Belfast east

We Will Rise Again

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“Empires fall and tyrannies perish.” In the March 25th, 1916 edition of the Workers’ Republic, a month before the rising, James Connolly took heart from “the magnificent parades of Volunteers under arms, the overflowing meetings, the joyous abandon of the Irish gatherings of all descriptions, and above all the exultant rebel note everywhere manifest” to predict that “we will rise again”. Lasaır Dhearg (web) stencil on Northumberland Street below the D Coy hoarding.

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Vaulty Towers

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Artists from the arts collective Vault (web | tw) painted new pieces on the Tower Street side of the building in advance of the Summer Market on August 16th. Above is a Conor McClure painting of an artist puking up his creative guts. The piece in the middle is probably Leo Boyd. At the bottom is work by Dragoș Mușat.

Rob Hilken, Sally O’Dowd, Leo Boyd, Laura Nelson, Hannah Smith, Jonny McEwen, ?

FGB, Dragoș Mușat, Conor McClure, Leo Boyd, FGB, Sally O’Dowd, Kerrie Hannah, Leo Boyd

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It Hasn’t Gone Away, You Know

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“Wear a mask – it hasn’t gone away, you know.” The last two weeks have seen two coronavirus deaths but 800 new cases (Health NI | BBC). Sınn Féın’s Gerry Adams remarked, on Sunday 13 August, 1995, that the IRA “haven’t gone away” (YouTube).

Previously on this wall (on Newtownards Road): Inspiring Belfast | Reading Between The Lines
Previously from Hallion: Wash Your Hands
Previously: Sectarianism – It Hasn’t Gone Away

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Lagan Village

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In the 1860s, Ballymacarrett, Mount Pottinger, and Lagan Village, all on the east side of the Lagan, were not a part of Belfast (Lennon-Wylie). Lagan Village stretched from where Hutchinsons car dealership now is down to the modern Park Parade, just above Ormeau Park. In the 1880s Belfast expanded and Lagan Village Road became Ravenhill Road (NVTv). Ormeau Park opened in 1871 (WartimeNI). It did not then include the BMX track celebrated in this mural.

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There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

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“Glentoran FC. Pride of Ulster.” Two examples from the Glentoran sticker campaign in the early months of the year, before coronavirus put and end to the season and the players on furlough. See previously Le Coq Sportif.

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Reading Between The Lines

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Dominic Cummings, advisor to the ruling Conservative party in the UK government, was a source of controversy and widespread derision in May when he claimed that he had driven (during the coronavirus lockdown) from London to Durham in order to deliver his son to his grandparents and then to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight (WP). Protestations of disbelief and calls for his resignation were widespread, including the amendment to the east Belfast graffiti shown above: “We’re in this together – except for Cummings”. For the original, see Inspiring Belfast.

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Loyalist In Lockdown

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Due to the coronavirus pandemic, people celebrating the Twelfth yesterday were encouraged to maintain physical distance from others by staying in their gardens as the bands marched by. Homeowners decorated their properties (perhaps using these Twelfth At Home packs in Lurgan). Here is video from the Belfast Telegraph of yesterday’s marches.

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Stay Apart

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Here is the bonfire in Pitt Park (east Belfast) that was set alight yesterday evening for “Eleventh Night” (for some images see this Kevin Scott gallery). This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is a banner advising people to “Stay 1m apart! Thank you”, in addition to nationalist symbols such as the Irish Tricolour.

For the mural in the background, see Culture Threatens No One.

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Battle Of The Bug

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Flags are flying in east Belfast in preparation for this year’s marching season (and the 75th anniversary of VE Day. All seems normal but the coronavirus epidemic has meant the cancellation of many parades for this year’s Twelfth (which will be celebrated on Monday, the 13th) and a social media campaign to get people to stay at their homes and “let the band come to you” (Newsletter | Irish Times | BBC).

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Thank You, NHS

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Union flags with “Thank You NHS” in east Belfast, one (above) in front of “Freedom Corner” on Newtownards Road (for the recent history of the mural on the right, see East Belfast Brigade) and another (below) in Ballarat Street.

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