Belfast

Na Fıanna Ard Eoın

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The Fıanna plaque at the top of Berwick Road gets a sunburst background and cut-out portraits of the four Fıanna named on the plaque which dates back to 2009, commemorating “one hundred years of resistance” (1909-2009): Davy McAuley, Josh Campbell, Josie McComiskey, and Bernard Fox, all of whom died in 1972. The vintage Fıan on the left is perhaps Christy Lucey. The medal pictured is the Golden Jubilee medal.

“You may kill the revolutionary, but never the revolution.” “Dedicated by the Republican Network For Unity.” “Strength in our hearts, strength of our limbs, consistency of our tongues.”

For close-up of the plaque, see M06728.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Our Brave Defenders

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In memory of the dead from the 36th (Ulster) Division in St Leonard’s Crescent (the old Newcastle Street) in east Belfast. The four main panels show the men of the 36th going over the top on the first day of the Somme (1st July 1916), the “angel of Mons” (WP), Ulster Tower (This tower was dedicated to the glory of God. In grateful memory of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the 36th (Ulster) Division, and of the sons of Ulster in other forces who laid down their lives in the great war, and of all their comrades in arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds. “Throughout the long years of struggle …. the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die” – 16th November 1918 King George V), and Thiepval Memorial (Dear men and brothers, going out/to fight for Ulster’s need/we hail you with a mighty shout/brave friends, and true in deed.//Your country holds you in renown/your names will never be dead/and some sweet angel has a crown/for each dear, manly head.)

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Up The Shankill And Down The Falls

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This poster is widespread throughout working class Belfast at present. This one is from the Ballysillan Road (though the electrical box has been tagged by someone from the Westland). The posters started going up previous to the announcement of 760 (Guardian) or 920 (BBC) job losses at FG Wilson’s this week. The route involves both loyalist and nationalist areas and the poster refers to the Outdoor Relief Strike (account from nationalist source | brief loyalist account) of 1932. The poster has phone, e-mail, QR, Facebook and Twitter links. The marcher carries … a Blackberry.

Update: Here’s a link for Charlie Cairns’ comment about the threat of prosecution against the posters.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00632 march for a future! emergency action to create jobs, free access to education, no cuts to ema and benefits, 1:30 saturday 6th october @ custom house square, belfast, 80 years after the outdoor relief strike when protestant and catholic workers stood together march up the shankill and down the falls, youth fight for jobs, sponsored by the trade unions unite cwu fbu pcs rmt ucu tssa bectu, all youth community and trade union branches welcome, youth fight for jobs ni

Mountainhill Youth Club

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The new mural at Mountainhill Youth Club follows the same format as its predecessor, with the left side being social messages directed at kids and the right being “the village [i.e. Ligoniel] in older times”.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Wolfhill

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Wolfhill is so named because the last wolf in Ireland was supposedly shot there in 1692 (Belfast Hills); this distinction is also claimed by Camlough. The Wolfhill Centre, which is across the Ligoniel Road from this mural, is home to the Ligoniel Improvement Association. On the right of the mural is St Vincent de Paul’s church, which is a little further down the road.

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Copyright © 2010 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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For God And Ulster, For King And Country

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A board to slain UVF members John Hanna (died 1991-09-10), Stevie McCrea (1989-02-18) and Sammy Mehaffy (1991-11-13), with poppies and image from WWI, and a shrine below also commemorating the service of the 36th Ulster Division in WWI. Frenchpark Street, Village area, south Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00608 sammy mehaffy 1972-1991, john hanna 1971-1991, stevie mccrea 1952-1989, remembering our brother’s lost lives and the human cost of conflict, the legacy of lost hopes and dreams. we come not to mourn but to praise their memory. we keep the memory of the brave, the faithful and the few, some lie far off beyond the waves, some sleep in ulster too. all are gone but still live on the names of those who died and true men like you, remember them with pride, 36th ulster division, for they shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them,

Looking Back

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Back in January, Bill Rolston said that there weren’t many murals featuring British royalty. The number has surely seen a large increase in the year of the diamond jubilee and the covenant centenary. This ‘blue queen’ is from the Village area.

Detail below …

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00613 X00612 ER II, this we will maintain

Young Newtown

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Young Newtown (more typically “Young Newton” – see e.g. 1989 and 2005) is the Newtownards Road division of the Ulster Young Militants (UYM) and formerly a Tartan Gang (History Ireland). 

UDA shield in McMaster Street, east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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FASTing For Human Rights And Justice

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There was more news (Belfast Telegraph) last week (September 6, 2012) related to the on-going series of trials involving supergrass witnesses. A FAST banner is here seen in Spier’s Place. Last year there were banners in Donegall Pass, Mount Vernon, and Newtownards Road. For background and the collapse of the original trials, see Families Against Supergrass Trials.

Previously: 1914-2004 (the left-hand mural)

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00618 see also X00459 spiers place welcome to the shankill road, families against supergrass trials, demand human rights and justice, lest we forget, Preparing to bear arms 1914, Prepared to bear arms 2004, a uvf roadblock at donaghadee april 24/25th 1914 during gunrunning, this plaque is dedicated to the memory of Lt. col. trevor king, died 9th july 1994, major wm. (Frenchie) marchant died 28th april 1987 davy hamilton died 17th june 1984. these brave men were killed near this spot by the enemies of ulster. no sacrifice is too great for one’s country. the paid the ultimate sacrifice. they shall not grow old as we that are left gro old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them; uvf for god and ulster

The Girl With The Flaxen Hair

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Here’s a mural by Friz (who was featured painting in east Belfast), on the Cupar Way peace line. This mural went up earlier this (2012) summer, but it is already covered in signatures and messages from tourists, who are encouraged to write on (some of?) the pieces on Cupar Way. There’s a “clean” version on Friz’s own blog.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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