Belfast

Free Otegi

Extramural Activity1 Comment
2013-10-08 FreeOtegi+

This new pro-Basque mural on the International Wall on Divis Street calls for the release of Arnaldo Otegi, one-time ETA member and leader of a pro-Basque party, along with other political prisoners. (More information on Otegi at arnaldotegi.com and WP.) “Pake bidean” is the Basque for “The pathway to peace”.  (The mural is at the eastern end of the wall; takes the place of the Ian Knox anti-racism mural featured in Never Actually Existed.)

Update: Otegi was released in March, 2016 (Irish Times)

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01375 over 700 political prisoners in Spanish and French jails. Free them all! Stop the political trials in the basque country. Scaoiltear saor uilig iad.

Belfast Butcher

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2013-09-22 BelfastButcher+

Three tags and a butcher vigorously chopping pink sausages, on the back of buildings in Gresham Street, visible from North Street, the work of NOTA (‘none of the above’), Bore, and Raser.

2013-09-22 BelfastButcherWide+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Local People In Local Homes

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2013-09-23 TrinityHouse+

Work-site curtaining on Inverary Avenue  bears a protest message concerning the residents of a new development by Trinity Housing. “Trinity House – Local people in local homes! In it for the long haul! Protest still ongoing. No change until Trinity sees sence. Nobody moving in until local residents are housed!!”

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Indian Community In Belfast

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2013-09-20 IndianComm+

A subdued, sheet-covered, Indian community hall, between the Carlisle Memorial church and the Clifton Street Orange Order hall, was open to the public during the European Heritage Open Days last month.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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And The Sword In The Other

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2013-09-18 Sash+

Here are two final images from the Clifton Street Orange Lodge, the first showing various insignia on a sash, including a Bible and crossed swords, the second showing various halberds.

The title of the post comes from a well-known phrase “with the Bible in one hand and the sword in the other”, the earliest appearance of which seems to be in Giovanni Battista Nicolini’s 1854 History Of The Jesuits: “Protestantism, a giant in its infancy, standing in a menacing attitude, with the Bible in one hand and the sword in the other, bid defiance to the impugners of the Sacred Volume.”

Previously: All Our Hope On Thee Is Stayed | Occupy | Total Abstinence | Across The Water

2013-09-16 Pikes+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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IRA

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Somewhat battered nail-up (one of a pair) in Springhill Heights, possibly referring to the Provisionals rather than the Real/New/Continuity IRA.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Work Ethic

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2013-09-19 GardenLeft+

Three images of a low wall mural in Hogarth Street (in Tiger’s Bay). Above is the right-hand side, showing workers of a former era heading home from the shipyard. One of the H&W cranes can be seen in the background (and to its left, the new Titanic centre). Below is the right-hand side of the piece, depicting a preacher with a sandwich board: Seek, and you shall find – Matthew: 7:7. The artist is (reportedly) the same person as did the Belfast Blitz mural on the other side of the street.

2013-09-19 GardenRight+

2013-09-19 GardenWide+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Against Established Law

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2013-10-09 CheFallsRd+

“Che Guevara – Blood of an Irish rebel.” A colourful new mural has been completed on the Falls Road (at the end of McQuillan Street) in time for the anniversary of Che Guevara’s death, on October 9th, 1967. The mural features multiple copies of Korda’s iconic Guerillero Heroico (discussed in the Visual History page on Jim Fitzpatrick), two quotes from Che – “When forces of oppression come to maintain themselves in power against established law, peace is considered already broken” and “If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine” – and the flags of (from left to right) the Basque Country, Palestine, Ireland, Cuba, Catalonia and Argentina (where Che was born; or perhaps Guatemala, where he was first active – the shield above contains no central icon, which would distinguish the flags).

Che’s father declared that the blood of Irish rebels ran through his son, in reference to their Irish ancestry. For genealogical information, see the previous entry on the Che Guevara Lynch mural in Derry.

The artist is Damian “DeeDee” Walker, of the Gaelforce group. The piece has been in progress for about a month.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ruby

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2013-09-29 Ruby+

New street art on North Street by MELS (and specifically Viktor Sümegi) shows a ruby-lipped and ruby-crowned female face with sheep’s (?) horns. Replaces the 2012 ‘Lose Or Re-use’ piece showing a store-front in outline, later vandalised with ‘Fuck Art‘.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Wee Ruby’s

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2013-09-27 WeeRubys+

UDA graffiti on the shutters of a dilapidated building at the top (southern) end of Sandy Row.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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