Somewhat battered nail-up (one of a pair) in Springhill Heights, possibly referring to the Provisionals rather than the Real/New/Continuity IRA.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01578
IRA
IRA
C Coy, 2nd Battalion, Belfast Brigade
The back wall of Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden – that is, the so-called “peace” line – is decorated with portraits of twenty-five local óglaıgh and fıanna who died from 1920 to 1992 (though an Easter lily takes the place of Sean Gaynor on the far left).
Left: Dan Duffin, Seán McCartney, Tom Williams, Gerard McAuley, Peter Blake, Seamus Simpson, Seán Johnston, Seán Gaynor, Pat Duffin, Gerard Ó Callaghan, Seamus Burns, Danny Ó Neill, Tom McCann.
Right: Gerard Crossan, Seán Ó Riordan, Martin McKenna, Liam Hannaway, Jim McKernan, Dan McCann, “dedicated to the memory of local republican, Billy Davidson”, Tony Lewis, Joe McKenna, Brian Dempsey, Finbarr McKenna, Seán Savage, Prionsais Mac Áirt.
They are also listed on one of the plaques inside the garden – see the second images in Clonard Martyrs.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05290
Who
“Victory to the Provos” graffiti in Twinbrook. With “Who?” added above, seemingly in a different hand.
Almond Drive, Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05243
Out Of The Ashes Of 1969
The Provisional IRA arose “Out of the ashes of 1969”, but the lineage is a long one and all but one of the organisations, events, and arms depicted here precede 1969: Cumann Na mBan, Na Fıanna Éıreann, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, a Celtic shield and sword, a pike (from the 1798 Rebellion), a Thompson gun, the Tricolour; only the assault rifle is modern and perhaps also is meant to indicate the “Belfast Brigade” Provisionals. “Fuaır sıad bás as son saoırse na hÉıreann.”
An in-progress shot from March 5th is below. Replaces Laochra Na nGael.
21 portraits of locals were later added – see M08552.
For a PUL use of the phrase, see Out Of The Ashes.
New Lodge Road, north Belfast
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00857 X05190
Understand The Past
“Understand the past – and build a better future, le cheıle, “Catholic, Protestant, and Dissenter” – Wolfe Tone”. The past that is to be understood is the 40th anniversary of the Battle Of St Matthew’s (“Cath Naomh Máıtıú” in the “4” on the left) which took place in June 1970. Two Protestants and a Catholic died; the battle was a founding moment in the history of the Provisional IRA (“Óglaıgh na hÉıreann” in the “0”) (WP). St Matthew’s church is depicted on the right.
In the centre is a Tricolour with a modified version of the ‘raised arms’ illustration of ‘everyone has their part to play’ (e.g. Emancipation Of Women has a paintbrush, hammer, and book in addition to a rifle; one in Derry has paintbrush, spanner, coloured pencils (at the end of a shorter arm), rifle, book, and placard – see The Destructive Talents Of The RUC). Here we have a dove – perhaps in place of the rifle – pencil, and spanner.
For information about the 2010 launch, see Glór Mhıc Aırt.
Mountpottinger Road, east Belfast.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00536
IRA Final Salute
“30th anniversary of the hunger strike. 5th May 1981. IRA final salute. IRA Vol. Bobby Sands, MP Fermanagh South Tyrone.” Gerry Adams watches on as a funeral volley is fired over Sands’s coffin. Whiterock Road, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00461 [X05121]
Markets Volunteers
This is the 2009 repaint of the mural in the Markets to IRA volunteers. Names have been added below the portrait of each IRA/Fianna mural. They are: Tony Nolan, Joseph Downey, Frank Fitzsimons, Joey Surgenor, Paul Marlowe, Jim Templeton, and Brendan Davison.
See previously 2002 and the paint-bombed 2006.
The photograph on which this mural is based can be found in this entry on a 1981 Rosnareen mural.
Friendly Street, Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05951
Na Fıanna Éıreann
Na Fıanna Éıreann emblem (Sunburst and pike) with “Ógra Shınn Féın”, alongside some wild-style writing and ads for tyres and taxis.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00350
Óglach Joe McDonnell
“IRA Hunger Striker Óglach Joe McDonnell 1951-1981.” McDonnell was the fifth striker to die, on July 8th, after 61 days.
Shaws Road, west Belfast
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05919
Léana An Dúın – Unbowed Unbroken
The main Lenadoon mural is refreshed and more portraits and a plaque added (on the right). The dying Cú Chulainn (as portrayed in bronze by Oliver Sheppard, in a statue installed in the GPO in 1935) is used as a symbol for the locals from Lenadoon (including IRA volunteers) who fought for freedom (“saoırse”). They are listed on the scrolls to each side and in the portraits in the apex: Tony Henderson, John Finucane, Brendan O’Callaghan, Joe McDonnell, Laura Crawford, Maıréad Farrell, Patricia Black, Bridie Quinn (previously listed as Bridie O’Neill).
For the previous version (though without the three faces it initially had, of O’Callaghan, McDonnell, and Farrell) see M01934.
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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05917
Extramural Activity 