Welfare Reform Destroys Communities

“Scrap Universal Credit, PIP [Personal Independence Payment] & Bedroom Tax.” The Universal Credit scheme is designed to replace a variety of benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit began in 2013 and will take a decade to roll out (WP). (The plan in the North is detailed at NIDirect.) People Before Profit (web | tw | Fb) oppose the programme (and related ones, such as PIP which replaces the Disability Living Allowance, and the Social Sector Size Criteria, a.k.a. Bedroom Tax), as described in this article on their web site.

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Weeds Shall Overcome

According to the All-Ireland Bumble Bee Monitoring Scheme, data collected by 80 citizen scientists shows that a third of the bee species in Ireland is threatened with extinction (Irish Times). The mural above from UV Arts in Rossville Street aims to bring attention to bees and to promote the growth of wild flowers.

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X06396 X06397 “This mural was designed and created by participants from Zero Waste North West in collaboration with UV Arts CIC and Grow Wild. The project set out to celebrate our native wildflowers and weeds which bees rely on so heavily. There are many different types of weeds, even the most intrusive gives something back, they green over the dereliction we have created, they grow in the most hostile environments – a bombed city, a crack in a wall – meaning that they insinuate the idea of wild nature into places otherwise shorn of it, but most of all they provide a vital food source for our declining bee population. We want to promote and celebrate the role of the humble weed in our society by encouraging people to grow wild, connect with nature, celebrate diversity, and protect the eco-systems that protect our planet.”

The Rising Of The Moon

“End British internment: Strip searching, controlled movement, isolation.” This Saoradh/éistigí/IRPWA board in Central Drive, Creggan, Derry, uses the words of Bobby Sands to put current political prisoners in parallel with the blanket protest and hunger strikes. The quote is an English translation from the final day of Sands’s hunger strike diary, March 17th: Mura bhfuıl sıad ın ınmhe an fonn saoırse a scrıosadh, ní bheadh sıad ın ınmhe tú féın a bhrıseadh. Ní bhrısfıdh sıad mé mar tá an fonn saoırse, agus saoırse mhuıntır na hÉıreann, ı mo chroí. Tıocfaıdh lá éıgın nuaır a bheıdh an fonn saoırse seo le taıspeáınt ag daoıne go léır na hÉıreann. Ansın tchífıdh [chífıdh] muıd éırí na gealaí.” = “If they aren’t able to destroy to the desire for freedom, they won’t break you. They won’t break me because the desire for freedom, and the freedom of the Irish people, is is my heart. The day will dawn when all the people of Ireland will have the desire for freedom to show. It is then we’ll see the rising of the moon.” 

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Disband The Rebranded RUC

A vintage image – of the 3-in-1 policeman, Orange Order member, and loyalist paramilitary – is used in the centre of a new Soaradh (web | tw) board at the corner of Central and Fanad drives in Creggan, Derry. For some earlier uses, see Disband The RUC (Derry, dating back to 1995) Keep The Orange Order Out (Markets, south Belfast) | No Entry PSNI (New Lodge, north Belfast) |  Disband The RUC (Newry). “Corrupt, sectarian – disband the rebranded RUC” (and also, “Smash Stormont”).

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Manny’s N Belfast

The “N”orth Belfast Manny’s now matches the city centre location, with a mural featuring local faces and places, even down to the inclusion of a vintage mural, in this case the old Joe Doherty mural from the New Lodge Road in the late 80s. Among those included are a trio of boxers – Carl Frampton, Ryan Burnett, and Paddy Barnes (the latter two went to school together at Bearnageeha) — and media personalities Eamonn Holmes and May McFettridge (John Linehan). Locations include the New Lodge towers and Manny’s itself, including the plaque to Dana and Kevin Fitzpatrick who were hit by death-drivers.

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His Young Life

“In memory of Vol Colm McNutt Derry Brigade INLA. On 12th December 1977 18 years old Colm McNutt was killed by an undercover British Army unit in William Street. In lived in Balbane Pass and was a popular young lad around the Creggan estate. He witnessed occupation and injustice and as a result joined the resistance movement, paying ultimately with his young life.” This large board was launched in December 2017 on the fortieth anniversary of McNutt’s death.

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Go West!

As you head west along Falls Road, you will pass by the three landmark buildings depicted in the mural above: Clonard Monastery, Cultúrlann McAdam-Ó Fıaıch (opposite this mural and the offices of Fáılte Feırste Thıar), and the entrance to Milltown Cemetery at the edge of Andersonstown. For the parts of the mural in Brighton Street, see The Conlan Revolution and Fáılte Feırste Thıar.

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The People’s Priest

Edward Daly died in August 2016 and a memorial stone to his memory was quickly erected along Rossville Street, near the spot of Daly’s well-known intervention during Bloody Sunday, trying to lead victim jackie Duddy to safety. The stone was unveiled by two of the people portrayed in the Civil Rights mural in the background – John Hume and Ivan Cooper (Derry Now).

“The Peoples [sic] Priest. This garden of reflection has been dedicated in honor [sic] of the late Bishop Of Derry (Emeritus) Dr. Edward Daly in heartfelt gratitude and thanksgiving for the wonderful work for the people of Derry and beyond. Rest in peace. ‘To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means forgiving the unforgivable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.’ Is ceıst deacaır é sın. [That is a difficult question.]”

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Join Saoradh

This space on Ardoyne Avenue was used for “cultural” murals from 1997 to 2015, when Stair Na Gaeilge was replaced by Resistance. In its latest incarnation, Saoradh (web | tw – the organisation’s Facebook page is currently blocked) have made a small addition to the side-wall in the centre of the image above.

For the larger pieces, see Homes!!! and Lidl On Equality.

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Óglach Tommy Roberts

“In proud and loving memory of Tommy Roberts, former IRA volunteer, former POW blanketman, died 8th June 2017 aged 78. His courage and dedication will never be forgotten. “As long as Ireland is unfree the only honourable attitude for Irishmen and Irishwomen is an attitude of revolt.””

Roberts was with Junior McDaid when he was shot in 1972 and was OC in Crumlin Road jail later in the 70s (Derry Journal). Video of the launch in Junememories from Anthony McIntyre | Videos of the funeral one | two.

The quote is from Pearse; it was used in Ardoyne in the 1980s.

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