“Free Tony Taylor”, “End internment” – identical to the mural in Ardoyne, though without the “Cogús”. On the RNU “notice-board” on Northumberland Street.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Free Tony Taylor
City/Town
Culann’s Hound
“Cú Chulaınn” is Irish for “Culann’s Hound” after the boy Setanta killed the smith’s hound and promised to take its place until another one was raised. In one version of the legend, Setanta kills the original hound by driving a slıotar (hurley ball) down its throat – hence the hero is shown here holding a camán (hurley stick) rather than a sword. In the original picture on which this mural is based, the hero is not Cú Chulaınn but Jim Fitzpatrick’s vision of Nuada Silverarm and he carries a sword.
On the right hand side, Tuan the hawk/eagle/sea-raven bears witness to all of Irish history.
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Resistance!
Here are three images of a new mural in the Creggan area of Derry preaching continued “Resistance!” on account of the “unfinished business” of raising the Irish Tricolour and trampling on Britain’s Union Flag and the “unfinished revolution” of 1916’s Easter Rising (reproducing a postcard of the era).
For the modern-day figure on the left, who is wielding a home-made rocket-launcher used in a 2014 attack on police, see 2015’s Resistance board in Ardoyne.
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Keep Your Head Down
“Education is our passport to the future. Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” This ‘parachute cloth’ mural, which promotes education over gangs, joins three UVF murals in Pine Street, Donegall Pass, south Belfast. (For two of those murals, see Defenders Of The Pass | South Belfast UVF 2nd Batt.)
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Heaneys
UVF 3rd Battalion [East Antrim? North Belfast?] board in Ballyclare to Vol. Robert Heaney and Vol. Brian Heaney. There doesn’t seem to be any information about these two in the usual places – please get in touch if you know anything about them.
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Cairns & Co.
Cairns & Co. Ltd were not only “Manufacturing and export chemists” but (according to the 1908 street directory) “Aerated and mineral water manufacturers” with works at “Balmoral Springs, Lisburn Road”.
This post is the fifth and final board on Donegall Road. In order of the wide shot, below, the five are: RIC At Celtic Park | Ruby Murray | Ronnie Adams | Broadway United FC | Cairns & Co. Ltd
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Non-Cooperative Prisoners
Hugh Rooney on the blanket in 1981 is one side of this RNU/Cogús board in the Bogside, Derry. The other shows a helmeted guard beating a prisoner. Here is BBC video of Rooney and Freddie Toal in their cell.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Conflict Tourism
Black taxi tours of the murals from both sides of the political divide in west Belfast are a well-established part of the tourist industry. (There are also tours of east Belfast.) The various gates in the “peace” line — shown here as closing nightly at 19:69 — are generally open during daylight hours.
Previous ‘gates’ news: See-Through Sectarianism | Belfast Lock-Up.
Bonus image below: benches from the courtyard.
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Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Men From Ballyclare & District
Garlands of poppies, one for each of 38 local men “who gave their lives during the Battle of the Somme 1st July 1916 – 18th Nov 1916”, form a circle around a photograph of “Ballyclare Main Streeet 18th September 1914” as the men go off to war. For information about 17 of the men, see this Love Ballyclare page.
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X03642 X03641 charles drive lest we forget south east antrim brigade UDA UFF Eddie Beck and Graeme Baird
Memento Mori
A confederate flag (strictly, the battle flag of the Army Of Northern Virginia) with skull (with an eye-patch!) and cross-bones alongside a “King William III Prince of Orange” flag.
Island Street, east Belfast
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Copyright © 2016 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Extramural Activity 