Month: Jan 2016

The Depths Of Sectarianism

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03249 2016-01-12 City Cemetery Buried Wall+

Belfast’s City Cemetery opened in 1869 and was originally intended for the interment of both Catholics and Protestants. At the insistence of Catholic clergy who argued that the ground would not be consecrated if shared, the graveyard was created with an underground wall (shown above) nine feet in height. (Republican News) After further disputes, however, Catholics were not routinely buried in the graveyard until 100 years later; they were buried instead in the nearby Milltown Cemetery.

Here is a short video of local expert Tom Hartley at the wall:

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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They Shall Not Pass

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02962 2015-08-23 RunnerNoPasarancrop+

“No pasarán” is Spanish for “they shall not pass”, a phrase used by the Communists and Republicans as they tried (unsuccessfully) to defend the city of Madrid during the Spanish civil war. The board in front commemorates “those from this area who left Ireland to fight against Fascism during the Spanish Civil War 1936-1938”.

“The Runner” in the background mural (part of The People’s Gallery) is also having trouble holding his ground in the (repainted) famous Bogside Artists’ (web) work intended “to be a cautionary reminder to the young of the dangers inherent in civil conflict”. (CAIN)

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02962 rossville st Manus Deery Charles Love Patrick Walsh Thomas traynor john murphy benjamin frederick murray eamon mcgrotty george gorman jack flynn james donald peadar o’donnell james campbell hugh o’donnell paddy o’daire joseph kelly paddy roe mclaughlin francis william vincent o’donnell brian goold-verschoyle paddy glacken phil boyle hugh bonner herbert pollock charles mcguinness william mcchrystal joe boyd irsp teach na faılte irsp.ie tear gas

Holding My Breath

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03091 2015-10-04 DMC CNB15 Underwater+

Work by DMC (Dermot McConaghy Twitter | Instagram) at the harbour, an underwater version of the “Invertigo” piece he did the week before (with JMK (Twitter)) CNB15 in Lisburn.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03091 harbour promenade

UFF South East Antrim Brigade

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03038 2015-09-23 UFF SEAntrim Fist+

 16 towns and town-lands of south-east County Antrim are named in this recent UFF mural: Rathcoole, Rathfern, Monkstown, Shore Road, Whitewell, Glengormley, Greenisland, Carrickfergus, Whitehead, Ballycarry, Ballyclare, Larne, Newtownards, Antrim, Antrim, Ballymena, Braidside.

This mural was painted in late summer, 2015, on a wall that had been blank since at least 2008. In 2006, it bore a UDA mural, for which see M03060 (by Peter Moloney).

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03038 knocknenagh dr red fist star garland cloughfern

Peace Or War?

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02868 2015-08-26 PeaceOrWar+

More vintage graffiti, this time in Derry, dating back at least to 2001. It might come from 2001: after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and its implementation, the IRA moved toward decommissioning its weapons, beginning to do so in October 2001.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02868 racecourse rd

The UDA Kill Kids

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03027 2015-09-06 The UDA Kill Kids+

Vintage graffiti still visible in Gardiner Street: “The UDA Kill Kids!” If you know what this refers to, please comment or send an e-mail.

See also: graffiti in the same street dating to 1971: God Bless Paisley, Fitt Never

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Neighbourhood Watch

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02875 2015-08-27 BallybeenBanner+

Next to the bonfire site at the southern (Drumadoon Drive) entrance to Ballybeen, the banner on the building above proclaims the area’s paramilitary allegiance: East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02875 for god and ulster

History Carved In Stone

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03227 2015-12-18 Falls Garden 2+

The two images featured today are of carved panels in the Falls Garden Of Remembrance (with the gold-plated surround removed). The garden commemorates fallen members of (IRA) D company but the panels suggest a wider appreciation of lower Falls residents. The same is also true of the mural in the background of the wide shot (third image, below), for which see Cry “Havoc”.

03226 2015-12-18 Falls Garden 1+

03242 2015-12-31 Divis Garden+

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03227 X03226 X03242 falls cultural society  the service and loss of its sons a daughters  in the pursuit of irish freedom

The Horse Monster

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03099 2015-10-04 CNB15 Seahorses d2+

Sea horses constitute the genus hippocampus, or horse sea-monster, so-called because they appear to be a hybrid of a horse’s upper body with the lower body of an fish or dolphin. The specimens shown in today’s three images are work by Emic (Fb | Web) – who also did We Borrow The Earth From Our Children — on ‘harbour promenade’ next to the Big Fish.

For one of the models (and more stunning sea horses), see #2 in this gallery of seahorses and seadragons.

03093 2015-10-04 CNB15 Seahorses d+

03092 2015-10-04 CNB15 Seahorses+

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03099 X03093 X03092

McMonagle

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02864 2015-08-26 LeafairPkMcMonagle+

This painted board (shown above) to INLA volunteer Neil McMonagle is in Leafair Park, Derry, close to the spot where McMonagle, aged 23, along with friend Liam Duffy, were shot by undercover British soldiers (specifically Sergeant Paul Oram of 14 Intelligence Company (WP)) on February 2, 1983. McMonagle died instantly while Duffy was wounded but survived. The official account alleged that both McMonagle and Duffy were armed; locals deny this. For an account of the killing and a tribute, see these obituaries from republican publications in 1983.

The board shows an armed McMonagle behind a stone wall with a Plough In The Stars flag with a blue background, with the view towards Buncrana (perhaps).

“Vol Neil McMonagle, Derry Brigade INLA. Killed in action 2nd February 1983. “They may kill the revolutionary but never the revolution.””

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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