In Bloom

Work by emic (web) at the Vault Artists’ Studios (web) (previously the Met College) in east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus

“Pro tanto quid retribuamus” [What shall we give in return for so much] is the motto of Belfast, included in the coat of arms shown above and newly appropriate in the coronavirus pandemic. “Thank you to all our NHS staff and essential workers from the local Orange family. Together fighting Covid-19.” The banner is on the Clifton Street hall; King William III bestrides his horse and the horse bestrides the building.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Our Heroes Past And Present

The heroes of the past are the soldiers of WWI and WWII (commemorated by the poppies growing in ACT Initiative‘s Shankill Road Community Garden, above, and in the 75th anniversary VE Day posters in Madrid Street, east Belfast, below); the present-day heroes are the doctors, nurses, and staff of the NHS, symbolised by the rainbow in both images.

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Girls Club

“Miss McMinn (BEM) created a haven for “Her Girls” in Thorndyke Street Club. It was a home from home where you were encouraged to be yourself. ‘Her girls’ were here life: Her 27 years of service brought joy to the lives of young girls in an area of Belfast that had been devastated by the Blitz. Miss Margaret (Greta) McMinn (we never used Christian names) never married but devoted her life to ‘her girls’. So great was her dedication that during ‘The Troubles’, unable to get to her home in north Belfast, she slept on the premises. With her guidance we learned many arts and crafts which we shared with our family and friends on ‘display night’. We also entered many sports competitively in our own area and the Shankill Road. Many outings to the pantomime, circus, etc. and the annual holidays to Shimna House, Newcastle, County Down, were a real treat for children who had little or nothing in the way of luxury. Wonderful memories of a beautiful lady. – Peggy Bowden”. Part of the “East Side Lives Heritage Trail” which “celebrates the unsung people who built community in east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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You Know Full Well As I Do The Value Of Sisters’ Affections

Students from Coláıste Feırste, from Beechmount, west Belfast (tw), and Ashfield Girls’ High School, from Sydenham, east Belfast (tw) were involved in the exhibition Idır Dhá Aıgne in Cultúrlann in 2014 and the two schools again combined their artistic talents to produce these five collages of inspirational women: Katie Taylor and Noelle Ryan (by students from Coláıste Feırste), and the Brontë sisters, Ellen Degeneres, and Rosa Parks (by students from Ashfield Girls’).

With sponsorship from the Northern Ireland Executive and Féıle An Phobaıl. The mural is on the shoulder of the “peace” line, where North Howard Street meets Cupar Way, between This World Isn’t Worth Your Soul and Sinn Feins Stradgey, and above A Dialogue On The Nature Of Art.

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Fact And Myth Riveted Together

“Overlooked by the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes, Samson and Goliath, The Yardmen is a bronze sculpture depicting three shipyard workers returning home to East Belfast.” “At its peak 30,000 people were employed in the shipbuilding industry in Belfast. A high proportion of them lived in the terraced streets off the Newtownards Road. Not far away is one of the best preserved terraces of workers’ houses in Belfast – McMaster Street, begun in 1898. Most of the workforce was drawn from the countryside around Belfast, though many skilled workers were recruited in Britain. While shipbuilding was harsh and often dangerous work, the standard of living for workers was generally higher than that of shipyard employees in other British cities.”

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Copyright © Seosamh Mac Coılle
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John harper baptist pastor glasgow mottpottinger tabernacle gave his life jacket to another man westbourne presbyterian ship of dreams mural dee street titanic mural discover ulster-scots belfast maritime trail 1700 large ships most famous being titanic a great ship now locked into worldwide history and romantic myth, fact and myth riveted together

Build Homes Now

The on-going mural campaign to build more public and affordable housing in Belfast reaches the PUL side of the “peace” line. The old “Lurkers” writing can be seen above.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Resolve

“Support. Future. Community. Justice.” Resolve NI (Fb) is a community-based restorative justice group, based in east Belfast, focused on non-violent resolution and restoring community relationships (their offices were featured previously). The mural is by Blaze FX (web | Fb) in Lord Street (at Beersbridge Rd), with sponsorship from Greenaway Auto Electrics (Fb) whose side wall the mural is on.

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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Wash Your Hands

Here are three images from the (upper) blind end of Tower Street, encouraging people to wash their hands (and take other measures) to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus responsible for Covid-19. (“Hallion” is the name of the graffitist.)

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Build Communities

Time to get digging! The FGB (Francois Got Buffed | web | tw | previously on Extramural) sig is behind the clump of weeds. “Build communities” is part of FGB’s support for the campaign to Save The Cathedral Quarter. The wide shot shows the FGB piece plus emic’s In Bloom.

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Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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