Belfast north

Death Of Billy Hunter

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Billy Hunter (background BBC | Belfast Telegraph) has died. On Saturday (25th August) a floral tribute to him was mounted on the railings of the ASDA store where he worked.

According to ‘The Irish News’ (Monday 27th August 2012) ‘Hunter died after he doused himself  in petrol and set it alight at the side of the Ballywalter Road, Millisle, on Friday morning.’

The Irish News quotes Gerard McErlane as saying, ‘The fella did it and God have mercy on him. What he did he did to himself. John and Thomas had no choice when he murdered them. He had a choice and maybe it was his conscience. I don’t know.

I said a prayer and lit a candle for him doing that as I would for any human being doing that to themselves.’

However, Mr McErlane said tributes to Hunter should be removed. ‘It bothers me that they are supporting him. Even in his death they are supporting him. They are glorifying him. I want it removed.’

Quoting an ASDA spokeswoman, the Irish News reported that the store would support colleagues who want to attend the funeral. She said the store would let the ‘community decide on floral tributes.’

Detail and wide shot below …

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00591 X00592 X00593 no goodbye no farewell billy so! until the next time good night mate!! john s.r.t, york star linfield s.c.

Exhibition Open

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The big red sign usually says “Road Closed” but has been changed for the exhibition. On this day, however, the exhibition (which is a large satellite-image map of the area, on the ground) was not, in fact, open. The Flax St/Crumlin Road interface, Ardoyne, the day after the 2012 riot.

Below, taken later, detail of the exhibition … a very small portion

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Inniskilling

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The 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment Of Foot was raised in 1689 at Enniskillen to fight against James II in Ireland (WP). It was folded into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1881, which in turn was made part of the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968, which in turn was merged with the UDR in 1992 to form the Royal Irish Regiment, whose flag is in the top right – though the colours are incorrect; there are no white bars and two red bars (WP). This RIR served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The flowers around the outside are perhaps orange lilies rather than English roses.

“T-Bay youth – support our troops”

Mackey Street, Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast.

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Lower Oldpark Community Action Group

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These are the murals on either side of the Lower Oldpark Community Action Group in Alloa Street. The office might already have been vacated, as the building will be demolished this summer (the office moved to Avoca St).

Above, children play marbles in the street; below, the Oldpark Carnegie Library (Fb) stand beneath Cave Hill and a signpost points the way to old streets in the area that were named after rivers of Ireland: Lee St, Shannon St, Foyle St, Bann St, Suir St, Liffey St.

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Honour Our Patriot Dead

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“Honour our patriot dead – wear an Easter lily.” Éırígí (web) board on New Lodge Road, with Marian Price graffiti.

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Until All Are Free We Are All Imprisoned

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Here are three republican boards, framed – Belfast Brigade ONH, Cogús (POWs), 1981 hunger strikers – encouraging New Lodge residents to “Join the Republican Network For Uni[ty]” (web), above a Bobby Sands quote: “We all know the reason that we are being tortured – because we are political dissidents, POWs, and we won’t bend the knee or conform” (from Thoughts From The Shadows).

Duncairn Parade, New Lodge, north Belfast.

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Out Of The Ashes Of 1969

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The Provisional IRA arose “Out of the ashes of 1969”, but the lineage is a long one and all but one of the organisations, events, and arms depicted here precede 1969: Cumann Na mBan, Na Fıanna Éıreann, Óglaıgh Na hÉıreann, a Celtic shield and sword, a pike (from the 1798 Rebellion), a Thompson gun, the Tricolour; only the assault rifle is modern and perhaps also is meant to indicate the “Belfast Brigade” Provisionals. “Fuaır sıad bás as son saoırse na hÉıreann.”

An in-progress shot from March 5th is below. Replaces Laochra Na nGael.

21 portraits of locals were later added – see M08552.

For a PUL use of the phrase, see Out Of The Ashes.

New Lodge Road, north Belfast

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R

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Two pieces of graffiti art on the Cliftonville “peace” line: “Breakin’ BarrieRs”, as though the “peace” line should come down, but also “Respect R Streets”, if you do break through. With a signature panel on the wall of bubbles (not shown).

Rosevale Street, Belfast

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Soccer Stars

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Soccer stars Rooney, Dida, Ronaldo, George Best, Larson [sic], Fernando Torres, Nakamura look down from the heavens on a local football match where the ‘keeper has taken one to the face.

Harcourt Street, north Belfast.

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O’Neill-Allsopp Memorial Flute Band

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Jim O’Neill was killed in February 1976 during an IRA arson attack on a furniture warehouse on the Antrim Road near the New Lodge – Gerry Fitt’s house next door might have been the ultimate target (Belfast Child); Robert Allsopp appears to have accidentally shot himself in March 1975 (Irish Peace Process). Both were members of Na Fıanna. The flute band (Fb) is named in their memory.

Below the portraits of Jim O’Neill and Robert Allsopp is written “Glaıne ınár gcroí, neart ınár ngéaga, beart de reír [réır] ar [ár] mbrıathar.” [Purity in our hearts, strength in our limbs, action consistent with our words]

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