Extramural Activity

Victory To The Republican Prisoners

2018-12-192024-12-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Junior McDaid house – the offices of the IRPWA (web | Fb) and Saoradh (web) in Derry – was opened two years ago (video) in Chamberlain Street. The offices are “proudly named after” IRA volunteer James McDaid, who was killed by the British Army in 1972 (Derry Journal), apparently without consulting with or inviting his wife (Derry Journal). A plaque to McDaid is to the left of the door, with two murals on the Harvey Street gable. (A third mural – shown separately – is just out of shot to the right.)

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Devil’s Bagpipes

2018-12-182024-12-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

In this grotesque image, a monk’s head serves as an instrument of the devil – a Reformation criticism of the Catholic church. The woodcut dates to c. 1530. The ogham script in the bottom pair of posters, which reads “Fucc [sic – there is no “k”] the DUP”, is not included in the original (British Museum). The modern reinterpretation is by TLO (ornamentalhermit.org). The ogham on the devil’s arm is unclear; it appears to read “cussfbelung” – comment if you can help.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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We Forget Them Not

2018-12-172024-12-27Extramural Activity1 Comment

Three of the UDA/UYM/LPA murals in Kenbaan Street (see We Forget Them Not and Tomorrow Belongs To Us) have been replaced by the spray-painted boards shown here and the wall of the memorial garden repainted. The red colour-scheme matches the Tim Collins board to the left.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Mountains Of The Mind

2018-12-142024-12-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is JMK’s (tw | Fb) piece for CNBX/HTN18. Previously for CNB: Whisper And The Wish (2016) | Aoife And The Owl (2014)

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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End British Internment In Ireland

2018-12-132024-12-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Gabriel Mackle was returned to prison most recently in November, 2017 (Pensive Quill | Irish News) and released in March, 2018 (An Phoblacht). The RSF board on the front of Lecky Road remains in place, however, as is joined by “IRA” graffiti. Bernadette Devlin (as she then was) organises in the background.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Live Free

2018-12-122024-12-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights was declared 70 years ago, on December 10th, 1948. emic (tw | web) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Council teamed up to mark the occasion with this CNBX/HTN18 piece of street art.

Below is another new emic ‘hand’ – compare with Hands and A Lifeboat From Despair.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Military History Of Ebrington Barracks

2018-12-112024-12-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Between its construction in 1841 and decommissioning in 2003, Ebrington Barracks served as a home to many military units, including those whose emblems are at the bottom of the mural above (from left to right): the Royal Irish Rifles, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Irish Rangers, UDR, and the Royal Irish Regiment.

HMS Ferret and HMS Sea Eagle are not in fact ships but a part of Ebrington barracks given to the navy to serve as a “stone frigate” during (Ferret) and after (Sea Eagle) WWII. HMS Londonderry was an anti-submarine frigate but does not appear to have a particular connection to Ebrington (please comment if you know otherwise).

The Northern Ireland General Service medal – in the middle of the mural – was awarded to any soldier who served at least 30 days during Operation Banner, the deployment of British troops in Northern Ireland from 1969 onwards.

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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X06331 Ebrington st lwr BSCA

Women Of The Republican Struggle

2018-12-102024-12-27Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“The English may batter us to pieces, but they will never succeed in breaking our spirit – Maud Gonne.” The lesser-known figures here are Helena Moloney [Molony] and Margaret Skinnider. Both participated in the 1916 Rising. Actress Molony took part in the failed attack on Dublin Castle and, although ultimately captured, was not executed (Stories | WP). Scotland-born Skinnider was a sniper in the Easter Rising; she was shot three times but survived to flee to the USA where should would write a 1917 account of the Rising before returning to Ireland and a career in teaching (WP).