Detail from a new mural on the Springfield Road, opposite the barracks: End British internment of Irish Republicans, 2013. Painted by Rebel Rebel of the Gael Force Art group. A shot of the whole piece can be found below.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Another image from inside the Clifton Street Orange Order hall: an outline of the island of Ireland under the title (in Old Irish script) Oḋreaċt na [h]Éıreann – The Heritage of Ireland – surrounded by the coats of arms of the cities of Londonderry, Dublin, Cork and Belfast, and with the words “Occupy Till I Come – Luke 19:13” at the bottom.
“Occupy until I come” is the King James translation of Luke 19:13 (Greek: πραγματεύσασθαιἐνᾧἔρχομαι) and is better translated as “conduct business until I come [back]”. It is from the story of the king who gave money to 10 servants to see what they would make with it. The one who does nothing with it says he knows the king is exploitative and harsh (αὐστηρὸς, austere!) and he was afraid (to lessen or lose the money, presumably). To which the king says, roughly, ‘if you knew that I expect to profit from other people, you should have done something with it!’ and has his money taken away; meanwhile, the citizens who spoke against the king in his absence are executed. So the moral of the story for Ireland is … the King has given Ireland to Protestants in order to increase its value, and they better make sure they do, because he expects to collect the profit; and anyone among the natives who protests is to be executed upon his return?
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Lungs Gospel Hall”. Road-sign 3 miles out of Clogher, Co. Tyrone on the main road (Ballagh Road) to Enniskillen.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Above is another ‘Alternatives‘ board, on Cupar Way, encouraging reconciliation between victims and offenders (alternativesrj.org).
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01284 the offence offender victim restorative journey agree resolution responsibility restitution reconciliation provides an opportunity for those directly affected by an offence to communicate and agree how to deal with the offence and its consequences alternatives mediation heard accepted compassion empathy proud respected empowered in control satisfied
Last weekend (September 14th and 15th) saw many buildings typically closed to the public open up for European Heritage Open Days. Among those was the Orange hall on Clifton Street. Military and religious themes were prevalent throughout, as images over the coming days will illustrate.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Titanic was hull number “401” at Harland & Wolff, and, after hitting an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14th, 1912, sank at 2:20 a.m. (WP). Above is another (see also 2013-09-02, 2013-09-13) metal-work piece on the Cupar Way “peace” line, with images of a boat dock, solderers, and wind turbines.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01286 creativeness impact training maximising potential once the largest shipyard in the world creativeness tragedy 401 2:20 am
These protesters are outside the Antrim Road Tesco’s, with placards bearing messages about globalisation: “Politicians, we need support against Tesco globalisation”, “No more! Unfair, non-transparent and collusive tendering practices”, “Support local companies in their fight against Tesco”.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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This is the (second) memorial to Paul ‘Topper’ Thompson in Moyard. He was killed by the UDA on April 27th, 1994. Collusion is alleged – see Relatives For Justice.
“In memory of Topper Thompson, murdered by British death squads, 27th April 1994 aged 25. Deeply missed by never forgotten. Erected by his friends.”
Springfield Park, west Belfast.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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In this new east Belfast mural, we move from a part of “violence – terrorism – conflict – imprisonment’ to a future of ‘culture – empowerment – human rights – multiculturalism’. The mural is black-and-white on one side and colour on the other. On the left we have watchtowers and paramilitaries in hats and sunglasses; on the right schoolchildren in front of city hall, working on a computer and playing football.
The mural was defaced immediately after it was finished (roughly the end of July), indicating dissatisfaction with the current direction of ‘the future’, but quickly repaired. There is a mural directly above this one, on Lendrick Street, which was featured previously. A wide shot of them both can be found below.
Update: Spring 2022 – some of the words on the colourful ‘future’ side of the mural have been painted over: “empowerment”, “equality”, “diversity”, “multiculturalism”. There is also a streak of white paint on the arm of a black person in the centre of the mural. See the final two images.
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Copyright © 2013/2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01278 X01277 X14079 X14078 looking to a better future, learning from others in conflict in northern ireland ulsters darkest day’s days trouble again bombs explode the troubles a chronology of the northern ireland conflict january-february 1973 stormont earth globe john stewart BCC press release
Two images today from the crossroads at the intersection of Crossmaglen-Newry and Newtownhamilton-Dundalk roads (a.k.a. Ford’s Cross, Silverbridge). The first shows a hunger-strikers board from this year over a much older ‘democracy under attack’ board (see D02009). The second shows the plough and the stars flying above the mileage sign. There is also a memorial, with a tricolour flying overhead, at this crossroads
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 