Belfast

All Together Now

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At the heart of this east Belfast homage to the healing power of soccer are German and British soldiers shaking hands over a ball in ‘no man’s land’ on the Western Front, on Christmas Day, 1914. The image is not from a contemporary photograph but a modern one of a 2014 sculpture depicting such an even by Andy Edwards (TruceStatue) (who also did the Pat Jennings sculpture in Newry – seen in Pat Jennings). For more images of the WWI soccer statue, see WWI Cemeteries.

It’s not clear that matches between opposing forces – rather than simple fraternisation – were actually played; see Wikipedia for a review of the evidence.

Dee Street, east Belfast.

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With Voice, Pen Or Hand

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“With voice, pen or hand we will defend our land.” David (Davy) Patterson (12-10-1955 – 03-01-2019) was a member of the 1st East Belfast Rangers Supporters Club (Fb) and Albertbridge Glentoran Supporters Club (Funeral Times).

This memorial board is the side-wall to the Somme Society mural (see Their Name Liveth Forevermore) and the Red Hand Commando memorial garden in Hunt Street, east Belfast.

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Fast Car

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These three cars are by DanK (ig) in Bank Square, Belfast city centre, on the wall of Crown Jesus Ministries (Fb) (in the Berry Street Presbyterian building), replacing the ‘Creation’ mural painted in 2012. Dan calls the piece “Hope” (ig) after the church’s ‘Hope Mission Centre’ (ig); this is the same title he gave to the geisha on the Shankill. This piece does not feature any of the kanji street-signage that would place it in Japan (compare with Night Taxi in the Woodvale), though there is some on the pink car, left.

The middle car has the license plate “OUTATIME” which was the plate on the DeLorean in ‘Back To The Future’ (see also: You Built A Time Machine … Out Of A DeLorean?)

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Not For EU

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“”Not for EU” label. Some items in this store are only for sale in Northern Ireland. Individual product labels and shelf markings showing ‘Not for EU’ will identify the products to which this applies.”

The labelling is part of the Windsor Framework’s attempt to facilitate trade between Britain and Northern Ireland, given that products moving from Northern Ireland to the Republic are also subject to EU regulations for meat, dairy, and plant products (Irish Times).

Also included is a “plant passport” from 2022.

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Keep Belfast Tidy

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“Keep Belfast tidy” by throwing fascism into the bin. Here is a vintage “Keep Belfast tidy” bin (at Alamy).

Rosemary Street and North Street (with swastika removed), Belfast city centre

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Deadly Pints, Deadly Tunes

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“Deadly” here means “excellent” or “terrific”, perhaps from the idea of “hitting the (living!) target” (Stack) – it is a piece of southern slang that artist and print-maker Leo Boyd (web) perhaps picked up on his journey from Bristol to Dublin to Belfast (Boyd | Atom) where he is one of the Vault Studios artists (Vault).

The new work shown here is at the American Bar (web) in Sailortown.

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Sailortown Sea Monster

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A kraken awakes in Belfast harbour, under the watchful eyes of working-class men on the waterfront in Belfast’s Sailortown, in front of local landmarks.

Street art by KVLR in Corporation Street.

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Stella Maris

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Stella Maris (“star of the sea”) hostel in Sailortown provides accommodations for “up to 23 long-term homeless street drinkers” (web). The name is a hold-over from the building’s former use as a charity for seafarers; the name “stella maris” has also long been associated with the pole star by which sailors reckon their course of sail.

This large installation (by Elfire Ceramics – ig) on the exterior wall of the hostel is full of maritime imagery, including the pole star, as well images of hope such as a message in a bottle (left) and a life-preserver (right), as well as inspirational words: love, care, acceptance, respect, dignity, hope, equality, decency, kindness, awareness.

The piece was launched in September 2023 (St Joe’s); the previous piece in this spot was a ceramic representation of St Brendan crossing the Atlantic.

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Fáılte Chuıg Otharlann Al-Shıfa

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“Fáılte chuıg otharlann Al-Shıfa – hathaınmníodh R.V.H. i gcuımhne ar na foırne leıghıs agus ar na hothaır ar fad a maraíodh le linn chınedhíothú Iosrael sa Phalaıstín in 2023. R.V.H. renamed in memory of all medical staff and patients murdered during Israel’s genocide in Palestine in 2023.”

al-Shifa hospital is in Gaza City, Gaza. It was closed on April 1st (2024) after the hospital was raided (for a second time) by the IDF (WP).

The placard was mounted by BDS Belfast in March (Fb). The “Occupation no more” sticker on the adjacent pole is from the 1916 Societies (web).

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Nazis Not Welcome

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Graffiti on the Falls Road at the Royal Victoria Hospital: “racism, nazis not welcome in our community”.

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