Bell Close, at the top of the old Shankill allotments, has been given an alternative name – “SPB Way” – by the Shankill Protestant Boys flute band (Fb) who use the social club previously belonging to the Shankill Homing Pigeon club. The mosaic on the far wall was previously in Carnan St, which was also given an alternative name by the SPB: C Coy St (see M04515).
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The Identity And Language bill is making its way through the House Of Lords. Here is the web page for the stages of the processes. The “report” stage – when it is open to the whole body for amendment – begins on July 6th; the bill drew criticism from DUP peers during the second reading (BelTel). The graffiti and stencil shown above in support of an Act is on the Falls Road.
The second image is from Divis Street. For Carl Hardebeck, see Music – Light In Darkness.
The third image is from the RVH wall, next to Victory To The NHS.
Previously from this year: A Tale Of Two Protests | Multicultural East Belfast; from earlier: Acht Anois | #AchtAnois.
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“No extradition! Don’t play England’s game” – after years of legal wrangling, Liam Campbell was extradited to Lithuania on charges of procuring weapons for the Real IRA (BBC | Saoradh). See previously: Silence Is Complicity. Cıarán Maguire was handed over to the PSNI by Gardaí in April 2021 (Donegal Daily).
The boards shown above and at bottom are in Braemar Street (Falls) and Brompton Park (Ardoyne). The small diamond version (also in Ardoyne) is mounted above one of the “Slow – Go mall” signs from Sınn Féın that were described as “intimidatory” by local DUP Assembly member and are perhaps also illegal under the Roads Order (NI) 1993 (Belfast Live).
For the Ard Eoın Kickhams mural, see The Heart Of Our Community.
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The only references to TYG appear to be flags and graffiti in this street (Upper Riga Street) going back to 2012, though the stencils shown here claim the group was established in 2007. Please get in touch if you have more information.
There is a mural version of the speeding sign on the Shankill – see Kill Your Speed.
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“Do not vax” and “Don’t join the PSNI”. “Do not vax” is a coronavirus conspiracy theory, related to What We Want You To Think, We Want A Free Future and also 5G Kills You and A Tale Of Two Protests.
The Lasaır Dhearg board takes the “poster officer” from the 2021 recruitment campaign and puts them against a backdrop of riot officers firing plastic bullets. “17 people have been killed by plastic bullets, including 8 children.” “It is believed that the PSNI retain a stockpile of over 50,000 deadly plastic bullets.” The British state does not use plastic bullets anywhere but occupied Ireland.” “The PSNI is not a normal police force.” Here is the 2021 Amnesty report on the use of water cannon and “Attenuating Energy Projectiles” in the north. In November, relatives of Carol Ann Kelly went to Stormont to call for an end to the use of plastic bullets (BelTel).
The Sınn Féın board appears to involve stock photography, as we have noted before in Will This Work For You?
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A paint-pot for a helmet, the lid for a shield, a paintbrush for a lance, a caparison sporting graffiti as a coat of arms – the knight of art springs into the playground of the imagination.
By Dublin artist ADW (ig | web) for HTN22 in Kent Street, Belfast.
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The celebrations for Queen Elizabeth’s platinum (70th) jubilee officially began yesterday with the “trooping of the colour” (Guardian) (a birthday parade – which has been notable here for a BBC commentator’s description of the Irish Guards as “micks” (BelTel)) and the lighting of 1,500 beacons (Sky). Today’s church service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the Queen’s honor will take place without her after she (again) experienced “mobility issues” on Thursday (Guardian). Today’s images are of jubilee merchandise for sale in Shankill shops.
See previously: On The Occasion Of Her Platinum Jubilee.
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Here is a selection of recent graffiti art on the Cupar Way “peace” line – images by (in order) Lobster Robin (web), HAZ (ig), Wee Nuls (ig), Niall.Ol (ig), Carl Kenz (ig), Emic (ig), Web and Kayos, and Bustart (ig).
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An Orange parade to celebrate the centennial of Northern Ireland – postponed last year on account of the pandemic – will take place today, with roughly 130 bands marching from Stormont to Belfast city centre (Belfast Live). There is not much indication of the parade in posters or murals, perhaps because the anniversary itself has passed. If we read the community’s concerns from the displays in the window of this Shankill Road shop (just above the old Beresford St and the Mussen Cortège mural), they include the NI centenary and the murder of Lee Rigby (WP) (image above), PTSD (second image), the upcoming platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth (third) – we will have more jubilee photos over the coming week, and the centenary of the Ulster Tower WWI memorial (see e.g. Our Heritage In Your Hands).
You can get all your centenary gear and Shankill Protestant Boys merch on-line at Northern Culture.
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“IRA 2, Liverpool 0, and one hit the bar.” This is 35-year-old graffiti that seems to be more durable than the paint that was used to white it out.
In 1987 IRA gunmen burst into the Liverpool Bar & Lounge on Donegall Quay – named for the nearby ferry terminal to Liverpool (Belfast Forum) – and killed two off-duty RUC detectives – Michael Malone and Ernest (Stanley) Carson – and injured two others (AP). The case came back into the public eye In 2016 when a man was arrested in connection with the shooting (RTÉ | News Letter); he was later released (BBC).
Islandbawn Drive, west Belfast
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Extramural Activity 