“Young people from Greater Shankill Alternatives” try to stamp out racism with a mural on the side of the Spectrum Centre on the Shankill Road. “Loyalist or racist – you can’t be both.”
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Consensus ‘Community Restorative Justice/Mediation’ programme (tw) attempts to resolve threats, disputes, and conflicts over anti-social behavior, hate crimes, interface violence, and paramilitary threats in the lower Shankill. With support from the Lower Shankill Community Association (tw) and the SAFE programme.
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Copyright © 2022 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Noel Fitzpatrick/Alec Reid mural in Springfield Drive is vandalised with “RiP Rebeca – one of our own – CRF [Catholic Reaction Force]” graffiti.
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Copyright © 2021 Sabine Troendle (web | Fb)
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Six weeks after the first four deaths, the 1981 hunger strike’s long summer of mourning resumed with the death of Joe McDonnell, who died on July 8th, 1981. The “H” (for “H Blocks”) is on the Falls Road, next to the D company IRA memorial garden.
For the plaque to the left, see The Death Of Sean McCartney. For the mural in the background to the far left, see Cry “Havoc”. For the long ‘mental health’ strips to the right, see Belfast Live.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A loan of 1,000 pounds from the Ulster Bank will be changed interest at 24.9%, while the rate for 10,000 pounds is 3.4% (Loan Calculator). Commentary on the price of money in the old Beresford Street, just off the Shankill (next to Mussen Cortège).
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Dan Kitchener (web) added a side wall to his large mural in Enfield Street in the Woodvale. According to the man himself, the scene is Tokyo rather than Soho.
For the large piece, see Night Taxi. Also by DanK on the lower Shankill: The Greater Shankill.
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“#ItsOKToTalk” “This art project was completed as part of Alternative – Safer Areas For Everyone (SAFE) project. The young people involved identified mental health as the theme for their art project and incorporated positive mental health messages & support numbers to highlight the issue. The group also identified the “Steps” area as the location for the art work, to help brighten up the area which had become unsightly, neglected and a focus for anti-social behaviour. This project also engaged with the residents through door to door surveys, provided information leaflets on support services and organised community clean ups to help improve community pride & spirit in the area. Special thanks to Jamie, Dylan, Kyle, Corey and Mason who showed positive leadership in their community, to street artist Emic & Sam from Signlink for the art work & graphics and to the local residents and young people who were involved in the clean ups. SAFE Shankill is supported by the The Executive Office through Communities In Transition programme.”
For the steps, see previously: Steps To Mental Health
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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On June 22nd, 1921, the parliament of Northern Ireland was opened by George V at Belfast’s City Hall. In his address to the assembled dignitaries, he said “I have … come in person, as the head of the Empire, to inaugurate this parliament on Irish soil. I inaugurate it with deep felt hope and I feel assured that you will do your utmost to make it an instrument of happiness and good government for all parts of the community which you represent. This is a great and critical occasion in the history of the Six Counties … I pray that My coming to Ireland to-day may prove to be the first step towards an end of strife amongst [Ireland’s] people, whatever their race or creed.” “Partition has failed” to answer his prayer. Above: the latest message on Slıabh Dubh; below: the mountain from the bonfire pallets collected on the Highfield estate.
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Copyright © 2021 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Five steps to mental health – give, connect, be active, take notice, keep learning – and affirmations to live by – “This is me”, “You’re a superstar”, “I am what I am”, and “Simply the best“. Part of the Shankill SAFE (Safer Areas For Everyone – see the tarp below) project in the Woodvale, with support from Alternatives and the Communities In Transition programme.
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Copyright © 2020 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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In April, the Workers’ Party (web | web | tw | Fb | Fb) suffered a leadership challenge and a split in which its sole elected representative – Ted Tynan on Cork county council – left the party (statement). This is only the latest in a long line of splits, going back to the formation of the modern Workers’ Party, from a split in Sinn Féin in 1970 (WP).
“National Commemoration Committee – erected in memory of all those comrades who dedicated their lives for the establishment of a democratic, secular, socialist republic. ‘I have given whatever I had to give for the party, the people of Ireland, and for a better world, but others have given more, much more. Comrades have given their lives’ – Tomás Mac Giolla TD. ‘For the unity of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter.'”
See recently: Secular, Socialist, And Anti-Sectarian
Servia St, west Belfast.
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Extramural Activity 