…. And Short Strand Too!

“Dublin, Belfast, Cork And Donegal” was a Sınn Féın media slogan in 2011, borrowing a line from (the song) On The One Road (here’s a Wolfe Tones rendition) and touting the fact that its candidates stand for election in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, east Belfast.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Vote Ó Donnghaıle No 1

Sınn Féın candidate and Short Strand local Nıall Ó Donnghaıle was elected to Belfast City Council in the 2011 elections and served as Belfast’s youngest Lord Mayor (aged 25) from 2011 to 2012.

Mountpottinger Road, Short Strand, east Belfast.

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Welcome To Loyalist Linfield Road

“2009: Welcome To Loyalist Linfield Road. Celebrating Our Culture 1690.” The central panel is a combination Union Flag, Ulster Banner, and free-floating Northern Ireland.

The banner hung on the railings in Linfield Road from 2009 until it was stolen and placed on a 2013 Republican bonfire (see Bonfire Flags) which then elicited a comment on the wall just east of this location (see They May Have Stole Our Banner).

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Generations Of Health Care

The Maureen Sheehan Centre is named after a nurse and member of the board of governors at St Teresa’s Nursery School who was killed in a traffic accident.

Roumania Rise, Divis, west Belfast.

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Balor

Balor and eight other panels in an alley linking the Falls with Ross Road, shortly before redevelopment of Ross Cottages. For individual images of many of the pieces, see Fáılte Go Dtí Bóthar Na bhFál.

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Skipping Rope

This is one of the panels on the wall behind Short Strand community centre, next to Geordie Bell.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ship Of Dreams

The White Star Line ship Titanic sank in the Atlantic in the early morning of April 15th, 1912, a thousand miles from New York (the co-ordinates are given in the top right), having been launched from Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, which is near this mural just off the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. The portraits are of Captain Edward Smith, architect Thomas Andrews, Jack Phillips (wireless officer), and paperboy Ned Parfett.

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The Right To Defend Yourself

“We seek nothing but the elementary right implanted in every man: the right if you are attacked, to defend yourself.” Hooded gunmen return to east Belfast at the junction of Newtownards Road and Dee Street (Bright Street), replacing a mural for the Glentoran Community Trust. It’s not clear who the UVF felt attacked by in 2011; it is possible that this mural is also about local muscle-flexing in addition to sectarian politics or attention from the police.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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East Belfast UVF On Parade

The mural appears to show a “show of strength” (firing into the air) rather than a parade, by hooded gunmen of the east Belfast UVF. The crowd is gathered on Newtownards Road at Dee Street, date unknown (but prior to 2008).

Newtownards Road, east Belfast.

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The Battle Of St Matthew’s

Henry McIlhone died in the Battle Of St Matthew’s, 27th June 1970 (along with McCurrie and Neill). There is also a memorial cross. James George and Bobby Jennings are recognized for their long-time contributions to the Short Strand community. The plaque was unveiled as part of the commemorative events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle.

“Cuıreadh an leac seo ın aırde ı ndıl chuımhne ar na daoıne ó pharóıste Naomh Maıtıú, a thug a gcuıd ama, a saoırse agus a mbeo leıs an cheantar seo agus a phobal a chosaınt, go mórmhór le lınn luatha tréımhse na coımhlınte seo. Ar an dóıgh chéanna lean sıad traıdısıún a thoısıgh sna 1920aí ı ndıaıdh críochdheıghılt ı gceantar macasamhaıl Baıle Mhıc Aırt an fód ın aghaıdh leatroım, an ıdırdhealaıthe agus ın éadan bagaırt an bháıs orthu. Tháınıg sıad le chéıle le sábháılteacht a muıntıre féın a chınntıú. Tá roınnt de na laochra sıúd ar shlí na fırınne anoıs, ach maıreann a gcrógacht agus a gcríonnacht go fóıll agus beıdh cuımhne agaınn ar an héachtraí a rınne sıad go deo na ndeor.”

Mountforde Road, east Belfast

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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