Belfast

Hands Off Venezuela

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“Hands off Venezuela – Dlúthpháırtíocht le muınt[ı]r Veınıséala [Solidarity with the people of Venezuela]” Commentary from Ógra Shınn Féın (web) on the recent US actions against Venezuela, which have included attacks on small boats beginning in September 2025 (WP), an embargo on oil leaving the country announced in December 2025 (Guardian), and most recently (January 2nd) air-strikes on targets in and around Caracas and the capture of Nicolás Meduro and Cilia Flores (BBC). After the removal of Meduro, US President Donald Trump said that the US would run Venezuela and that between 30 and 50 million barrels-worth of Venezuelan oil would be shipped to the US, sold, and the proceeds disbursed by Trump himself “to ensure it used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States” (AP).

For a history of the image, which shows a Venezuelan hand grabbing a US hand, see England, Get Out Of Ireland.

Falls Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Blessed Are Those Who Hunger For Justice

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Palestine Action was declared a “terrorist organisation” in July, 2025, after members broke into Brize Norton and spray-painted Air Force planes and breached an Elbit facility near Bristol and caused an estimated one million pounds-worth of damage (Canary) in 2024. (Elbit is an Israeli defence contractor with 16 sites in the UK – WP.)

Eight of the twenty-nine people held on charges related to these events began hunger-strikes in November and December, 2025. They are listed on the placard in the third image: Kamran Ahmed, Teuta Hoxha, Heba Muraisi, Umer Khalid, Qesser Zuhran, Amu Big, Lewie Chiaramello, Jon Cink.

Update: The last three strikers ended their fasts in January, claiming victory when a large government contract went to Raytheon rather than Elbit (CNN | Guardian).

The phrase “blessed are those who hunger for justice” goes back to the 1981 hunger strike, and the “five demands” to the blanket protest.

“The Five Demands: 1. End all censorship 2. Immediate bail 3. Right to fair trail 4. De-proscribe Palestine Action 5. Shut Elbit down.”

The “Green Brigade” is a group of Celtic ultras (web) – see also Ultras At Work.

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Ultras At Work

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The “Green Brigade” is the name of a group of Celtic ultras (web). The design and slogan of the paste-up come from the “Sniper at work” signs from the 1990s, which celebrated the IRA’s sniper campaign in the south Armagh area – various examples can be seen in the Peter Moloney Collection.

The Green Brigade also support Lajee Celtic, a soccer camps for refugees – see also Show Israel The Red Card. For Public Interest Immunity claims, see No More PSNI Cover-Ups.

Monagh Bypass, west Belfast, and Queen Street, in the city centre.

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Stand Up To Racism

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Or, in Arabic, “قف ضد العنصرية”. Michelangelo’s ‘The Creation Of Adam‘ is re-imagined as an act of solidarity between Palestinians and Irish people.

Cliftonpark Avenue, north Belfast

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Fulton & Goatley

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“In loving memory of John Fulton [and] Stephen Goatley, died 15th March 1975. Will always be remembered by their family and friends. Quis separabit.” UDA members John Fulton and were Stephen Goatley were killed together in the Alexandra Bar on York Road (close to the Mervue Street location of this memorial) in revenge for the stabbing of the UVF’s Joe Shaw in the North Star Bar by the UVF as part of the UDA-UVF feud in 1975.

The two men named on the other board were also killed in a feud between the UDA and UVF, in 2000 – see Inky & Candy. “In loving memory Thomas (Inky) English & David (Candy) Greer Annesley. Together in the same old way/would be our dearest wish today./Silent memories true and tender/just to show we still remember.”

Mervue Street, Tiger’s Bay, north Belfast. The small plaque was previously seen in 2017.

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Caıbıdıl Nua/A New Chapter

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Here are three pieces together at the top of the Limestone Road in north Belfast, each one looking ahead to a notable transition:

Above left: Cliftonville Integrated primary (web) has nursery and P1 students space for September 2026

Above right: the play ‘Maggie’s Menopause’ (web) plays in the Opera House in February 2026

On the railings in the foreground: Sınn Féın (web) placards suggesting “a united Ireland”/”Éıre aontaıthe” as “a new chapter”/”caıbıdıl nua” for Ireland – date undetermined.

The close-up of the placard is from the Whiterock Road.

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Tiger’s Bay Loyal

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“Welcome to the homeland of Tiger’s Bay Loyal flute band. “He is our God, and we are the people.”” Tiger’s Bay Loyal [Fb] is a new flute band, formed in 2025.

Ten local streets are named around the central tiger: Robina Street, Edlingham Street, Mervue Street, Upper Mervue Street, Hallidays Road, Mackey Street, Cosgrave Heights, North Queen Street, Canning Street, Hogarth Street.

The banner itself is in Mervue Street. The Tiger’s Bay First Flute mural remains.

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The Typist With The Webley

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“The typist with the Webley: Winifred Carney – socialist, republican, freedom fighter, Irish Citizen Army, Cumann Na mBan, suffragist, trade unionist, revolutionary.”

Winifred Carney was a qualified secretary and typist, and became secretary of the Irish Textile Workers’ Union in 1912, in which position she met James Connolly, who was secretary of the Belfast branch of the ITGWU. She was a member of Cumann Na mBan and participated in the Easter Rising of 1916. Carney was in the GPO when it was taken over and was among those who surrendered at the end; during the occupation she typed up dispatches from the Moore Street headquarters – this is how she was portrayed in the the 1916 Centenary mural.

(DIB | Ulster Biography | A Century Of Women | BBC | WP)

Stencil from Lasaır Dhearg (web) in Glenveagh Drive, Lenadoon, west Belfast, replacing the simple graffiti Ní Saoırse Go Saoırse Na mBan.

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This Is Our Israel

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“This is our Israel and this we shall defend.” “This” is Northern Ireland.

This is a vintage sticker (dating back to 2021) on the Shankill Road at Lawnbrook Avenue.

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To All The Women Of The Shankill

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“She hasn’t a sword and she hasn’t a gun. But she’s doing her duty now fighting’s begun.” This entry updates the 2016 entry with details from the board – now almost a decade old – dedicated “To all the women of the Shankill” and highlighting the roles played by women during WWI as nurses and welders and in the Land Army.

The troops in the upper-middle part of the board are shown gathered outside the West Belfast Orange Hall, on the Shankill at Brookmount Street.

outside the Ulster Rangers Supporters Club (Fb) on the Shankill Road

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