Introduction
Women have appeared in murals, graffiti, and memorials as volunteers (in CNR murals as members of Cumann Na mBan and Cumann Na gCaılíní and in PUL murals only once, in a UVF mural), prisoners, hunger strikers, victims (of plastic bullets), activists, electoral candidates; as Prime Minister, Queen Of England, and the Empress Of India; as the virgin Mary, as angels ferrying the dying and dead, and as representing “Mother” Ireland and Northern Ireland and Britain.
Female artists who have produced public work include Margaret McCann, Andrea Redmond, Rosie McGurran, Deirdre Robb, Joanne Vance, Rita Duffy, Daniela Balmaverde, Lesley Cherry.
See also:
- Loftus Mirrors: William III & Mother Ireland, 1990. (Reviewed by Fowler Oxford Art Journal, 1991, 14.2)
- Choosing The Green: Irish Women, Politics, and History (blog)
- Rolston “Women On The Walls”, Crime, Media, Culture, 2017/2018, 14.3
- Morgan & Fraser “Women and the Northern Ireland Conflict: Experiences and Responses” in Dunn, 1995. Facets of the Conflict in Northern Ireland
- Edgerton “Public Protest, Domestic Acquiescence: Women in Northern Ireland’ in Caught up in Conflict: Women’s Responses to Political Strife, 1986, Ridd and Calloway (eds)
- Buckley & Lonergan “Women and the Troubles, 1969–1980” in Terrorism in Ireland, 1983, Alexander & O’Day (eds)
- Herstory.ie photo essay
- Brenda Parkerson’s 1995 documentary about the killing of Caroline Moreland (youtube)
- Helen Cammock’s film The Long Note is on the role of Derry women in the civil rights movement
Images
“Victory to our blanket-women” in Ballymurphy.
“We’re the fighters and we are strong. We are the 1st Batt. of the Cuman [sic] na gCaılını [sic] girls!”
“We must grow tough but without ever losing our tenderness.”
An angel watches over the hunger strikers.
The virgin Mary shoots beams of light over the hunger strikers.
Margaret Thatcher, UK prime minister, adversary of protesting prisoners.
Female members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Cumann Na mBan, and the Southwest African People’s Organisation (from Namibia) drawn within the symbol for woman.
Ireland as woman, reminiscent of Liberty leading the French revolutionaries.
“I have always believed we had a legitimate right to take up arms – Maıréad Farrell”, one of the Gibraltar 3.
“Deserted – well, I can stand alone.” Farmer’s wife as symbol of Ulster at the time of Home Rule and WWI.
“For the revolution to triumph there must be emancipation of women.”
“Stop strip searches.”
“How is freedom measured? By the effort which it costs to retain it.”
“Only our river runs free.”
“Women against oppression”
1991 “Where are women now” – a board for International Women’s Day, in Derry, possibly on FDC (see M00984)
1994 Spirit Of Freedom – two female pensioners remonstrating with a paratrooper.
Queen Victoria enjoying herself at the sea-side during the Great Hunger, by Rosie McGurran (Fb).
Heroine Of 98 (Betsy Gray)
(1995 J0657 S00081)
Saoırse/Lark/Ribbon By Andrea Redmond
Féıle An Phobaıl mural by Margaret McCann in Hawthorn Street
mid-late 1990s. “Ulster’s Finest.” Two female UVF volunteers are carrying, though not aiming, Uzis. As far as we know, this is the only PUL mural showing armed females. The mural was plastered over, perhaps because the gable is next to Hollybank primary. Some of the pebbledash wore away in January/February of 2020 to reveal the mural – still in fair condition – beneath (see X07740).
With the on-set of the ceasefire and the peace process, murals depicting CNR women and their role in the struggle disappear (as do images of male volunteers, etc). This does not, however, mean the end of women in CNR murals. As with males in murals, the depictions become ‘historical’ (and, as a subset, ‘memorial’), of women who have fought for the nationalist cause across time, such as Bernadette Devlin, Winifred Carney, Mary Ann McCracken, Countess Markievicz, and Maıréad Farrell.
“Bernadette” — Bernadette McAliskey, née Devlin, by the Bogside Artists.
Miriam Daly was a leader in the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), the political wing of the INLA.
Two Cumann Na mBan murals side-by-side in Hawthorn Street, the one on the left celebrating Winifred Carney (from Belfast) and Nora Connolly (living in Belfast) at the time of the 1916 Rising.
(For more Winifred Carney see, ITGWU (2007 M03822) | appears in Oceanic mural M05066 | Antrim Road renamed “Winifred Carney Street” (2012 X01663) | appears in ICTU 2013 X01369 | ITGWU Workers’ Day (2015 X02574) | Carney & Casement (2016 M13170) | appears in (2016 X03471) | appears prominently in 2016 X03694 “armed with a typewriter and a Webley” (according to her WP page) shown typing up communications by candlelight in the GPO.)
Róısín McAliskey (daughter of Bernadette) was arrested in 1996 in connection with a mortar attack on a British Army base in Germany and held in Holloway prison (London) until March 1998.
“Interned without charge – Free Róısín and her baby” for International Women’s Day 1997
Mary Ann McCracken was an abolitionist and social reformer. Brother Henry Joy led the Antrim uprising of the United Irishmen in 1798 and was executed for it.
Maıréad Farrell, Margaret Thatcher (“Wanted”), and women from a Relatives Action Committee dressed in blankets – for the classic photographs of such, see Do You Care?
Irish dancer as symbol of Gaelic culture. “Mol an óıge agus tıocfaıdh sí” = “Encourage youth and it will flourish”/”Youth responds to praise”
200th anniversary of the 1798 rebellion, by Andrea Redmond.
UN Day For The Eradication Of Poverty, by Andrea Redmond
Countess Constance Markievicz
Who Killed Rosemary Nelson?
20th anniversary of the first hunger strike, in Long Kesh and Armagh Women’s Gaol.
“Diana Queen Of Hearts”
Republican Women
IRA Women (clockwise: Patricia Black | Laura Crawford | Bridie Quinn | Maıréad Farrell)
(The same four appear in the Lenadoon Cú Chulaınn M05134 and three of the four are listed on the Lenadoon memorial in the grounds of the Roddy’s M05543.)
“Zero tolerance to violence against women.” 2001 on the back of Free Derry Corner.
Women Through The Century
(2001 J0767 J0768 etc)
“The Death Of Innocence” by the Bogside Artists – Annette McGavigan was 11 when she was shot.
Nora McCabe, plastic bullet victim, with plaque
Countess Markievicz outside the GPO in 1916.
Carol Ann Kelly, killed by a plastic bullet, by Andrea Redmond
Generic female volunteer with historical predecessors.
Anne Parker (Glenalina 5)
Ballymurphy Cumann Na mBan. Anti-clockwise, they are Maura Meehan, Anne Marie Pettigrew, Dorothy Maguire, Eileen Mackin, Catherine (Cathy) McGartland, Anne Parker. (All but Mackin are included in the Greater Ballymurphy plaque.)
Máıre Drumm, Maıréad Farrell, binlid bashers, unknown girl, with Countess Markievicz in the centre. This board would be repainted in 2009 – see X00546)
Éıre/Ireland, with activists from the Short Strand, east Belfast.
“Forward to freedom” – generic female volunteer.
Rosemary Nelson was a lawyer killed by the Red Hand Defenders in Lurgan in 1999. At the time of her death she was representing the family of Robert Hamill.
A number of murals were painted to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th anniversary of accession (1952) and coronation (1953)
See also: 1952-2002 in Rathcoole (2015 dating to 2002 X02489) | 1952-2002 in Argyle St/Shankill (2005 dating to 2002 M02455) | Cashel Dr, Monkstown, M03065 M03066.
Also: Queen Victoria in Shankill graveyard X00710 | Princess Diana in lower Shankill (2000 C01478) | Queen Mother in Conway St/Shankill (2004 dating to 2002 X00072).
Sınn Féın candidate Baırbre De Brún
Martina Anderson 2011 M06597 | 2013 M09945 | 2014 M10926.
Mary Lou McDonald 2011 M06720 | 2012 M07979.
McDonald & Michelle O’Neill 2016 M13182)
A century of women’s work, from child-care and hand-wringing the washing in 1904 to using computers and graduating from university in 2004.
For International Women’s Day in 2004, a modified version of Jim Fitzpatrick’s iconic Che Guevara print was turned into “Cher” Guevara, with the slogan “Yes, you can try this at home.”
“How is freedom measured”
Annie Blair resident of Cluan Place, which is divided from the Short Strand be a “peace” line.
Britannia, symbol of the British empire.
Palestine – Ireland
The image of a PUL woman defending the farm while her husband is off at war (see above in ‘How Is Freedom Measured’ and ‘Deserted! Well I can stand alone’) is augmented with a post-partition scene in which she – now masked – “guards her husband against sectarian attack from across the border”.
For more Deserted/How is freedom measured? see: Drumtara 2005 M03578 | panel in Grange M06154 | 2014 M11245
Celtic Venus
Falls Curfew plaque
Celtic heroine with wolves
Sınn Féın’s Máıre Drumm giving the Wolfe Tone address at Bodenstown
Bogside & Brandywell Women’s Group
Julie Livingstone, plastic bullet victim.
“Vote Peggy O’Hara”
Kate Nash, sister of one of the Bloody Sunday victims and campaigner
Máıre Drumm plaque
“Women unfree will never be at peace” graffiti, with “Fuck up and make the tea” retort.
Cúchulaın [sic] & Queen Maeve
(2007? A0110)
Queen Méabh
A youthful Queen Elizabeth II in the Village (south Belfast).
Gilbraltar 20th
Vol. Rosemary Bleakley
Workers in Ross’s linen mill
Palestine
Mother Teresa
Maıréad Farrell “Everyone tells me I’m a feminist …”
(See also SF board 2012 M07980 | plaque 2012 M08923 | Farrell Youth Committee 2014 X02168)
Patricia Black
We Too Are Strong
Women On The Shankill
Lenadoon Women In Struggle
Countess Constance Markievicz as founder of Na Fıanna Éıreann
Máıre Drumm breaking the Falls Curfew.
Sadhbh with harp and fawn
Maureen Sheehan Centre
Rosa Parks
Women Of Inspiration (St James’s)
Women Too, by Joanne Vance
Sandy Row Women’s Group
Always Rebel
Maureen Kelly
Angel On WWI Battlefield
Armagh Hunger Strike/Relatives’ Action Committee
Roll Of Honour (inside Conway Mill)
Red Hand Of Ulster Pop Stars
Women Through The Ages
History Girl
International Women’s Day 2011
Women Munitions Workers
Free Marian Price
2011: M06846 | M06946 | M06947 | M06949 | M07287 | M07507
2012: M07637 M07685 M07687 | M07689 | M07919 | M07921 | M07988 | M08077 Whiterock Rd | M08197 | M08261 | M08332 | M08345 | M08361 | M08461 | M08492 | M08511 | M08599 | M08600 | M08786 | M08831 on a bonfire! | M08890 | M08907
Added to International Wall murals Scaoıl Saor Marian Price (M08276 | M08275 | M08273 | M08277 | M08279 | M08281 | M08284 | M08286 | M08288 | M08290)
2013: M09249 Int Wall | M09398 | M09415 | M09419 | M09420 | M09548 | M09985 | M10009 | M10016 | M10057 | M10059 | M10231 | M10296 | M10933 | M10961
Francis Hughes/Faces
UDR Memorial (Lisburn)
Dorothy Maguire Corner
Men And Women Of Willowfield
Frederick Douglass (incl. Angela Davis, Mary Ann McCracken, Rosa Parks, Rosie The Riveter (who would later be replaced by John Lewis), Betty Sinclair, Aung San Suu Kyi (who would later be X’ed out) Harriett Tubman)
Banquet by Rita Duffy, depicting women from the Shankill Women’s Centre in clothing from suffragettes to the present. The piece was originally on Argyle Street, just off the Shankill, before being moved to the Cupar Way “peace” line to be covered in tourists’ signatures.
Goretti McDonnell at the funeral of husband (and hunger striker) Joe
2012 International Women’s Day, with Marian Price posters on front
Mary Austin, Kathleen Clarke, Annie McWilliams
Kathleen Feeney
Margaret McAnaney tombstone
(2012 M08143)
Susan Morrison tombstone
(2012 M08145)
South Down Roll Of Honour
James & Nora Connolly
Political Status Now!
Margaret Gargan
Martha Campbell
Patricia McKay
RIP Dolours Price
2013 International Women’s Day. A female petrol bomber in the style of Banksy’s Flower Thrower.
Eileen Hickey (includes woman banging binlid)
(also inside the museum 2013 M09260)
Cahoon/Beattie/Rice Ard An Lao
2013 Gibraltar 25th events, including “a celebration of women in struggle” and “a plaque dedicated to deceased women republican POWs” in the Roddy’s.
2013 Thatcher death
2013 Women’s role in Ulster Volunteers/WWI – Craigavon House
Stop Domestic, Sexual & State Violence
Christine Beattie plaque
Safety Pin & Easter Lily
Suffragettes (Donegall bridge)
Margaretta [here Margaritta] D’Arcy replaces Marian Price on one of the “posters” in the Falls Curfew mural
Flax Flowers by Deirdre Robb
2014 International Women’s Day
Cumann Na mBan centenary on FDC
Cumann Na mBan centenary in Beechmount
New Lodge
Mary McConville SF
(2014 M10925)
Joanne Reilly
(2014 M10962)
Theresa Villiers Ballymurphy Massacre Inquiry
QEII 60th
Maya Angelou (Say No To Racism)
“In memory of the men and women from the Orangefield area”
Derry Women Made More Than Shirts
Kathleen Thompson (Oak tree glass)
(2014 M11281)
Women Of The Struggle
(2014 M11342)
Mna Na hÉıreann
Leila Khaled
To All The Women Of The Shankill
Women’s Voices Matter
Cumann Na mBan/Éıre (GPO 1916)
Peggy O’Hara (mother of Patsy) & Margaret Devine (sister of Michael)
Mná Na hÉıreann (Rockmount)
Corr sisters, Farrell, anonymous volunteers (Unbowed, Unbroken)
Corr Family
Heating Empty Barns (Arlene Foster DUP)
‘Michelle And Arlene Holiday Special’
‘My Body My Choice’ on the “peace” line
Short-lived Wee Nuls “Free Period Items Now” mural
QEII Platinum jubilee and death
As nurses in war
1912 (2016 X03564)
1916 (2002 M01785)
Blitz (2015 X02331)
WWII (2017 X04202)
Anonymous memorial plaques
Newry Socialists (2012 M08519)
Belfast Brigade (2012 M08552)
Beechmount garden (2008 M04426)
Falls Memorial Garden (M08851 | M08854 binlids)
Turf Lodge Memorial Garden (M08909)
References in parentheses to mural collections:
C = Tony Crowley Collection
D = squire93@hotmail.com collection
J = Jonathan McCormick Collection
M = Peter Moloney Collection – Murals
S = anonymous collection
T = Paddy Duffy Collection
X = Seosamh Mac Coılle Collection
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