Belfast west

Collusion Is Not An Illusion

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The handgun is “authorised by MI5” and “approved on behalf of her majesty’s government”.

Quote from Gusty Spence: “[There was] An element of the UVF [reconstituted in 1935 and some] were covertly enlisted by the Ulster Government at a fee of ten shillings a day to promote a sectarian war …”. (Balaclava Street)

The report of the Stevens Inquiry was published in 2003 and the Cory reports in 2004; both concluded that there had likely been collusion between the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries and called for public inquiries into specific cases.

Whiterock Road, west Belfast. Here is another ‘collusion is not an illusion’ mural, in Ardoyne.

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Copyright © 2004 Cathal Woods
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Let Erin Remember The Days Of Old

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Here are some images of the exposed interior of the (old) Michael Dwyer’s GAA club on Grosvenor Road, Belfast, along with two (earlier) images of banners inside the club. The mural and first banner are of Ireland personified as a female with harp and wolfhound (and wearing green, white, and orange). The second banner is entitled “Who fears to speak of [17]98” (from the 1843 song) – Dwyer was also known as “The Wicklow Chieftain” for his exploits in the rebellion and the years following.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Dividing Wall Of Hostility

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This is the Cupar Way “peace” line in 2004. Note that the wall only has two (vertical) parts – a third tier will later be added that almost doubles the height of the barrier. It also has very little art – in 2009 both state-funded agencies and wild-style writers will take to the wall. (See the Visual History page.) The two pieces that can be seen here show a dove in barbed wire with a quote from Ephesians 2:14 (“For He Himself is our peace who has made the two one and destroyed the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His Purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of two, thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross by which He put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace … For through Him we both have access to the Father by one spirit.”) and a mural for New Life church, which is in the no-man’s land between the Northumberland street barricades.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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UFF 2nd Batt C Coy

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C Company of UFF 2nd battalion was the lower Shankill company headed by Johnny Adair until he was expelled from the UDA in September 2002 and his friends and family fled to Scotland in February 2003.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ceol Gan Teoraınn

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“Ceol gan teoraınn” – “unlimited music” or “music without boundaries”. Belfast’s Sean Maguire (also McGuire) (1927-2005) was an All-Ireland fiddle champion and world-wide ambassador for traditional music (WP). The Short Strand artist’s signature can be seen in the bottom corner.

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Copyright © 2004 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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History Is Written By The Winner

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The quote is here attributed to Miriam Daly of the IRSP (web), but it or something like it has been attributed to Napoleon, Göring, and Churchill.

The mural was originally painted 1996 by Ciaran McKernan, Brian O’Loan, and Miriam’s son Donal Daly (you can see an in-progress shot by Sean Patrick Allen on his Facebook page) and is now in poor condition owing to all the graffiti along the bottom.

Oakman Street, Beechmount, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2003 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X00001 august 1996 truth revisionism