Month: Oct 2010

Fır Na Pluıde

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The “blanket” (Gaeilge: pluıd) protest (not wearing prison uniforms) was a response to the removal of political (Special Category) status in 1976 (WP). The “no wash” or “dirty” protest (not using toilet facilities) followed in 1978 (WP). Both forms of protest are illustrated in the board shown above: three unshaven men wear blankets and go barefoot in a cell with excrement smeared on the walls.

An information plaque was added below, on the Phoenix mural (not shown – see M04941).

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05956

Not Spain, Not France

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“1650-2009: 350 years of occupation, 350 years of resistance. Catalan language has been spoken since VIII century. Nowadays, after 350 years of occupation and prohibition, there are 9 million Catalan speakers. The spirit of revolt against the Spanish kingdom and French state is still alive. The struggle of the Catalan people continues against the existing discriminations. Not Spain, not France.” “Saoırse na hÉıreann, Llibrtat Països Catalans”.

Clowney Street, Belfast 

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05957

Stand Off! Trade Off!

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This “stand-off – trade-off” mural reappears in Artana Street, Belfast, previously covered by Stand Firm. The mural dates to 1998, when an Orange Order march was allowed to parade along Ormeau Road. Parades Commission chairman Alistair Graham (pictured in the mural beneath the evil-eyed OO member) “insisted that the Ormeau Road decision “was not a simple trade-off for our earlier decision on Drumcree”” (Irish Times).

Painted by Troy Garity, recreating an Ian Knox cartoon (Belfast Media).

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05952

Markets Sport & Culture

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In 2008 and 2009 artist Raymond Henshaw completed a series of cultural murals about the Markets are of Belfast. This one focuses on sport but Clarence Place Music Hall and Tir Na Nog Drama Group are included to represent ‘culture’.

The others are: Portraits | Social History | Social | Bars | Industry

Eliza Street Close, Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05950

Markets Volunteers

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This is the 2009 repaint of the mural in the Markets to IRA volunteers. Names have been added below the portrait of each IRA/Fianna mural. They are: Tony Nolan, Joseph Downey, Frank Fitzsimons, Joey Surgenor, Paul Marlowe, Jim Templeton, and Brendan Davison.

See previously 2002 and the paint-bombed 2006.

The photograph on which this mural is based can be found in this entry on a 1981 Rosnareen mural.

Friendly Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05951

Is Fearr Gaeılge Bhrıste Ná Béarla Clıste

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“Broken Irish is preferable to skilful English”, itself written in somewhat broken Irish. In each corner is a gold ring (fáınne óır), sometimes worn by fluent Irish-speakers. The top hat and the ?daisies? alongside the harp, shamrock, and ?flute? are unusual; if you can explain their appearance here, please comment or get in touch.

Iveagh Youth mural in Iveagh Drive/Céıde Uíbh Eachach

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05949

Unchangeable

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“RUC-PSNI – unchanged, unchanging, unchangeable – www.eirigi.org“

Poster in the Markets area of Belfast.

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05947

Do You Remember?

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“A bucket on the stove boiling all the whites. The big tin bath on Saturday nights.
Keys in the locks, doors on the latch. Long hot summers, ponies and traps.
Crombie coats, paddy hats, corner shops small. Horse drawn hearses, with black plumes tall.
A half-moon water mark, like a front door mat. Soda farls, wheaten farls, cooling on a rack.
Gas mantles, lamp-lighters, billy cans of tay. Walking home from dances, courting on the way.
Carbolic soap, Brylcreem, 7 o’clock blades. Sugar and water potion, making permanent waves.
Hotspur and Rover, Dandy, Beano too. A 3d matinee on jam pot in lieu.
Top twenty from Luxembourg, Desert Island discs. Henry Hall’s guest night, Rock n’ roll and twist.
Billy Cotton’s band show, a book at bedtime too. The list is never ending – but who was ‘skiboo?”

Lower Ormeau memories of the good old (i.e. pre-Troubles) days. With support from the Lottery Fund, New Belfast Community Arts Initiative, and St John Vianney Youth Club.

By Steven Tunley in Dromara Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05941

Tar Lıom I Mo Dhıaıdh

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“Come along with me” – children play ring-a-ring-o’-rosie at the bottom of Kinallen Street, Belfast.

The mural was supported by the New Belfast Community Arts Initiative, Belfast City Council, the Housing Executive, Brighten Belfast, and Pulse.

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05946

Say No To Blow

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The bottom of Farnham Street used open out onto Balfour Avenue and the western embankment of the Lagan, and the gable at the bottom was a good spot for murals. In the late 80s, there was one to celebrate the centenary of Celtic FC (see C00701) and in the 90s there was one to the (Official) IRA (see D00828). And the “Say No To Blow” mural dates back to at least 2004.

In roughly 2008, however, a pair of semi-detached houses were built on the spot, blocking the mural. For an uninhibited view of the whole mural, see D01584.

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05944