CNR

Gaza Square

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“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” “Stop the genocide – save Palestine.”

The South Link green-space as been renamed “Gaza Square” (see the small plaque in the wide shot, below) and the murals seen recently (at end of March) in Though An Army Besiege Me, My Heart Will Not Fear have been repainted, switching images of Israeli weapons for the images of death, suffering, and destruction seen here.

According to the Al Jazeera tracker, the Palestinian death toll is approaching 45,000, with more than 100,000 injured.

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Reaching Out Is A Strength

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“… not a weakness.” Mental health mural in the middle Falls, with the telephone numbers for Lifeline, the Samaritans, and the Suicide Awareness & Support Group.

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Copyright © 2024 Extramural Activity
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Two Nations, One Struggle

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The “two nations” are Palestine (flag on the left) and Ireland (flag on the right). Between the two is a balaclava’d face, suggesting violent struggle.

Lisfannon Park, Bogside, Derry

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Copyright © 2024 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
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Ape

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Art by Kate Whiteman (web) on Broadway, west Belfast.

See also the Visual History page on painted utility boxes.

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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City Paints

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Derry’s ‘Get Up’ graffiti and street art festival took place at the end of June – here is the Strand Road hoarding sprayed by NOYS (ig), POSEA (ig), VENTS (ig), RAZER (ig), Chose Letters (ig) and perhaps others, with support from Peaball (web) and Foyle Maritime (web), as well as City Paints (Fb) and Crown paints.

For the street art pieces from Clarendon Street, see Get Up, Derry.

For the same hoarding in 2023, see Crash Bandicoot, and in 2022, see Some Buzz.

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Resistance Is Not Terrorism

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“Resistance is not terrorism – Saoırse don Phalaıstín”. Gazan photo-journalist Motaz Azaiza (ig) visited Dublin – where he spoke at Bohemians (reddit | The Journal), Belfast – where he spoke with Clare Daly at the MAC, and Derry – where he spoke with Jamie Lee O’Donnell at the Guildhall (Derry Now). He also attended a rally at Free Derry Corner (Derry Journal | Derry Now), which has been painted with his likeness in honour of the work he has done documenting the destruction of Gaza by Israeli forces for his almost 18 million people on instagram. Fifteen of Azaiza’s relatives were killed in an air-strike on Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on October 13th, 2023 (WP).

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The INLA

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Commemorations of the INLA’s fiftieth anniversary have so far been limited to graffiti – see Saoırse Go Deo in Derry and Let The Fight Go On in Belfast – but here we have two deliberately painted panels in the Bogside (specifically Meenan Square) (one replacing The Way We Were).

“Irish National Liberation Army, Derry brigade. This mural is dedicated to the women and men who gave their lives in the struggle for national liberation and socialism. Erected by the James Connolly Memorial flute band.”

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A Bird In The Hand

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These bird-boxes and platforms were installed by Wild Belfast (web) – a group aimed at enhancing natural habitats – in order to attract house-martins, who visit Ireland in the summer in order to breed, but whose numbers are in decline because of a loss of nesting sites (under the eaves of houses) and building materials (mud).

The boxes are in front of street art by artist Daniela Balmaverde (web) on the end of one of the stands at Cliftonville FC (BBC) – the shamrock earrings are the club’s emblem.

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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You Are Now Entering The European Court Of Justice

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The long-running extradition case against Seán Walsh – from the republic to the north – took another twist in March when the supreme court referred his case to the European Court Of Justice. Walsh is wanted on charges of New IRA membership, based on surveillance of meetings organised by MI5 agent Dennis McFadden (Herald). The point now at issue is whether a 2021 UK law on sentencing for those convicted of terrorism charges (pdf) – no early release is possible (gov.uk) – contravenes article seven of the European Convention On Human Rights.

Republicans also claim that he would be subject to maltreatment if extradited (RN).

A write-up of the arguments can be found in this Irish Times article from 2023, when the possibility of referral was first mooted by Walsh’s legal team.

The black shamrock in the centre of the wall pre-dates the Walsh graffiti – see Black Shamrock for its significance. Free Derry Corner has its own Visual History page.

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Gaining Altitude

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A new painting of Amelia Earhart has been created by JEKS (ig), on the side of the Foyle building, North West Regional College, on Queen’s Quay. A number of sources claim without citation or measurement that it is the tallest piece of street art in the north – both the BBC and the Chamber Of Commerce use the passive “thought to be”. Its closest competitor would be the recent piece by Zabou on the Telegraph Building in Belfast – see Broken Promises.

The Foyle Building has six “levels” (NWRC) while the original Telegraph Building had four storeys (Archiseek). In addition to comparing images of the two paintings, you can also judge by comparing Street View images of the buildings: Derry vs Belfast.

Information about Earhart’s connection to the Maiden City can be found in the entries on the printed board (But What Do Dreams Know Of Boundaries?) and the mosaic (Flying Solo) to Earhart in Derry.

JEKS did eventually fill in the hair (and so cover over his instagram handle) on the lower portrait.

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