Politics & Prayer

The New Lodge grotto in honour of Mary, adjacent to various murals in support of republican POWs, has been repainted (see previously) with images of the Immaculate Heart Of Mary, Our Lady Of Fatima, and the trio above, showing St. Joseph the carpenter, Mary, and St Patrick(?).

St Thérèse is the figure next to “New” in “New Lodge Grotto” and Our Lady Of Medjugorje is on the right.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07315 X07313 X07316 X07314

When You Enter This Loving School

“Welcome: When you Enter this Loving school Consider yourself One of the special Members of an Extraordinary family”. Two images from St Patrick’s primary on the edge of the New Lodge. The “Hail Mary’ is written in Irish

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07317 X07318

Something Old, Something New, Something Red, White And Blue

Above is one of the few remaining houses in the old style in Tiger’s Bay. This is one of three on Mervue Street, which back onto a row of six in Mervue Court; there also is a row of six on Halliday’s Road which survived the rebuilding there – for images of loyal drawings in the boarded up houses that were replaced, see The Queen In Tiger’s Bay. Below, however, is an image of the freshly-repainted kerbstones just above the house, at the junction of Mervue and Edlingham streets.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
X07304 X07070

Brexit Loyalists

“Loyal” and “Brexit” boards on lamp-poles and walls in Tiger’s Bay. If you know when they were put up (or any other information), please comment or get in touch. The final “Brexit” is on the same pole as was Hand-Crafted.

Click image to enlarge
X07301 X07303 Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07170 Copyright © 2020 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
X07302 Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle

I’ll Come Back Another Day And Do No Wrong

Being a human is hard and being a good human is harder. But art (specifically the Queens Of The Stone Age ‘God Is In The Radio’) gives us the inspiration to keep coming back for another try. Graffiti on a McHugh’s poster in the New Lodge.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07312

Disobedience Is Man’s Original Virtue

“White lives matter!!!” Graffiti in racial (rather than nationality or class) terms, in the shadow of Teach Fhinn, New Lodge.

Update: Replaced with “BLM” (tw).

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07311

The New Normal

“Community warning. This area is being monitored for antisocial behaviour. Your behaviour has consquences. Think of your community. Don’t do anything you might later regret. This sign was amended by Lasaır Dhearg [web | tw] as part of our campaign against imperialism and PSNI normalisation.” The substitute version is from the Fall Road, the original (below) is from Ballysillan Road.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07289 X07290

Orange Memorial Hall

The foundation stone for North Belfast Memorial Hall (Fb) was laid by Edward Carson in 1923 (Fb) to a plan by Gabriel Porte. Here is the facade in brilliant sunshine, with a banner in support of NHS staff during the coronavirus pandemic. “Thank you to all our NHS staff and essential workers from the local Orange family together fighting Covid-19.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07121 Alexandra Pk Ave

Gloria Ab Intus

The funeral of 14 year-old teenager and St Malachy’s College student Noah Donohoe takes place today (Wednesday July 1st). His body was found in a north Belfast storm drain on Saturday, 6 days after he left his south Belfast home and was seen cycling in the York Road area. His disappearance sparked a massive search aided by the volunteers from the public and confirmation of his death was marked by vigils at Grove Park and St Malachy’s (Belfast) and in Strabane (Irish Times). The floral tributes shown here are on the gates of St Malachy’s which his cortège will pass after the service. The College posted a glowing tribute to Noah on its instagram page.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07282 [X07281] [X07280]

Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus

“Pro tanto quid retribuamus” [What shall we give in return for so much] is the motto of Belfast, included in the coat of arms shown above and newly appropriate in the coronavirus pandemic. “Thank you to all our NHS staff and essential workers from the local Orange family. Together fighting Covid-19.” The banner is on the Clifton Street hall; King William III bestrides his horse and the horse bestrides the building.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X07244 X07245