Here’s the completed mural by Hicks54 painted last weekend as part of the East Belfast Arts Festival.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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California Dreamin’
PUL
Our Brave Defenders
In memory of the dead from the 36th (Ulster) Division in St Leonard’s Crescent (the old Newcastle Street) in east Belfast. The four main panels show the men of the 36th going over the top on the first day of the Somme (1st July 1916), the “angel of Mons” (WP), Ulster Tower (This tower was dedicated to the glory of God. In grateful memory of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the great war, and of all their comrades in arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds. “Throughout the long years of struggle …. the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die” – 16th November 1918 King George V), and Thiepval Memorial (Dear men and brothers, going out/to fight for Ulster’s need/we hail you with a mighty shout/brave friends, and true in deed.//Your country holds you in renown/your names will never be dead/and some sweet angel has a crown/for each dear, manly head.)
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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For God And Ulster, For King And Country
A board to slain UVF members John Hanna (died 1991-09-10), Stevie McCrea (1989-02-18) and Sammy Mehaffy (1991-11-13), with poppies and image from WWI, and a shrine below also commemorating the service of the 36th Ulster Division in WWI. Frenchpark Street, Village area, south Belfast.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00608 sammy mehaffy 1972-1991, john hanna 1971-1991, stevie mccrea 1952-1989, remembering our brother’s lost lives and the human cost of conflict, the legacy of lost hopes and dreams. we come not to mourn but to praise their memory. we keep the memory of the brave, the faithful and the few, some lie far off beyond the waves, some sleep in ulster too. all are gone but still live on the names of those who died and true men like you, remember them with pride, 36th ulster division, for they shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them,
Young Newtown
Young Newtown (more typically “Young Newton” – see e.g. 1989 and 2005) is the Newtownards Road division of the Ulster Young Militants (UYM) and formerly a Tartan Gang (History Ireland).
UDA shield in McMaster Street, east Belfast.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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FASTing For Human Rights And Justice
There was more news (Belfast Telegraph) last week (September 6, 2012) related to the on-going series of trials involving supergrass witnesses. A FAST banner is here seen in Spier’s Place. Last year there were banners in Donegall Pass, Mount Vernon, and Newtownards Road. For background and the collapse of the original trials, see Families Against Supergrass Trials.
Previously: 1914-2004 (the left-hand mural)
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00618 see also X00459 spiers place welcome to the shankill road, families against supergrass trials, demand human rights and justice, lest we forget, Preparing to bear arms 1914, Prepared to bear arms 2004, a uvf roadblock at donaghadee april 24/25th 1914 during gunrunning, this plaque is dedicated to the memory of Lt. col. trevor king, died 9th july 1994, major wm. (Frenchie) marchant died 28th april 1987 davy hamilton died 17th june 1984. these brave men were killed near this spot by the enemies of ulster. no sacrifice is too great for one’s country. the paid the ultimate sacrifice. they shall not grow old as we that are left gro old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them; uvf for god and ulster
The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
Here’s a mural by Friz (who was featured painting in east Belfast), on the Cupar Way peace line. This mural went up earlier this (2012) summer, but it is already covered in signatures and messages from tourists, who are encouraged to write on (some of?) the pieces on Cupar Way. There’s a “clean” version on Friz’s own blog.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Working On A Building
Belfast is getting two new pieces of streetart as part of the East Belfast Arts Festival, one by Friz and one by Hicks54. Both are a-political artists from outside Northern Ireland. Friz is now based in Belfast. Hicks is/was a member of the 54 collective, in Southampton, England.
Above is Friz completing her mural in Constance Street, Sept. 8th.
The muraling during the Festival is “in conjunction with the Lower Castlereagh Community Group, East Belfast Partnership, and kindly funded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation”.
Below is (Ed) Hicks54 in front of his project, on the Newtownards Rd … (across from McDonalds) and a wide shot of the whole scaffold …
There’s an even earlier development shot at his flickr account.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00608 X00610 X00611 saving the seeds for our community
David Ervine
Here are three images of the 2008 David Ervine (WP) board by Ross Wilson in Montrose Street South, the area Ervine came from, with one of the Harland & Wolff cranes reflecting his connection to working class politics.
Working class Protestantism (and nationalism) was a large part of the discussion of Pete Shirlow’s The End Of Ulster Loyalism? on Sunday Sequence (starting at the 33 minute mark).
Two details below, the left and right sides, with flowers at the base of a broken-off tree in the foreground … for the sculpture, see Memory Chair.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00606 X00603 X00605 those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, H & W
Moving Forward
Wild-style writing is combined with images of local street signs and portraits of east Belfast luminaries such as George Best, Van Morrison, and CS Lewis.
“Created as part of Belfast City Council’s Creative Legacies programme by the young people of ‘The Klub’ at Dee Street Community Centre and artist Daniela Balmaverde. With PEACE III funding.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Free The Shankill Six
Graffiti in lower Shankill: “Free the Lower Shankill Six!! Send our prisoners home.”
According to this blog post, this is not political, but refers instead to six fellas done for stealing pallets. (Which perhaps means we can safely enjoy the old joke about the journalist asking the politician, “And what do you think about the Renault 5?”. To which the politician replied, “I think they should be released immediately.”)
To the right is a C-18 swastika.
Previously the “Play” mural and before that the “Can it change? We believe!” mural.
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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00599 enda C-18 ?? swastika
Extramural Activity 