Belfast west

FASTing For Human Rights And Justice

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There was more news (Belfast Telegraph) last week (September 6, 2012) related to the on-going series of trials involving supergrass witnesses. A FAST banner is here seen in Spier’s Place. Last year there were banners in Donegall Pass, Mount Vernon, and Newtownards Road. For background and the collapse of the original trials, see Families Against Supergrass Trials.

Previously: 1914-2004 (the left-hand mural)

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00618 see also X00459 spiers place welcome to the shankill road, families against supergrass trials, demand human rights and justice, lest we forget, Preparing to bear arms 1914, Prepared to bear arms 2004, a uvf roadblock at donaghadee april 24/25th 1914 during gunrunning, this plaque is dedicated to the memory of Lt. col. trevor king, died 9th july 1994, major wm. (Frenchie) marchant died 28th april 1987 davy hamilton died 17th june 1984. these brave men were killed near this spot by the enemies of ulster. no sacrifice is too great for one’s country. the paid the ultimate sacrifice. they shall not grow old as we that are left gro old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them; uvf for god and ulster

The Girl With The Flaxen Hair

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Here’s a mural by Friz (who was featured painting in east Belfast), on the Cupar Way peace line. This mural went up earlier this (2012) summer, but it is already covered in signatures and messages from tourists, who are encouraged to write on (some of?) the pieces on Cupar Way. There’s a “clean” version on Friz’s own blog.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Going For A Smoke

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“Smoke like fuck.” Graffiti on the corner of Eccles & Acton Streets, Woodvale, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Alan Ryan

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Graffiti on Northumberland St. in relation to the assassination of Alan Ryan (background: Irish Times, Belfast Telegraph)

Update: Graffiti in Derry (Derry Journal) | in Dublin (Sunday World)

Update #2: Irish Times article on possible reprisal killing.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00602 RIP Alan Ryan, Pushers Out, support the pows, cogus, rnu, http://www.republicannetwork,ie

Free The Shankill Six

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Graffiti in lower Shankill: “Free the Lower Shankill Six!! Send our prisoners home.”

According to this blog post, this is not political, but refers instead to six fellas done for stealing pallets. (Which perhaps means we can safely enjoy the old joke about the journalist asking the politician, “And what do you think about the Renault 5?”. To which the politician replied, “I think they should be released immediately.”)

To the right is a C-18 swastika.

Previously the “Play” mural and before that the “Can it change? We believe!” mural.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00599 enda C-18 ?? swastika

Hands Across The Yard

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This mural expresses solidarity between Irish republican and Palestinian prisoners of war. It was painted by a local artist in collaboration with Carlos Latuff, a Brazilian political cartoonist. There’s a picture of Latuff and the local artist in front of the mural, as well as his cartoon version, here. (Update – he also drew a cartoon on the wall of a café in Belfast.) He also visited Derry.

Northumberland Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00586 solidarity pows

Falls Curfew 1970

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This is a 2010 mural of Máıre Drumm and the women of West Belfast breaking the British Army curfew of the lower Falls in 1970 (youtube). Drumm was later shot dead in her bed in the Mater hospital where she was a patient (WP).

The mural was unveiled July 4th on the 40th anniversary of the curfew’s end – see p. 28 of An Phoblacht. This version incorporates two of the ‘Free Marian Price’ (painted) “posters” that have been added to most of the murals – see the Visual History page on the International wall. The original can be seen in M05636. A shot of this mural being painted can be found here.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00597 oppression breeds resistance, resistance brings freedom, falls curfew july 1970, dedicated to all those women who faced up to military aggression, free marian price, i ndil chuimhne william burns 3-7-70 charles o’neill 3-7-70, zbigniew uglik 4-7-70, patrick elliman 11-7-70, murdered by the british army during the falls curfew of july 3-5 1970. the curfew was finally broken by the courage and determination of the women of belfast

Green, White, And Bronze

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This is the new Michael Conlan mural, on Violet Street, painted by Marty Lyons. It is notable for how quickly it went up (Conlon (and Barnes) won medals on August 11th), for the sponsorship (by the Beehive and McPeakes), and for the artists’ signatures (below the McPeakes label – click on the image to enlarge).

Boxing is organized on an all-island basis (WP), though at the Olympics boxers can choose to fight for either Ireland or GBNI.

At London 2012, Ireland won four medals in boxing. Conlan, Barnes, Katie Taylor (gold) and John Joe Nevin (silver).

(P.S. The Nevins are travellers (WP) and Mr and Mrs Nevin could not find an establishment in Mullingar where they could watch the fight – they had to go out of town to a pub where they weren’t known. )

Here’s a picture of the mural in progress. (Replaces the Celtic mural.)

Other Olympians: In London, a mural of Usain Bolt. In the U.S., a mural was painted of gymnastic champion Gabby Douglas. Irish/Northern Irish Olympians in Belfast. Anti-corporate Olympics mural.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00584 michael conlon, the beehive, mcpeakes, XXX olympiad london 2012, violet street

Live Life To The Full

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“Suicide Awareness. It’s always too early to quit, live life to the full. A helping hand is near. Love your life, love your community” with the numbers for Lifeline and Suicide Awareness. By Divis Youth Project.

Albert Street, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Extramural Activity
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Local History From Local People

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“Get the real story – local history from local people – take a black taxi tour – West Belfast Taxi Association – 40 years unbroken service”. The tours of “local” history are of course aimed at non-locals as part of the ‘dark tourism’ or ‘Troubles tourism’ boom.

Here is the Getty Images photo of British Army soldiers on the Falls Road in 1969, on which the mural is based.

International Wall, west Belfast.

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Copyright © 2012 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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