Belfast

Caırde Agus Comrádaıthe

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“Friends and comrades” – IRA volunteers Brendan Hughes (“The Dark”) and Bobby Sands were leaders of the 1980 and 1981 hunger strikes, respectively. Hughes survived when the first strike was called off after 53 days; Sands died in the ’81 strike after 66 days of fasting. “IRPWA” is the Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association (Fb | tw); Saoradh (web | tw) is a hard-line left-wing republican party.

The mural to the left shows Palestinian double-amputee Saber Al-Ashkar, protesting as part of the Great March Of Return.

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We Shall Defend Our Island

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The mural in Castlereagh Parade has been repainted for the centenary of the end of WWI, but with some notable differences. Three flag-holders have been added above. On the right are now a poppy and mourning soldiers. The quote comes from a speech by Winston Churchill on 1940-06-04 – “We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. [We shall fight on the landing grounds.] We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.” – but the current first line was previously omitted in favour of another Churchill quote: “We have nothing to offer but blood, tears, and sweat.” See: Whatever The Cost May Be.

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Over Time

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These two pieces in the gallery of pro-Palestinian murals at the top of Springhill Avenue were never finished. On the left is the diminishing territory of Palestine while on the right would probably have been the diminishing territory of the Gaeltacht.

For the murals above these on the side wall, see Grasping The Barb and David And Goliath; for the murals on the end wall, see Palestine Abú, Man Against Machine and Hellfire.

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The Fight For Rights

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It’s still anybody’s guess as to how Brexit will happen in March, 2019. This week, the ball is in the court of the hard-Brexiteers as they decide whether or not to challenge Theresa May’s leadership of the Conservative Party. Political parties in Northern Ireland claim to be “fighting” for their side – such as this Sinn Féin board on Falls Road – but in practice this means only looking on with fascination and anxiety. “The fight for rights continues – 1968-2018. Don’t let the DUP/Tories take away your rights through Brexit.”

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X06306 Falls Road

Run For It

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Belgian artist DZIA (ig | tw | web | Fb) specialises in geometric animals, like this fox and hare that he painted in Union Street for CNBX/HTN18, sponsored this year by Heverlee beer (also from Belgium!).

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From The River To The Sea

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Saoradh’s (web) support of Palestinian rights continues with its most ambitious mural to date. Previously: Resistance Is Not Terrorism | Ireland Stands With Palestine.

For the history of art on this wall, see Visual History 11.

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Victoria Crosses Of The 36th (Ulster) Division

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Dee Craig has updated the Victoria Crosses mural in Cregagh, honoring G[eoffrey St. George Shillington] Cather, W[illiam Frederick] MacFadzean, R[obert] Quigg, and E[ric] N[orman] F[rankland] Bell. Five more were included in a board on the Shankill and another in Willowfield Street. (For the previous Cregagh version, see M03390)

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The Peelers

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Glasgow artists Conzo Throb (web | Fb) and Ciaran Glöbel (ig | BBC Arts) were in Belfast for CNBX/HTN18 with a locally-themed mural and business suggestion for the PSNI: “Pommes frites … like chips but more expensive.”

Previously by Conzo: Fill Up On Colour | Let’s Melt

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X06258 Kent St

Fur Collar

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Here is Friz’s (web | tw | ig) piece for Culture Night/Hit The North 2018. The official title is “Hide And Seek” but the local surroundings suggest other titles.

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Faulky Lad

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Craig Faulkner died by suicide on July 8th, 2016 (Belfast Live). His was one of the deaths among amateur footballers that spurred the SAMHI initiative (Belfast Live). (See previously: It’s OK To Talk). This board to his memory is on the path between Hightown Road carpark (above the Horseshoe Bend) and the top of the Cavehill Road – he was from and played soccer in Ballysillan.

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