“Cherish ALL of the children of the nation equally/Chomhchúram [sic] a dhéanamh do chlann UILE an náısıúın.” Pro-life tarp at the entrance to the library on Main Street, Dungiven, perhaps in reference to the 2018 referendum on abortion in the Republic (see Yes And No | Repeal Head).
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Lower Ormeau Cafe & Guesthouse (Fb | web), which opened in October 2017, has added a mural of the nearby Belfast Gasworks in Victorian times – the building still stands today, although it ceased to function as a gasworks in 1988.
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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Stand by the republic – Stormount [sic] has not delivered; no new jobs; wages & benefit cut; massive housing crisis; fight for jobs; resist all cuts; join the IRSP.” The board is from the Irish Republican Socialist Party (Fb); in the background is the repainted version of The Runner, including portraits of Manus Deery and Charles Love and a plaque to Love.
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The wall at the top of Springhill Avenue was knocked down to great acclaim in 2017 (Guardian) but the impact was merely cosmetic as a wire fence and substantial shrubbery continued to block the way. The removal of the wall also meant the removal of the pro-Palestinian murals painted on it: Palestine Abú | Man Against Machine | Hellfire. In its place has now been put a large board celebrating the history of the area and especially the contribution made by Des Wilson and Noelle Ryan who worked in Springhill House for over forty years. Both Des and Noelle were interviewed by NVTv in 2012. Des turned 93 in July (encomium by Gerry Adams); Noelle died in 2014 (An Phoblacht | BBC-NI).
The left hand side of the mural shows Mother Teresa, who lived and worked in the area with four nuns from 1971 to 1973 before being put out (allegedly) by the Catholic church (TripleVision documentary).
On the right, the old and new Springhills are contrasted, with images taken from the same spot approximately 30 years apart.
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Copyright © 2019 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Pill pushers are killing our youth! INLA” in Creggan, Derry. Drugs offences were up 54% in the Derry & Strabane council area (Derry Journal). Previously: RAAD graffiti in Foyle Hill.
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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éıstıgí (Saoradh’s (tw) youth organisation) expresses solidarity with the PFLP (Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine) by adding both their emblems to a Palestinian flag.
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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For the refurbishment and expansion of the Museum Of Free Derry, artist Locky Morris (web | ig) created in metal a soundwave of marchers on Bloody Sunday (January 30th, 1972) singing the civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome (BBC-NI). The Bloody Sunday Centre and Museum Of Free Derry originally opened in 2006.
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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When this mural was first painted in October, 2016 there were calls for its removal on account of the re-appearance of a hooded gunman with RPG (Irish News | BelTel), in the style of IRA murals from before the peace (e.g. most similar to this 1989 mural but see also these other examples). It was still present in November of 2018. The “unfinished revolution” is that of the 1916 Easter Rising, represented by the Easter lily.
The mural is next to Junior McDaid House – the offices of the IRPWA (web | Fb) and Saoradh (web) – in Chamberlain Street, Derry – see previously Victory To The Republican Prisoners.
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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… and “FUCK Sinn Fein [sic]” in Herbert St, Derry.
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The entrance to Springhill now has two walls full of images of “community pride”. The northern side was featured previously (see The Past And The Present) and today we feature the southern side. In order from left to right (see the wide shot, last): Corpus Christi youth centre; Corpus Christi Church (“47 years at the heart of the community”, including photos of Hugh Mullan (killed in the Ballymurphy Massacre) and Noel Fitzpatrick (killed in the Springhill/Westrock Massacre); murals in Divismore, Springmadden, and the old Springhill; the garden at the top of Springhill park; and photographs of “Springhill, then and now”.
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Copyright © 2018 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 