CNR

Votes About Votes

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2014-10-27 CatalanVote+

The 7.5 million people of the Spanish region of Catalonia will go to the polls on November 9th for a vote on independence, though it will no longer be a referendum but a non-binding ‘consultation of the citizens’. Indeed, the Spanish government in the last 24 hours has begun taking steps to block even that vote (Reuters). The “Catalan Countries” are Catalonia, Valenicia, and the Balearic Islands, along with Andorra and the French region of Rousillon – see the WP page on Països Catalans for greater detail.

The Catalan mural was painted on top of the mural to blanketman Kieran Nugent (and Brendan Hughes) (seen here in Belfast’s Infamous Prison) which caused some consternation. As can be seen below, Nugent is now being painted into the hunger-strikers mural (Peace With Justice) along with Mairéad Farrell, who led the protest in Armagh Women’s Prison.

2014-10-27 NugentAddedCrop+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02310 X02319 yes to the referendum for independence for catalan countries catalans want to vote

Across The Wire

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2014-09-28 EndInternm2014+

Here are two images of the barbed wire above the international wall on Divis Street. The first, above, is a banner reading “1971 – End British internment of Irish citizens – 1914”. Below, two flyers name John Paul Wootton (one of the Craigavon 2) and Sean Kelly as “political hostages”. For the mural of the hunger strikers and Frank Stagg quote, see Peace With Justice; for the lower Falls quintet, see 40.

2014-09-28 IntWallJFTC2+

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Hat Trick

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2014-09-06 BarnesDonnelly+

Rory Donnelly is a former Cliftonville player, from Belfast, currently signed to Welsh club Swansea and playing internationally (U-21) for Northern Ireland. As shown here, Donnelly’s hands (like the rest of him – he is 6′ 2″) are long and slender; the problem with the depiction is rather that it appears to show a thumb where his little finger should be – the photograph on which the mural is based (see the last image in this BBC gallery) shows that in fact he is holding down his little finger (with his thumb behind his palm), thus leaving three digits raised in celebration of a hat trick against Dungannon Swifts.

The Paddy Barnes mural to the left was featured previously in Oh! Paddy Boy.

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X02163 ardoyne bone marrow community football club boxing ireland commonwealth medal gold silver bronze

Who’s Next?

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2014-09-03 WhosNext+

Flyer on an ‘alcohol free’ sign at the top of Berwick Road/Paráıd An Ardghleanna showing a darkened figure behind prison bars: “This could be your brother, sister, mother, father, son or daughter. Who’s next? Support our POW’s!”

The wide shot, below, shows the flyer’s position above the “PSNI not welcome in Ardoyne” signage, featured previously (Unwelcome To Ardoyne).

2014-09-03 WhosNextWide+

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X02158 X02159 wolftone/mccracken roger casement cummans maximum penalty

The Burning Of Long Kesh

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2014-02-27 LongKeshBurning1+

The Maze/Long Kesh was set ablaze by Republican inmates 40 years ago, on the night of October 15th, 1974. Above is a picture by Matt Kelly, who was held in Cage 18. The picture is in the Eileen Hickey Republican Museum on Conway Street.

Previously: The Maze Ablaze (includes background information)| Long Kesh At Night | Eileen Hickey | You Know Where

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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David And Goliath

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2014-09-01 GazaTank+

Roles are reversed, compared to the first book of Samuel: the Israeli ‘David’ has become a ‘Goliath’ tank, while the role of underdog is filled by Palestinian teenager Faris Odeh who was shot and killed a few days after standing up to this tank (WP). The AP photograph on which the mural is based can be seen in this May 2012 edition of (the Pakistani) The Nation.

Previous Gerard Kelly (“Mo Chara”) murals from the same pro-Gaza set: Hellfire | Palestine Abú | Man Against Machine

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02142 springhill

The Good Road

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2014-08-17 Travellers+

Above is a new mural on the Divis Street “International Wall” (Visual History) in support of travellers’ right, featuring horseshoes, musical notation, and a child looking out of a vintage caravan. Sponsored by West Against Racism Network (WARN – web | Fb) and Springfield Charitable Association (SCA – web)

The image that the artists were working from for central portion of the mural – a 2009 photograph by Mark Stedman – can be seen still taped to the wall.

Replaces the “Say No To Racism” mural from June.

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X02086 An Munıa Tobaır [Tober] Women’s Choir

These Colors Don’t Run

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2014-09-01 IRSPGaza+

Pro-Gaza mural/stencil on Northumberland Street decrying continued US support of Israel: the bloody bars of the US flag stain the Star of David (in the place where the stars would be) and run down the wall. Sponsored by the IRSP/INLA. The phrase “These colors don’t run” dates to 1942 or 1943 in Iowa (see page 10).

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Between

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2014-09-02 BetweenBus+

Unlike Ken Kesey’s Further, this bus goes Between, “Bringing sunshine to the children”. ‘Between’ was (and is) a Cork-based group who sponsored trips to Cork (Blarney Castle appears in the background of the mural), Monaghan, Donegal, and elsewhere, for the children of Ballymurphy and the Shankill during the troubles. The figures in the lower-right corner are shown in detail in the image below. The plaque to Gerard McDade remains on the wall. The mural was unveiled on 2014-09-20 – Ciaran Cahill has images from the launch.

2014-09-02 BetweenPeople+

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X02149 X02150 proud and loving memory belfast brigade óglaıgh na héıreann murdered by british crown forces 21st december 1971 aged 23 years ní dheanfaıdh muıd dearmad fuaır sé bás ar son saoırse remember our volunteers committee 17th december 2011 frank cahill crıostor de baroıd paddy o’reilly waving

Ballymurphy Bus Trip

Forging Our Heritage

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2014-06-19 ConwayForging+

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (amwu.org.au) sponsored the mural above in Conway Street, west Belfast. 

The painted plaque on the left reads, “Casement Memorial. In proud memory of the 10 Republican prisoners who died on hunger strike in “H” blocks of Long Kesh in 1981. “It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can endure the most who will conquer.” Terence McSwiney. Unveiled by Martin McGuinness, Sınn Féın MP MLA Minister for Education Wednesday 6/12/2000. Donated by AMWU, Craig Johnston State Secretary”. The plaque itself is in Carlton, Australia, named (presumably) for Roger Casement.

Secretary Johnston is on the left in the back. The flag to the right is the flag of the Eureka Stockade.

This mural joins others sponsored by Australian groups: A Bunch Of Live Wires (sponsored by the Electrical Trades Union) | Caırde Sınn Féın | Australian Aid For Ireland & Saoırse Melbourne.

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