This shrine to a deceased youngster – “John Mongan, died 15th May 2011” – is near the entrance to Ardcaoin, Belfast.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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My Dear Son
Belfast west
In Defence Of The Nation
This is a new mural from the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (web) on the international wall, Divis Street, (Visual History) with symbols of nationalism (the crests of the four provinces, the harp, the tricolour), socialism (the plough in the stars) and support for republican POWs (the barbed wire).
For images of the mural being worked upon, see the Peter Moloney Collection; for an earlier version see 100% British.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02744 End British Rule Smash Stormont 32 County Sovereignty Movement 1997-2015
New Life
The eagle of Isaiah 40:31 flies outside the New Life church in the no-man’s land between the security gates on Northumberland Street: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (BibleHub)
The signature and the giant “coins” in front of it are shown below, along with the Síocháın/Peace tower. The (brown) cross in the middle of the area is shown in Cross Of Crosses.
See also: O Ye Gates | Cross & Wire
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02739 X02946 X02947 [X02948] X02536 X02706 artists crawford & mccann
IRPWA Prisoners
The IRPWA (tw | Fb) placed the names of prisoners currently held in Maghaberry in the barbed wire above the so-called “international” wall. Barbed wire is the symbol of republican prisoners though this barbed wire is used to protect Andrews Flour. Above, you can see the boards for Harkin, Mellon and McGilloway.
The full list, from left to right: Seamus Kearney, Gerard McManus, Nathan Hastings, Mark McGuigan, Sean Kelly, Barry Concannon, Damien Harkin, Thomas Mellon, Martin McGilloway, Jason Ceulemans, Gavin Coney, Liam O’Donnell, Neil Hegarty, Jon Paul Wooton, Martin Kelly, Colin Duffy, Harry Fitzsimons, Christopher O’Kane, Tarlach MacDhomhnaill, Seamus McLaughlin, Gavin Coyle, Brendan McConville, Kevin Barry Nolan.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Rest Easy Big Man
Former CIRA commander Tommy Crossan’s 2014 murder by former colleagues was unusual in that is was carried out during the daytime (and also because he was abducted just off the Springfield Rd). (BBC-NI news video) The graffiti above declares that vengeance will be won.
Previously: Tommy Crossan
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02708 RIP Vol Tommy Crossan 18/4/2014 justice will be done
Respect Equality
The People Before Profit Alliance is an all-Ireland political party closely related to the Socialist Workers Party. In the north, candidate Gerry Carroll was elected to Belfast City Council in 2014, representing Black Mountain. Gay rights does not seem to form an explicit part of the platform, but the mural above, featuring a heart with the rainbow colours, appeared on Divis St in time for the Pride parade on August 1st.
See also: Cherish from Sınn Féın
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Imagine
This mural of a skateboarder emerging from a girl’s reading replaced a Red Hand Commando mural (see D01242) at the Brooklands Road entrance to the Ballybeen estate in the mid 2000s. The lettering from the former mural is beginning to bleed through – above the window can be seen “Ballybeen [C Company]” and below it, “Ulster’s Elite”.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The High Meadow
As the map below shows, the area between the Shankill and the Falls roads in 1789 was largely undeveloped and perhaps titles such as “Cluain Ard” (“Clonard”) were descriptions as well as names. The ‘White Linen Hall’ – on the site of the current City Hall – had been completed the year before. St. Mary’s was the first Catholic church in Belfast. Wikipedia reports that on the day of its first mass, May 30th, 1784, “the mostly Presbyterian 1st Belfast Volunteer Company paraded to the chapel yard and gave the parish priest a guard of honour, with many of the Protestants of Belfast also present and sharing the event”. (WP) The map also shows a series of ponds connected to the nearby Flush. A close-up of the board is below.
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X02700 X02699 aine dell aisling aimee clare roisin paul
Cherish
The 1916 Proclamation Of Irish Republic includes the sentence “The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.” At the time, it had a political meaning, but it has since been pressed into service by advocates of children’s right and now, in the board above, by supporters of gay rights. James Connolly (leader of the Irish Citizen Army) and the text of the declaration are shown against a backdrop of the gay pride rainbow flag. Launched 2015-07-31
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02714 X02779 ceartas anois truth ballymurphy massacre springhill pearse jordan belfast IRSP commemoration parade britain out of ireland
The Vigil
“Felons presents an exciting new drama by Roseleen Walsh [web]– The Vigil – sixty one years apart yet both [Kieran Doherty 1981 and Terence MacSwiney 1920] died on hunger strike for the cause of Ireland.” The play was produced for Féile An Phobail (web). Walsh’s introduction and excerpts from the play are available on youtube.
Falls Road, Belfast, on the railings around the site of the former RUC barracks.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 