionists, but as Belfast workers standing together.” For the 100th anniversary of the strike by dockers and carters in Belfast, this large board was painted by Fra Maher and Rısteard Ó Murchú. It was launched without the title across the top (youtube | M03786).

Leaders Boyd and Larkin are portrayed in the middle. The second panel shows speakers (including Larkin) on a platform (O’Hare); the third shows an RIC guard of blackleg workers – about 70% of the force mutinied and the fifth panel shows dismissed RIC constable William Barrett being carried through Belfast; the sixth shows the Cameron Highlanders being stoned by picketers (History Ireland). Margaret Lennon and Charles McMullan, two Catholic victims of British soldiers, shot during protests, are portrayed in the bottom right.

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The RIC Murder Gang

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One RIC member was killed and another wounded outside the Beehive Bar in a shoot-out with IRA men in September 1920. In reprisal, County Inspector Harrison and his men killed Vol. Ned Trodden, Vol. Sean Gaynor, and Sean McFadden (Rısteard Ó Murchú). The gang, under Detective Inspector Nixon, would go on to kill more Catholics in 1921 and in 1922 commit the McMahon killings and the Arnon Street killings, in each of which 6 people died.

On the right is a small board on “political policing”: “Agents exposed. Shoot-to-kill. Spying. Cover-ups. Collusion. Plastic Bullets. Sectarian policing. Poisoning peace process.”

Northumberland Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Rights Of Every Child

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“Whoever we are, wherever we live, these rights belong to all children under the sun and the moon and the stars, whether we live in cities or towns or villages or in the mountains or valleys or deserts or forests or jungles. Anywhere and everywhere in the big wide world these are the rights of every child.” No war, poverty, or spoils. Signposts mark the way to Ofer Prison Camp in the West Bank and Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Islandbawn Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2007 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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PSNI No Go Zone

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These two pieces of anti-PSNI graffiti are in Glenvale Street, PUL west Belfast: “PSNI no-go zone – enter at your own risk” and “Providing Support [for] Nationalist Interests”.

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Copyright © 2005 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Faugh-A-Ballagh

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“Faugh-a-ballagh” (from the Irish “Fág an bhealach”, “clear the way”) is the regimental motto of the Royal Irish Regiment. It is said to date back to 1811, when it was used by ensign Edward Keogh of the 87th Prince Of Wales’s Irish regiment. See also: Colonel Tim Collins, commander of the first battalion, who made a famous speech on the eve of the Iraq invasion | Talavera 1809.

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Copyright © 2004 Extramural Activity
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Operation Iraqi Liberation

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This two-panel mural on the International Wall on Divis Street protests the US occupation of Iraq.

On the left, George W. Bush sucks down Iraqi oil (and black bubbles with dollar-signs come out of his ears). On the right, Iraq lies in rubble and bones, conquered by a tattered US flag. (According to the artists – see final image – the frame on the right reproduces/is based on a magazine cover during the Viet Nam war.) The “British Support Hook” is has been added in the strip in the middle between the main panels.

Originally, the given reason for “Operation Iraqi Freedom” (not “liberation” as that would have yielded “OIL”) was the hunt for “weapons of mass destruction” but that search was suspended in January.

The mural to the left is Cherish The Children; to the right is Castilla Nacion.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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george w bush rockets red glare gave proof through the air that our flag was still there basra Bhaghdad Baghdad

Support The Prisoner

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In 2004 neither the first nor the last spots on the International Wall had been formally painted. The last spot, shown here, contained a variety of pieces (which can be seen in close-up at Peter Moloney’s site): a Fıanna Éıreann recruitment board (with internet address!); an IRPWA board calling for political status; “Support the prisoner”, formerly “Support the prisoner candidate” Tommy Crossan; an ETA mural; a mural in support of the Turkish hunger strikers.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Castilla Nacion/Països Catalans

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These two murals on the International Wall, Divis Street, urge freedom for Castile and Catalonia (and Ireland).

On the left, “Fuera fascistas de Castilla” (Out fascists of Castile!) The protester on the right is waving the flag of the Castilian Left, a political party working for recognition of the Castle region of Spain, roughly the north-central portion of the country, including Madrid (WP).

On the right are the flags of Catalonia and Ireland. The ‘Catalan Countries’ include (in Spain) Catalonia, parts of Valencia, and the Balearic islands, Andorra, and (in France) the Roussillon region.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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