London-/Derry

Apprentice Boys

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2015-08-05 Conningham+

On December 7th, 1688, thirteen apprentice boys grabbed the keys to Derry city and locked the gates against the on-coming Jacobite Redshanks. Their names were William Cairnes, Henry Campsie, John Conningham (also given as Coningham), Alexander Cunningham, William Crookshanks, Samuel Harvy, Samuel Hunt, Alexander Irwin, Robert Morison, Robert Sherrard, Daniel Sherrard, James Spike, James Steward and they each have a small plaque in the Fountain area.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Thirtieth Of January 1972

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2015-08-07 GoyaDerry+

Above is a local interpretation of Robert Ballagh’s 1970 rendering of Goya’s The Third Of May 1808 in Glenfada Park, Derry/Doıre, site of four deaths on Bloody Sunday, 1972.

The original commemorates Spanish resistance to the forces of Napoleon (WP). For this Derry version, features from the city’s skyline – the Guildhall, St. Columb’s Cathedral, and an intact Governor Walker column – have replaced the original’s outline of Madrid, as well as an insignia of the Paras on the arm of a soldier. 

For Ballagh’s original (“1970”) version and a description and video of the launch see bloodysundaymarch.org. Here is an Eamonn McCann lecture on the political history of the Goya painting. Until recently, the piece above was adjacent to a version of Picasso’s Guernica.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02720 Jim Wray, William McKinney, Gerard McKinney, Gerard Donaghy paratroop regiment

Metalmorphosis

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2015-08-06 BonzaiSpaceLizard+

Here’s Space Lizard by Mark Bodé and (Dave) Bonzai, part of the Release The Pressure street art festival in London-/Derry on July 25th and 26th.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Republican Items

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IRA volunteer (and marksman in the Irish Army) John Starrs was killed in a May 13th, 1972, gun battle with the British Army in William Street (Seachranaıdhe), near his plaque in Chamberlain Street, Derry, which is also home to Connolly House, home of the IRSP in Derry, and Junior McDaid house, home of Saoradh/IRPWA.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Eyes Have It

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The vents in the ?substation? are used as eye in a new piece of street art underneath the ramp to Barrack Street, Derry.

Previously site of Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade.

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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Eddie Rides

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2014-06-23 EddieRides+

The famous “Eddie the Trooper” figure, previously seen marching over a field strewn with bodies in green and gold, is now on horseback in the Fountain area of Londonderry. For background, including the connection to Iron Maiden, see The Trooper and the Visual History page on Eddie.

Previously in this location: Vita, Victoria, Veritas

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Walls Of Derry

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2014-06-23 CannonWide2+

A cannon in the old wall of Derry takes aim an Irish tricolour flying in front of the Bogside Inn in Derry.

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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If Stones Could Speak

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2014-06-23 StColumbsStone+

“If stones could speake then London’s prayse should sounde who built this church and cittie from the grounde.” Above is the dedication stone for St. Columb’s Anglican church in Derry and within that is a smaller stone “said to have come from Derry’s mediaeval cathedral” (colmcille.org) which reads “In templo verus deus est vereq[ue] colendus” – In the temple is the true God and truly deserving to be worshipped.

“Ano do 1633” [Anno Domini – In the year of our Lord, 1633], “Car Regis” 9 [Caroli regis – in the ninth year of the reign of King Charles], Vaughan Aed [Vaughan aedificavit – built by Sir John Vaughan, Governor of the City of Londonderry; the builder was in fact William Parrott. Construction began in 1628 and was completed in 1633, at a cost of 4,000 pounds.]

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Copyright © 2014 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Che Guevara Lynch

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2013-06-05 CheGuevaraLynch+

“Che” Guevara’s father, also called Ernesto Guevara Lynch, was an Argentinian descended from Patrick Lynch, who emigrated from Galway (in 1742?) and married in Buenos Aries in 1749. (Based on these rodovid pages: one | two | three.) Che’s father is the source of the quote at the bottom of the mural: “In my son’s veins flowed the blood of Irish rebels.”

The Irish inscription, “Thocfadh [Thıocfadh] an réabhlóıdeach a mharú ach ní an réabhlóıd a scríosadh [scrıosadh]”, means (roughly) “It’s possible to kill the revolutionary person but not to destroy the revolution.”

This mural is on Fahan Street in the Bogside, Derry/Doıre.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Danger Of Death

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2013-06-02 TaylorLight+

Flyer/sticker on a large electrical box in Derry on the case of  Tony Taylor. “End the brutality in Maghaberry jail.” It then alleges that Taylor was assaulted while in restraints at Maghaberry. The flyer contends that Taylor was “arrested for possession of a plastic bag”, whereas the Tele reports that Taylor was arrested on charges of possession of a rifle with intent to endanger life.

2013-06-02 TaylorWide+

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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On wednesday november 7th 2012 by up to 8 prison offices in riot gear was wearing restraints and was unable to defend himself or shield from this brutal onslaught. this type of abuse is carried out against prisons on a regular basis in your name maghaberry not in my keep out