Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the United States, also commonly known as “turkey day”, and the orgy of eating is today followed by the orgy of spending – Black Friday. The terms are gradually creeping into local parlance, to mark an artificial beginning to the Christmas shopping season. One local petrol chain made headlines yesterday with its “Thanksgiving Thursday” promotion (BelTel | Belfast Live gallery), while one Woodvale butcher is encouraging people to “order your Christmas meat now”, using a saving club if necessary.
The mural underneath is Dan Kitchener’s Night Taxi.
IRA volunteer Frank “Bap” McGreevy spent 15 (Irish Times) or 17 (An Phoblacht) years in Long Kesh (for a crime of which he was innocent, says Anthony McIntyre; possibly the car bombing of the Klondyke Bar in Sandy Row). He was attacked by two assailants at his home in (the old) Ross Street, near this memorial board, in March 2008 and died of his wounds after three days in hospital.
As the wide shots below show, there are now a dozen pieces along this stretch of the Falls Road. The other pieces have all been seen in previous posts. For close-ups, see Kieran Abram with Charlie Hughes plaque and map of The Falls Road Massacre Unrepentant Republicans Billy McKee, Alec Murphy, and Brendan Hughes; the Falls Curfew Web Of Corruption: Drop The Rents; PSNI Not Supported; Divis 81 in Defund The Police For A Socialist Republic
“Britain in Palestine & Ireland” The Balfour Declaration of November 1917 is seen as a pivotal moment in the history leading to the what is formally known as the State Of Israel, as it made the UK the first major government to endorse the idea of a homeland for Jews (WP).
The poster (for a talk in Cultúrlann) is in Allworthy Avenue; the board is on Northumberland Street. The latter draws parallels between Ireland and Palestine: homelands partitioned for British imperialist interests, struggles for freedom met with British barbarism … forbidden from speaking their native tongue, faiths outlawed … . About 650 former RIC members were recruited to the “British Gendarmarie” that would police what was called “Mandatory Palestine” (Palestine Studies | Irish History) after WWI.
The League Of Nations mandate putting the UK in change of the Palestinian territory was replaced (in 1947) by a UN plan for partition, which triggered an internal war between Jews and Arabs, and when the UK ended the mandate and evacuated from Palestine in May 1948, Israel declared independence and neighbouring Arab states entered the conflict. About 700,000 Arabs were displaced during the fighting. Key48 (tw) advocates for the right of return and uses as a symbol the keys that householders took with them when they fled.
Here is some vintage graffiti and a small UDA mural from behind the Tennent Street police station in the upper Shankill (Mill Street West). Above: “Ulster says No”. Bottom: “S/Hill West Belfast UFF 2nd Batt C Coy”.
“90% of young people in this area say (based on consultation with 250 young people) it’s easy to access drugs/alcohol. Are you surprised?” For more on this campaign by Greater Shankill Youth Connects (Fb) promoting their “Shankill Talks” forums, see Belfast Live.
For November 11th – Armistice Day/Veterans Day/Remembrance Day – this giant tarp showing light pouring through the Thiepval Memorial was placed on the Shore Road, surrounded by 12 white crosses.
For the memorial to the right, which includes the 10th and 16th Divisions along with the 36th (Ulster) Division, see In Defence Of The Citizens Of Belfast.
Liz Truss’s Titanic hit not one but a series of icebergs (described previously in Broken Promises) and announced her resignation as leader of the Conservative party, and therefore as UK prime minister, on October 20th, triggering another leadership contest, with the previously-defeated Rishi Sunak back in the running in addition to – for a day, at least – former PM Boris Johnson; the third person shown is Penny Mordaunt. In the end, Sunak went unopposed (WP) and left the lifeboat to join the circling sharks: Putin, strikes, NI Protocol, energy costs.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his family.” The words of John 15:13 are modified slightly to pay tribute to Cluan Place resident Ian Ogle, who was stabbed and beaten to death in January, 2019, after several years of intimidation of the family by members of the east Belfast UVF (Sunday World).
All the emblems of an eventful summer for loyalism: the centenary of Norther Ireland was celebrated on May 3rd, Queen Elizabeths platinum jubilee was celebrated in the first week of June, and then she died on September 8th, at the age of 96. “ERII 1926-2022. Always remembered by her loyal servants in east Belfast.”
For a clear shot of the Union Flag and St Andrew’s Saltire behind the vans, see UK – Scotland.
One row of street art around a construction site might look much like another, but do not be alarmed – this is your first time in Kent Street, Belfast.
Extramural Activity 