Two images from the “Rally Against Racism” this past weekend in Belfast, both featuring home-made signs. Above “My Belfast is for everyone!” on cardboard with an image of the Belfast Islamic Centre in Wellington Park. Below, “Seasann pobal na Gaeılge in éadan an chıníochaıs” (The Irish-language community stands against racism.) For background, see yesterday’s post, The Inaccessible Present.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A new mural on the International Wall combines two current events. One is the furore surrounding the recent description of Islam as “satanic” by Belfast pastor James McConnell (Tele) and a ‘Rally Against Racism’ that took place on Saturday (31st) (Tele). The middle of the mural reads “Respect and defend our Muslim brothers + sisters – kardeslik azadi”.
The other is the death of Maya Angelou (WP), who died this past Wednesday (May 28th). Angelou is pictured in the top half of the mural with Muhammad Ali along with a quote: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the past inaccessible.”
In the bottom half appear Padraıg Pearse and James Connolly and a line from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic: “Cherish all the children of the nation equally.”
Takes the place of the Miami Five.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here are three images from the Donegall Road bridge concerning factory girls – weavers, spinners, doffers, and millies. They feature two poems. The first is an anonymously written description of work in Lowell (Massachusetts) USA; the second is attributed to “Eliza Hamilton, Ulster weaver poet 1891”.
“When I set out for Lowell, some factory for to find, I left my native country and all my friends behind.
But now I am in Lowell and summon’d by the bell I think less of the factory than of my native dell.
The factory bell begins to ring and we must obey, and to our old employment go or else be turned away.
Come all ye weary factory girls, I’ll have you understand, I’m going to leave the factory and return to my native land.”
“I started work when I was eight, my childhood lost at the factory gate.
The flight of shuttle, noise and dust, the wage of labour not good enough.
My life was weaved outside my dreams, days always longer than they seemed.
I vowed the day that I was wed, my child would have a childhood.”
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01845 X01847 X01838 The anonymous author of this poem was an Ulster immigrant girl of the 19th century working in a textile mill in Lowell, USA
Below is a general view of Nos. 1 – 19 Royal Avenue, that is, Corry House, built in 1881 for John Robb and now a listed building. At No 13 one of the original door-cases remains, the top of which is shown above: a fork-bearded gentleman and a lady with an empty pail on either side of a cartouche. (Planning NI and Historical Belfast – A Historical Gazetteer by Marcus Patton)
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Here are close-ups, and a final wide-shot, of the “Reaching Out” suicide-prevention mural in Springmadden on the Springfield Road, painted by Lucas Quigley.
Above, a girl is carried away by balloon hearts; below, a fox peeks out from behind giant sunflowers and foliage sporting a ladybird while a butterfly looks on.
Also on this wall is a memorial to the victims of the Ballymurphy Massacre.
Previous suicide-prevention: Reaching Out | Real Heroes | You’ll Never Walk Alone
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Republican lower Ormeau – PSNI out.”
Graffiti in Dromara Street, south Belfast.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Images of faeries and Peter Pan have been added to the images of flowers in the pocket park along Blythe Street, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Gerry Adams “visionary” mural came down almost as quickly as it went up. Five days after release, Adams posted a thank-you to the artist on Twitter in which he also asked that it be replaced. The new mural returns to the issue that made headlines immediately before Adams’s arrest: the refusal of NI Secretary Theresa Villiers (depicted on the right) to order further investigation of the shooting deaths of 11 Ballymurphy residents – one for each cross shown – in 1971 (BelTel) and also the La Mon restaurant fire-bombing in which 12 people died (BelTel).
Previously: Time4Truth
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Graffiti in the Highfield estate complaining about/threatening someone allegedly reporting [touting] others to the authorities about unemployment claims [bru, brew; the dole].
According to one source, “bru” is originally a Glaswegian corruption of “bureau” from the 1930s.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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“Waiting for storytime – Carnegie library – Donegall Road. There is always a moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.” A panel from the Donegall Road bridge (south).
Previously: Another Carnegie library, on the Falls Road.
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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 