Month: Jan 2014

Who Can Endure The Most

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2014-01-01 HughesFaces+

“It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can endure the most who will conquer.” 1981 hunger-striker Francis Hughes is flanked by blanketmen Hugh Rooney and Freddie Toal and surrounded by a host of other republican faces in this 2011 mural commemorating the 30th anniversary of the strikes. Painted by Seany McVeigh.

Top 1. Wolfe Tone 2. Mairead Farrell 3. Thomas Ashe 4. Kevin Lynch 5. Michael Gaughan 6. Padraig Pearse, [FH] 7. Thomas McElwee  8. Constance Markievicz 9. Joe McDonnell 10. Terence MacSwiney 11. Frank Stagg 12. fuiseog

Middle 1. Hugh Rooney, 2. Kevin Barry 3. Patsy O’Hara 4. Máire Drumm 5. James Connolly, [FH]  6. Denis Barry 7. James O’Donovan Rossa 8. Bobby Sands 9. Mickey Devine 10. ? 11. Freddie Toal

Bottom 1. Roger Casement 2. Kieran Doherty 3. Michael Fitzgerald 4. Seán McNeela 5. Tony D’Arcy 6. Ray McCreesh, [FH] 7. Joseph Murphy 8. Andrew Sullivan 9. Seán McCaughey 10. Martin Hurson 11. Anne Devlin

2011-06-02 HughesFacesProgress+

00470 2011-05-28 HughesFacessquaring+.jpg

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014/2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01609 X00384 [X00469] X00470 1981-2011 30 H-block

For All Your Homeware Needs

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2014-01-03 HomewareNeeds+

A1 Homeware in Sandy Row, replacing the old fishing tackle shop. According to the Belfast Forum, the tackle shop’s owner, Tommy McCutcheon, died in 2011, after retiring in 2009.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01610

Peace Curtain, Dove Net

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-12-27 Dove+

A ‘peace curtain’ (see below) was erected in November inside the grounds of St. Matthew’s chapel which, when opened, will stop stone-throwing between the Short Strand and the Newtownards Road. (News reports: U.tv | BBC – includes video.) It has already ensnared the dove in the image above.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01522 X02976

Red-Eye

Extramural Activity1 Comment
2013-12-23 Superman+

We have it on the authority of the Superman wiki that Superman’s eyes glow red when using his super-power of heat vision. He really hates this wall!

This is the last, but not least, superhero at the entrance to Sliabh Dubh, incomplete at the time of our earlier entries (Wallbusters | The Walls, Unbroken | Cartoon World).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01517

Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2014-01-09 ArmedReadyClose+

Another UVF mural in the Westwinds estate (Newtownards) in which the traditional motto of “For God and Ulster” has been replaced by “Armed And Ready”. As can be seen in the shot of the whole just below, there are two masked figures, both armed, and one points his weapon directly at the viewer and at pedestrians walking up the footpath, as can be seen in the final shot.

2014-01-09 ArmedReadyFull+

2014-01-09 ArmedReadyWide+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01611 X01613 X01614 [X01605]

Place Of Pride

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

An owner, with Ireland’s Saturday Night (which ceased publication in 2008) tucked in his coat pocket, shows off his greyhound.

The words of the poem read

“In the east of the city, isolated alone, is a dear little place we like to call home.

Old strengthened by new, the homes and the streets, looking out for each other, a broad smile when they meet

The once terraced streets, some narrow, some wide, behind so many faces a story there lies

In the east of the city by the lagan’s fair side, looking back at its history our hearts fill with pride.”

Next to No More in Edgar Street, Short Strand

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01513

Help Us To Help You

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2014-01-12 NArdsLowFull+

A message from the local UVF in the Westwinds estate: “Our only crime was to serve you the COMMUNITY and protest ‘OUR COUNTRY.’ Now times have changed. As FORCE our belief is not only FOR GOD AND ULSTER but to you the COMMUNITY, HELP US TO HELP YOU.”

A close-up of the flags and emblem on the right hand side can be found below. There’s a flag of the 1912 UVF and YCV, and a rose and thistles and shamrock in the background, in addition to a poppy.

2014-01-12 NArdsLowRight+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01618 X01619 1912 ycv rose thistle shamrock

The Dark

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-12-23 TheDark+

“I don’t mind being called a dissenter, I’ve been a dissenter all my life”. Mural to, and quote from, Brendan Hughes, IRA volunteer and leader of the 1980 (first) Maze hunger strike (WP).

Painted by Rebel Rebel of Gael Force Art in October, 2013. Previously at this location: End Internment.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01518

Union Flag 365

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The union flag “flies” every second of every day in this painted version in the Westwinds estate in Newtownards. Ards Borough council also flies the flag every day (source), unlike Belfast city council which now follows the ‘designated days‘ policy: see previously Union Jack – Donegall pass | And So This Is Christmas | Imagine | Banned | The Essentials and various posts about the Twaddell Protest Camp).

The central (St. George’s) cross widens as it rises, which makes the flag  seem to loom over the viewer.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01497

Reserved

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
2013-12-28 Reserved+

The final large spot on (republican) Northumberland Street wall has been claimed, we know not by whom. A small, bookmark-shaped, span of wall also remains further down the road. See the Visual History page for Northumberland Street for details.

“Watch this space”, as they say. Or, as in the piece (below) on the Cliftonville Road (first seen last year), “new mural loading”.

The piece in the centre-left is one to O’Neill & Beattie.

12 09 11 NewMuralLoading+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01524 X00625 hourglass timer bee