Belfast

God Approves Our Undertakings

Extramural Activity1 Comment
03255 2016-01-20 G Skeleton+

The All-Seeing Eye Of Providence joins the Eye Of Horus in a conspiracy-minded mural by Visual Waste at the Muddlers’ Club in Belfast. The eye is familiar from Freemasons and the 1 dollar bill in US currency (and the Illuminati!). Also included – against a background consisting of a secret handshake, a skull, and a floating skeleton – are the Square & Compasses of the Freemasons (with a “G” for “God” or “geometry”) a set of scales weighing money, a crown, the word “FATE” tattooed across the knuckles, a keyhole, a gem, the dollar sign, a drop of water, and the Chi-Rho of Catholic and Coptic faiths.

To the left is another, smaller, piece – see The Wider Conspiracy.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03255 annuit coeptis Warehouse Lane

Boundary Way

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
03116 2015-10-11 Lower Shankill Box+

The north and west sides of the substation at Boundary Way in the Lower Shankill estate have been repainted, restoring the Union flag (M02467) and “UYM” (M02469) lettering in vibrant red, white, and blue.

The other two sides, which previously featured “UFF” (X00249) and a C Coy. mural (M02466) are now blank and walled in.

03124 2015-10-14 Boundary Way w2+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03116 X03124 boundary way

Doing Her Duty

Extramural Activity1 Comment
03150 2015-10-20 Rangers Supporters Club d below+

Here is a board from outside the Ulster Rangers Supporters Club (Fb) on the Shankill Road. It highlights the roles played by women during WWI as nurses and welders and in the Land Army. “She hasn’t a sword and she hasn’t a gun. But she’s doing her duty now fighting’s begun.”

The forces are shown gathered outside the West Belfast Orange Hall, on the Shankill at Brookmount Street.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03150 he died for freedom and honour national service women’s land army

Stardust

Extramural Activity2 Comments
03263 2016-01-20 Bowie VisualWaste+

More David Bowie commemoration in Belfast’s city centre: Visual Waste (Web | Fb) reproduces Bowie as Aladdin Sane, successor to Ziggy Stardust. Here’s an Independent article on the iconic image of Bowie with blue and red lightning bolt across his face. On the make-up artist for both Aladdin Sane and Ziggy Stardust, Pierre LaRoche, see this article.

Previously: Bowie by Boyd – Oh You Pretty Thing

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03263 gresham st

Oh! You Pretty Thing

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
03253 2016-01-20 Bowie Pretty+

David Bowie’s song Oh! You Pretty Things (from Hunky Dory) concerns “the impending obsolescence of the human race in favour of an alliance between arriving aliens and the youth of the present society” (Carr & Murray (1981). Bowie: An Illustrated Record: pp. 40-41 | WP). Ziggy Stardust also brought a message of hope for Earth’s youth. In the tribute poster to Bowie’s death (on January 10th, 2016), Leo Boyd (Tumblr | Belfast Print Workshop) takes the image from the cover of Earthling (Bowie’s 1997 album) and adds flying saucers, as though Bowie is to be beamed up. Farewell, Starman.

Previously by Boyd: Big Men Wail Hammers

Here is Bowie performing the song on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1972.

03261 2016-01-20 Bowie Pretty Women+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
garfield st X03253 X03261 david bowie 1947-2016 UFO

The Accordion Player

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
02993 Aerosol Accordian+

Jef Aérosol (Jean-François Perroy) is a French stencil-artist who did (at least) three pieces in Belfast. Below is a crossed-legged boy that was in Islandbawn Street and above is an accordion-player in Sevastopol Street; for a third piece, on Northumberland Street, see C02031. When the nearby Bobby Sands mural was extended this past year (2015), the stencil was retained. (See also the Visual History page of the Bobby Sands wall.)

02588 2015-04-16 SandsSide+

00330 AerosolCrossLegged+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2009 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02993 X02588 X00330

Taigs Will Be Dealt With

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
03180 2015-11-12 Taigs VTOT+

Back in July (2015) “Taigs will be crucified” graffiti appeared on an box next to the Broadway roundabout but was removed after a few days. “Taigs will be dealt with” then appeared — see the image below.

The graffiti above is not far away on the Donegall Road, when it appeared in July it was joined by a wooden crucifix (for which see this BelTel article); the crucifix has gone but the graffiti was still in place in November. “VTOT” stands for “Village Team On Tour” – referring to the loyalist “Village” area of south Belfast.

03187 2015-11-12 Taigs Dealt With+

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03180 X03187 KAT

The Depths Of Sectarianism

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
03249 2016-01-12 City Cemetery Buried Wall+

Belfast’s City Cemetery opened in 1869 and was originally intended for the interment of both Catholics and Protestants. At the insistence of Catholic clergy who argued that the ground would not be consecrated if shared, the graveyard was created with an underground wall (shown above) nine feet in height. (Republican News) After further disputes, however, Catholics were not routinely buried in the graveyard until 100 years later; they were buried instead in the nearby Milltown Cemetery.

Here is a short video of local expert Tom Hartley at the wall:

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03249

Holding My Breath

Extramural Activity2 Comments
03091 2015-10-04 DMC CNB15 Underwater+

Work by DMC (Dermot McConaghy Twitter | Instagram) at the harbour, an underwater version of the “Invertigo” piece he did the week before (with JMK (Twitter)) CNB15 in Lisburn.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03091 harbour promenade

The UDA Kill Kids

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment
03027 2015-09-06 The UDA Kill Kids+

Vintage graffiti still visible in Gardiner Street: “The UDA Kill Kids!” If you know what this refers to, please comment or send an e-mail.

See also: graffiti in the same street dating to 1971: God Bless Paisley, Fitt Never

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X03027