The Twelve Hunger Strikers

“This stone was erected by the republican movement, south Armagh, in proud and loving memory of the twelve hunger strikers who laid down their lives during this phase of the struggle for Irish freedom.” “Fuaır sıad bás ar staılc ocraıs ar son saoırse na hÉıreann. Go ndéana Dıa trócaıre ar a nanamacha.” “Beıdh an bua agaınn go fóıll (We will win yet) – Raymond McCreesh – two days before he died.”

Newry Street, Crossmaglen

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Beıdh Bua Agaınn Go Fóıll

The Irish tricolour flies outside Raymond McCreesh House – his birthplace – at Maryville, Camlough.

“Keep on marching, don’t give up – Raymond McCreesh 1957-81. Died after 61 days hunger-strike, H-Block Long Kesh 1981.” The phrase was spoken at the end of a visit with Jim Gibney.

“Beıdh bua agaınn go fóıll” [victory will be ours yet].

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Mac Dıarmada

2013-07-24 MacDiarmada+

This board to Seán Mac Dıarmada in Ardoyne details his exploits leading up to and including the 1916 uprising and his earlier connection with the local area.

Below, a wide shot showing the end of Butler Walk and the Holy Cross church in the background. Painted by Rısteard ÓMurchú.

Previously: Mac Dıarmada also appears in the Bone Staır Na Gaeılge mural. Also: Damn Your Concessions, England in the New Lodge

2013-07-24 MacDiarmadaWide+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01196 X01197 damn your concessions england we want our country was born in co. leitrim in 1883 lived at 106 butler street in 1906-08 joined the dungannon clubs and the irb [irish republican brotherhood[ in belfast national organiser member of the irish volunteers signatories executed by the british on may 12th 1916 society belfast

Ballymurphy Memorial

2013-05-06 BallymurphyMemorial+

This is a memorial stone on Springhill Avenue in Ballymurphy to deceased republican volunteers from the area. This stone can be seen in the middle distance in first image in the post White Line, Black Flag.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
this monument was erected by the republican people of greater in proud and loving memory of all those volunteers from the area who gave their lives in the fight for irish freedom unveiled by gerry adams 12th may 1985 i ndíl [ndil] cuimhne [chuimhne] i gcónaí ag na poblachtánaigh ón cheantar barr clunai also of the civilians who died at the hands of the british army r.u.c. u.d.r. and loyalist extremists mcparland kane maguire meehan sloan mccormick campbell magee dougal mccrudden clarke parker quigley mulholland o’rawe mccartland mulvenna pettigrew bryson teer stone mcgrillen tolan mcwilliams delaney o’neill jordan doyle mccracken mcgeown plough sunburst

Éıre Nua

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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)

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Our Friends And Comrades

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A fourth piece from Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close, a short, dead-end, street in Ard Eoın/Ardoyne. “In memory of our friends and comrades. This memorial is dedicated to all those Irish Republicans who fought in the struggle for Irish freedom and in the defence of this community in our time of need. The memorial honours their courage and dedication to the cause of Irish freedom. Ar dheıs Dé go raıbh a n-anam.”

See also Bone Memorial | Marie Le Bonn

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01068 Hugo Wilkinson, Terry Murphy, Paul Watson, Jim McLaughlin, Richard McIlkenny, Jake McGowan, Patsy Quinn, Liam Mulholland, Francis O’Neill, Sean Delaney, Carmel Cahoon, Christine Beattie, Geraldine Rice, Anthony McIlkenny, Joey Saunders, Danny Mullan, Tony Molloy, Seamus Rice, Eamon McAllister, Gerry McAllister, John Bateson, John Barnes, Jim Floyd. With images of the prisons Armagh, Long Kesh H-Blocks, Magilligan, Long Kesh cages, HMS Maidstone, Portlaoise, Wormwood Scubs, Crumlin Road.

Bone Memorial

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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.”

Involves wrought iron pieces as borders.

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The Courage And Sacrifice Of The Hunger Strikers

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.”

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All Our Dead

2013-04-23 ArdAnLao1+

In addition to three plaques, a wrought-iron head-piece, multiple flag-pole holders and railings fencing in a small area (which includes an encased figure of Jesus, at right), this mural in Clós Ard An Lao/Ardilea Close in Ardoyne uses painted discs for each of the twelve hunger strikers (the ten in Long Kesh 1981 and two from the 70s in English prisons, Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg – the twelve also featured in Derry’s Spirit Of Freedom mural), rather than painting their likenesses directly onto the wall. The items above the mural and the Sacred Heart statue in a glass case are new, compared to 2010.

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X01065 [X00354] In Loving Memory Of All Our Dead erin go bragh this plaque is dedicated to those people who showed courage in face of adversity by giving aid shelter and support in the defence of the area their dedication and determination during those difficult years will never be forgotten they shall always be held in the highest esteem by a grateful community Let our revenge be the laughter of our children. Let there be no bitterness on my behalf to achieve a united Ireland. With many thanks to the people of the bone greater bone who contributed to this mural

Club Óıge Mhachaıre Bothaın

“Machaıre Botháın” [Bothain] (Marrowbone) Youth Club mural just off Oldpark Road, celebrating Gaelic games, Cliftonville soccer, Antrim, and the four provinces of Ireland.

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