plaque

The Very System That Drove Us To Our Deaths

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“Years from now they will ask you where you were when your comrades were dying on hunger strike. Shall you say that you were with us, or shall you say that you were conforming to very system that drove us to our deaths.” The mural is to Mickey Devine, with a smaller (and much older) plaque to Patsy O’Hara (the plaque was previously information about Devine). Both were INLA volunteers and both died in the 1981 hunger strike, along with Kevin Lynch; Liam McCloskey was taken off the strike by his family after 55 days.

Chemical Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

From The Greater Bone, Ballybone, Rosapenna

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A mural of hands releasing doves is added to the memorial garden in Clós Ard An Lao, in Ardoyne (and a lower plaque is removed). In the middle is a plaque in remembrance of 38 local people (“from the greater Bone, Ballybone, Rosapenna area”) who died during the troubles, on the left, next to the pikemen, is a celtic cross with an Óglaigh na hÉireann roll of honour; on the right is a statue of Jesus with a sacred heart.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

All Our Dead

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In addition to three plaques, a wrought-iron head-piece, multiple flag-pole holders and railings fencing in a small area, 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 two quotes are from Bobby Sands “Let our revenge by the laughter of our children” and Michael Gaughan “Let there be no bitterness on my behalf to achieve a united Ireland”.

The items above the mural are new, compared to 2010. The plaque on the left is to people who died “in defence of the area” and on the right to those who died “of natural causes” who endured discrimination, hardship, suffering, imprisonment.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Struggling For Liberty, Equality And Fraternity

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“Fuair siad bás ar son na hÉireann. To the memory of all members and friends of the Official IRA who gave their lives in pursuit of the establishment of a democratic socialist republic in Ireland, in common cause with men and women of all nations struggling for liberty, equality and fraternity between all the peoples of the world.” Joe McCann beneath the Plough In The Stars is shown in the bottom left.

Springfield Road, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Éirí Amach Na Casca

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The wall has been seen before (in 2009) (though the flags are a new addition) but here are close-ups of the street sign (“RPG Avenue”) and the IRA 2nd battalion plaque. Originally the plaque had only seven names – see Free Ireland. “Fuair siad bás ar son na hÉireann” [They died for Ireland], “Ireland unfree will never be at peace“.

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney

Vol. James McPhilemy

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“In memory of Vol. James McPhilemy, Irish National Liberation Army, killed on active service 10th August 1988. Throid sé agus fuair sé bás ar son mhuintir na hÉireann. [He fought and he died for the people of Ireland].” (This is the rare case when “active service” does not mean a premature bomb explosion.) There is also a memorial to McPhilemy in Strabane.

Urney Road, Clady

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Copyright © 2011 Peter Moloney