Belfast

Fight For Your Rights

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The UK general election takes place Thursday week (June 8th). Here are two Sınn Féın boards, both at the junction of the Falls and Glen Roads (site of the former Andersonstown police station), the first featuring the image of Michelle O’Neill and exhorting people to “register to vote now!” (Claragh chun vótáıl anoıs) and the second a quote from Gerry Adams’s oration at the graveside of Martin McGuinness: “If you want freedom, go out and take it. Organise. Mobilise. Unite for rights” (Más saoırse atá uaıt, gabh amach agus beır greım uırthı. Eagraıgh, gríosaıgh, troıd ar son do chearta.) A copy of Latuff’s Ireland-Palestine hunger-striker solidarity cartoon (which he also painted as a mural in Northumberland St) has been added to Michelle’s lapel.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Belfast Exposed

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Photograph gallery Belfast Exposed dates back to 1983. Here is an interview with one of the founders, Sean McKernan, about its origins. Today’s images are from the back of the Donegall Street offices, in Warehouse Lane.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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They Gave A Lifetime

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Here is another pair of combined UVF memorial stones – from both WWI and the modern conflict. Above, the fallen comrades of 2nd battalion South Belfast are remembered by their fellow officers and volunteers in the Village’s B Company; below, the garden is dedicated to the “glory of God” in memory of the “sons of Ulster” by “all of their comrades in arms who, by divine grace, were spared to testify to their glorious deeds.” (BelTel and Irish News articles on the unplanned inclusion of modern-day UVF.)

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04162 X04160 frenchpark st how nobly they fight and die in their final moments

It’s OK To Talk

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Fifteen football teams from west and north Belfast are involved in a new Suicide Awareness and Mental Health Initiative (SAMHI) in order to combat a recent increase in suicides, including two players from Belfast Celtic (BBC).

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Free Marwan Barghouti

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Palestinian leader and secretary-general of Fatah during the 90s, Marwan Barghouti joined the Second Intifada (2000) and was arrested by Israeli forces in 2002 and sentenced to five life sentences for attacks by al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades. Barghouti laid out the rationale for the current hunger strike of 1,000 prisoners in a New York Times op-ed. He was reportedly caught eating in May.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X04149 IRPWA havana st solidarity with palestine free the hunger strikers

Reading & Writing

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Wild-style from SARE in Garfield Street in the city centre.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Back To The Polls

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Voters go back to the polls for a UK general election on June 8th. Election materials for the Stormont elections are still visible, such as this Gerry Kelly placard in the Sınn Féın offices in Ardoyne, defaced with a Saoradh ‘quislings’ poster, also from the last Stormont election. John Finucane, rather than Kelly, is the Sınn Féın candidate for the general election this time (Irish News).

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Drugs Kill Our Kids

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“Stop drug dealers in our area.” “No drug dealers welcome in our area.” These anti-drug-dealing posters from Greater Ardoyne Residents’ Collective (Fb) are all over the area at present. A leaflet was also circulated as part of the campaign.

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Copyright © 2017 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Sailortown

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A nautical-themed mural in Short Street providing a “Welcome to Sailortown”, including a speedy seahorse, a lobster, and a hammerhead shark. The mural was sponsored by the Community Arts Project and painted last (2016) summer by residents led by artists from Seedhead Arts (report from Clanmil Housing). Here is video of (former) residents describing life in the area (from @AndrewJMolloy).

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