Saoırse Don Phalaıstín

Saoırse don Phalaıstín [Freedom for Palestine]. On August 9th, 2024, Irish-language rappers Kneecap launched a third mural in Hawthorn Street/Sráıd Na Sceıthe, (joining Incendiary Device and England Get Out Of Ireland,) which blows up a sticker seen on a nearby street-sign (seen previously in Land Grab) into a mural and which imitates the version from England Get Out Of Ireland which shows Britain grabbing a piece of Ireland.

For images from the launch, see the Paddy Duffy collection.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15308 X15307 X15306

Dark Dreamer

The info plaque next to this new piece of street art in north Belfast reads: “The Dark Dreamer – The Silkie mural by Loretta Lizzio is a recreation of the oil painting “Dark Dreamer” by world-famous Irish artist Patrick Jones who lived here in the family home.”

Patrick J. Jones (web) grew up in Belfast before leaving for London, England, in 1984 and Brisbane, Australia, in 1997. Lizzio, (web), who is also from Australia, reproduced Jones’s original (Fb) on the side of the Stax coffee-shop on the Cliftonville Road, renaming it ‘The Silkie’, though it depicts a mermaid rather than one of the seal-folk; compare with KMG’s interpretation of the Selkie myth in the city centre.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15301 X15300

Gaza Square

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” “Stop the genocide – save Palestine.”

The South Link green-space as been renamed “Gaza Square” (see the small plaque in the wide shot, below) and the murals seen recently (at end of March) in Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear have been repainted, switching images of Israeli weapons for the images of death, suffering, and destruction seen here.

According to the Al Jazeera tracker, the Palestinian death toll is approaching 45,000, with more than 100,000 injured.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15189 X15190 [X15192] X15191
X15269 [X15188] X15268

Reaching Out Is A Strength

“… not a weakness.” Mental health mural in the middle Falls, with the telephone numbers for Lifeline, the Samaritans, and the Suicide Awareness & Support Group.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Extramural Activity
X15224

Two Nations, One Struggle

The “two nations” are Palestine (flag on the left) and Ireland (flag on the right). Between the two is a balaclava’d face, suggesting violent struggle.

Lisfannon Park, Bogside, Derry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X15211 X15212

Ape

Art by Kate Whiteman (web) on Broadway, west Belfast.

See also the Visual History page on painted utility boxes.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15215

City Paints

Derry’s ‘Get Up’ graffiti and street art festival took place at the end of June – here is the Strand Road hoarding sprayed by NOYS (ig), POSEA (ig), VENTS (ig), RAZER (ig), Chose Letters (ig) and perhaps others, with support from Peaball (web) and Foyle Maritime (web), as well as City Paints (Fb) and Crown paints.

For the street art pieces from Clarendon Street, see Get Up, Derry.

For the same hoarding in 2023, see Crash Bandicoot, and in 2022, see Some Buzz.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X15157 X15158 X15159 X15160 X15161 X15156

Resistance Is Not Terrorism

“Resistance is not terrorism – Saoırse don Phalaıstín”. Gazan photo-journalist Motaz Azaiza (ig) visited Dublin – where he spoke at Bohemians (reddit | The Journal), Belfast – where he spoke with Clare Daly at the MAC, and Derry – where he spoke with Jamie Lee O’Donnell at the Guildhall (Derry Now). He also attended a rally at Free Derry Corner (Derry Journal | Derry Now), which has been painted with his likeness in honour of the work he has done documenting the destruction of Gaza by Israeli forces for his almost 18 million people on instagram. Fifteen of Azaiza’s relatives were killed in an air-strike on Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on October 13th, 2023 (WP).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X15206 X15205 X15203 X15204 X15202

The INLA

Commemorations of the INLA’s fiftieth anniversary have so far been limited to graffiti – see Saoırse Go Deo in Derry and Let The Fight Go On in Belfast – but here we have two deliberately painted panels in the Bogside (specifically Meenan Square) (one replacing The Way We Were).

“Irish National Liberation Army, Derry brigade. This mural is dedicated to the women and men who gave their lives in the struggle for national liberation and socialism. Erected by the James Connolly Memorial flute band.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X15207 X15208 X15209 X15210

A Bird In The Hand

These bird-boxes and platforms were installed by Wild Belfast (web) – a group aimed at enhancing natural habitats – in order to attract house-martins, who visit Ireland in the summer in order to breed, but whose numbers are in decline because of a loss of nesting sites (under the eaves of houses) and building materials (mud).

The boxes are in front of street art by artist Daniela Balmaverde (web) on the end of one of the stands at Cliftonville FC (BBC) – the shamrock earrings are the club’s emblem.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X15199 X15198 X15197