Belfast west

Et In Arcadian Ego

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2014-01-31 DurhamStClose+

The area known as the Pound Loney is featured in a long mural in Durham Street. The Pound Loney is Divis or the lower part of Divis on either side of Cullingtree Road; a “loney” is a lane and originally a natural path, in this case next to a stream beside the sheep-pound that existed before the area was developed for housing (Old Belfast Districts).

The mural features many of the place-names, landmarks, and personalities of yesteryear, including the Arcadian cinema on Albert Street – left of centre in the full shot below; see also the two images below of the Arcadian in happier days and in 1969, at the start of the troubles (images from Cinema Treasures and the Belfast Forum). Also featured are the Divis tower block, the Blessed Virgin mural, Barney’s mill, McGahan’s pub, Saint Peter’s. The streets include Barrack St, Galway St, Cullingtree Rd, Scotch St, Christian Place, Derby St, Castle St, Pound St, Nail St, Currie St, Albert St, Brook St, Jude St, Hamill St, Divis St, Milford St and Massereene (Row or Path or Walk) in Divis flats. If you can identify any of the characters in the mural, please leave a comment.

Previously: Lampost swinging | Mickey Marley’s Roundabout | Saint Peter’s

2014-01-31 DurhamSt+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Threatened World

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2014-01-27 RosaMystica+

At the very top of the Whiterock Road, which is to say, half-way up Sliabh Dubh/Black Mountain, there are two shrines (wide shot below). The shrine to the Virgin Mary includes the apocalyptic prayer shown above: Mary, mystical rose, mother of the church, help the holy father of all bishops, all priests and all religious. Intercede for the sorely-pressed church of our times. Pray for the threatened world into which satan’s hot breath is blowing. Draw us all to your immaculate motherly heart. You are the mother of pity. Amen.

Previously: The BVM Supports POWs

2014-01-27 RosaMysticaWide+

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Up Your Haass

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2014-02-16 Haass+

Political commentary on the Cupar Way “peace” line (near Lanark Way): “Stick Haass up your ass” — a reference to the negotiations which were taking place around Christmas and New Year’s, led by Richard Haass, into the “legacy issues” of flags and emblems (including murals) and parades. No agreement was reached. (BBC | pdf | BBC)

December update: the Stormont House Agreement covered many of the same areas (WP).

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Mysterious Ways

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2014-02-17 StPetersApex+

Like some of the residents of the Divis area in which this cathedral that bears his name now stands, (Saint) Peter found himself in prison. But the night before his trial, there comes an angel who magically releases his shackles and opens all the doors (Acts 12:3-19). James, on the other hand, is not so fortunate. As a scholar on the WP page notes, why James should die while Peter escapes is a “mystery of divine providence”. Wide shot and info board below.

Another previously-featured scriptural conundrum: Occupy Til I Come (Luke 19:13)

2014-02-17 StPeters+

2014-02-17 StPetersInfo+

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X01693 X01692 X01694 down & connor catholic gothic french medieval two great towers spires jeremiah ryan mcauley barney hughes scrabo sandstone 1866 sunday 14 october organ in 1883 1885 spires added mortimer thompson total cost 35,900

Waterworld

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2014-02-13 MaighArdCanoe+

Maıgh Ard/Moyard and New Barnsley are at no risk of flooding, but this mural clearly shows the locals long to be paddling down the slopes of Black Mountain/Slıabh Dubh in canoes and kayaks .

2014-02-13 MaighArdWater+

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Free Are We

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2014-01-22 IfNothingIs+

Graffiti in Lenadoon. In existentialist mode: “If nothing is, free are we.” Or perhaps “If nothing is free, are we[?]”

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Throw-In

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2014-02-05 RossRdHurlingDetail+

A seven-year old Setanta become Cú Chulaınn (Culann’s Hound) after killing the beast by driving a sliotar (the ball used in hurling) down its throat. Detail from a mural in Roumania Rise, off Ross Road. Wide shot of the whole below. The lettering reads “Mol na nóıge agus tıocfaıdh sí [sic]” [as written: praise the young and it [sic] will flourish; usually the phrase is “Mol an óıge …” “praise youth …”]

2014-02-05 RossRdHurling+

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Champions

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2011-00-00 RossRdBoxing+

Here is a 2011 image of a 2005? boxing mural off Ross Road. The lower parts look like they have gone 10 rounds with graffiti artists. In the foreground is a mural featuring local boxers from the Immaculata Amateur Boxing Club (on the nearby Albert Road); in the distant mural, Muhammad Ali.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00381 danny sweetpea martin paul beaver ryan frank coco paddy rogie

Thumbs Up

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2014-01-22 HighfieldLest+

Here are two of the three painted side of a large electrical box in the Highfield estate, adjacent to a new memorial garden. Above is a board commemorating British army service personnel from WWI to the recent/current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. On the other side of the box, and pictured below, the ‘thumbs up’ soldier is painted. For background on the ‘thumbs up’ image below, see the previous post Help For Heroes.

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2014-01-22 ThumbsUp+

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01637 [X01588] X01591 X01640 [X01592] [X01593] in support of help for heroes aa veterans army benevolent fund the best royal british legion thiepval tower cenotaph

Mac Brádaıgh

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2014-01-15 MacBradaigh+

The board above commemorates Caoımhín Mac Brádaıgh (Kevin Brady) who was one of three people killed in Milltown cemetery by Michael Stone in his attack at the burial of the ‘Gibraltar 3’. This board is in the South Link (originally it was on the Andersonstown Road), a short distance from where Corporals Wood and Howes were killed during Mac Brádaıgh’s own funeral, three days later (1998-03-19).

For information about the photograph on which the image is based, see 25 Years – In Progress.

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X01631 milltown march 88 óglach a fuaır bás agus é ag cosaınt a phobaıl