A mural in Shiels Street/Sráıd Uí Shıaıl on the side of the offices of the Suicide Awareness and Support Group (Facebook) – “Reaching out is a strength not a weakness”. The plaque to the right notes that the original (1891) home pitch of Belfast Celtic was near this spot. It was known as “Boghead”; in 1901 they moved to Celtic Park, known as “Paradise”. ( WP | belfastceltic.org)
A board at the top of Castlereagh Street listing residents of the street who worked in 1911 on the Titanic and Olympic. With plane-breaking lifeboats and sponsorship from Belfast City Council (see Daniela Balmaverde’s page on the project), the Department for Social Development and the Titanic Foundation.
The right-most part of the Townsend St.Mickey Marley mural is painted on the security gate. The girl swinging on the rope seems to have inadvertently intruded from another world.
This is one of the most famous murals in Belfast on account of its position overlooking the entrance of Mount Vernon and the M2 – the central gunman appears to be aiming right at you as you come down the off-ramp to the Shore Road. The original mural (T00138 | D00382) – which dates back to the ceasefire (1995) – was on a gable at the front of the estate but the entire block of houses was knocked down (c. 2000 – BelTel). It was later recreated (though without the words “3rd battalion” above “North Belfast) in the current more elevated position.
Wide shot of the mural detailed yesterday of children’s street games and of Mickey Marley’s Roundabout, pulled by his horse Joey. Mickey Marley was so well-known that a song was written for him, which you can hear on youtube. Townsend St. Presbyterian church can be seen in the background and in the mural.
Here is a detail from a fairly long mural depicting children’s street games and Mickey Marley’s Roundabout on a wall and security gate that are part of the Townsend Street “peace” line. More to come. (See also: Stroud St.)