Belfast west

All Flags Are Welcome

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“Over 40 years ago the presence of this flag [the Irish Tricolour] on this street unleashed a vicious campaign of discrimination and violence against this community lasting decades … 45 years on … this flag can flow [sic] freely from every corner … All flags are welcome on this road and so are you … failte [fáılte] go dtí … West Belfast.”

The event referenced in the flying of the Irish Tricolour in 1964 from Billy McMillen’s electoral office, which Ian Paisley (and the RUC) found objectionable. Danny Morrison in An Phoblacht (web) has an account of the election and events. Here is news video from 1964 (DFA) of charges subsequently brought against 70 people.

The mural from Coıste Political Tours (web) is on Divis Street, just beyond down-town Belfast and directed at foreign visitors; the Union Flag, however, is not included among the display of international flags. On the right is a placard for the Eileen Hickey Republican History Museum (web).

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Frederick Douglass

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Here are some in-progress shots of the new Frederick Douglass mural being painted on Northumberland Street, being painted by a Short Strand artist, Marty Lyons, and Mark Ervine. (An image of the three artists during work on the  mural can be seen at An Phoblacht.)

Nelson Mandela is in the second image. The person in the third image is Harriet Tubman rather than Rosa Parks, though Tubman did not wear spectacles; Parks will also be included.

For the completed work, see Liberating Minds.

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Fıanna 100

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Na Fıanna Éıreann was founded by Constance Markievicz – shown on the left of the mural – and Bulmer Hobson in 1909 as a scouting organisation for boys. When they reached 17, they were recruited into the IRB.

Falls-Beechmount Corner

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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1981-2011

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Mural in Beechmount Avenue/Ascaıll Ard na bhFeá commemorating the 30th anniversary of the hunger strike. The watchtowers of Long Kesh provide a lower border, joined by symbols of republican prisoners the lark and the green ribbon, as well as the Easter lily and Sınn Féın logo. “Honour Ireland’s dead – wear an Easter lily”. “I gcuımhne ar an staılc ocráıs. [In memory of the hunger strike.]” Replaces the previous Honour Ireland’s Dead which did not feature the hunger strike.

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They Cannot Break Our Spirit

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“They cannot or never will break our spirit … Tıocfaıdh ár lá” – Bobby Sands. For the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike in which ten republican prisoners died in the H Blocks.

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Copyright © 2011 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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IRA Final Salute

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“30th anniversary of the hunger strike. 5th May 1981. IRA final salute. IRA Vol. Bobby Sands, MP Fermanagh South Tyrone.” Gerry Adams watches on as a funeral volley is fired over Sands’s coffin.

(Here is a close variant of the photograph reproduced in the mural.)

Whiterock Road, west Belfast

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Vote Éırígí

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In 2011, Éırígí contested the local election in Belfast, fielding candidates in two areas. Pádraıc Mac Coıtır received 1,415 first preference votes (more than 10%) in Upper Falls and John McCusker 647 in Lower Falls. Neither was successful (WP).

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I’m Not A Criminal

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When the mural to “the first blanketman” Kieran Nugent mural (in the Rock streets) was re-done in February 2011, it was initially framed with a terrific selection of posters from the period, many of them from continental Europe, about Kieran, the blanket protest, and hunger striker.

“I’m not a criminal. The Brits will have to nail prison clothes to my back.” For the previous mural, and some background about Nugent going “on the blanket”, see M02550.

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Under Ben Madigan

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Titanic sails (impossibly) between the Giant’s Causeway (on the left) and one of the Harland & Wolff cranes – all under Napoleon’s Nose and Cave Hill.

This mural replaced a UDA mural in Downing Street, Belfast.

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