Work by Belfast-based Wexford artist Esther O’Kelly for the Hit The East paint-jam, between the three pieces to the left and DMC’s Three Missed Calls.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Between The Houses
Belfast
Art In The Alley
Here’s a shot of all the activity taking place during Hit The East last weekend in the alley between Bloomfield Avenue and Laburnum Court.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Hit The East
Here are the first three pieces from the Bloomfield Avenue end of last weekend’s Hit The East street art festival. Above is a quartet of elephants by Falko One (Tw | Inst | Fb). (He painted elephants in other places, too.)
Below is printmaker Leo Boyd mounting his poster ‘This Machine Kills Machines’. (Lots of previous work by Leo.) The finished work also included ‘Turn Off, Tune Out’.
Next to that is work by Dublin artists ESTR (Emmalene Blake web) and Lanni Powder (ig).
(The next piece in the alley is one by Esther O’Kelly.)
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Church & State
Henry VIII had himself declared head of the church in 1531 and the English monarch has retained this title since then (with the exception of Mary I who briefly restored the Pope and Catholicism). England has “no superior under God, but only your Grace” (Act Concerning Peter’s Pence). The current holder of both crown and office is Queen (“R” for “regina”) Elizabeth II. Shown today is another celebration of the 500th anniversary of “Pro-Testant Reformation” in Tiger’s Bay, next to the workers of WWI mural.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Bunscoıl Croí Sácráılte
Fáılte go dtí bunscoıl Croí Sácráılte (Welcome to Sacred Heart primary school). Three school-children are shown in Cliftonville soccer and Antrim hurling strips, as well as in the school’s black uniform.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Divis Bonfire 2017
There were riots last night in the Divis and Markets areas of the city, after material for August 9th anti-internment bonfires was removed (Tele). On the lower Falls, the disused Credit Union building on Ross Road was burned down (Belfast Live). Here are three images from last week of graffiti from the Townsend Street side of the Divis Street from the Divis Hoods Liberation Army (DHLA).
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Let Us Entertain You
The LPOW mural in Harvey Court dates back to 1997, to the release of political prisoners as part of the Good Friday Agreement. A recent (2015) version can be seen at Consolidate The Peace. The new mural features performers Jonny Jones, John Calvert, Tony Jones, and Sylvia Pavis. It was painted by Blaze FX with sponsorship from Charter NI and the Housing Executive.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Battalion Of The Dead
Gary “Magoo” McCann is honoured as “a dedicated Vol of 2nd Battalion C Coy Village who on the 17-11-2016 was called to join his friends and comrades in the Battalion of The Dead” in a new Red Hand Commando board on Frenchpark Street below the memorial to Sammy Mehaffy, John Hanna, and Steve McCrea. Tributes were paid by South Belfast Protestant Boys and Linfield Supporters Club who called him “a Village legend”. The mural in the second image (below) is on Donegall Avenue, under the Tates Avenue bridge, on the way to the Railway stand at Windsor Park.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Pro-Testant Reformation
October 31st, 1517 is the date given by Philip Melanchthon (there is disagreement – WP) for Martin Luther posting his 95 theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, thus launching what would later be called the “protestant” reformation of the Catholic church. The word “protestant” comes from two Latin roots, meaning to publicly (pro-) assert or bear witness (testari).
Below the red hands on either side have been added “Genesis 38:28”, which reads “While she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out.” The hand thrust forward to claim the birthright (and the reference to a scarlet thread) suggests the myth of the red hand of Ulster. However, it is the younger child (though the first to be completely born) that carries on the house of Judah.
For the original mural, see Return To Loyalist Tigers Bay; for “Vote Leave” on top, see Brits Out! and for the insignia to the left, see Your Kingdom Will Endure Forever.
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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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What Did I Have?
Gerard Gibson, aged 16, was shot dead by members of the Royal Green Jackets (“murdered by British crown forces”) in Lenadoon on 11 July 1972. His case was examined by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) but the family rejected the findings (BBC). This board show today is in a similar style, and close to, that of Fıan Sean Ó Rıordan, but Gibson is not identified as a youth member of the OIRA (as Sutton identifies him).
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Extramural Activity 