CNR

Young Ireland

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03732 2016-08-09 IntWall2016 Wolfe Tone+

The new mural on the International Wall is book-ended on the left-hand side by a host of Irish nationalists from the centuries before the 1916 Rising, who continue to watch over the unfolding drama of the nationalist cause. In chronological order, the figures depicted are …

  • Theobold Wolfe Tone (1768-1798), the main figure shown above, leader of the United Irishmen and the 1798 rebellion
  • Betsy Gray, female in green, who died in the 1798 rebellion
  • Henry Joy McCraken (1767-1798) second from the left at bottom, leader of the 1798 rebellion in County Antrim, rising on June 6
  • Mary Anne McCracken (1770-1876) on Tone’s cheekbone, political activist and anti-slavery and poverty reformer
  • Robert Emmett (1778-1803) obscured by pole, leader of a revolt in 1803
  • Anna Wheeler (1780-1848), female in purple, feminist author
  • James Fintan Lalor (1807-1849), bottom left, writer and political activist
  • Thomas Davis (1814-1845) small portrait below Gray, organiser of Young Ireland
  • John Mitchel (1815-1875) top row left of the pole, Young Ireland and the Irish Confederation
  • Michael Davitt (1846-1906) third from left at bottom, founder of the Land League and who took part in the Fenian Rising of 1867
  • John Devoy (1842-1928) fourth from left at bottom, one of the Cuba Five, exiled to the U.S. in 1871, and active in all of the Fenian Rising, the 1916 Rising, and the War of Independence

(There is a twelfth figure, in a bowler hat, top left. If you know who this is, please get in touch.)

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03732 divis st Ag Fíorú Na Poblachta 1916 2016 cead blıaın

Raising The Flag

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03694 2016-08-01 IntWall2016 1916+

For the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, the whole of the International Wall on Divis Street (or, almost the whole wall, as will be explained in a subsequent post) has been repainted to depict a history of Irish republicanism, with special attention given to connections to Belfast.

As might be expected, a panel of the new mural depicts the GPO of 1916. A Tricolour is thought to have been raised over the Henry Street corner of the GPO by Liverpudlian Joe Gleeson – he sports a Liver bird badge on his bandolier – though he does not mention this in his statement to the Bureau of Military History: “We started out from Kimmage about 60 strong at about ten o’clock that Easter Monday morning …”. (A flag of the Irish Republic was raised by Harry Walpole (Irish Times) or Eamon Bulfin (Collins 22 Society, which states that Gearóıd O’Sullivan raised the Tricolour; Bulfin’s statement to the BMH says Gleeson did so).) Gleeson was one of 50 fighters from the Liverpool Irish Volunteers. (Caırde Liverpool has the names of 38 volunteers from Merseyside; this BBC article contains photographic portraits of a number.) The image here is a modified version of the 1941 stamp designed by Victor Brown showing an armed volunteer outside the GPO (stampboards).

The Belfast connection in this panel is supplied by Winifred Carney, member of Cumann Na mBan, assistant to James Connolly from 1912 until the Rising, and part of the occupying forces in the GPO during the rising, “armed with a typewriter and a Webley” (according to her WP page). She is seen here (on the right, beneath the flag) typing up communications by candlelight in the GPO.

03675 2016-07-23 IntWall2016 1916 prog+

03667 2016-07-20 IntWall2016 1916 cartoon+

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Take The Hint

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03695 2016-08-01 Take The Hint+

A deal to end the standoff at Twaddell Avenue, where an Orange Order parade was stopped in 2013, fell though a few days before the proposed July 1st march date (BelTel). The GARC (Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective) tarp shown above maps out an alternative route that would bypass the Ardoyne shops.

Replaces Putting The Boot In.

03696 2016-08-01 Take The Hint Map+

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03695 X03696 Ardoyne Avenue

Justice For Robert

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This small plaque is on Northumberland Way, on the ‘Dignity’ panel of the Amnesty mural and to the right of La Historia Es Nuestra. It is presumably a reference to the killing of Robert McCartney (WP) though by the time of this photograph, Jock Davison – whom the family believed had given the order for Robert’s stabbing – had already been shot dead (Bel Tel).

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Tír Na nÓg

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03631 2016-07-05 Tir na nOg+

In the myths of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Fıan Oısín falls in love with Nıamh from the Land Of Youth, but after three years — which is 300 human years — he yearns to return to Ireland. She gives him a magic horse that will preserve his youth while he remains on it. But he falls from it and dies of old age.

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03631 central drive, Derry/Doıre

Civil Rights

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03663 2016-07-08 Civil Rights d+

The Bogside Artists’ Civil Rights mural in Rossville Street, Derry/Doıre, which was originally painted in 2004, was repainted (in October 2015) and the portraits of Ivan Cooper and John Hume added. For video of the launch, see the Bogside Artists’ website. See also the Visual History page on the Bogside Artists.

03662 2016-07-08 Civil Rights+

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03663 X03662 jobs not creed anti-sectarian one man one vote

Orlando

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03548 2016-06-21 Orlando Ardoyne+

The Belfast Pride festival runs from July 29th to August 7th this year, with a parade on the 6th. 8 weeks ago today (on June 12th) 49 people were shot to death in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The images below are from Ardoyne Avenue and Northumberland Street.

03584 2016-06-30 Orlando 12-6-16 2+

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03548 X03584

End The Torture

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03614 2016-07-03 End The Torture+

IRPWA mural showing prisoners being beaten and lying in a pool of blood, next to the “#DerryHappy” mural in Lecky Road: “End the torture in Maghaberry now!!”

03659 2016-07-08 End The Torture w+

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X03614 X03659

Britain’s Torture Of Irish POWs

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03611 2016-07-03 End Internment+

RNU board in Westland Street, Derry showing a prisoner behind bars, a victim of internment. The wide shot includes a nail-up with “Brits out now – IRA”.

The board was previously on the rear of Free Derry Corner.

03661 2016-07-08 Brits Out+

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X03611 X03661

A Lifeboat From Despair

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03671 2016-07-23 Emic Hope Love d+

emic (Eoin McGinn Fb | Web |Tw) has been at work on the Falls Road painting a mural for the Suicide Awareness & Support Group. Two figures face each other, seated on the index fingers of hands tattooed with “hope” and “love”. Wide shot below.

03670 2016-07-23 Emic Hope Love w+

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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03671 X03570