This is one of the panels on the wall behind Short Strand community centre, next to Geordie Bell.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00435
Skipping Rope
Month: May 2011
Naomh Éanna
Naomh Éanna (St Enda) Gaelic Athletic Club is located in Glengormley and fields teams in football, hurling, and camogie. The grounds now also host a naíscoıl, which was opened in 2004, with a bunscoıl following in 2007.
The motto is in pre-Caıghdeán Irish: “Neart ın ár lámhaıbh [= lámh], fírınne ın ár dteangthaıbh [= dteangacha], agus glaıne ın ár gcroíthe.”
“Urraıthe ag Foras Na Gaeılge.”
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00416 [X05101]
Ship Of Dreams
The White Star Line ship Titanic sank in the Atlantic in the early morning of April 15th, 1912, a thousand miles from New York (the co-ordinates are given in the top right), having been launched from Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, which is near this mural just off the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. The portraits are of Captain Edward Smith, architect Thomas Andrews, Jack Phillips (wireless officer), and paperboy Ned Parfett.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05096 X05097 X05098 [X05180]
The Right To Defend Yourself
“We seek nothing but the elementary right implanted in every man: the right if you are attacked, to defend yourself.” Hooded gunmen return to east Belfast at the junction of Newtownards Road and Dee Street (Bright Street), replacing a mural for the Glentoran Community Trust. It’s not clear who the UVF felt attacked by in 2011; it is possible that this mural is also about local muscle-flexing in addition to sectarian politics or attention from the police.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05099 Dee Craig
The Battle Of St Matthew’s
Henry McIlhone died in the Battle Of St Matthew’s, 27th June 1970 (along with McCurrie and Neill). There is also a memorial cross. James George and Bobby Jennings are recognized for their long-time contributions to the Short Strand community. The plaque was unveiled as part of the commemorative events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle.
“Cuıreadh an leac seo ın aırde ı ndıl chuımhne ar na daoıne ó pharóıste Naomh Maıtıú, a thug a gcuıd ama, a saoırse agus a mbeo leıs an cheantar seo agus a phobal a chosaınt, go mórmhór le lınn luatha tréımhse na coımhlınte seo. Ar an dóıgh chéanna lean sıad traıdısıún a thoısıgh sna 1920aí ı ndıaıdh críochdheıghılt ı gceantar macasamhaıl Baıle Mhıc Aırt an fód ın aghaıdh leatroım, an ıdırdhealaıthe agus ın éadan bagaırt an bháıs orthu. Tháınıg sıad le chéıle le sábháılteacht a muıntıre féın a chınntıú. Tá roınnt de na laochra sıúd ar shlí na fırınne anoıs, ach maıreann a gcrógacht agus a gcríonnacht go fóıll agus beıdh cuımhne agaınn ar an héachtraí a rınne sıad go deo na ndeor.”
Mountforde Road, east Belfast
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X05100
East Belfast UVF On Parade
The mural appears to show a “show of strength” (firing into the air) rather than a parade, by hooded gunmen of the east Belfast UVF. The crowd is gathered on Newtownards Road at Dee Street, date unknown (but prior to 2008).
Newtownards Road, east Belfast.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00453
All Flags Are Welcome
“Over 40 years ago the presence of this flag [the Irish Tricolour] on this street unleashed a vicious campaign of discrimination and violence against this community lasting decades … 45 years on … this flag can flow [sic] freely from every corner … All flags are welcome on this road and so are you … failte [fáılte] go dtí … West Belfast.”
The event referenced in the flying of the Irish Tricolour in 1964 from Billy McMillen’s electoral office, which Ian Paisley (and the RUC) found objectionable. Danny Morrison in An Phoblacht (web) has an account of the election and events. Here is news video from 1964 (DFA) of charges subsequently brought against 70 people.
The mural from Coıste Political Tours (web) is on Divis Street, just beyond down-town Belfast and directed at foreign visitors; the Union Flag, however, is not included among the display of international flags. On the right is a placard for the Eileen Hickey Republican History Museum (web).
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00432
Frederick Douglass
Here are some in-progress shots of the new Frederick Douglass mural being painted on Northumberland Street, being painted by a Short Strand artist, Marty Lyons, and Mark Ervine. (An image of the three artists during work on the mural can be seen at An Phoblacht.)
Nelson Mandela is in the second image. The person in the third image is Harriet Tubman rather than Rosa Parks, though Tubman did not wear spectacles; Parks will also be included.
For the completed work, see Liberating Minds.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00450 X05093 X05094 X05095
Fıanna 100
Na Fıanna Éıreann was founded by Constance Markievicz – shown on the left of the mural – and Bulmer Hobson in 1909 as a scouting organisation for boys. When they reached 17, they were recruited into the IRB.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00460
1981-2011
Mural in Beechmount Avenue/Ascaıll Ard na bhFeá commemorating the 30th anniversary of the hunger strike. The watchtowers of Long Kesh provide a lower border, joined by symbols of republican prisoners the lark and the green ribbon, as well as the Easter lily and Sınn Féın logo. “Honour Ireland’s dead – wear an Easter lily”. “I gcuımhne ar an staılc ocráıs. [In memory of the hunger strike.]” Replaces the previous Honour Ireland’s Dead which did not feature the hunger strike.
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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00468
Extramural Activity 