Gaeilge

The Past And The Present

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Fáılte go Cnoc na Foınse – Welcome to Springhill.” There are a dozen new boards on either side of the Ballymurphy entrance to Springhill, highlighting positive aspects of the community, such as the work of Mother Teresa and four Missionary Sisters Of Charity from 1971-1973, the Upper Springfield Festival of 1973 (later revived in 1988 and years following as the Springhill Festival), Tara Stores and The Craft Centre, set up as a form of local enterprise in an area of mass unemployment, and the Springhill Community House, still in operation today but going back to Des Wilson and Noelle Ryan. There is no explicit mention of the 1972 Springhill-Westrock Massacre, though there is a picture of Fr Noel Fitzpatrick on the south side of the street, which will be featured in a separate post.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06121 X06122 X06123 X06124 X06125 X06126 X06120 springhill drive

Decolonisation

Extramural Activity1 Comment

“In memory of our fallen INLA volunteers, upper Springfield area: Hugh Ferguson, Ronnie Bunting, Noel Little, Hugh O’Neill, Micky Kearney, John McColgan, Paddy “Paddybo” Campbell. Comrades: Barry “Baz” McMullan, Sean “Shanto” fleming, Harry O’Hara, Paul Collins, Bernado Brownlee, Emmanuel Kelly, Michael Conlon, Billy Lynch, James “Harpo” Murray, John Kennaway. Saoırse go deo [freedom forever].” Ferguson was the first member of the INLA to die, in 1975 in the feud with the OIRA. Bunting and Little/Lyttle (both Protestants) were shot dead in 1980 in Bunting’s Andersonstown home by masked gunmen from the UDA or SAS with RUC complicity.

Whiterock Road, Belfast, next to the Kevin Lynch – Marian Price – Kevin Lynch wall.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06154 X06153 whiterock road

#AchtAnoıs

Extramural Activity2 Comments

An Dream Dearg (Fb) takes its campaign for an Irish-Language Act (Acht Na Gaeılge) to the streets of Ardoyne after a deal to introduce such an act collapsed in February (BBC-NI | Irish Times).

Balholm Drive; there is an identical mural on the International Wall on Divis Street.

Previously: An Dream Dearg | An Lá Dearg

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06062 X06061 balholm st

An Ní Is Áılle

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Níl an ní is áılle – súıl ghléıgheal [sic] an lınbh – slán faoınár gcúram níos mó!” [The most beautiful thing – the sparkling eye of a child/the bright hope of a child – is no longer safe in our care!] This Bóthar Chluanaí/Springfield Road graffiti seems to be a response to the recent vote in the Republic Of Ireland removing the constitutional protection of unborn children (see Yes & No). There has previously been Irish-language graffiti in favour of abortion: Ceart Gınmhıllte Anoıs!

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06025 X06026 Buíochas le Mícheál agus Seosamh.

Be There All The Way

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The draw for the 4th round matches in the men’s All-Ireland Football Senior Championship takes place this morning at 8:30. Antrim have already been eliminated (in both football and hurling) but four other Ulster counties await their fates: Armagh, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone. The new mural shown above celebrates (men’s) Gaelic games in County Antrim (tw) and at two local clubs: Naomh Gall (tw | web), founded in Clonard Street in 1910, and Naomh Pól (tw | Fb) in Hawthorn Street – the site of the mural – in 1941.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04993 Sam Maguire cup, Liam MacCarthy cup established 1884 hayes hotel thurles bunaıthe 1884 ostán uí haodha durlas éıle

McLarnan, McCabe, Doherty

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Dedicated to the memory of INLA volunteer Matt McLarnon, Nora McCabe and Peter Doherty who were murdered in this area by British state forces during the 1981 H-Block hunger strike. A Mhuıre banríon na nGael guí ar a son”. The area in question is Clonard/Falls. Doherty and McCabe were hit by plastic bullets; McLarnon was shot by a sniper on Divis tower. Erected by a Sınn Féın group (Lower Falls/Clonard Committee) rather than INLA. Linden Street, Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04989

Cease This Activity!

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The International Wall on Divis Street draws coach-loads of tourists every day (“tens of thousands” according to Sinn Féin’s Fra McCann). A new IRSP board affixed to the top of the ‘magic lantern’ mural (see Spreading The Word) warns visitors to take precautions. “Community notice: thieves are operating in this area. Please make sure your valuables are secure and out of sight. Respect our community and visitors. Cease this activity!” Here are articles about the Divis Hoods Liberation Army (DHLA) from 2017 and 2016.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04958 X04959

Thomas Ashe

Extramural Activity1 Comment

Here is an update to the mural of Gaeılgeoır, 1916 Volunteer, and hunger-striker Tomás Aghas/Thomas Ashe at the top of the Whiterock Road: a Maid Of Erin harp – familiar from the crest of 1798’s United Irishmen – has been added to the background.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04936 X04935

Na Fıanna Ard Eoın

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Above is the plaque on Berwick Road/Paráıd An Ardghleanna to four teenaged members of Na Fıanna Éıreann who died in 1972 – Davy McAuley, Josh [Joseph] Campbell, Josie McComiskey and Bernard Fox – all four from Ardoyne/Ard Eoın. McAuley died of a gunshot wound, perhaps at a Louth training camp (Nelson McCausland). Campbell was shot in Eksdale Street in a gun battle with the British Army; McComiskey was shot in Flax Street in a gun battle with the British Army; Fox was shot by British Army in Brompton Street. For the tarp, see Purity In Our Hearts; for the 2016 lily, see In The Cause Of Irish Freedom.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04791 X04790

Irish Republican History Museum

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Irish Republican History Museum in Conway Mill board has returned to the so-called “International Wall” after the 1916 commemorative murals. The board is new (though it conveys the same information as before) and the painting of the cell has been given some details.

The museum is named for Eileen Hickey, a Provisional IRA member who served time in Armagh prison (An Phoblacht obituary), a cell of which is depicted in the image above. Hickey’s portrait is included in a mural opposite the museum.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04819 X04820