Belfast

One Big Union

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2014-02-19 CityHallWindow+

“Not as Catholics or Protestants, not as Nationalists or Unionists, but as Belfast workers standing together.” Belfast City Hall has a number of colourful stained-glass windows, one of which is shown here. It features Belfast industry and Jim Larkin who, while more famous for the Dublin lock-out of 1913, also led a strike by the National Union Of Dock Labourers (NUDL) in Belfast in 1907. In 1908 the ITGWU (the One Big Union, OBU) was formed.

Previous posts involving Larkin: Til Labour Knows No Master | We Only Want The Earth | Shed Lockout | John Quinn

Video of the unveiling, in May 2007

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Et In Arcadian Ego

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2014-01-31 DurhamStClose+

The area known as the Pound Loney is featured in a long mural in Durham Street. The Pound Loney is Divis or the lower part of Divis on either side of Cullingtree Road; a “loney” is a lane and originally a natural path, in this case next to a stream beside the sheep-pound that existed before the area was developed for housing (Old Belfast Districts).

The mural features many of the place-names, landmarks, and personalities of yesteryear, including the Arcadian cinema on Albert Street – left of centre in the full shot below; see also the two images below of the Arcadian in happier days and in 1969, at the start of the troubles (images from Cinema Treasures and the Belfast Forum). Also featured are the Divis tower block, the Blessed Virgin mural, Barney’s mill, McGahan’s pub, Saint Peter’s. The streets include Barrack St, Galway St, Cullingtree Rd, Scotch St, Christian Place, Derby St, Castle St, Pound St, Nail St, Currie St, Albert St, Brook St, Jude St, Hamill St, Divis St, Milford St and Massereene (Row or Path or Walk) in Divis flats. If you can identify any of the characters in the mural, please leave a comment.

Previously: Lampost swinging | Mickey Marley’s Roundabout | Saint Peter’s

2014-01-31 DurhamSt+

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The Threatened World

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2014-01-27 RosaMystica+

At the very top of the Whiterock Road, which is to say, half-way up Sliabh Dubh/Black Mountain, there are two shrines (wide shot below). The shrine to the Virgin Mary includes the apocalyptic prayer shown above: Mary, mystical rose, mother of the church, help the holy father of all bishops, all priests and all religious. Intercede for the sorely-pressed church of our times. Pray for the threatened world into which satan’s hot breath is blowing. Draw us all to your immaculate motherly heart. You are the mother of pity. Amen.

Previously: The BVM Supports POWs

2014-01-27 RosaMysticaWide+

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At Sea

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2014-01-29 StBrendan+

The Stella Maris Hostel (in Garmoyle Street) provides services to homeless alcoholics. Above their door is this mosaic of St. Brendan, off “crossing the Atlantic 600 AD” to discover (what would later become) North America (though perhaps it was only the Faroes or the Canaries or … ) in a boat clad in nothing more than leather.

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Up Your Haass

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2014-02-16 Haass+

Political commentary on the Cupar Way “peace” line (near Lanark Way): “Stick Haass up your ass” — a reference to the negotiations which were taking place around Christmas and New Year’s, led by Richard Haass, into the “legacy issues” of flags and emblems (including murals) and parades. No agreement was reached. (BBC | pdf | BBC)

December update: the Stormont House Agreement covered many of the same areas (WP).

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Mysterious Ways

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2014-02-17 StPetersApex+

Like some of the residents of the Divis area in which this cathedral that bears his name now stands, (Saint) Peter found himself in prison. But the night before his trial, there comes an angel who magically releases his shackles and opens all the doors (Acts 12:3-19). James, on the other hand, is not so fortunate. As a scholar on the WP page notes, why James should die while Peter escapes is a “mystery of divine providence”. Wide shot and info board below.

Another previously-featured scriptural conundrum: Occupy Til I Come (Luke 19:13)

2014-02-17 StPeters+

2014-02-17 StPetersInfo+

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Waterworld

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2014-02-13 MaighArdCanoe+

Maıgh Ard/Moyard and New Barnsley are at no risk of flooding, but this mural clearly shows the locals long to be paddling down the slopes of Black Mountain/Slıabh Dubh in canoes and kayaks .

2014-02-13 MaighArdWater+

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Naming Our Streets

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2014-02-04 WinifredCarneyRoad+

The Antrim Road at Carlisle Circus also bears the street-name ‘Winifred Carney Road’ (top left of the image above), as part of the ‘Naming Our Streets’ project. Carney’s name was chosen for this location – SIPTU offices – because she was a trade unionist and also because she grew up on Carlisle Circus. For more information, including biographies of 50 historically important Belfast women, seven of whom were honoured in this way, see the Women’s Resource & Development Agency.

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Free Are We

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2014-01-22 IfNothingIs+

Graffiti in Lenadoon. In existentialist mode: “If nothing is, free are we.” Or perhaps “If nothing is free, are we[?]”

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The Throw-In

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2014-02-05 RossRdHurlingDetail+

A seven-year old Setanta become Cú Chulaınn (Culann’s Hound) after killing the beast by driving a sliotar (the ball used in hurling) down its throat. Detail from a mural in Roumania Rise, off Ross Road. Wide shot of the whole below. The lettering reads “Mol na nóıge agus tıocfaıdh sí [sic]” [as written: praise the young and it [sic] will flourish; usually the phrase is “Mol an óıge …” “praise youth …”]

2014-02-05 RossRdHurling+

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