The Siege Was Over But The War Was Still To Be Won

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The third of three new panels celebrating the Apprentice Boys contains a long description of the Shutting Of The Gates in December 1688 and the Siege Of Derry, which was ended with the breaking of the boom of the river Foyle in July 1689.

The other two panels were featured in For God, Ulster & Scotland | The Brave 13. A wide shot of all three is included below.

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X03217 X03218 X03220 woodvale rd walker mitcheburne mitchelburne williamite no surrender browning baker murray
on the death of charles II in 1685 james II succeeded to the british throne devout roman catholic promoted subjects positions of authority expense of protestant counterparts richard talbot earl of tyrconnell appointed lord deputy in 1687 carry out ireland lying dick replacing mainly civil and military establishment by 1688 the army consisted soldiers remained garrison controlled by mountjoy william stewart population some 2,000 people staunchly march to dublin earl of antrim redshanks 23rd november undefended sweeping the province comber letter massacre in 1641 waterside area ferried across to make arrangement near midday river foyle ferryquay gate closed and locked by a group of young apprentice boys henry campsie ammunition magazine in the tower house north-west corner siezed great siege committee citizens formed defence warned not to enter expelled surrounding countryside formed into six companies by david cairns set out for london obtain help beleaguered city londonderry despite excellent reputation two sons denied access negotiations took place sides decided 21st december lundy governor queen mary deliverance supplies james hamilton commission required to take an oath before receiving resistance and a refuge 7,000 jacobite soldier subdue ulster mid april french general rosen lifford clady fifteen miles upstream in disgrace advised to surrender loyalty doubted confined to his quarters for his own safety ignominiously fled reviled henry baker george walker appointed estimated that 30,000 people able bodied eight regiments assigned a different part strengthened to deny the enemy cover many trees and houses outside cleared cannons positioned internally facing the various gates burst through tower of st columbs cathedral highest point bombardment shipquay gate 24th april 1689 600 mortar bombs clashes maumont pennyburn mill skirmishes windmill hill recaptured inflicting heavy casualties flags preserved display cloth renewed surprise repulsed beseigers troops rounded up and herded retaliated by erecting a gallow threatening to hang wooden boom was built across english supply ships lough foyle culmore fortlough swilly inch island frigate dartmouth michael browning swallow musket ball phoenix apprentic boys john mitchelburne celebrated six clubs in 1859 john guy ferguson browning relief of derry thirteen touching of the gates effigy bishop’s street thanksgiving service wreath is laid at siege heroes mound vita veritas victoria life truth victory

Another Sunrise, Another New Beginning

03188 2015-11-12 Fianna banner+

This is the middle wall on the site of the former Andersonstown RUC station, which has undergone three changes in recent months. The longstanding Fıanna sunburst (see X00350) was painted over with IRPWA stencils (Stop strip searches, End Internment, Justice For The Craigavon 2) which in turn were largely covered with writing by DAZE (see the image below). Most recently, a large Fıanna banner, shown above, has been placed over the wall.

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X03188 X03014 Falls Rd Sınn Féın republican youth óıge phoblachtach ógra shınn féın  glaıne ınár gcroí neart ınár ngéaga beart de réır ar mbrıath purity in our hearts strength in our arms truth on our lips irish republican prisoners welfare association

For God, Ulster & Scotland

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This panel (one of three) of a new mural on the Shankill celebrates the Stirling Protestant Boys Flute Band and its association with the Shankill Road: “Stirling Protestant Boys Flute Band [Fb] were formed in February 2003 and to this day take part in parades across Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. The band has a great connection with our friends from Belfast, especially those from the Greater Shankill area. In November 2012 Stirling Protestant Boys were presented with the battle honours of the Young Citizen Volunteers and the 36th (Ulster) Division. The band would like to thank the people of the Shankill Road for their continued support.”

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X03216 Sir David Stirling Memorial Vol. Brian Robinson Parade

Free As A Bird

03232 2015-12-26 Seasons Greetings Ardoyne+

The mural shows a line of fir trees rather than steel gates but the robins on the spiked rail above give away that we’re on the “peace” line separating loyalist west Belfast from nationalist north Belfast and that the road is still closed. “Seasons Greetings” Belfast-style.

UPDATE Jan 3rd: a similar trompe l’oeil piece by Breandán Clarke could be found at this location previously, showing cars parked on the street (via Old Belfast Photographs/Glenravel History).

“Like a bird on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free.” – Leonard Cohen Bird On The Wire

03231 2015-12-26 Seasons Greetings Ardoyne d+

03230 2015-12-26 Seasons Greeting Ardoyne w+

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X03232 X03231 X03230 crumlin rd

The Prison Of Mistrust

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Graffiti below the towering Cupar Way wall of hostility: “Free us all from the prison of mistrust, misunderstanding, and misdeeds.”

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Slí Na Gaeltachta

03225 2015-12-18 Slí na Gaeltachta+

Slí Na Gaeltachta (The Gaeltacht Way) is a 2.5-mile trail of twenty-six “art and heritage” stops from the city centre to the Whiterock Road in west Belfast. A gaeltacht is an Irish-speaking region.

See previously: Onwards – memorial mural to Clive Dutton, author of the Dutton Report calling for the regeneration of west Belfast by (in part) developing its Irish-language identity.

02752 2015-07-24 SlíNaGaeltachtaSquaring+

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X03225 X02752 brighton st www.forbaırtfeırste.com fáılte go welcome to Ag fíorú ghaeltacht bheo Bhéal Feırste – Driving forward Belfast’s vibrant Gaeltacht.

Some Day Soon We’ll March Proudly On Parade

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Brian “Herbie” McCallum was a 29 year-old attending a contentious loyalist parade to Whiterock Orange Hall, being re-routed by the RUC, when the grenade he was carrying exploded prematurely, killing him instantly. The mural and memorial shown above is at the top of Ainsworth Avenue, close to the spot of the incident. He died in hospital three days later. (CAIN | Border & Border Politics | Irish News article at Nuzhound | Independent)

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X03213 29-6-93 YCV young citizen volunteers PAF protestant action force we will remember him. The officers and members of Sweeney’s ‘A’ Company 1st Belfast Battalion Ulster Volunteer Force.

Reclaim The Republic

02987 2015-09-03 Poblacht Na hEireann+

The masthead of the 1916 proclamation declaring a “Provisional Government of the Irish Republic” to the “People of Ireland” is faithfully reproduced in this éırígí stencil, along with busts of Padraıg Pearse and Tom Clarke. Pearse, Clarke, and the other signatories will likely be familiar faces in the months leading up to Easter 2016, which is at the end of March, and the anniversary of the date itself, April 24th, 1916.

See also Thursday’s post featuring a fly-paper reproduction of the 1916 Proclamation: Brotherhoods.

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X02987 poblacht na héıreann

Blackjack Tattoo

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Colourful work by Glen Molloy (Instagram) for Blackjack Tattoo Studio at the top of the Shankill Road.

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X03221 needle

A Bottle Of Wine & Patsy Cline

02986 2015-09-03 Patsy Cline+

Gerard ‘Mo Chara’ Kelly painted these three images of Patsy Cline in the back garden of a Springhill neighbour. Cline died in 1963 at age 30; the three panels show different stages of her short career: the first shows her in cowboy gear, before turning to pop music, the second is based on a 1957 publicity shot for her new label, Decca, and the third shows her in 1961. Her cover of Don Gibson’s Sweet Dreams was released as a single in the wake of her death.

Here is video of Patsy singing Willie Nelson’s Crazy and, below that, Marsha Thornton doing the song from which today’s title comes:

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